The Best Of The Best Have Been Trained: First Edition Of StopMoLab Program Is Finished
Skwigly
Masterclasses, consultations, case studies, mentoring sessions and lectures were a crucial part of StopMoLab, the international training program for the stop-motion animation industry. It was 9 months of intense learning of working with top-class specialists associated with such productions like Corpse Bride, Isle of Dogs and Guillermo del Toro: Pinocchio – the event’s organizers from MOMAKIN say and promise upcoming editions.
How does the modern animation industry function? Where can we find and how can we apply for artistic residencies? How does the process of ecological film production look like? It’s just a few subjects that were the focus of intense 9-month educational course for beginner-level creators of stop-motion animation. Thanks to a limited number of participants the program was able to discover the best young creators working with animation. 25 people from all around the world acquired new skills allowing them to achieve success in animation industry.
The project was thought out to fill the gap between knowledge acquired in art schools and reality of functioning in modern animation industry. The first edition gave participants a few extra months for recognizing and finding their own way of development in the industry. But the most important thing is that it supported 25 incredibly skilled people and helped them polish their craft.
Paulina Zacharek, originator of StopMoLab
SKILLS, BUSINESS and GO GREEN are three slogans and, at the same time, three modules that are defining first edition of the program. Improving the skills, discovering new trends, business models and subject of ecological practices are key directions in animation industry’s development. Course was created and conducted by specialists and professionals working in stop-motion animation production every day. Program’s council included such masters as Francesca Berlingieri Maxwell (known among others for „Corpse Bride”, „ParaNorman” and „Fantastic Mr. Fox”), Denis Walgenwitz (tied with such productions like Oscar-nominated „The Red Turtle”, „My Life as a Courgette” and „Despicable Me”), Angela Poshet (working with such movies like „Isle of the Dogs” and Oscar-nominated „Frankenweenie”) and Tim Allen and Magdalena Bieszczak (who worked on „Guillermo del Toro: Pinocchio”).
StopMoLab is huge amount of hours including mentorship meetings, prelections, case studies, masterclasses and lectures. 9-month long course has been conducted offline in Łódź and online through advanced internet platform. Participants visited Łódź two times. The first one was back in July, the second one during ANIMARKT Stop Motion Forum where they had a chance to meet the biggest names in the industry.
Effects of the program are portfolios prepared by every participant presenting their 9-month long work on their own projects. And thanks to mentoring, participants have defined career paths. That’s not all, because the effect of the entire program will be the Gren Guide – the world’s only guide for the stop motion industry, which will contain guidelines on sustainable development and reducing the negative impact on the environment.
It is a great program for very talented people from all over the world, entering the stop motion industry. They can share their experience, work through the ideas and most of all meet the best professionals in the industry.
Aleksandra Wawrzynkiewicz, coordinator of the program
Educational Training Program StopMoLab is organized thanks to the support of Creative Europe MEDIA Programme.
Event is organized by MOMAKIN, company connecting the world of animated movie creators with international market of production, distribution and promotion that specializes in stop-motion projects. It supports animated projects at every stage of their development: from planning and financing, through production, all the way to distribution. Its interests also include education and professionalisation of movie industry.