COLLABORATOR Q&A | MEET ANDREEA
We interviewed Andreea to find out how she became a Digital Creator, what she loves about it and if she had any top tips for aspiring animators!
What is stop frame animation?
In a few words, it's taking pictures of an object by moving it slightly and then playing them at a certain speed to create the illusion of movement.
What sparked your interest in stop frame animation?
I was always into photography, and at some point, I was doing product photography. I got into stop motion animation because I am a practical person. I love that stop motion animation is a fun way of using technology while gaining skills that can be useful regardless of age.
Why did you start doing workshops for children?
There is no question that technology represents the future. A much wider part (than we would want) of our children's life is tied to a 'screen'. As a parent, I need to give my child a way to find a purposeful use of a 'screen'. I want to give the children a tool that will not only keep their minds occupied but stimulate their creativity. I am trying to reframe the way children use their imagination. Rather than making technology the forbidden fruit, I want to use it as a trick to encourage learning.
What do you love most about animating?
I love that you do not have any limits on what you can create and that it can be applied in so many ways. You can create a clip for a project for school, a video of a friend's birthday, a video clip for a song or a cartoon with your favourite superhero.
Can you tell us what Digital Creators do?
A Digital Creator is not just making content about a topic. It's a bit of a magician that gives to a message or story emotion and the power to make us dream and believe.
You have so much Lefo, when did you start collecting?
It was actually not quite long ago. The first LEGO set I got was about 2 years ago, and the more I get, the more I want other sets.
What’s your favourite Lego set or character?
I cannot pick only one mini figure, but my favourite set from the ones I own is the Friendship Tree House. I dream of having a house like that one day. On my wish list is Winnie the Pooh, the Tree House ( I am into trees) and the majority of the Architecture, Creator and 3in1 sets.
How long does it take you to build a Lego set?
It depends on the size, but the longest it took me to build was the LEGO Boost robot – about 7 hours 🥵 to make all the moves.
What are your top 3 tips for aspiring animators?
1 - Control everything! It's most important to not have any change in light, movement of the background or the camera.
2 - Don't rush the process! When I am excited about a project, I want to finish it immediately. Still, it is equally important to take the time to plan the story, make a script and even shoot over a few days (especially for bigger projects).
3 - Have fun! The process of creation can be a bit daunting for longer videos, so have music, take breaks and dance around or even invite a friend to help you (they can be a goldmine and give you a new and better perspective on the story/message).
Do you have an animator who inspires you?
Nick Patrick, the Shaun the Sheep creator. He was very quiet as a child but found his voice through the beautiful cartoons he created using stop motion animation. Nick was actually 13 years old when he made his first stop motion video, and he spent the rest of his life bringing joy with his work.
What’s your favourite animation that you have created?
The first video I created with my daughter will always be my favourite. We used my phone and improvised a background with a blanket she had as a baby. It is so unprofessional and includes all the mistakes a stop motion animation creator can make, but it will always remind me of how much fun we had making it and how proud we both were at the end.
Find out more about Andreea at…
@cottoncandyclouds_smart