
2 minute read
THESIS STATEMENT
I have always been interested in filmmaking. In high school, one of the main challenges I have had with making short films has been finding a cast and crew to help. For my thesis project, I wanted to find a way to create a short film that I would be able to make in a controlled environment while I was able to manage and change different aspects as I saw fit. The conclusion that I came to was that with stop motion animation, I could literally create anything. As I brainstormed ideas, I began thinking about different things that were important to me. After narrowing it down, I came to the idea of nature and pollution. I have always loved nature, and I feel like now is a great time to highlight its beauty and the effects that pollution has on it.
To begin my project, I needed an idea. I wanted to find something that I was both interested in and passionate about, where I could convey some form of message. Usually, I have a hard time coming up with ideas that actually mean something, so the brainstorming process was very difficult. After some time, I came upon images of abandoned cities and buildings where nature had reclaimed certain areas once the humans had left them. When tackling the idea of stop motion, one of the most essential parts that cannot be overlooked is the planning phase. I would say that nearly 50% of the entire project was made in the planning stage. Some of the many portions that went into the planning stage were the logistics behind the set building, as well as how each shot would unfold through a storyboard.
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Once I had figured out the basic idea--nature being disrupted by the outside world with pollution, and then reclaiming itself, I had to think of the characters and systems that I would utilize to bring my idea to fruition. I figured that stop motion would be the best way to start my process with this short film. I would be able to control all of the factors of the set, characters, and any outside influences that might otherwise prove problematic. After I built the set (with the help of Adam Rogers creating an amazing backdrop,) I was able to start filming. To film, I used the DragonFrame Technology, as well as Premiere Pro to edit it. The final stage of the process is integrating music into the short film. To do this, I will be utilizing the help of my brother Andrew Ragan, who is an experienced compositionist for many short films.
This process has been difficult and time consuming, and it has been the biggest and closest thing to a “real” short film that I have made so far. I wanted to create something that was meaningful to me, and I think that this one sums it up quite well. Some of the biggest challenges along the way were trying to figure out how to light the space, building the set, and finding an ending for the story.