Creating a stop-motion animated short film and premiering it at a professional film festival may not be part of a typical therapeutic plan, but for the youth at Our Third Place, it became a reality.
Taking a creative approach at therapy, Our Third Place brought youth together to create an animated stop-motion short film and recently premiered it at a professional film festival.
Almost a year after completing Thin Air, a short film about the mental health challenges youth face in a post-COVID-19 world, the team behind the film watched its debut at the Valley Film Festival on August 6.
Fifteen teens and young adults as well as therapists from Our Third Place partnered with students and staff from the San Diego State University’s Television, Film and New Media program to collaborate on this impactful creative endeavor.
The project enabled the youth to engage in character development, screenwriting, and voice acting through weekly in-person workshops led by industry professionals. This notable project was one of the many creative and innovative forms of engagement, treatment, and skill-building offered by Didi Hirsch.
This month’s screening was just the beginning. Thin Air is also an official Selection by the Glendale International Film Festival, taking place this fall. Keeping with the tradition of using digital arts to engage our youth, this summer’s cohort is building animation skills and applying them to a variety of different concepts, allowing each individual to express their unique perspective.
