Welcome to the AFI Conservatory Thesis Showcase 2015!

This platform celebrates the culmination

of years of hard work, dedication, and creative exploration by our talented filmmakers. Each thesis
film represents a unique vision and artistic expression, showcasing the diverse perspectives and
storytelling abilities of our graduates.

Writing a thesis is no small feat. It requires extensive research, critical analysis, and the ability to
effectively communicate complex ideas. From crafting a compelling argument to presenting original
research findings, the process can be intellectually challenging and emotionally taxing. Many
students struggle to balance their academic responsibilities with other commitments, leading to stress
and anxiety.

Fortunately, there is help available. At ⇒ HelpWriting.net ⇔, we understand the challenges

students face when writing their theses. That's why we offer professional writing services tailored to
your specific needs. Our team of experienced writers can assist you with every aspect of the writing
process, from developing a strong thesis statement to editing and proofreading your final draft. With
our help, you can overcome obstacles and achieve academic success.

Don't let the difficulty of writing a thesis hold you back. Order from ⇒ HelpWriting.net ⇔ today
and take the first step towards completing your degree with confidence. Let us support you on your
academic journey and help you reach your full potential.
This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when
you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find
most interesting and useful. I’m so proud of the hard work that our graduating Production Design
Fellows have put in during their two years at AFI, and I can’t wait for you to get to know them all a
little bit better. In their 2nd year, Fellows must design one Thesis film (a project with a larger budget
that, once completed, can enter the film festival circuit). The platform currently offers a decades-
deep library of alumni films made at the Conservatory for sale or rental, with new films being added
regularly. After this experience, he realized that his interest lies in set designing and art direction,
with the ultimate goal of being a production designer. Jim Cummings, Des. Charlie Textor) and
propmaster for NINE DAYS (Dir. She recently pursued an MFA in Production Design at the AFI
Conservatory. She has worked as a production designer and producer on a variety of short films, TV
pilots, commercials and plays. And the AFI Conservatory for making it possible to work with
tomorrow’s directors today. She is currently a participant in the ADG Production Design Initiative
program. He also has extensive experience working on commercial, high end residential design and
construction projects, staging interior design, marketing events and holidays productions in
hospitality. They would love to hear from you if you would like to find out further information about
them and their design work. He followed his love for film to the AFI Conservatory, where he will be
graduating in 2022 with an MFA in Production Design. Cookie information is stored in your browser
and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our
team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The Franklin
J. Schaffner Fellow Award, made possible through the generous support of The Franklin and Jean
Schaffner Foundation, was established in 1991 by Jean Schaffner to celebrate her husband’s creative
legacy and dedication to fostering new talent. These production projects are happening in
conjunction with classes and class assignments, so Fellows learn solid time management skills. One
of her works, BLISS AND SAD, won the Silver Award for Best Production Design in the
Independent Shorts Awards. And one of the best parts about the whole experience is the screenings
are free. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies
again. If you are looking for the place to further your education in the area of Motion Picture and
Television Design please consider our two year MFA program in Production Design at the AFI
Conservatory. Graduates finish with either a Master of Fine Arts degree or Certificate of
Completion. They are on average, between their late-20s and mid-30s when they start their training
at AFI. As a design manager she has designed interiors for corporate office spaces for Google,
Amazon and Microsoft, to name a few, and successfully executed these projects. Yet in most
undergrad film schools, film design is not taught and if so, barely mentioned in a class or two. They
all graduated from the American Film Institute. She began her career shortly after with the theater
projection team at Industrial Light and Magic and evolved to work on Motion Capture Stage and
with the Virtual Art Department. She worked as an assistant art director for commercials and TV
series in China. Her work has always been centered on telling unique and underrepresented stories
that challenge her abilities in world-building and thoughtful design concepts. She then found her love
for storytelling and started to chase her dream as a filmmaker.
Douglas Mowat (AFI Class of 1984) BRIDESMAIDS, INCEPTION (both as set decorator). She
graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Visual Arts: Media and a minor in Studio Art. The
Production Design program also touts such faculty as Joe Garrity (BEST IN SHOW, FAMILY
TREE) and Todd Cherniawsky (AVATAR, ZERO DARK THIRTY, ALICE IN WONDERLAND).
