Monsters of Mine 2021)
A lonely girl uses high-tech glasses to fill her world with imaginary monster friends, but when they break, she discovers the value of true human connection. A multimedia film using stop-motion animated figures and superimposed monster puppets within miniature sets. A COVID-19 compliant “virtual production” with zero physical contact between crew.
Director | Lana Nguyen
Writer | Val Tan
Producers | Claire Dundee & Connor Williams
Cinematographer (Stop Motion) | Daphne Daniels
Cinematographer (Puppet) | Gerardo Garcia
Editor | Hanna Adams
Production Designer | Justine Chen
Art Director | Laura Malatos
Puppets | Ezra Robinson
1st Assistant Director | Rhys Kroehler
Music | Jaimie Pangan
2D Animation & Storyboard Art | Collin Schuester
Script Supervisor | Caden Hollander
Assistant Editor: Kelsey Kent
Colorist | Chehade Boulos
Starring | Kimberly Girken & Sami Bray
Our Team’s Story
When Monsters of Mine was chosen to be one of USC’s four Fall Semester 480 productions, it was formatted as a 12 minute live action film. However, two weeks before the beginning of school, the MoM team was told that all physical production would be prohibited due to COVID-19. This massive decision by USC was even covered in an article by The Hollywood Reporter, with a focus on the 480 films.
As such, Monsters of Mine was then reworked into a multimedia short with stop motion animated humans and superimposed monster puppets. The MoM team decided that we still wanted to be able to participate in their our crew positions by producing tangible work, which is why we strayed away from a purely animated film. The film was completed in 15 weeks time - a feat made even more impressive due to its characterization as a “virtual production” with zero physical contact. Crew members communicated and worked through zoom, and materials were shipped to and fro between actors, cinematographers, and the production design team (with a COVID-19 allowance period where shipped materials were not to be touched).
Monsters of Mine is a coming-of-age story about venturing out of your comfort zone. It is a story about making your first friend.
Accolades (Beginning process of Festival Submission!)
