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Dive deeper into the creative process of filmmaking. Explore the inspirations and challenges faced during production, and gain a richer understanding of some of the films selected for this year's festival.
These candid conversations not only shed light on the artistry and technical expertise that go into filmmaking but also provide a glimpse into the personal stories and motivations that drive these talented creators.
Sunburnt Unicorn is, in part, the result of good timing. Director Nick Johnson had been working on another project that wrapped when the opportunity came to pitch a feature film and he landed on this idea from an old sketch.
In this conversation, Nick shares the production process of Sunburnt Unicorn, from the initial concept that sparked the film’s creation, the production challenges faced along the way, and how an inspiring musical performance from PIQSIQ gave him the motivation to see the project through to completion.
Image Credit: Sunburnt Unicorn © 2024 NMS Releasing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Nick Johnson
Director // Solis Animation
(Sunburnt Unicorn, Ghost Toast, Young George 2 No Dragons Allowed, Young George Series)
Nick Johnson is a writer, director and cartoonist living in Calgary AB Canada. He completed his Bachelor of Design degree from Alberta University of the Arts in 2013, and finished his Masters in Comics and Graphic Novels from the University of Dundee in 2020. He has pursued the craft of storytelling through e-learning, comic books, children’s illustration, storyboarding, and art direction.
He has worked in animation since 2015 as a writer, art director, storyboard artist and director, and most recently collaborated with Squid Brain Studios and New Machine Studios to create his first solo-directed 3D animated feature film, Sunburnt Unicorn. Johnson also serves as an assistant professor at Alberta University of the Arts teaching character design, and narrative illustration.
MODERATOR
Marina Antunes
President // Spark CG Society
Marina has been writing and discussing film for over 15 years, first on a personal blog, followed by a decade-long tenure on the now retired Row Three. In 2008, she joined the writing staff at Quiet Earth, becoming Editor-In-Chief in 2014, a role she still holds. Over the years, she has also produced and hosted a number of podcasts including Before the Dawn, a long-running podcast on the Twilight franchise, Girls on Pop, a podcast on film and popular entertainment from women’s perspective and After the Credits, bi-monthly film podcast with nearly 300 episodes.
Marina is a member of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, the Online Film Critics Society, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Visual Effects Society. She is the President of Spark CG Society and the Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. She has also served on juries for several film festivals including DOXA, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. She joined the Spark CG Society in 2014.
Dive deeper into the creative process of filmmaking. Explore the inspirations and challenges faced during production, and gain a richer understanding of some of the films selected for this year's festival.
These candid conversations not only shed light on the artistry and technical expertise that go into filmmaking but also provide a glimpse into the personal stories and motivations that drive these talented creators.
Sunburnt Unicorn is, in part, the result of good timing. Director Nick Johnson had been working on another project that wrapped when the opportunity came to pitch a feature film and he landed on this idea from an old sketch.
In this conversation, Nick shares the production process of Sunburnt Unicorn, from the initial concept that sparked the film’s creation, the production challenges faced along the way, and how an inspiring musical performance from PIQSIQ gave him the motivation to see the project through to completion.
Image Credit: Sunburnt Unicorn © 2024 NMS Releasing Inc. All Rights Reserved.
SPEAKER
Nick Johnson
Director // Solis Animation
(Sunburnt Unicorn, Ghost Toast, Young George 2 No Dragons Allowed, Young George Series)
Nick Johnson is a writer, director and cartoonist living in Calgary AB Canada. He completed his Bachelor of Design degree from Alberta University of the Arts in 2013, and finished his Masters in Comics and Graphic Novels from the University of Dundee in 2020. He has pursued the craft of storytelling through e-learning, comic books, children’s illustration, storyboarding, and art direction.
He has worked in animation since 2015 as a writer, art director, storyboard artist and director, and most recently collaborated with Squid Brain Studios and New Machine Studios to create his first solo-directed 3D animated feature film, Sunburnt Unicorn. Johnson also serves as an assistant professor at Alberta University of the Arts teaching character design, and narrative illustration.
MODERATOR
Marina Antunes
President // Spark CG Society
Marina has been writing and discussing film for over 15 years, first on a personal blog, followed by a decade-long tenure on the now retired Row Three. In 2008, she joined the writing staff at Quiet Earth, becoming Editor-In-Chief in 2014, a role she still holds. Over the years, she has also produced and hosted a number of podcasts including Before the Dawn, a long-running podcast on the Twilight franchise, Girls on Pop, a podcast on film and popular entertainment from women’s perspective and After the Credits, bi-monthly film podcast with nearly 300 episodes.
Marina is a member of ACM and ACM SIGGRAPH, the Online Film Critics Society, the Alliance of Women Film Journalists, and the Visual Effects Society. She is the President of Spark CG Society and the Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH chapter. She has also served on juries for several film festivals including DOXA, St. Louis International Film Festival, and the Whistler Film Festival. She joined the Spark CG Society in 2014.
