Short-films, video games or immersive simulations are produced at MAGIC as a capstone project during the second academic year. All students are granted the opportunity to pitch an idea for aproject, selection is done in two phases: The first selection panel is composed by MAGIC staff, faculty, MDC administrators and members from the community actively engaged in the arts, film,animation or video game production. Selection is based on having an original idea, strong and defined characters, production feasibility and the potential to elevate MDC MAGIC and our community through its message.
On the second phase, selected students pitch their story to executives and professionals from animation studios currently partnering with MAGIC. The selection is then made based on their commercial prospects, ability to engage an audience and a story line which allows further development. During the 2016/17 academic year, “Levitate” and “Dine & Dash” were mentored by Nickelodeon, and “New World Order” by Fox Animation.
Class of 2020
“Amazônia – A Virtual Journey into the Amazon Forest” created in partnership with The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Produced by Segundo Correas & Steve Camacho ; Art Leads by Emily Lao, Sarah Loeber & Maria Camila Sanchez Mejia; Gaming & Programming by Lead Daniel Centanni; Narrated by Viviam Lopez . Faculty: Mel Tomeo, Alvaro Sanint and Mauricio Ferrazza
“InterGalactic Food Truck” created by Laura Manresa & Rafael Antonio Morales
Produced by Amanda Linares & Amber “Aurora” Leonard; Original Music Composition by Joseph Guerra & Alexander Ruiseco (NWSA) Faculty: Juan Borrero
“What’s the Buzz!?” created by Daniel Cortes
Produced by O’Neal Isaacs & Daniel Ozuna; Original Music Composition by Nicolas Velasquez (NWSA); Character Voices by Daniel Cortes, Vianca Collazo, Frank Montoto & Roly Gutierrez (NWSA). Faculty: Silvia Sayas
“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 Game Development
Class of 2019
SIBERIA, THE FROZEN FRONT, created by Viacheslav Burmistrov
Produced by Thomas Villanueva and Kenny Zambrano. Original Soundtrack by Indira Labanino-Leon. Project Mentor: Leah Hoyer.
Download the app and play (Siberia the Frozen Front presented by MAGIC): Google Play and Apple Store
THE BERLIN WALL, AN AUGMENTED REALITY SIMULATION, collaborative group project.
A virtual reality simulation of the story of the rise and fall of the Berlin Wall and reunification of Germany after the cold war. Animation Lead: Elias Soler and Gaming Lead: Oliver Simkovski. Original Soundtrack by Nicolas Velasquez. Selected to be part of the “Wunderbar Together” initiative by the German General Consulate, celebrating 30 years of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Download the app and play (Berlin Wall presented by MAGIC): Google Play
TOYING EMOTIONS, created by Victoria Garcia
Produced by Angela Prudhomme. Original Soundtrack by Nicolas Velasquez.
FOXY’S STYLE, created by Lourdes Avila
Produced by Alexis Garcia. Original Soundtrack by Jose Luis Hernandez. Project Mentor: Drew Tolman
Class of 2018
MEMENTO MOIRA, created by Tara Remmen
Memento Moira is about a girl who moves into a new town. While settling into her new house, she learns something strange about it that causes ghosts to become restless and unruly. Produced by Shaina Dorval, Alaina Dorval, Veronica Gonzalez, and Marilyn Hernandez. Original Soundtrack by Luis Hernandez. Project Mentor: Kimberly Dennison.
ENDLESS CYCLE, created by Katelyn Goldstein
Endless Cycle is a character driven series focusing on the themes of business, healthcare and immigration throughout multiple US American communities and the families they encompass. Produced by Vanessa Sanchez, Matthew Chong, Julia Martinez, and Katelyn Goldstein. Original Soundtrack by Luis Hernandez. UNIVISION Project Mentors: Selymar Colon, Ricardo Weibezahn and Mauricio Rodriguez Pons.
MORPHO, created by Antonio Cardenas
The story is about the bond between a shape-shifting alien stranded on Earth and a 7-year-old stargazer called Dodi. Produced by Emilio Galindo. Original Soundtrack by Ari Blik. VIACOM Project Mentors: Miriam Luciow and Gigi Gomez.
VOID, created by Richard J Field
Available for PC & Android. Original Soundtrack by Jamal Tumbull. Project Mentor: Leah Hoyer
Class of 2017
LEVITATE, created by Sofia Raffo
This is the story of a special girl on a journey to find her inner self, a tale that help kids learn to overcome their fears. Produced by Ashley Saludes and Original Soundtrack by Jose Luis Hernandez & Andrew Gonzales. VIACOM Project Mentors: Miriam Luciow and Gigi Gomez.
NEW WORLD ORDER, created by Jonathan Fernandez
New World Order is a story about… let’s be honest: it’s about a collection of idiots. Produced by Jason A. Rivera Original Soundtrack by Andrew Gonzales. Industry Mentor: Drew Tolman
DINE & DASH, created by Laquisha Campos
Agent K, star of the Culinary Investigative Authority, is hot on the heels of America’s most notorious dine-and-dashers: Grandma Grits and her gluttonous grandkids! Produced by William Tang Original Soundtrack by Andrew Gonzales. VIACOM Project Mentors: Miriam Luciow and Gigi Gomez.
MAGIC Faculty & Staff
Mauricio Ferraza, Department Chair; Alexis Centeno, Academic Lab Manager; Ariana Fernandez, Assistant to the Chairperson; Silvia Sayas, Instructor Animation & Game Art; Mel Tomeo, Instructor Game Dev & Design; Juan Borrero, Instructor SEDT; Ana Guzman, Instructor Entec; Adjunct Faculty: Rame Rampson, Kolos Schumy, Hung-Chum Kao, Vanessa Velasquez, Alejandro Roque, Daniel Coes, Alvaro Sanint, Renata Ballo and Gabriel Ramirez. Laura Manresa Gutierrez, Office Specialist; Leonel Perez, Academic Tutor; Ieon Skepple, Academic Tutor, Mauricio Santos-Hoyos, Academic Tutor and Javier Albornoz, Audio Engineer.
Special Thanks
Dr. Eduardo Padron, Dr. Rolando Monotoya, Dr. Lenore Rodicio, Dr. Beatriz Gonzalez, Cristina Mateo, Manuel Perez, Mark Cole, The MDC Foundation, Ron Estrada, Emilce Elgarresta, Jennifer Rogers, Cesar Sakai, Leah Hoyer, Drew Tolman, Juan ‘JC’ Acosta, Miriam Luciow, Gigi Gomez, Tatiana Rodriquez, Karen Lafargue, Daniela Azurro, Leonardo Menezes, Dr. Jeffrey Hodgson, Dr Susan Epstein, Daniel Andai, David Schroeder and the New World School of the Arts.