2021
2d and 3d Animation
Completed in May 2021.
Directed by Minori Uemura
Produced by Hsiu -Hsiu
Faculty Advisor: Raquel Coelho
Nai Nai tells a very personal story of a grandma with a traumatic past, faced with a family situation that will test her spirit. Most of the film was done in 3d – these scenes depicting the present times – with a section in 2d showing grandma’s memories of the past..
The team reached out to the Collective seeking a mentor to their enhance the visual style of the film, so we paired them with J.P. Balmet, SHM Film Collective board member and Art Director at Dreamworks TV Animation.
Bringing a lot of VisDev experience to the table, J.P. was able to offer the team some great advice.
“Nai Nai” was done entirely online, during the lockdown phase of the covid19 pandemic. It was definitely challenging to nail the style and to complete the film, which runs 6:50 long. But with a lot of persistence, organization and hard work the team was able to complete the film on time for graduation. The short film won several animation festivals, and was screened in different cities, states and countries.
Testimonials
“JP has been an exceptional mentor to our BFA project, Nai Nai, especially to the vis dev team. He has taken the time to draw over our characters and paint over the colorscript as well as given some valuable advice on how to work as a team creatively and collaboratively. His willingness to share his artistic knowledge and industry experiences are valuable lessons that we’ve learned from. “
“The SHM Film Collective has been super invaluable for us in achieving stylistic choices in our film. We were grateful to meet JP, who was our mentor for Visdev. Throughout the process, JP was accommodating and offered us insightful feedback on making appealing characters. (Most times, he would even walk us through draw-overs and paint-overs.) In addition to feedback for our characters, JP would take a look at our colorscripts and 2D stills and offer realistic approaches in creating a mood-setting believable environment. Having JP as our mentor has been super helpful in streamlining our visdev process during the fall semester. We’re currently in the animation pipeline and will, hopefully, will be finished with the film by the end of the semester!
A little bit about J.P Balmet
J.P. Balmet (Jean-Paul Balmet) is a concept designer and illustrator working in Los Angeles. He graduated in 2007 with a degree in animation/illustration from San Jose State University, where he has also taught and lectured. Balmet has created work for a range of clients including Lucasfilm, Dreamworks Animation, Electronic Arts, and Wizards of the Coast, among others. When he is not working, he enjoys photography, writing, playing music, and hiking with his wife. He is currently a Design Supervisor at Dreamworks.
Check J.P Balmet’s art station page here
““My experience as a mentor on Nai Nai has been really rewarding. I definitely feel more connected to SJSU and what’s happening with the program. As always, the passion of SHM filmmakers is strong, and it’s great to meet and discuss ideas and direction. I was able to assist with Art Direction advice in the form of character and environment art notes, discussion around mood and tone in the color key/lighting, and ways to get the most out of 3D assets to serve the intent of the design/story. The students have a vision for their project and it’s cool to see what they decide to take and discard as this really is about helping them to best achieve their personal filmmaking goals. I would do it again in a heartbeat!”.
SHMfilmcollective.org 