DMD TO THE RESCUE

 By George Beschen

The timetable was tight: three weeks. The task: create motion graphics for a documentary on an “experimental archaeology” project led by the University Museum. The pay? Nonexistent. Who can you call? Why, that major resource of energy, talent, and expertise (at the right price): SEAS Digital Media Design students!

Mobilized by student coordinator Omer Baristiran, DMD ‘02, MLA ‘04, who recognized “a good real-life experience for the students,” the five-student team created 3D animated map shots and explanatory animations for “Voyage to the American Stonehenge.” The documentary covers the story of a team of archaeologists— led by the University Museum research associate Alexei Vranich, Ph.D.— who tested a theory on the origin of the stone used to build Tiwanaku, a remote ancient city in Bolivia near Lake Titicaca. (The types of stone there aren’t indigenous to the area; the team pursued the notion that the massive stones were transported on boats made of reeds.) Using traditional techniques and only locally available materials, the archaeologists constructed a 50-foot reed boat, loaded it with a nine-ton andesite stone, and sailed across the lake.

Vranich has many ties to SEAS (see preceding story). When the New York-based documentary production company Engel Brothers sought the needed animations, Vranich knew just where to go. With Baristiran as producer and editor, the team comprised Josh Paller, DMD’05 (environment modeler and special effects); Steven Muniz, DMD’06 (object modeler for the icons on the map and the boat itself); Sonja Teich, DMD’05 (2D layout designer); Juhee Kwon, DMD’05 (3D modeling and editing); and Jean Tsong, DMD’05 (physical effects).

“We worked almost every night from 8 p.m. to midnight for about two and a half weeks to deliver the product on time,” says Baristiran. “While we were doing the production, the Yankees and the Red Sox were in the playoffs and I had two members of the team rooting for each side, so every night was filled with fun. We listened to the radio while working on our parts of the project.”

The documentary is currently in post-production. Baristiran reports that the BBC has already shown an interest in buying and broadcasting “Voyage to the American Stonehenge” in Europe.