Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes)
“Inspired by interviews with immigrants from Latin America – many of whom made a dangerous journey to the United States – Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) is a celebration of the resiliency and camaraderie that can be built as strangers become friends, friends become family, and the music plays on.”
Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) was performed at La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego, CA. As the Assistant Projections Designer, I was primarily responsible for creating riveting animation and motion graphics for the production.
Compass
The Compass animation was one of the primary features throughout the Fandango for Butterflies (and Coyotes) production. Both the designer and director loved the idea of using a compass to symbolize the passage of time and directional shifts for an immigrant to the United States. The design is based on a mural at the Latin Cultural Center in Dallas, TX. The slow, alternating rotations in the compass represent the inevitable change, for better or worse, in a journey across the American border.
An animated video of a compass rotating in various directions was used to represent the journey of immigration to the United States.
Train Tracks
La Bestia is an infamous train traveling across Latin America that can bring immigrants closer to the U.S. border. However, the train is known to cause severe injuries or death to some of its attempted riders. These rotating train tracks were featured in the “Desert scene” as characters discussed their journey to America. The goal was to create a spooky and somber representation of La Bestia’s travel. The glow was developed with the saber plug-in for Adobe AfterEffects.
Rotating train tracks with a red glow.
This option for rotating train tracks has a simple clock mask transition. Although it wasn’t used in the final production, it was among the top contenders for the train track animations.
Rotating train tracks with a clock mask transition.
To keep up with the amount of changing projections, video transitions needed to be more creative. So, I created a an “ink blob” shaped transition to add movement to still images.
The designer also wanted to add a saber glow effect behind the changing images to separate them from the rear facade wall.
Another important animation for the production was a serpent mentioned in the script. The designer wanted to feature an ouroboros, a snake eating its own tail. A glow effect was also added to the animation.