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Middle Tennessee State University's College of Media and Entertainment and Department of Media Arts celebrated a milestone at the end of the fall semester with the premiere of "All One," the first original film from MT Imagine Animation Studios.
MT Imagine Animation Studios, stylized as MT IMAGINE, serves clients by creating animated content for MTSU and organizations outside the university. The studio offers paid internships, giving students in MTSU's animation program valuable experience working on real projects. In addition to client work, the studio focuses on developing original productions, such as "All One."
A live performance at the film's Dec. 12 premiere by violinist Inti Jiménez Copete, a graduate student in MTSU's Recording Industry Department pursuing a Master of Fine Arts, infused emotional depth into the vibrant animated storytelling, enhancing the immersive experience for those watching inside the Student Union Ballroom.
Adding to that experience was projecting the film on an ultrawide 48-by-12-foot LED screen assembled the day before by student volunteers under the guidance and supervision of Mike Forbes, media arts director of technical systems.
Produced by a team of over 100 students and faculty, "All One" showcases the collaborative spirit and creative talent within the university's animation program. Led by four student directors -- Skye Baxter, Stacey Marie Joan Teves, Cooper Rogers and Seth Savage -- the production united students across all academic levels.
"Our goal was to bring animation students closer to the live performance industry and to foster a sense of unity and collaboration across the program," said media arts professor Rodrigo Gómez, the film's producer. "The mix of students -- from freshmen to seniors -- created an incredible sense of collegiality and gave everyone valuable real-world experience."
The premiere was part of the animation program's traditional Animation Showcase, which drew hundreds of attendees to the evening event.
'Our students are fearless storytellers'
The production spanned months of meticulous planning and weekend animation sessions. Beginning with brainstorming sessions in the spring, the creative process continued through the summer with scriptwriting, concept design and animatic development. By fall, 80 animation students formed 16 teams, collaborating under the leadership of faculty and senior students.
"All One" follows an astronaut who experiences his separation from life and others while pealing through layers of delirium and darkness only to discover the light in the middle of a never-ending nightmare.
"Humans tend to detach from others in the face of challenges; when we meet hardship, we create layers within our drama and find it difficult to realize what life is all about. With our film, we want to express the hardship and joy, the highs and lows, the dark and the light; with our movie, we want to say: We All Are One--Together, We Are Stronger," said Gómez.
Audio production students Conrad England, Eli Ray and Jacob Martin worked alongside violinist Jiménez Copete to craft a dynamic score seamlessly integrated with the animation.
"Inti's violin gave the film a powerful, emotional tone," Gómez said. "Seeing musicians and animators collaborate so organically was inspiring. This project exemplifies what we can achieve when we combine our collective talents."
College of Media and Entertainment Dean Beverly Keel echoed this sentiment, expressing pride in the students' dedication and innovation.
"Our students are fearless storytellers, willing to go beyond traditional boundaries. They brought this project to life with unmatched energy and creativity," she said.
The premiere wasn't just a celebration of the film but a testament to the groundbreaking opportunities offered by the college. From using advanced software to designing for a nontraditional 4:1 screen ratio, students gained valuable hands-on experience that helps prepare them for their future careers.
Rewarding, challenging experience
Skye Baxter, one of the student directors on "All One," said, "Working on this project was an entirely new experience for me, but the outcome and process were so rewarding."
Baxter said she led a team of around 25 people with different experience levels.
"The role itself included teaching the newer students in a short amount of time because some had never touched the software before. It was an approach I had to get accustomed to. They produced such incredible work, though, that by the end of it, I felt proud for them, Baxter said.
"The teamwork you see come out in people under a time crunch is remarkable and inspiring. My people and project management skills developed from this project more than anything. I learned to be clear and concise with direction so to avoid any miscommunication, especially within a team of such a large size," Baxter continued.
"During the premiere, the expansiveness of the project really dawned on me. It isn't often I get to see a culmination of everyone's art styles in one place. It was mesmerizing."
Cooper Rogers, also a student director on the film, said working on "All One" was full of rewards and challenges.
"The most rewarding part of the project was the premiere. Before it was screened, the production team (the students who signed up to work on the film) had yet to learn the final result. From the point when they finished their portions of the film up to the premiere, they would express their excitement and were eager to see their work on the big screen," Rogers said.
"That night, once the premiere was over, everyone got to socialize for some time. Being able to see and hear how pleased everyone was with their work, how ecstatic they were to have a large crowd see it, and how much they enjoyed working on this massive project with other students felt amazing. Other students also said they would love to do more work like this with MT Imagine, which is what we hope students strive for. But in the end, it was very rewarding knowing that these students had a great time working on this film while also feeling accomplished and proud of their work."
The project also brought students closer to the live performance industry, leveraging MTSU's proximity to Nashville's entertainment hub while also offering an inclusive production experience, uniting animation students and faculty across all levels to work together. The title "All One" reflects this mission.
The project was made possible through funding from MT Imagine, the College of Media and Entertainment and Undergraduate Research Experience and Creative Activity, or URECA, grants, which supported the collaboration and creative efforts.
As "All One" begins its journey to the animation festival circuit, it sets the stage for future collaborations and innovations at MT Imagine Animation Studios.
"We've awakened the creativity monster at MTSU," Gómez said. "There is no stopping now."
Stacey Tadlock
