Creative Design
Empowered Production
This past season, I got the opportunity to do production design for Empowered Theater & Arts, a theater company that serves actors with disabilities. Empowered is dedicated to clearing the path to creative expression and equitable opportunity, driven to inspire dialogue and inclusion. For their production of Beauty and the Beast, I got to make many of their costumes and get backstage experience. I spent several months constructing costumes from scratch such as teapots, teacups, giant silverware, candlesticks, and many others. It was a terrific experience to work with such talented artists and to see the actors perform looking their absolute best. It was a huge undertaking and took countless hours of construction and problem solving, but it was an experience I really enjoyed and can’t wait to do again. We have begun preparing for this Spring’s performance of The Others.
Pest Control (2024)
Pest Control is the horror-short that I produced in 2024. This was a considerable venture for me because I had never been completely in charge of a full cast and crew before. I found actors and locations, created call sheets, treated scripts, organized craft services, rented equipment, and everything else involved with a complete production. I learned more than just the process of a production, I discovered the nuances of organizing large groups of people and the importance of effective communication.
Overall, I was pleased with how the film turned out, especially the costuming, sets, and props. I was able to create an atmosphere of horror by creating compelling scenery in my sets. Even though it had less than a second of screen time, the creature I created was seriously terrifying. By combining these elements with creative camera work and practical effects, the short truly came to life.
Practical VFX
I have spent the last several years creating my own projects and collaborating with others to create short films. Due to my unique interests, I have had the privilege of running the art department on productions such as In The Desert, Two Birds One Gun, Pest Control, Cupholder Companion, and others.
Animations
I produced three claymation shorts from conception to completion. The latest, Cupholder Companion, has already been selected to appear in two film festivals. When on the road this summer, I also began working with 2D animation. Making these films takes an enormous amount of patience, but the result is a satisfying mix of wonderful and creepy. Claymation is an underrated art form and I am glad to have experience with it.
Red Bull Chariot Race
One of the most fun things that I’ve participated in was the Red Bull Chariot Race. This race was sponsored by Red Bull in which teams of four were selected to compete. Of the 72 teams that applied, 20 were chosen for the competition based on the quality of their application. We were given a budget of $250 and two weeks to create a themed chariot.
Our theme was aliens abducting cows. We raced in front of 500+ spectators and celebrity judges. We won our heat, but, unfortunately, we did not win the entire event.
I had a great time competing and creating the chariot. It was fun to maximize our budget, use power tools, and create a fun design.
