MFA SHON XIAO RECEIVES DIVERSITY & INCLUSION CERTIFICATE
On May 1st, the SCA Council on Diversity & Inclusion launched its first annual Certificate for Outstanding Work. Presented to one student from each SCA division and program, the certificate recognizes groundbreaking student work aimed at empowering diverse voices and perspectives. The
“SPIDER-VERSE” HEAD OF STORY TO TEACH XA MASTER CLASS
USC animation alumnx Miguel Jirón has recently completed work as Head of Story on the critically acclaimed Sony Pictures Animation “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” The 2023 film is the sequel to the Academy AwardⓇ-winning “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse,” on which
GREG GARAY PROJECT “A COW IN THE SKY” PREMIERES AT TRIBECA
“A Cow in the Sky” is the true story of the Ethiopian man, Mulugeta Seraw, who was studying in the U.S. and was murdered by white supremacists in 1988. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. XA Adjunct Professor Greg Garay was brought on during the early stages
MEET ARLYN, XA PROGRAM COORDINATOR and FILM FAN!
Arlyn Villaruz has been the program coordinator for Expanded Animation since October 2022. Although new to USC, she has been an avid moviegoer of SCA’s Outside the Box [Office]. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from Cal St
SHEILA SOFIAN’S DOCUMENTARY ANIMATION CLASS WINS BEST FILM
XA Professor Sheila M. Sofian’s CTXA 470 Documentary Animation Production class won the BEST FILM award at the Youth Collective Film Festival for their collaborative film, “Illegitimate Voice.” The theme of the 2023 festival was DEMOCRACY. “Filmmakers were encouraged to think
“DIMENSIONS” VR PROJECT
XA Professor Kathy Smith is completing her VR project “Dimensions,” an immersive journey through the Australian bushland, in peace and in trauma.
GURRY PRESENTS JOYFUL QUEER ANIMATION AT SAS
In June, XA Adjunct Professor Sam Gurry presented a call-to-action screening at the 2023 Society for Animation Studies (SAS) conference held at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ. The screening, “GAY AF: Pathos & Joy,” was an overview of contemporary Independent short animation focus
SHENGWEI ZHOU’S “PERFECT CITY” FILMS PLAYING AT FESTIVALS
XA MFA 3 Shengwei Zhou has released the first and second episodes of his Perfect City Series: “Perfect City: The Mother” and “Perfect City: The Bravest Kid.” Both films have been selected at multiple festivals, including the 46th and 47th Hong Kong International Film Festival,
M.A.M.A. ART INSTALLATION DISRUPTS ERUPTIONS
XA Professor Lisa Mann is a founding member of M.A.M.A. (Mother Artists Making Art) an interdisciplinary, mother artist group. M.A.M.A.’s latest installation, “Pop-Up Condom Shop,” was commissioned for CalArts 50th Anniversary celebration on April 28-29. It features a mobile sh
SAM GURRY’S SHORT “UP CLOSE” IN QUEER LIBERATION SHOW
XA Adjunct Professor Sam Gurry’s film “Up Close” was screened in April at Pleasure Dome in Toronto. The show, entitled Reimagining Queer Liberation, featured 10 short works made between 2020-2022 by 2SLGBTQIA+ Canadian and international artists. The works “reflect different un
