mEET “dORMI”

Dormilón has worked as a Janitor at La Luna Theatre for what feels like centuries. Dormi is left with the entire theater, now abandoned, to himself. Although this presents the opportunity for him to be the star performer he’s always wanted to be, he still lacks the confidence to do so. Still only able to execute his vision through his dreams.

Dormi takes pride in the theater and does his best to care for it. Ironically sweeping the rare space of floor that isn’t covered in film reels or craft supplies, for example.

FILM sYNOPSIS

Dormilón lovingly cares for the abandoned cinema he’s made a home. Every night he records his dreams, in which he is the star performer of the theater, rather than its former-janitor. On a stormy night, Dormi’s carefully crafted life is challenged when his nightmares accumulate and confront him. Dormilón will have to overcome his fears and embrace his insecurities to be a more complete version of himself.

FILM INDEPENDENT PROJECT INVOLVE

‘Dormilon’ is a short project supported by Film Independent’s Project ​Involve. The program has supported diverse creators for over 30 years, ​providing mentorship and financial support to young filmmakers to make ​short films, and take the next steps in their career. The animation track is ​specifically sponsored by the Oscar-winning stop-motion animation studio ​LAIKA, from which the fellows receive mentorship throughout the ​program, as well as from other stop-motion and live-action filmmakers. ​The film is shot entirely in Los Angeles, with all fellows and most of the ​crew residing here, but also artists involved from around the country.

progression of DORMILÓN

Character Design

by Nathan Kwan

ARMATURE + INITIAL FABRICATION

BY JIM RANDALL

FINAL FABRICATION

+ PAINTING

BY SYDNEY MILLS

EARLY ANIMATION TESTS

CONCEPT ART

STORYBOARDS

WIP PROPS + PROP DESIGNS

team

Olivia is a stop motion animation filmmaker. She received her Master’s in the stopmo from BAU, Barcelona School of Design. Her credits include The Weight of It (2021) and The Test (2022), which premiered at this year’s BFI London Film Festival. She is the directing / writing fellow in the 2023-2024 Project Involve LAIKA fellowship program.

Katherine is a writer/producer based in LA. She most recentlyworked at Netflix in animated features, and served as a development consultant for Stage 32, and previously worked at Walt Disney, MGM Studios, NBCUniversal, and the Jim Henson Company. She is the producing fellow in the 2023-2024 Project Involve LAIKA fellowship program.

bRANDON DIEP bUI

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

Brandon is a creative executive/producer born and raised in LA. He currently works at Walt Disney Animation Studios, and previously worked at Netflix, Illumination, Universal, and Cartoon Network. He is a creative executive fellow in the 2024 Project Involve fellowship program.

Sydney has worked as an Animation Timer on animated shows such as ‘Futurama’, ‘Disenchantment’, and ‘Fired on Mars’. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Film/Animation/Video. She is the animation fellow in the 2023-2024 Project Involve LAIKA fellowship program.

Tiffany is an editor born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. A graduate of USC’s film production program, she has worked extensively across live action and animation. Her editing work has been featured at festivals including SXSW, Tribeca, Slamdance, and the LA Asian Pacific Film Festival. She currently works at Titmouse and is a member of the Motion Picture Editors Guild. She is the editing fellow in the 2023-2024 Project Involve LAIKA fellowship program.

Lakmé is an Australian cinematographer based in Los Angeles. A graduate of the American Film Institute, she works on both live action and stop motion projects, with experience in features, shorts and commercials. She is the cinematography fellow in the 2023-2024 Project Involve LAIKA fellowship program.

Myke is a director / writer / story artist who has helped craft the stories for some of the best animated feature films including Oscar-nominated Nimona, Mitchells vs The Machines, and The Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon to name a few. Working on projects for Netflix, Marvel Studios, Sony Pictures Animation, Illumination Entertainment, Aardman among many others, Myke’s strength is cinematic and meaningful visual storytelling in 2D, 3D, 4D, Live action, VR, social and experiential projects. His passion for moving pictures expands to writing, directing, editing, teaching as well as mentoring emerging animation and story artists.

Alice is production designer / art director, who has built her career in stop-motion. She was art director on the Oscar-nominated and BAFTA Award-winning Kubo and the Two Strings and was assistant art director on The Boxtrolls, which also garnered Oscar, Golden Globe, PGA and BAFTA nominations. She was nominated for a Visual Effects Society award in 2013 for her work on LAIKA’s ParaNorman and was part of the art department on such seminal animated feature films as Fantastic Mr. Fox and Corpse Bride.

Felicia is originally from NYC and is an award winning Art Director, Stop Motion Animator and Prop Fabricator. While working on a Pretzel Soap Opera, she up an arsenal of tiny props; so she taught herself how to shoot, puppet and edit stop motion shorts. Her work has been featured on the big screen, television, music videos and even in space (not actually, but she has done work for NASA). She has a cat named Pyramid Scheme and she thinks he’s really cool.

Rachael is a multifaceted art director, miniaturist, and prop fabricator, primarily working in film and television, with an emphasis and passion for stop motion, and has recently ventured into visual merchandising. Her profound love for storytelling, and her innate attention to detail is what distinguishes her portfolio. Her work is currently on display at The Gagosian in Paris, and was recently featured in the Christian Dior takeover at Saks Fifth Avenue for the holiday window displays, earning acclaim as the #1 holiday window display in NYC by Business Insider. Rachael received a BA in Drama at The Claire Trevor School of the Arts at UC Irvine.

Chandey is an actress / writer / producer driven by a passion for storytelling and exploring the human condition. With a background in creative coaching, she provides invaluable support to the creative process, managing productions and leading teams. Chandey is also an accomplished actress appearing in various films and episodic television for CBS, CW, Disney and Lifetime to name few; as well as numerous commercials and stage performances.

Imani is a writer, producer and a film programmer at the American Cinematheque in Los Angeles. A recent LA transplant from Chicago, she has produced short films, web series and indie feature films, as well as programmed independent repertory screening series around the city of Chicago, and curated a digital platform for local filmmakers. She was the programming fellow in the 2023 Project Involve fellowship program.