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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 XA program chose Shon Xiao for his 2D animated shorts, “Am I? Real” (2021) and “Blue Again” (2022), which creatively examine gender identity, dysphoria, and transformation. With these two films, Shon has made an important contribution to contemporary experimental animation that centers transgender storytelling.

“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 Miguel worked as a story artist. Miguel is returning to USC in the fall ‘23 semester to teach CTXA 592 Master class, Advanced Storyboarding: Inside the Animation Story Room.

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 as the animation director and provided storyboards, concept art, and key animation for the project. He assembled and oversaw a team of mainly USC alumni and current students, including Shelby Chan and David Amberg. Greg reports, “For it to be recognized at such a prestigious festival, the same festival I used to hear about when I was an undergrad in NYC, is more than I could’ve hoped for.”

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 State Fullerton. Arlyn has been serving students for the past twenty years, including her work at two previous colleges, and has also worked in film distribution and exhibition. She grew up in Hawaii and enjoys traveling. In her spare time, she likes to meet friends over popcorn brunch, preferably at one of the vintage movie theaters around Los Angeles.

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 beyond politics and show creative and thoughtful interpretations of what democracy can mean.”

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 XA program chose Shon Xiao for his 2D animated shorts, “Am I? Real” (2021) and “Blue Again” (2022), which creatively examine gender identity, dysphoria, and transformation. With these two films, Shon has made an important contribution to contemporary experimental animation that centers transgender storytelling.

“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 Miguel worked as a story artist. Miguel is returning to USC in the fall ‘23 semester to teach CTXA 592 Master class, Advanced Storyboarding: Inside the Animation Story Room.

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 as the animation director and provided storyboards, concept art, and key animation for the project. He assembled and oversaw a team of mainly USC alumni and current students, including Shelby Chan and David Amberg. Greg reports, “For it to be recognized at such a prestigious festival, the same festival I used to hear about when I was an undergrad in NYC, is more than I could’ve hoped for.”

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 State Fullerton. Arlyn has been serving students for the past twenty years, including her work at two previous colleges, and has also worked in film distribution and exhibition. She grew up in Hawaii and enjoys traveling. In her spare time, she likes to meet friends over popcorn brunch, preferably at one of the vintage movie theaters around Los Angeles.

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 XA program chose Shon Xiao for his 2D animated shorts, “Am I? Real” (2021) and “Blue Again” (2022), which creatively examine gender identity, dysphoria, and transformation. With these two films, Shon has made an important contribution to contemporary experimental animation that centers transgender storytelling.

“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 Miguel worked as a story artist. Miguel is returning to USC in the fall ‘23 semester to teach CTXA 592 Master class, Advanced Storyboarding: Inside the Animation Story Room.

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 as the animation director and provided storyboards, concept art, and key animation for the project. He assembled and oversaw a team of mainly USC alumni and current students, including Shelby Chan and David Amberg. Greg reports, “For it to be recognized at such a prestigious festival, the same festival I used to hear about when I was an undergrad in NYC, is more than I could’ve hoped for.”

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 State Fullerton. Arlyn has been serving students for the past twenty years, including her work at two previous colleges, and has also worked in film distribution and exhibition. She grew up in Hawaii and enjoys traveling. In her spare time, she likes to meet friends over popcorn brunch, preferably at one of the vintage movie theaters around Los Angeles.

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 beyond politics and show creative and thoughtful interpretations of what democracy can mean.”

 

Expanded Animation Research + Practice
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California
900 W. 34th St., SCA 250
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
U.S.A.
 
 

voicemail: (213) 764-3332

USC Expanded Animation official logo
USC Expanded Animation official logo
 
 

voicemail: (213) 764-3332

 

Expanded Animation Research + Practice
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California
900 W. 34th St., SCA 250
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
U.S.A.
USC Expanded Animation official logo
 
 

voicemail: (213) 764-3332

 

Expanded Animation Research + Practice
School of Cinematic Arts
University of Southern California
900 W. 34th St., SCA 250
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211
U.S.A.
 
 

voicemail: (213) 764-3332

USC Expanded Animation official logo