Through my project, I am answering the question How does street art impact NYC, from its culture to its residents. Through answering that, I’d also like to discover: How I can further my animation skills through this form of storytelling?

 

To successfully complete my project, it was necessary to find street artists to converse with, as well as find proper animation software and product. I have already collected the information of over ten street artists and have the proper equipment to follow through with the film.

 

Granted that this project is centered around art, I want to artistically express my findings. I am going to document my findings by filming thorough interviews of street artists I’ve encountered. Once the interviews have been conducted, in order to better my animation and storytelling skills I will interpret the words of those I spoke with through animation. I already know that frame by frame animation is a difficult task, but based on previous experience, if I work hard, the final product will be worthwhile. During Senior Project I hope to spend my time improving my craft, from animation to filming and editing, and better conveying the stories of others through the form of digital media. 

 

In terms of more intensive steps, I have figured out I will need to schedule set times for interviewees, practice my cinematography skills, and complete the filming of interviewees by the third week of senior project so I may begin the editing and animating half of my project. In addition, the script for narration must be done by week five so I may complete the film by the deadline. I will most likely still continue practicing in the ensemble as well as chorus, but will assure the allotted time a week is met regardless. At the moment I’d like to work at school for most of the interviews, and editing is possible anywhere as computers are portable. I’d spend six hours a day either focusing on getting one interview done, editing work recorded, or animating. By the end, I will have a fully completed short film with animated aspects.

Through this experience, I hope I’ll learn how to better film interviews, improve my cinematography, editing, animation and storytelling skills, and learn better time management and motivational skills. Making an animated documentary about street art will answer my questions of How does street art impact NYC and How I can further my animation skills through this form of storytelling? as it will portray the information I collect artfully, refining my animation expertise. I will know I have a successful project when I am able to properly inform an audience of the stories we overlook. Given New Yorkers encounter street artists every day, many overlook the fact this is their livelihood, and I want to bring light to such a large part of New York City culture.