My Little Robot Son
This article is about my web series My Little Robot Son (2020-??). To access the social media and youtube links vist my linktree.
My Little Robot Son is a short comedic web series that I co-write, co-edit, produce, and act in. It features live acting and stop-motion animation depicting the adventures of Little Robot and his Dad, Ralph. Together, they navigate a unique father-son dynamic in a world that is both exciting and perplexing for a teenage robot. Episodes range from a few minutes to 10 minutes in length, encompassing a tone that shifts between heartfelt moments and dorky humor with a touch of the low-brow. Designed to appeal broadly, from teens to adults, the series is currently in production, slated for release upon completion of its 8-episode season.
Production History
Development of the Pilot
Screenshot showing the first two-part pilot uploaded to Vimeo Septmeber 2020 for a Sound Design class, pivotal in the development of my current ongoing series.
In 2020, as part of a sound design assignment, I crafted the original version of this short story about a small robot (voiced by myself) residing on my desk, eager to explore beyond its confines. Utilizing voice vocoder techniques, I animated a toy robot (a stress ball shaped like a robot) through live-action and stop-motion animation. Little Robot's narrative, yearning for freedom amidst the isolation and uncertainty of the pandemic, resonated positively within my class, evolving this piece into a pilot and planting the seed for what would later become a full-fledged series.
Continuation of Development as a Series and Thesis
As the pandemic persisted, disrupting my final year at University, it became evident that my original documentary thesis was unachievable under prevailing circumstances. Expressing frustration over the shortfall in promised hands-on education, I conferred with friends and film collaborators Lucas and Matt. Lucas proposed transforming the intial concept into a web series. The initial three episodes would serve as my MFA graduate film program thesis, requiring a pitch deck outlining a full season arc and the writing of additional episodes. With Lucas assuming the role of cinematographer, I collaborated with Nick to refine and produce our own rendition of Little Robot using a 3-D printer, augmenting our stop-motion animation capabilities.
Screenshot from the second episode of Little Robot, showcasing the redesigned robot.
Chris Warren from the Sound and Music department assisted me in creating and perfecting the robot's voice, employing multiple effects and modifications through Ableton. Additionally, custom sound effects were generated using Max 8 and other tools. Experimenting with my voice proved unsatisfactory, prompting the involvement of my partner Carly, whose portrayal infused the character with unexpected humor and childlike charm, bringing Little Robot to life.
Production of the Series
Production commenced between January and March of 2021, initially focused on the first three episodes, with a subsequent fourth episode added by April. Barb joined as composer, with friends Scott and Sean, alongside Matt's cat Dupree, portraying characters in each episode. Juggling the commitment of ongoing classes and part time work posed formidable challenges during the production, editing and completion phases. Fortuitously, Hannah joined as co-editor, facilitating the organization of footage and the generation of preliminary edits for the majority of episodes. On May 6th, 2021, I presented three completed episodes to the thesis committee (with the fourth episode remaining incomplete by the deadline), receiving an overwhelmingly favorable response, culminating in my graduation.
Continued Production
Screenshot from the second episode featuring me, Ralph, in the role of a character also named Ralph.
Following graduation, my enthusiasm for the project persisted. I completed the fourth episode, and collaborating with Adam and Lucas, we began scripting additional episodes with ongoing contributions from previously mentioned collaborators. Currently, we are actively producing a comprehensive 8-episode season, having completed five episodes, with plans for additional production slated for late 2024. Despite the constraints imposed by teaching and a full-time job, I aim to average an episode per year while enhancing the quality and scope of each episode as we progress.
Film Festival Selection and Future Release
The project has begun to preview before release, screening two current drafts of episodes at the San Diego Media Arts Latino Film Festival on March 14th and 23rd, 2024. Attending alongside numerous crew members, the experience of sharing our creation with an unfamiliar audience, hearing their laughter, solidifies my belief in the series' potential. The forthcoming debut of the series is tentatively slated for late 2025 or early 2026, with aspirations for future screenings at film festivals and distribution across all major video and social media platforms.
Plot
A curious little robot learns about the human condition from his nerdy father and a series of eccentric characters they encounter. Little Robot explores topics such as the job market, dishonesty, friendship, love, and much more.
Tagline: Little gears, big heart.
Episodes
- Episode 1: I Want to See the World
- Episode 2: Wrong End of the Job
- Episode 3: Madam Fuzzili
- Episode 4: A Little Help from My Friend
- Episode 5: A Binary Affair
- Episode 6: Ghost and the Machine
- Episode 7: My Little Robot...Star?
- Episode 8: Oh, SHART (part 1 & 2)
Collaborators
The series maintains a recurring collaboration with many people I met in college during my undergrad as well as newer classmates from my graduate film program. Frequent creative partners include: Adam Younkin (Co-Writer), Erica Cullwell (Makeup and Sound), Lucas Williams (Co-Writer and Cinematographer), Hannah Arp (Co-Editor and Voice Actor), Nick Gustafson (Visual Effects and 3D-Print Design), Carly Lujan (Lead Voice Actor and Production Designer), Barb Macz (Music Composer), Casey Poma (On-screen and Prop Graphics), Scott Waldvogel (Actor), Sean Brandt (Actor), and sometimes Matt Benson (Co-Writer for early episodes).
Trailer
The trailer prepared for the Film Festival circuit featuring footage from Episodes 1-5.