His AFI thesis film AGAINST NIGHT is a finalist for the 2015 Student Academy Awards. The back
story and history of all the characters will inform your creative team of how to transport these
characters and their world from the page to the screen. However, for those who are accepted, the
program provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn from some of the most talented and
experienced professionals in the film industry, and to gain the skills and knowledge needed to
succeed in this competitive field. Joseph Garrity (AFI Class of 1979) FAMILY TREE, SUNSHINE
CLEANING, BEST IN SHOW, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, MY GIRL. During his journey at the
AFI Conservatory, he worked on projects that broadened his scope of genres in short films. He also
designed short films over the summer, SALTWATER and JEROME, and both are being screened at
multiple film festivals this year. She began her career shortly after with the theater projection team at
Industrial Light and Magic and evolved to work on Motion Capture Stage and with the Virtual Art
Department. The Franklin J. Schaffner Fellow Award, made possible through the generous support of
The Franklin and Jean Schaffner Foundation, was established in 1991 by Jean Schaffner to celebrate
her husband’s creative legacy and dedication to fostering new talent. AFI also tapped one of its own
alumnae, Neema Barnette, as a Directing faculty member. He is always eager to expand his
knowledge and embrace new challenges. With a diverse background in art, design and film, she
brings a unique perspective to every project, elevating storytelling through meticulous attention to
detail and innovative design choices. Her design skills were later enhanced during her time at RSP
design consultants. In December 2015, DWW added a new job placement program with Lifetime.
He was also in the RISD ROVER team designing and building a NASA Mars Rover for two years
and won the Second Prize in 2019 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge. She graduated from
Harrington in Chicago with High Honors earning a B.F.A. in Interior Architecture. The picturesque
eight-acre campus is in the center of the professional filmmaking community with easy access to
studios, networks and post-production facilities. It is a program of the American Film Institute
(AFI), a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of American film
heritage. She studied a Bachelor of Arts double majoring in English Theatre Studies and the History
and Philosophy of Science at the University of Melbourne, and completed a Masters of Fine Arts in
Production Design supported by the Screen Australia-Onbass Fellowship at the American Film
Institute Conservatory. They are on average, between their late-20s and mid-30s when they start
their training at AFI. They would love to hear from you if you would like to find out further
information about them and their design work. Miu graduated from the AFI Conservatory in 2023
with her Master of Fine Arts degree in Production Design. She progressed into filmmaking by
Production Designing a Sundance Lab scene, that became the Sundance-financed short film:
WOLVES, which went on to win various awards at festivals. According to AFI, these productions
represent AFI Fellows' rich, hands-on experience in narrative visual storytelling. Today she has the
opportunity to become part of this world, following her passion to tell stories through design. He
continues his passion for filmmaking and design at the MFA Production Design program at the AFI
Conservatory and will be graduating in 2022. In other words, they have lived and worked — as
commercial fishermen, composers, scientists, Army captains, investigative journalists, cellists, stand-
up comics and more. She is currently a participant in the ADG Production Design Initiative program.
Miu has always had a passion for creating, being able to translate concepts and words into physical
experiences, and seeing how these tangible products can be shared with others.
Joseph Garrity (AFI Class of 1979) FAMILY TREE, SUNSHINE CLEANING, BEST IN SHOW,
WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, MY GIRL. Screenings are free to the public, however seating is
limited and reservations are necessary. Her dream is to tell good stories and make interesting films
and television shows. While at Pratt, she did interior design for commercial spaces including hotels,
restaurants and smaller projects such as residential spaces and Airbnbs. Cookie information is stored
in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and
helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
She has designed multiple stage designs for theater, as well as production design for short films,
commercials and online mini-series. This means that every time you visit this website you will need
to enable or disable cookies again. They feel they have moved closer to their professional home. This
is an addition to the decades-long tradition of the larger, cross-disciplinary AFI Conservatory Thesis
Showcase. They learn to think things out - address all story, action and shooting requirements.
Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when
you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find
most interesting and useful. The back story and history of all the characters will inform your creative
team of how to transport these characters and their world from the page to the screen. These
programs are designed to give students the opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in a
specific area of film production. Production Design helps to create a story's mood with believable
spaces that visually supports the script and director's intent. This means that every time you visit this
website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. She has worked as a production designer
and producer on a variety of short films, TV pilots, commercials and plays. Brooks -- the producer of
The Simpsons and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, mentor of Cameron Crowe and Wes Anderson and
triple Oscar winner for directing, writing and producing Terms of Endearment -- as the new artistic
director. AFI also tapped one of its own alumnae, Neema Barnette, as a Directing faculty member. It
is a program of the American Film Institute (AFI), a non-profit organization that is dedicated to the
preservation and promotion of American film heritage. According to AFI, these productions represent
AFI Fellows' rich, hands-on experience in narrative visual storytelling. Many of our Directing,
Producing and Cinematography Fellows are working with Production Designers for the first time at
AFI, and they are in an MFA Program. This means that every time you visit this website you will
need to enable or disable cookies again. Her design skills were later enhanced during her time at RSP
design consultants. Is there anything you'd like to add or share about your Production Design
program. He places great value on the intricacies of human actions, habits and relationships with
objects and spaces. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as
recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections
of the website you find most interesting and useful. Yet in most undergrad film schools, film design
is not taught and if so, barely mentioned in a class or two. He is a graduate of the University of
Mumbai, with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. Cookie information is stored in your browser and
performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to
understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. At the same time,
Wen designs efficient workflow accordingly to ensure the whole team brings the creative vision to
life.
Since she has experience in many different fields of art; her biggest strength is she has a strong
understanding of design principles, architecture, art history and various artistic styles, which helps to
create a cohesive visual aesthetic as a production designer. Most people who have watched movies
over the decades may have assumed that the filmmakers found locations that just worked and shot
them. In this role, she found her love for 3D modeling and renderings, helping create conceptual
briefs into visual presentations. Our faculty is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of
storytellers. It’s an important and challenging time for each of them as they turn a new leaf. She is
talented in visualizing meaningful stories through production design, including shot, prop and set
design. You want to find similar passionate filmmakers to tell stories with that care about the world
of that story. For this reason, AFI faculty approach them as passionate and dedicated peers. This
week, the next generation of AFI filmmakers are debuting their Thesis films. They all graduated
from the American Film Institute. He is a graduate of the University of Mumbai, with a bachelor’s
degree in architecture. Prior to and during the AFI program, he worked on multiple BIPOC and
diversity short films, some of which have been selected to screen in numerous festivals including
Cannes. After being named one of the recipients of the AFI China Story Scholarship, Ustruck spent a
month in China for research and wrote his screenplay “Yi Qi.”. Over the past few years, she has
worked in the Art Department and is now looking forward to focusing on a career in Set Design. He
worked as the in-house graphic designer at Biscuit Filmworks and has contributed to art departments
for shows such as Hulu’s QUICKDRAW and events such as Seth Rogen’s HILARITY FOR
CHARITY for Netflix. After an internship at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy,
Spadafora acted as the production designer for a short film at the London Film School. During
college, her graduation project FLOW won the Jury award for landscape design in the UNI
International competition in 2020. Be a passionate and compelling collaborator on the team. He or
she has to be able to strike a balance between creative artist and businessperson. By means of these
core values, the Conservatory inspires each Fellow to discover an authentic voice. She graduated
from Tsinghua University in Beijing, with a bachelor’s degree in Environment Design in 2020. In
December 2015, DWW added a new job placement program with Lifetime. Cookie information is
stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our
website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting
and useful. Film can make you feel emotions, such as happiness, anger, and sadness, and she wants
to be able to contribute with a design that will achieve making people connect with feelings. She
began her career shortly after with the theater projection team at Industrial Light and Magic and
evolved to work on Motion Capture Stage and with the Virtual Art Department. This is an addition
to the decades-long tradition of the larger, cross-disciplinary AFI Conservatory Thesis Showcase.
One of her works, BLISS AND SAD, won the Silver Award for Best Production Design in the
Independent Shorts Awards. They would love to hear from you if you would like to find out further
information about them and their design work. He attended New York University’s Tisch School of
the Arts in pursuit of an MFA, but left to focus on screenwriting. She graduated from the Savannah
College of Art and Design, with a BFA degree in production design and art direction.
