Safta

Safta is a documentary that Ruth Fertig is making for her MFA thesis. It is based on her grandmother's diary from the Holocaust. Safta means "grandmother."

I am working on developing animated imagery for the film. Here are some images based on family photographs that Ruth provided me with. They start out more literal, then become more expressionistic. Click on an image to see a larger version.

I will be adding more images and experiments as the project progresses.

Click on image to open larger version in new window.


Ruth's Uncle

Ruth's Sister

Ruth's Sister

Ruth's Uncle


Ruth's Great-Aunt (the blob on her lap was an accident)

Ruth's Grandma with Ruth


Unidentified Couple, Friends of Grandparents
Animation test- Doctor & older woman
(Only the woman is animated, the doctor is a layer on top of her.
The chest is animated a little funny. Based on drawing from Terezin)

Animation test- Safta & balloon
(As I was drawing this I had a sense of déjà vu. Then I remembered I animated almost the exact same scene when I was 17)
Animation test- flower blooming.
Roto from time lapse.
Animation test- balloons,
cut paper and string
Color test- Oil Pastel, then Crayon
Two frame test- Moving eyes,
Oil Pastel & Prisma Color Pencils
The film is still at a very rough stage. It includes Super 8 footage, archival images, and animation. You can watch the animatic of just the animation, or look at the rough edit of the film which has storyboards where the animation will go.

View Animatic for animation portion Click here
View Rough Edit Click here