January 2008
Concentric Circles(2:15min)
BFA Animation, Film and Video
California Institute of the Arts

An undergraduate film project completed during the spring semester of 2008. Assisting professors were Kirsten Winter(Direct Techniques), Maureen Furniss(Direct Film Aesthetics), and Beth Block(Advanced optical printing).
Screenings and Festivals
2010 - Studio Plus Null - .MOV Screening Leipzig, Germany
2009 - Studio B93 - Guest Artist Screening Enschede, the Netherlands
2008 - Tricky Women - Women's Animation Festival Vienna, Austria
2008 - Bijou Festival - Animation Festival Los Angeles, United States



THE MAKING OF: Concentric Circles
Scratch on film, or scratch film, refers to a camera-less filmmaking technique where the artist work directly onto the film strip. By removing the opaque black top coating, translucent color are revealed underneath. Colors native to color print film, such as green, yellow, and plain celluloid.


Initial Sketch / Storyboard / Final Animation

Basic Technique: The animation process uses a subtractive drawing technique. Unlike drawing on paper, lines are created by removing opacity from the frame. Tools of various sharpness will produce different effects. Sharp pointy tools are likely to carve deep into the film, exposing yellow and clear layers. Duller, flatter tools are more likely to show green.

Getting the Film: To Appropriate a roll of 35mm "opaque black film leader", it can be done at Christy's Editorial Supplies at store.christys.net/shop or from a local professional motion picture developer. Opaque black film is printed color film, a positive of clear negative. This is often a byproduct of profession developing and printing. This can be confused with black painted leader, which is also black in color but will not contain the green and yellow color layers of opaque black film.

Mark Frames: Frames fall every forth sproket and for our animation, individual frames need to be clearly defined. Using a sharp tool and a ruler, make a line across the width of the film. This line should extend from the bottom of every forth sprocket. A second line should be made extending from the top of the fifth sproket clearing defining the dead space between frames. This is a no draw zone as it will not be seen when projected. Count four sprockets and continue this process until there is an identifiable space between each frame.