This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
AFI also tapped one of its own alumnae, Neema Barnette, as a Directing faculty member. Cookie
information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you
return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find
most interesting and useful. He then studied Production Design for his master’s degree at the
American Film Institute, where he designed his first thesis film END OF DAY, and co-designed his
second, IN WONDERLAND. Her design skills were later enhanced during her time at RSP design
consultants. Classroom training supplements the hands on production experience. Born in Salt Lake
City, Utah, she attended Brigham Young University, where she majored in advertising with an
emphasis in art direction and a minor in graphic design. His AFI thesis film AGAINST NIGHT is a
finalist for the 2015 Student Academy Awards. Cookie information is stored in your browser and
performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to
understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. This means that every
time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. They would love to hear
from you if you would like to find out further information about them and their design work. Ellie
plans on continuing to work in the Art Department with a focus on specializing in set design between
select production design projects. She has contributed to theater productions and exhibitions,
showcasing her ability to bring stories to life in various artistic mediums. Prior to attending the AFI
Conservatory, she pursued studying Fine Art for about 11 years, earned a BA degree in Fine Art and
also studied Stage Design at the Graduate School of Performing Arts, Hongik University in Seoul,
Korea. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies
again. They are on average, between their late-20s and mid-30s when they start their training at AFI.
In December 2015, DWW added a new job placement program with Lifetime. With a BFA in
Product Design from Parsons School of Design and an MFA in Production Design from the AFI
Conservatory, he has honed his skills and expertise in the field. She recently pursued an MFA in
Production Design at the AFI Conservatory. He attended New York University’s Tisch School of the
Arts in pursuit of an MFA, but left to focus on screenwriting. Drawing inspiration from diverse
cultures, ideas and people, his global perspective enriches his creative approach. The Production
Design program also touts such faculty as Joe Garrity (BEST IN SHOW, FAMILY TREE) and Todd
Cherniawsky (AVATAR, ZERO DARK THIRTY, ALICE IN WONDERLAND). She began her
career shortly after with the theater projection team at Industrial Light and Magic and evolved to
work on Motion Capture Stage and with the Virtual Art Department. The faculty is made up of
working professionals in the industry, who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the
classroom. Yet in most undergrad film schools, film design is not taught and if so, barely mentioned
in a class or two. During the course of the two years Fellows team with classmates to write, produce,
direct, shoot and edit four to ten films - up to 120 short narratives produced at AFI each year. She
worked on large accounts, including Whole Foods and Facebook Marketplace. Growing up in
Northern California, McWhorter found solace and inspiration in the captivating allure of rolling hills
and time-honored oak trees, shaping her creative journey. One of her works, BLISS AND SAD, won
the Silver Award for Best Production Design in the Independent Shorts Awards. A great production
designer pulls all the film crafts together in a seamless way to show rather than tell a complete story.
They learn to think things out - address all story, action and shooting requirements.
However, for those who are accepted, the program provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn
from some of the most talented and experienced professionals in the film industry, and to gain the
skills and knowledge needed to succeed in this competitive field. He holds eight months of
experience in an architecture firm and, after a career change, has been an assistant production
designer for over a year and a half. Pujani’s portfolio includes projects ranging from commercials to
music video, to longer projects including the film SILENCE and the web series MADE IN HEAVEN
2. As our Fellows enter into their careers soon, your advice to them means the world. In other words,
they have lived and worked — as commercial fishermen, composers, scientists, Army captains,
investigative journalists, cellists, stand-up comics and more. He followed his love for film to the AFI
Conservatory, where he will be graduating in 2022 with an MFA in Production Design. They all
graduated from the American Film Institute. Schaffner (PATTON, PLANET OF THE APES), a
longtime champion of AFI and former chair of the AFI Conservatory Advisory Committee. She’s
also worked with Film Independent, production designing the short film THE WORDS OF
CAYETANO set for release this year. At the same time, Wen designs efficient workflow accordingly
to ensure the whole team brings the creative vision to life. She studied Production Design at the AFI
Conservatory to take this journey further. Every film and TV project is an original story set in a
unique place and a different time period, so a Production Designer must love to research. He worked
as the in-house graphic designer at Biscuit Filmworks and has contributed to art departments for
shows such as Hulu’s QUICKDRAW and events such as Seth Rogen’s HILARITY FOR CHARITY
for Netflix. Recently, she graduated from at American Film Institute Conservatory with an MFA in
Production Design, while preparing to work on her first feature. We attract artists from architecture,
interior design, scenic design, theater arts and other related fields. Cookie information is stored in
your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and
helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Ellie also enjoys working in the Art Department on large scale Film and TV productions and has
experience in various roles on shows such as FRAYED S2 and PETER RABBIT 2: THE
RUNAWAY. Domit del Valle firmly believes in the importance of continuous learning, regardless of
location or experience. Place really matters when you are telling a visual story, and something is
missing when you do not care about it. Mastering the skills for genre film design, she has built
worlds for over 20 short films ranging from Chinese period pieces to American science fiction. The
platform currently offers a decades-deep library of alumni films made at the Conservatory for sale or
rental, with new films being added regularly. Many of our Directing, Producing and
Cinematography Fellows are working with Production Designers for the first time at AFI, and they
are in an MFA Program. This is our annual end-of-year event featuring the design work of our 16
graduating Second Year Production Design Fellows. This means that every time you visit this
website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. DAY ONE is about a U.S. Army interpreter
who is forced to deliver the child of an enemy bomb-maker on her first day in Afghanistan.
