Question 1

What inspired this film?

Accepted Answer

This film was inspired by the loss of my grandfather. He had brain cancer, and this story was conceptualised from the moment I learnt of his diagnosis. I had to walk through each stage of grief leading up to losing him, and then after his death as well. I wanted him to be at my graduation, and I wanted him to be proud of me. I think he would be proud of me today.

Question 2

Why 4:40am?

Accepted Answer

He had a habit of waking up around that time, and he would leave his room. When I stayed up late working on projects, I would take the sound of him in the kitchen as my cue to go to bed. In the short interactions before dawn, there was a mutual understanding of each others' habits. It became a special memory for me as I was working on the first iteration of this film.

Question 3

What did you use to animate this?

Accepted Answer

Blender with a paint shader called 'Kuwahara', Callipeg (a French 2D animation software for iOS), and After Effects (I will miss my student subscription).

Question 4

Why is this a film in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

Because I'm Chinese ethnically. I made this film for my grandfather, and I want it to feel like something he would watch and be able to understand.

Question 5

Was it hard to animate this?

Accepted Answer

YES. I worked solo on the film, and only entrusted animating the clock hands to Larvett, one of my best friends whom I've known a long time. This whole process, start to finish, was a behemoth effort to undertake. Thank you for recognising that.

Question 6

What are you doing after this?

Accepted Answer

I have applied for relief teaching. Just to get out of the artistic track for a while, so that I can cultivate new ideas and work on projects that fill me with life, before I pursue a career in producing animation, or working in prop/diorama making or as a 3D generalist or texture specialist.

@Avenue00

Hi! I'm Averil, a 3D animator and digital artist, and a D&D nerd in my spare time.

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