For the past five years, Nickelodeon has worked closely with Miami Dade College MAGIC program to encourage their students to create and produce animated short films, through the college’s MAGIC (Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex) mentorship program. Check out this amazing video talking about the creative and production process of the short film “A Balanced Breakfast” with interviews with the creator Brenna Verner and Nickelodeon industry mentors Miriam Luciow and Gigi Gomez.
“A Balanced Breakfast” created by Brenna Verner; Produced by Yesenia Grisales & Anthony Leon-Delgado; Original Music Composition by Nicolas Velasquez & Javier Albornoz (NWSA); Character Voices by Isabel Tucen, Isabella Stevens, Dani Vazquez, John Mazuelos & Hailey Hafer (NWSA). Faculty: Renata Ballo and Erwin Santacruz Animation and MAGIC Chairperson: Mauricio Ferrazza. The animated short premiered on Nick Jr. Latinoamerica, Nick Jr. Facebook Page, Nick Jr. Brasil, Nick Jr. Brasil Facebook Page and it was broadcasted in multi platforms in Latin America.
“Desayuno Balanceado” (en Español): Desde hace 5 años, trabajamos de la mano con Miami Dade College MAGIC para incentivar a sus estudiantes a crear y producir cortos animados, a través del programa MAGIC. ¡Echen un vistazo al increíble video elegido este año, “Desayuno Balanceado”, de @flavorkingdom!
Brenna Verner, a two-time graduate of Miami Dade College (MDC), has just seen a long-cherished dream come to life on the screens of ViacomCBS’ Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. television networks as her animated short film, A Balanced Breakfast premiered across Latin America last week.
“I am filled to the brim with overwhelming joy and gratitude. This represents nothing short of my lifelong dream. It is all I ever hoped and worked for,” Verner said. “I’m proud of myself and my team for not giving up and seeing it through despite the challenges presented by the pandemic. It was all worth it to bring this idea to life and it means the world to me to see people enjoying my creations on an international scale.”
Verner, 29, is a proud alumna of MDC’s Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex (MAGIC), a state-of-the-art animation and gaming facility at the Wolfson Campus launched in 2015 to strengthen and better position Miami as the new hub for the animation and game development industries.
Created by Verner and produced by a team of MAGIC students, A Balanced Breakfast is a 2-minute short film featuring a trio of flavorful sister princesses — Sweet, Salty, and Sour — who argue over what to make their parents for their anniversary breakfast. As all of the girls have “different tastes,” it winds up being a funny recipe for disaster. The 2D animation was created using Toon Boom Harmony, an animation software which serves as the industry standard and boasts big name productions such as Spongebob Squarepants and The Simpsons.
Verner and team were mentored and guided by MDC faculty and professionals from ViacomCBS Networks Americas (parent company of Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.) through a partnership with MAGIC to mentor students and showcase their best work.
“We are very proud of the work Brenna created together with all the students who participated in this animated film production with Nickelodeon,” said Mauricio Ferrazza, MAGIC chairperson. “Our partnership with ViacomCBS embodies the essence of the MAGIC program, working with industry partners to guide students and teach valuable skills targeting the animation industry.”
With facilities that mimic the production pipeline from PIXAR Studios, and located at MDC’s Wolfson Campus, the Miami Animation and Gaming International Complex (MAGIC) offers students an intensive, hands-on two-year program to develop skills in modeling, lighting, motion, sound, and storytelling. The program also provides an opportunity to gain command of the technical skills required in today’s highly competitive animation industry. MAGIC bridges the gap in affordability and accessibility, providing quality programming and the very best facilities at a fraction of the cost compared to private competitors. For more information, visit magic.mdc.edu.
For more information about the MAGIC program please contact Ms. Ariana Fernandez @ (305) 237-7851 or aferna15@mdc.edu
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