In 2006, thanks to iTunes and my new video iPod, I stumbled across a video podcast. It featured varying types of homemade Lego stop-motion films. Some were a few seconds in duration, some were several minutes. Some purely comical, some intensely dramatic. My wonder and curiosity were captured by all.
As Lego created video games based on popular movies, my interest in stop-motion grew. The cut-scenes and levels within the games provided the perfect combination of heroic epicness with comic relief.
At 2am on some random night in 2012, I decided to find some play-doh and make my own (very) short film. With the encouragement and support of my closest friend, I explored the world of stop-motion a bit further and made longer and more involved films.
In primary school, I had art classes at best once a week. For nearly every one of those years, we had no specified art teacher and our general homeroom teacher had to provide instruction. In high school, I took one mandatory art course, for which I was absent about half the year. I've always been terrible at drawing and making art in general. My family laughed at my attempts, even at a young age. On the whole, I've always considered art a waste of time and a cheap shortcut for people with lesser mental abilities.
So yes, I know I am not good at art and no, I do not care. I do stop-motion because it is a challenge I do it because it's the first time in my life I sit down at projects and 12 hours quickly pass before my eyes. I do it because I have stories and this is how they've decided to let themselves out. I do it because it is entirely my creation from start to finish. I do it because it makes me smile and I do it because I hope that somewhere in the world I can make someone else smile, too.
As Lego created video games based on popular movies, my interest in stop-motion grew. The cut-scenes and levels within the games provided the perfect combination of heroic epicness with comic relief.
At 2am on some random night in 2012, I decided to find some play-doh and make my own (very) short film. With the encouragement and support of my closest friend, I explored the world of stop-motion a bit further and made longer and more involved films.
In primary school, I had art classes at best once a week. For nearly every one of those years, we had no specified art teacher and our general homeroom teacher had to provide instruction. In high school, I took one mandatory art course, for which I was absent about half the year. I've always been terrible at drawing and making art in general. My family laughed at my attempts, even at a young age. On the whole, I've always considered art a waste of time and a cheap shortcut for people with lesser mental abilities.
So yes, I know I am not good at art and no, I do not care. I do stop-motion because it is a challenge I do it because it's the first time in my life I sit down at projects and 12 hours quickly pass before my eyes. I do it because I have stories and this is how they've decided to let themselves out. I do it because it is entirely my creation from start to finish. I do it because it makes me smile and I do it because I hope that somewhere in the world I can make someone else smile, too.
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