1) Can you talk briefly about your background, and how you first got interested in filmmaking?

Visual art has been my most natural mode of expression ever since I can remember, being raised in a family of artists. I grew up drawing everything I saw, dreamt of, and imagined. In high school I got more interested in the film world. I knew my career would involve art, and when it was time to declare my major at Massachusetts College of Art & Design, animation piqued my interest as the ideal combination of film and fine art. Since then, I have fallen in love with animation, particularly stop motion. Moving images are the most complete way I have found to express myself.

2) What was the initial idea and how did it evolve from there?

My filmmaking process usually begins with an image that mysteriously appears in my mind. For Waste Away, I was intrigued by the image of a homeless woman digging into her stomach to reveal a live fish in her uterus. I’ve always lived in big cities, and have grown up observing city life and how poorly the urban environment and those living in it are treated. Since the injustices of our world are on my mind constantly, I thought that the image of the woman and the fish had to have a deeper meaning. The notion of motherhood is what helped me connect the initial mysterious image to my concerns about the world. So, Waste Away became the story of a homeless woman who finds the strength to survive by mothering a fish, symbolizing nature, both mistreated by the world. From there, the rest was bringing my vision to life through the beautiful medium of stop motion!

3) What was the biggest challenge in making this film? And generally what part of the creative process do you enjoy the most? 

Since Waste Away touches on relevant issues in the world today, my biggest creative challenge was to ensure that my film would not be lost in the mix of environmental and social PSA films. I had to find a way to express these issues in a unique way. To achieve this, I used surrealism and symbolism to indirectly express the core themes of the film, which leaves the film open to broader interpretation. 

I definitely enjoy the pre-production part of filmmaking the most. A world of possibilities is opened by dreaming up new concepts and developing them so they can be executed in the best way possible. The world is my oyster! Plus, I absolutely love stop motion fabrication. I find it very meditative and I love seeing the world I created come together even before the shooting begins. 

4) What’s a film you’ve seen recently, new or old, that you really loved and why?

I recently rewatched Waking Life, which I hadn’t seen since high school. Wow, do I ever appreciate it so much more now that I’m an animator and old enough to understand it. It’s BEAUTIFULLY rotoscoped and incredibly well-written. Richard Linklater is a philosophy genius.

Speaking of rotoscope animation and good writing, during my quarantine I also binge-watched the show Undone. It is a captivating story that will linger in your thoughts for weeks, with similar themes to Waking Life. So exciting to see adult animation reaching new heights!

5) What’s next for you?

Having just graduated into a COVID-19 world, there’s a lot of uncertainty about the future. I’m looking to intern at a studio and maybe do some freelancing. However, I’m excited to keep creating new work and see where life takes me next!

—

http://ellystern.com

IG: @elly_stern