FLASH Best of // presentation at its finest

Last Monday I had the honor to give a presentation of my graduation movie within the Budapest Design Week programme.

Not gonna lie, as one of the first occasions when I had to do a presentation I was really nervous. I tried to prepare myself, so I wrote two whole pages of ideas and collected thoughts about the workflow of Bardo - just to forget all of it when I walked out to face the audience.

This is me, trying real hard not to pass out 'cause of stage fright.

I think one of the greatest challenge is to talk about an art project while you want the viewers to feel and understand the story independently on their own way. I do not intend to talk anybody's head off, I create for the sake of feeling and understanding.

This is what I love about animation - we can tell serious stories and start heavy conversations with it, while (sometimes) still staying on the playground and sights of a fairytale-like world, finally free from reality, if you will.

This is why I tell only one thing about the movie's story most of the times - it's about passing.

The color directions, background and art design is thanks to one of my most talented staff member and uni schoolmate - Regina Pekárik.

What I think most of the people do not understand and (hopefully) find interesting is the whole process and production of an animated movie. Now, this is a topic I really like to talk about, 'cause it is more concrete and evident. This whole movie would be just another school project (that I put it in my pocket and probably never talk about it again) without my classmates and fantastic teachers from Budapest Metropolitan University and my coproduction partner, BalFilm. This is why I wanted to grab the chance and talk about them instead, showing the audience how complex, colorful and fun this profession is.

The main stages of the production of an animated short movie. In our case me and the extremely hardworking Eszter Jenei were the lead animators.

In the presentation I also focused on the different positions of an animator, such as effect animator, coloring, cleanup assistant, etc. The attached photo speaks for itself.

I find it really interesting how a few very different people (both in personality and in art-style) can work and almost melt together in the process. I am very grateful that I had the chance of meeting and working together with these amazing staff members, but especially happy for Eszter Jenei, who was the lead animator beside me.

This is when I regretted the decision of coloring my hair only one day before the presentation - though this hot pink really maches the roll-up next to me.

The presentation was a great excercise for me, and I encourage you to volunteer as well to events like this with your (art) projects. Don't be shy about it, because this is how you can learn how to actually participate on your profession's field. Nothing is a better teacher than practice.

Overall, it was a great experience and I am very grateful for the possibility.

Thank you for reading, hope you enjoyed as well! :)

- love, Fiorella