Bionic Buzz® got to cover The Los Angeles Animation Festival. It wrapped its 2018 festival this past Sunday as co-founders John Andrews and Miles Flanagan took to the stage to present awards to the winners.  LAAF is L.A’s only International Animation Film Festival running since 2007.

Like most indie animation in the US, LAAF is not backed  by major studios or government funding but only by entry fees and ticket sales.  Which makes one amazed how they are able to do so much with so little.  The high quality of the films attested to the fact that there are still many talented people who will work for no money.

Flanagan and Andrews were extremely enthused to present the awards as well as honor Evette Vargas for her pioneering work in VR.  I asked Vargas more about her work and the future of VR. She explained that in the future VR technology will be much more accessible and in the hands of the average person. The story telling aspect will allow people to step into real roles.

She created the professional script writing format for VR and AR in Final Draft, developing a format with 10 new elements that allows the writer to pen “simultaneous stories” in 360 degree scenes.  She hopes her work will help in animation creation which she feels is the purest of all forms of storytelling since the animator creates all aspects of an image.  The high level of talent and work at LAAF continues to impress and I am glad the founders promise it to return every year.

By Dahveed Kolodny-Nagy