Hey friend,
I’ve just added two butterfly puppets, two bird puppets, and one cat puppet to my to-do list. That is to say, we’re getting busy!
Since I last wrote you: Building has begun for my short film Stitches Come Out, I spent a week in Italy, I wrapped on my previous short, and I cut PVC board for three hours today and that’s not even the end of it (spoiler alert: I recently purchased a craft table saw, I need to draw with these hands!).
If you haven’t heard yet Stitches Come Out is a meetcute that follows Liam and his favorite and animate trans flag hoodie. When Liam spots his neighborhood crush, Lulu, at the laundromat, he thinks this might be his chance. The problem: while Liam doesn’t want Lulu to see his hoodie, that would out him as a trans guy, his hoodie is busy putting enthusiastic effort into being Liam’s unsought wingman!
This month I’ll reflect on how I’ve felt about work since being back in the US, share some of the media I’ve read and watched lately, and most excitingly introduce the team of brilliant people I’m working with for this project.
Photos of the laundromat set structure and floor tiles. All the walls will be removable and since it’s so long I made it able to split in half. This is about two weeks away from looking super cool!
Whenever I return to New York after a trip I routinely remark in a loud voice to whoever is in the car how green it is here.
Moving back from my Master’s in Stop-Motion in Barcelona this past fall was no different, but soon there was another type of green on my mind.
A different, different kind of green. Photos from a walk in Vico Equense, Italy
I found myself looping on various questions. Why is it so difficult to make a living as an artist? Why don’t we institutionally value art in this country? Why couldn’t I be passionate about something more lucrative and straight forward like medicine or law or engineering? Will I ever figure out how to make money doing what I love?
I look at this photo and think everything makes sense.
Barcelona was romantic. I spent all day doing what I love: creating animated art. On walks home I’d see children playing in the plazas and friends enjoying drinks. I’d have a customarily late dinner between 21:00 and 22:00, likely a Spanish tortilla with potatoes and onions, a generous pinch nutmeg, and fresh tomatoes or ketchup or both.
In Spain, I visited stop-motion studios that received money and grants from their government and the governments of various other countries in the EU. I saw what it looked like to make a film for $30,000. I saw what it looked like to make a film for $3 million. In Europe no one worried about health insurance and student loans. In Europe it felt like art was valued, deemed necessary, and funded. It felt like there was a path. I know Europe has it’s own set of issues, and at the same time I was struck by the artists I met who seemed to be living in what they loved.
A story board panel that will eventually be an top down pan. I promise the birds and cats will eventually make sense.
Back under the northeast sun, high on the dream of being dedicated to my craft full-time, I crashed.
I went on looking for ways to make this work. I turned to social media. I researched and applied to several grants and fellowships. I was overjoyed to be awarded the Black N Animated (BNA) Fellowship. It was not a magical solution I wanted, but instead, exactly what I needed. It was a voice that quieted my fear and affirmed a belief at my core that said stories like ours matter, there is an audience for them, and there are many creative ways to make this work.
One of the most exciting aspects of this project, and definitely a result of the guidance I’ve received through BNA, is that I’m not trying to do this all by myself. I’ve assembled and am working with a team of six incredible and talented people that I am honored to introduce to you.
In a world as wild, terrible, and beautiful as this one, it’s a privilege to be working, making a short film, and spending time with friends and family in the ways I am able.
The other week, thinking about character design and creating a Liam prototype in Super Sculpey at three o’clock in the afternoon in my little Hudson Valley studio, I thought to myself there is no way I can never say I didn’t make it.
One of the most exciting props on my list is a community bulletin board. There’s some gems on here. The hand written “SOMEONE WITH A GOOD SEWING MACHINE!!” flyer is my favorite. Which is yours?
Meet the Team
Sara Inoa
Writer | Director | Much much more
You know enough about me! I am so grateful to be working with all of these wonderful people.
