AFA Podcast Interview: Igor + Valentine (Psyop) Directors of 'Together: A Short Film'

In the latest episode of The AFA Podcast interview series, Evan Vernon spoke with animation directors Igor + Valentine of Psyop alias Matt Smithson and David Stanfield, about their new short film Together. Made in support of  The National YoungArts Foundation, an organisation that supports the development of young artists in the visual, litearary and performing arts. Commissioned by YoungArts, Together, a short film unites the work of YoungArts alumni and notable guest artists in an enchanting animated short that underscores powerful messages of solidarity and interdependence. The animation is comprised of 1,500 individual digital frames that are all one-of-a-kind works of art with certificates of authenticity.   The film came together with the help of the independent agency Psyop and its animation duo Igor+ Valentine along with CALLEN’s Brandon Mugar and Reuben Hower. The tandem worked with writers Brandon Mugar and Reuben Hower to craft the story and idea that features original drawings and unites the work of Leticia Bajuyo, Zoë Buckman, Demetri Burke (2017 Winner in Visual Arts), Robert Chambers, Julia Chiang, Paula Crown, Isabela Dos Santos (2011 Winner in Film & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Glenn Espinosa (2016 Winner in Visual Arts), Shepard Fairey, Dara Girel-Mats (2019 Winner in Visual Arts), Sheree Hovsepian, KAWS, Yashua Klos, Jason Kraus, Catherine Labarca (2016 Winner in Visual Arts), Destiny Moore (2020 Winner in Visual Arts), José Parlá and Jean Shin (1990 Winner in Visual Arts & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts). Each frame in the film is available to purchase as a way to support YoungArts. You can watch the short film here, and buy a frame.