Stop-motion animation is a fun and creative way to tell stories using simple tools like a smartphone and everyday objects. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of stop-motion, from frame-by-frame movement to adding sound and finalizing their own short animations.
The session will begin with an introduction and an icebreaker activity to set a collaborative tone. Participants will watch examples of famous stop-motion films, student projects, and an original short by the instructor. A discussion on archives will provide inspiration for storytelling, exploring themes of memory and creativity.
Next, participants will be introduced to the free Stop Motion Studio app, learning how to capture movement, edit sequences, and refine their videos. The main part of the workshop will focus on hands-on practice, where small groups will develop stories and bring them to life through animation. Towards the end, they will add sound to their projects before a final screening. The workshop will conclude with a Q&A and discussion.
Open to all skill levels, this workshop is an opportunity to experiment, collaborate, and explore the magic of stop-motion storytelling.
About the instructor:
Leah Clare Michaels is a Baltimore native, artist, activist, historian, writer, and surfer. She has produced documentary films, multi-media installations, and performance art works rooted in historical research, social justice, and cultural exchange.
She received a B.A. in History with a focus in Classics from the University of Washington in Seattle in 2012 and a M.F.A. in Intermedia and Digital Arts from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2019.
Michaels has taught and presented in the United States, Europe, and Asia including an international tour of her feature documentary Rock, Rage & Self-Defense: An Oral History of Seattle’s Home Alive, which she co-directed and produced with friend and colleague Rozz Therrien. Her written work has appeared in BmoreArt, UMBC Magazine, and the Debutante Journal based in Edinburgh, Scotland. She teaches film, media art, and cinema studies at Towson University and Anne Arundel Community College. She was awarded a Fulbright grant to Poland for the 2023-2024 academic year.
Date & Time: March 22nd
Location: Kino Lumbardhi, Prizren
Deadline to Apply: March 20th