COMPOSITING / vfx / lighting / editing / 3D MODELING / character design / key art
The Linden Performer is a 3D animated short film about a marionette who dreams of becoming a performer. When she gets the chance to live that life, she slowly starts to realize that it's not what she thought it would be.
The project was completed in a one semester collaboration studio class, and explores themes of agency, exploitation, and subjugation through a feminist lens.
The film mirrors corrupt power dynamics in the entertainment industry, but is ultimately a hopeful tale (there's enough nihilism in the world!).
Lead Roles: Story Director, COMPOSITING, VISUAL EFFECTS, LIGHTING, EDITING, ORGANIC MODELING, TITLE/POSTER dESIGN
Software: Blender, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Illustrator, PHOTOSHOP, xsens motion capture
DeliverableS: short film, poster design, title design, visual effects, style frames, character model
Team: Georgia Weaver, Ethan Flynn, Nemo Rosas, Jaden Andrews, Kevin Gomez
Stills
Film
Dancer/Choreographer: Lindsey Weaver
Credits
Title Design, Poster, Story Director, Previsualization, Acting (Motion Capture), Animation, Visual Effects, Organic Modeling, Cinematography, Lighting, Color Grading, Sound Design, Editing, Compositing
Poster & Title Treatment
For The Linden Performer's poster, I decided to lean heavily into the color purple due to it being the color the marionette associates with her safe space: dancing.
Without seeing the final moments of the film, the poster may read as isolating. That is not by accident, but by design. She is lit by a single spotlight, not because she is alone, but because she's embracing her agency.
The string-like particles lead her forward, contrasting the actual string surrounding her on the floorboards. While watching the film, you'll also realize that the particles represent her flow-state and love for dance as an art.
Similarly, the title is designed with strings in mind.
Reflection & PRE-Production
The goal for The Linden Performer was to create a high quality 3D animated short film utilizing combined skillsets to then submit to film festivals. Though our concept went through many iterations, we eventually landed on a story revolving around a sentient marionette with a love for dance being taken advantage of by a puppeteer. The "silent" film then delves into the inherent power dynamic between the two as she transitions from performing in an attic without strings to performing on stage with them. After being celebrated for her sentience at the mid point, the puppeteer takes on a more sinister role than before and starts controlling her out of jealousy. She fights back, and wins.
The abstract ending follows the marionette as she falls into the void, her leitmotif and "tug-of-war" music playing as she embraces her agency.
As a group, this project was a large success, from the story we told to the process we endured. This was many of our first times working on a short film with a team on such a brutal time-crunch, and we were able to deliver in aesthetics, tone, and technical development (utilization of motion capture equipment and further exploring industry standard programs).
I was in charge of designing our protagonist who, despite being formally unnamed, was referred to as "Mary Onette" throughout production. She is hand-carved, elegant but janky.
Additionally, I created the recurring paint-like sparkle trails using geometry nodes in Blender.
Exhibitions & Awards
ASIFA IAD International Showreel, 2025
Donor Appreciation Day Exhibition, College of Arts and Architecture, Palmer Museum of Art, Screening Event and Presentation, 2025
Finalist, Bucks Country FilmFest, 2025
Official Selection, Filmmaker Sessions Volume 10, 2025
Official Selection, First-Time Filmmaker Sessions Volume 8, 2025
Motion Capture BTS
My talented sister, Lindsey Weaver, performing the improvised dances throughout the short film.
Myself and Nemo Rosas acting out non-dance scenes throughout the film with timing cues.
Using jackets to get accurate pull animations for the climax of the film. We had to get creative with this one!