Ezra Weissman
Director of Marketing and Development | Script Consultant
I’m Ezra, and like Sara I wear many hats on this project. I’ve edited every piece of marketing you’ve seen, helped apply for funding, organized our crowdfunding campaign (coming soon!), and much more. Outside of this film, my current interests are identifying bird calls, riding my e-bike, and reading about the history of oil in the 20th century.
I’m also Sara’s husband and the transsexual that inspired this project, which you’ll notice in the character design of Liam. Despite being involved in the production of a film that’s very #transpride, I don’t usually feel positively about this whole trans thing. Making this film is as much an act of self compassion as it is a gift for other trans men.
Joenell Luma
Story Board Artist
I’m Joenell Luma, a first-generation Haitian American artist currently mastering the high-stakes discipline of "Toddler Management." When I’m not being outmaneuvered by two adorable toddlers, I spend my time creating "silly drawings"—though most know them as professional caricature artist and storyboards.
My obsession with drawing and animation started early, sparked by endless Looney Tunes reruns and a childhood dream of spending every waking hour with a pencil in hand. Not understanding animation was an option, I studied Fine Art Painting at Hofstra University Long Island NY. It was only after graduating that he realized he could go after animation.
Today I am dedicated to making that seven-year-old proud, by drawing as much as I can.
Maya Tuckman
Assistant Set Fabricator
My name is Maya Tuckman. I’m a studio art student at Vassar college, going into my Junior year! I enjoy to dabbling in all mediums, but animation is my favorite. I love stop motion and am so excited for the opportunity to help Sara with Stitches Come Out. I’ve made small scale productions before and this is my first time collaborating on a set! I am interested in becoming a stop motion animator for my career, and I’m grateful for all the experiences that have led me here!
Mikail Ekiz
Animator
I’m Mikail Ekiz, a Jersey born Brooklyn based Animator and Designer.
I graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2019 began working with various clients and studios including Hornet, Ralph Lauren, CNN, HBO Max, and ShadowMachine on the Oscar Award Winning feature film Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio.
I enjoy rollerblading in the park, collecting records, and looking at pictures of monkeys.
Brittanie Maddox
Editor
I work as an assistant editor. I’m deeply in love with animation, racing video games, have a mild obsession with snow shoveling videos, and the urge to travel to Ireland.
Isabel Inoa
Composer
Hello there! I’m Isabel “Cha-Cha” Inoa and I’m the film score composer for Stitches Come Out. I’m based in Upstate New York where alongside writing music, I work at a local college library and have begun writing poetry and short stories in my free time. Growing up playing the violin, I fell in love with Joe Hisaishi’s film scores while watching (and rewatching) numerous Ghibli films with Sara. Cultivating joy for myself and my surrounding communities feels imperative to me, and I am honored that I get to do that through this project beside my lovely sister and other dedicated creatives.
What projects are you working on? Do you have any strong feelings about the media I’m thinking about? Do you have recommendations of your own? If yes to any of the above don’t hesitate to reach out, I’d love to hear from you.
& If you have a friend who would enjoy this newsletter too, forward it to them!
Yours,
Sara Inoa
Media Dump
An animated feature:
Memoir of a Snail (2025) directed by Adam Elliot
An incredible stop-motion feature that came out last year. It’s funny, it’s tragic, it’s well written. Made with a relatively low budget in Australia and great weather you’re a seasoned stop-motion enthusiast or wanting something to dip your toe into the world.
A book:
The Fraud by Zadie Smith
This was Zadie Smith’s first stab at historical fiction. If you haven’t read Zadie Smith you must. I’d strongly recommend any of her books and this one is no different!
A short:
Night of the Living Dread (2021) directed by Ida Melum
A brilliant short about insomnia and coming to peace with the types of embarrassing moments that can haunt us at night. More stop-motion. Ida’s style and storytelling inspires me.
A live action feature:
No Other Choice (2025) Bong Jun Ho
The Director of Parasite strikes again and this incredible thriller.
Non-fiction Book:
The Mushroom at the End of the World by Anna Tsing
Written by an anthropologist about the culture, economy, history, science, and magic around the matsutake mushroom.
