During the height of Covid-19, I was asked to create a motion graphics commercial for the School of Performing and Visual Arts—a piece that reminded people that, even in the toughest times, we weren’t going anywhere. The message was simple but powerful: We’re still here. We’re still open. We’re artists, we’re a family—and we’re not giving up.
I wasn’t sure at first, but I leaned into the challenge. I ended up spending a day and a half straight just editing—painstakingly syncing every image and transition to the beat of the music. I pulled together every photo and video the SPVA had—some of them even came from students’ Instagram posts—to make sure the story felt real and human. After all that effort, I was honestly nervous to show it. But the first word out of my director’s mouth was just: “Damn.” That reaction alone made the work worth it.
In February 2021, the video won a Golden Addy and the Judges’ Choice Award for student work—an unforgettable moment that reminded me just how powerful creative storytelling can be.
