Lights, Camera, Animation: Aims Students Showcase Original Films

 Join the Aims Community College Graphic Design & Rich Media department for a showcase of student film and animation. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. 

The Aims Film and Animation Showcase is held at the Ed Beaty Hall Theater, 5203 W. 20th Street, on the Greeley Campus. A Friday night presentation is happening from 6-8 p.m. on November 8. The same program runs on November 9 from 1-3 p.m. for a Saturday afternoon matinee.

This showcase allows students and alumni to share their work and be recognized for their efforts in film and animation projects. The event celebrates 20 years of animation at Aims.  Graphic Design & Rich Media Professor Brian Dunning has been a part of the program since its inception. “When I started in 2004, I was brought on to run the interactive design program, which eventually evolved into the animation program. It’s been incredible to watch the program grow, and now, two decades later, we have this opportunity to celebrate that journey.”

Showcasing Creativity at Aims

Aims animation student Eli Newshott is excited about this event. Animation has been her passion for a long time. “I grew up watching the Studio Ghibli movies with my grandparents, something special we always shared,” she said. “I enjoyed having that special connection with my grandparents.” She also recalls that animation helped her find a space to escape and be seen. “I was bullied pretty harshly as a kid. So finding connections through shows like ‘Steven Universe’ and ‘Gravity Falls,’ where I could see myself represented, was always something special.”

She aspires to be a character designer in the animation industry. “I’ve always loved bringing life into still drawings and illustrations, creating backstories, and imagining how characters would look animated,” she said. “Now I can do that — it’s something I’ve always dreamed of.”

Newshott has some of her creative works in the showcase. She has some walking cycles and shorter animations, but the most significant part she is a part of is something she worked on with her classmates. “It’s a fun little piece we made to develop our characters’ storylines. The lesson is not to make assumptions — one of the characters picks up a box that isn’t his, and it’s a Pandora’s box situation where he unleashes things he wasn’t ready for.”

She encourages others to check out the event if they want to explore animation, art, video and more. “Most of us started as beginners, and now we’re creating full animations — doing sound design, set design, character design — all by ourselves,”  Newshott said. 

“You’ll see the amazing skills you can develop here at Aims.”

Dunning encourages anyone interested in animation to check out the show. “Whether you’re an animation enthusiast or just curious about what our students can create, this showcase will be a fun and eye-opening experience.” 
 

A Valuable Experience for Aspiring Creators

The showcase will also present student film and video projects. The audience can expect to see a variety of genres, from comedy, action, drama and even suspenseful films. A couple more mature theme films will be screened at the end of the showcase.  

“Each film is unique, and they all resonate with me in different ways, said Communication Media Instructor Eric Taylor.  “It’s amazing to see what the students can create with the tools and skills you provide them and then make the project their own.” 

Spring 2024 graduate Erik Schmidt has one of his productions in the showcase. Erik currently has his own video production company and works on various projects. As a student studying television production and video editing at Aims, he was impressed with the professional-grade cameras, lighting setups, and soundboards, which prepared him for real-world projects.

He worked on a group project entitled “Driver’s Dilemma,” created in a lighting production class. “We wanted to focus on showing off different types of lighting,” Schmidt said. “That’s how all the scenes were designed and the shots set up.”

Schmidt thinks a showcase like this is a valuable opportunity for prospective and current students to see what is possible in learning video production and editing at Aims. 

“The Film and Animation Showcase is definitely worth your time. You can just see what students have done in the program and get an introduction to the programs at Aims. It's a great way to experience everything you can see in the program and get a good feel for what you'll learn if you come to school at Aims.”

Visit events.aims.edu for more information on this and other Aims events.