Online: Low Tech Animation Workshop

In this workshop, we will experiment with several different types of low-tech animation such as stop-motion and successive-drawing animation, as well as early forms of pre-camera animation like flipbooks and zoetropes.

Each day, after discussing different techniques, the participants will plan and present ideas for their projects. The group will then discuss the best ways to realise these ideas. The participants will work on their projects between meetings and they will show and discuss their finished projects at the following meeting. In between meetings the participants will be able to contact Michelle for support.

PARTICIPANTS

This workshop is suitable for video artists, experimental filmmakers, or anyone interested in working with animation. Participants can use drawing or photography (or a combination) to create their animations. No previous experience is necessary. 

REQUIREMENTS

There are many different ways to create animations, so everyone probably already has adequate equipment. Participants only need a camera (a digital/DSLR camera or the camera on a smartphone, tablet, or computer) and a tripod or other devices to keep their camera stable for longer periods. The participants will also either need a stop-motion app (f.e. Stop-Motion Studio) or be able to do simple editing on their computers.


SCHEDULE
 

Day 1 - Monday, 7 June 2021

• Introduction to the basics of animation and a detailed discussion of stop-motion animation
• Planing and presenting ideas for stop-motion videos
• Participants complete their stop-motion videos before the next session

Day 2 - Friday, 11 June 2021

• Discussion of the new stop-motion animations
• Learning about and watching examples of successive-drawing animation and still-image films
• Planing and presenting ideas for the second project
• Participants complete their new videos before the next session

Day 3 - Monday, 14 June 2021

• Discussion of the participants’ latest projects
• Introduction to “animation before film”: zoetropes, flipbooks, and mutoscopes. Examples of how artists and designers have used these techniques.
• Planing and presenting ideas for the third project
• Participants complete this project before the next session

Day 4 - Friday, 18 June 2021 (half day)

• Short meeting
• Discussion of the third project

Michelle Alperin, born in Los Angeles, California, got her BA in Fine Art from the University of California in 1994 and her MFA in Fine Art from Art Center College of Design in 2001. After several artist’s residencies in Berlin, Michelle settled there at the end of 2004. She is currently working with video installation, experimental and narrative film and video, as well as still photography. Since 2017, Michelle has been teaching video art to the first-year fine art students at the Berlin University of the Arts where she also teaches weekly video art courses, participates in group critiques, and gives workshops on various topics, including editing.

michellealperin.com