A wide shot of a ceramics studio, featuring students working with pottery wheels and other tools.

Shelley Lynn Dodson

Assistant Professor, Adjunct

Bio

Adjunct Assistant Professor in Film, Video, New Media, and Animation (2008). BFA, 2006, School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Screenings: 18th Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival; Annecy International Animated Film Festival; Athens Animfest; Black Maria Film Festival; Carrboro Film Festival; Chicago Underground Film Festival; Elgin Short Film Festival; Expotoons International Animation Festival (Argentina); Fargo Fantastic Film Festival; Fargo Film Festival; Frackfest - Oklahoma Underground Multimedia Festival; Flathead Lake International Cinemafest; Hiroshima International Animation Festival; INSANE Animation Film Festival; Los Angeles International Student Film Festival; Manchester Animation Festival; Milwaukee Film Festival; Mirror Mountain Film Festival; Naqsh Short Film Festival; Near Nazareth Festival; Punto y Raya Festival; Red Wasp Film Festival; SPARK Animation Festival; St. Louis International Film Festival. Films: Animal Landscape; The dancing Line; Fissure Ritual; How the Dodo Became Extinct; Nervous; A Conversation Over Lunch; The Scarlet Ibis and the Pink Flamingo. Awards: Black Maria Film Festival; Flathead Lake International Cinemafest

Current Interests

Shelley is an MFA Animation student at DePaul University. She is working on her thesis film, a short stop motion animated film about a deep sea octopus. This film is inspired by various nature documentaries and the powerful stories they convey about relationships between animals. Her work is also influenced by psychological studies that examine ideas of success and failure, work, tool use and other areas of human behavior.

 

Courses

Title Department Catalog Term

Description

This class focuses on the study of film language, shot composition and idea development for time based media. Through the creation of storyboards, animatics, mood boards, character designs, and concept development students gain a thorough understanding of how to develop their ideas in the pre-preproduction process. Students who work in film, video, performance, and animation will learn narrative and experimental methods. Practical, conceptual and artistic topics will be addressed.

A variety of short films and excerpts from live action films or animations will be shown in class, like work by Brad Bird or independent filmmakers like Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels. Reading excerpts on composition, editing and storyboarding will be assigned.

Coursework may vary but typically includes drawing character designs and storyboards, making animatics and some reading through weekly or bi-weeklt assignments. The final project involves concept development and a presentation, followed by a final animatic with sound.

Class Number

1603

Credits

3

Description

This class focuses on the study of film language, shot composition and idea development for time based media. Through the creation of storyboards, animatics, mood boards, character designs, and concept development students gain a thorough understanding of how to develop their ideas in the pre-preproduction process. Students who work in film, video, performance, and animation will learn narrative and experimental methods. Practical, conceptual and artistic topics will be addressed.

A variety of short films and excerpts from live action films or animations will be shown in class, like work by Brad Bird or independent filmmakers like Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels. Reading excerpts on composition, editing and storyboarding will be assigned.

Coursework may vary but typically includes drawing character designs and storyboards, making animatics and some reading through weekly or bi-weeklt assignments. The final project involves concept development and a presentation, followed by a final animatic with sound.

Class Number

1424

Credits

3

Description

This class introduces students to the design, construction, and filming of 3D-puppet animation (stop motion) through a diverse range of materials and techniques. Students gain experience in making puppets, creating an environment and learning lighting and cinematography. Through demonstrations and in class animating, students gain experience in animation techniques related to timing and performance. Practical, conceptual and artistic methods are explored.

A variety of stop motion examples will be shown, from classic animators like Ray Harryhausen to more contemporary animators like Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels. Past student work will also be shown as examples of creative and effective works of stop motion.

An assignment is given every week. Half way through the semester, students present storyboards and concept development for a final project which involves the creation of puppets, a cohesive environment and shooting at least one of animation.

Class Number

1421

Credits

3