coaster [2019]

Animated Short Film/ USA/ 8.28 min

Back in 2012, I was trying relentlessly to finish my Junior year short film. Veteran Disney animator Dan Lund was visiting our school and reviewed our work. Since it was my first animated short, I did not necessarily know what I was doing, however, I was sure that some of my most cliché Swiss qualities - organization, punctuality, and precision - would allow our team to create a professional pitch that at least would not embarrass ourselves. I applied each and every note Dan gave me, and from that day on, Dan started mentoring me throughout the completion of my two student short films "Broken Wing" and "Swan Cake."

After graduating from university, finding a job was overwhelming. I was in a country far from home, homesick, and trying to navigate the complex dynamics of immigration procedures. When I finally managed to find my dream job at Paramount Pictures, I soon found myself unemployed due to visa issues, only to be rehired a couple of months later, and laid-off once again when the movie I was working on got cancelled. I spent sleepless nights consumed by the uncertainties of life, my career, and what to do next, repeating to myself “Wow, life is such a roller coaster.” I soon learned that with a change of perspective, life could be exciting and fun, I just had to enjoy the ride through the ups and downs, twists and turns, like a child would on a roller coaster.

COASTER is the result of a creative breakfast during which, while catching up with Dan, for the first time I said at loud “Wow, life is such a roller coaster” and then added “… literally.”

After mentoring me throughout my last 2 years of university, hiring me to co-produce and art direct his short "Aria for A Cow," COASTER became our latest collaboration -- one that challenged me to visually translate this fascinating metaphor into a narrative that all can relate to. It is a project that reminded me that no one needs permission to tell a story, especially if lucky enough to have the kindness, talent, and creative energy of someone like Dan who a few years ago thaught me how movies are made.

Because COASTER is based on such a universally appealing message, I hope it will resonate with audiences regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity and/or sexual orientation.