Associate Fellows who successfully complete the requirements will receive a Certificate of
Completion, finishing the same curriculum as the degree programs. Narrative feature film movies
have never been made by one person, they require the creative collaboration of talented storytellers
including: the Screenwriter, Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Production Designer, Costume
Designer and Editor. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or
disable cookies again. Yet in most undergrad film schools, film design is not taught and if so, barely
mentioned in a class or two. And that will happen because we will always challenge how they are
visually approaching a particular set design in a particular film inhabited by a particular character
with a unique history.
He or she has to be able to strike a balance between creative artist and businessperson. For this
reason, AFI faculty approach them as passionate and dedicated peers. In December 2015, DWW
added a new job placement program with Lifetime. If you are looking for the place to further your
education in the area of Motion Picture and Television Design please consider our two year MFA
program in Production Design at the AFI Conservatory. She graduated from Tsinghua University in
Beijing, with a bachelor’s degree in Environment Design in 2020. Fellows collectively create up to
175 films a year and graduate with the ability to confidently step onto a working set and hold their
own with any master in their chosen field. Classroom training supplements the hands on production
experience. Schaffner (PATTON, PLANET OF THE APES), a longtime champion of AFI and
former chair of the AFI Conservatory Advisory Committee. During his journey at the AFI
Conservatory, he worked on projects that broadened his scope of genres in short films. He also
designed short films over the summer, SALTWATER and JEROME, and both are being screened at
multiple film festivals this year. He places great value on the intricacies of human actions, habits and
relationships with objects and spaces. Edson Oda, Des. Dan Hermansen). Her commercial production
design clients include Team Liquid and Entrata, and her speculative personal work includes concepts
for Steven Soderbergh’s THE KNICK and Disney’s JOHN CARTER. Today she has the opportunity
to become part of this world, following her passion to tell stories through design. One of the
hallmarks of the AFI Conservatory is the great diversity of its Fellows. These production projects are
happening in conjunction with classes and class assignments, so Fellows learn solid time
management skills. Pujani’s portfolio includes projects ranging from commercials to music video, to
longer projects including the film SILENCE and the web series MADE IN HEAVEN 2. She studied
Production Design at the AFI Conservatory to take this journey further. Yet in most undergrad film
schools, film design is not taught and if so, barely mentioned in a class or two. She recently pursued
an MFA in Production Design at the AFI Conservatory. They all graduated from the American Film
Institute. Brooks -- the producer of The Simpsons and The Mary Tyler Moore Show, mentor of
Cameron Crowe and Wes Anderson and triple Oscar winner for directing, writing and producing
Terms of Endearment -- as the new artistic director. Joseph Garrity (AFI Class of 1979) FAMILY
TREE, SUNSHINE CLEANING, BEST IN SHOW, WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, MY GIRL. The
EXPO is sponsored by VIZIO — the official home theater sponsor of AFI. He is always eager to
expand his knowledge and embrace new challenges. Growing up in Northern California, McWhorter
found solace and inspiration in the captivating allure of rolling hills and time-honored oak trees,
shaping her creative journey. After achieving a BA in Media Arts Production Design and a Theater
Design minor from Utah’s Brigham Young University, her professional film credits so far include art
director for THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW (Dir. Alumni - Sharon Seymour (AFI Class of
1984) ARGO, THE TOWN, THE IDES OF MARCH. Since she has experience in many different
fields of art; her biggest strength is she has a strong understanding of design principles, architecture,
art history and various artistic styles, which helps to create a cohesive visual aesthetic as a
production designer. A great production designer pulls all the film crafts together in a seamless way
to show rather than tell a complete story. They are on average, between their late-20s and mid-30s
when they start their training at AFI. Thank you for coming and supporting the important and
collaborative role of the Production Designer in cinematic storytelling.