March

Stephen Rivas

New Canaan, CT

BFA (3D Animation)

Advisor: Dennis Recchia

3D Animation
2 min 8 sec
Link to March

Growing up, one of Stephen’s favorite hobbies was music. He loved movie soundtracks such as the music from the Star Wars saga, understanding at an early age how the soundtracks of both movies and games could enhance the overall experience. Stephen grew up playing the violin and piano. The piano in particular was special to him as his grandfather played very well and served as a role model and teacher. Stephen was awestruck by the skill his grandfather demonstrated in playing classical repertoire with ease. Stephen’s particular favorite was Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca (Turkish March). It inspired him to learn to play the piano. He stuck with his piano lessons throughout childhood, despite competing activities and distractions, and made it his personal goal to master the technique needed to play his favorite piece. Almost ten years later, through hard work, diligence and perseverance, Stephen achieved his goal. In his senior project, Stephen explores the theme of perseverance. He invokes feelings of satisfaction and reward, resulting from perseverance and dedication to mastering a difficult challenge. He also explores the bond between grandfather and grandson, and of passing down family traditions and legacies through multiple generations. He hopes that his project evokes warm memories of the audience’s own experiences with family.

Artist Bio

Stephen Rivas has been interested in 3D animation since he was a kid. Growing up, he would spend hours with his father playing video games like Battlefront II, or Knights of the Old Republic II on the computer. He would also watch movies with his family, such as the Star Wars saga, The Incredibles, Toy Story, Cars, and many more. From a young age, Stephen knew he wanted to study and to eventually build a career in the digital media realm. In high school, Stephen took numerous design classes, acquiring skills in various applications such as Photoshop. He also took his first 3D animation class and became enraptured with the prospect of adding movement to art. Remembering the movies and games he enjoyed so much, Stephen knew he wanted to create animations for future generations to enjoy as he did. Stephen would pursue this desire through his BFA in Digital Media and Design with a concentration in 3D Animation at the University of Connecticut, where he enjoys all aspects of the 3D pipeline, but particularly enjoys lighting, rigging, and the simulations. He also enjoys drawing, painting, and photography.

https://stephenrivas.myportfolio.com/

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