PERSONAL THOUGHTS:

I was really, REALLY impressed with how original and creative Josh’s work is, and how patient he is in creating his short films. I am especially drawn to cerebral short films that deal with existentialism, reality, dreams and nightmares, especially in the context of 21st neoliberalism and late-stage capitalism. I found his technical aptitude for oil painting and CGI animation especially inspiring. I will likely rewatch all of his films again, and have already rewatched “The Rehabilitation of Sleep” multiple times since this class lecture.

BIO:

Josh Shaffner is a film maker and visual artist. He received his BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Montana in 2005 and his MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts in 2015. He is the author and animator of several short films including The Rehabilitation of Sleep (2012), Flaws (2014), Service (2015), and his latest work In Dreams (2023) which is currently touring festivals.

Splitting time between Missoula, Montana and Los Angeles, Josh works as an educator and freelance artist.

Website: https://www.joshshaffnerart.com/

Vimeo site: https://vimeo.com/joshshaffner