WXFF 2020: Flora Rees-Arredondo
Join us for an interview with another one of our amazing Women X filmmakers, Flora Rees-Arredondo, director of the beautiful animation, Malinchista, which is part of our Redefining Belonging strand. Here, she speaks to us about her artwork and animation, the power of words, and the themes she would like to work on in the future.
Tell us about yourself and the work you do
I am a Latinx Background Painter and Indie Filmmaker who just graduated with a BFA in Animation/Illustration at San Jose State University! I was a Production Intern at Cartoon Network on Victor and Valentino, directed the short film Malinchista, and am currently working as a Freelance Designer in animation. I spend my free time creating artwork and content that supports unheard voices in order to create a positive impact on the society we live in!
What was it about animation that best suited this story and how to tell it?
There aren't any documented images or accounts of La Malinche besides the drawings of her in the Florentine Codex and letters written by Spanish conquerors, which are probably biased. I wanted to demonstrate the beauty of Aztec and Mexican culture through animation, by drawing inspiration from native artwork.
How did you develop the animation style for this film?
I spent a whole summer reading every textbook I could find in LA libraries about Aztec culture and La Malinche. I wanted to stylize the film while drawing inspiration from the artwork created during the Aztec empire while La Malinche was alive. Anne Maslen (Storyboard Artist and Lead Character Designer), Brianna Lundgren (Storyboard Artist and Lead Character Designer), Leti Castellano (Producer, Head of Story, and Designer), and I ideated hundreds of ideas until we settled on the production design. The animation style was developed by our Technical Director and Head of Animation Tacy Manis, who spent months experimenting with 2D puppets and texturised, seamless animation in Toon Boom Harmony. Julie Thompson, our Head of Animation, figured out how we could get the abstract poem sequence to flow smoothly with only two cuts. We all buckled down and animated during crunch time while helping each other troubleshoot the rigs.
What is your proudest moment of your career so far?
The proudest moment of my career has been finishing Malinchista with my amazing crew, despite all the difficulties presented by COVID-19 restrictions. I couldn't have asked for a better team to work with, and will recommend any of them in a heartbeat.
Why do you feel that there is such power in reclaiming slurs?
Words have meaning, and have changed the course of history. If we can change the meaning of a word, we can change how people feel about themselves and others, which empowers them to change the world. If we let slurs keep their power, then they will continue to oppress those they were created for.
The film has the beautiful message of “use your tongue as your sword” - what does that mean to you as a female filmmaker and creative?
"Use your tongue as your sword" is part of the spoken poem written by Anne Maslen and Leti Castellano, who spent weeks researching Chicana writers. As a team, we spoke actively about what it means to be a woman in our daily lives and careers. Too many women feel like they don't have the space or worth to speak, even when their opinion could be a positive force in this world. I want every person who watches Malinchista to feel that their words are important to themselves and the people around them. Words can be a sword, and we should be using our tongues to help empower our communities. I will use my own words to create diverse content within the animation industry.
What are you working on at the moment/next?
I'm focusing on promoting Malinchista, and wrapping up bonus content like our original soundtrack! Once I get over burnout, I have a list of short film ideas I want to work on.
Tell us three things you're grateful for?
I'm grateful for Zoom, my community, and essential workers.
What three things do you always have on your bedside table?
A book, a wrist brace (artist carpal tunnel), and my red Hydro Flask.
What themes do you want to explore in your future work?
I've dedicated my career and life to promoting unheard voices in the media. I usually create content based on my Mexican heritage, so that I can connect with others through my story. However, when I start a new project with a perspective I'm unfamiliar with, I spend most of my time doing research in order to tell their story as authentically as possible. I spend a lot of my free time reading books, watching films, and listening to podcasts in order to better understand the world around me. I'd love to help other POC and women tell their stories through animation or illustration.
