In early 2020, for obvious reasons, schools were transitioning to remote education. American colleges followed suit and set up studios on their campuses to build a distance learning portal. When I applied to the project as an e-learning design specialist, they asked for a test assignment to assess my skills.
They requested an intro for a lesson on the skeletal system—and they needed it immediately. I had only a day and a half.
I wanted to capture an absurd and playful tone. The character “Thing” from The Addams Family came to mind. Using skeletal parts separately, as if they were moving on their own, seemed like a way to achieve that feeling.
However, after running test renders, I realized that using the parts this way introduced a sense of horror. Since that didn’t align with the purpose of the video, I reworked the framing and chose not to reveal the missing parts.
While searching for the right music for this piece, the key word turned out to be “quirky,” meaning odd or peculiar. Keywords matter—because finding the right track can take minutes, hours, or, if you’re listening stubbornly and critically enough, even days.
My most important criterion in music selection is not getting bored while listening. The track I chose felt well aligned with the mood of the piece and was genuinely enjoyable.
After finalizing the edit with a bold transition idea, completed renders, and a few well-placed sound effects, the video was finished.
During the evaluation meeting, the HR director mentioned that they hadn’t actually expected a completed video—they assumed it wouldn’t be possible to finish the work within that timeframe. I half-jokingly replied that under normal circumstances it truly wouldn’t have been possible, and that this was something of a miracle.
In the end, we decided to work together. Through this video, I became part of a 19-month project where we created great work and where I met wonderful people—and cats. That’s why this video has earned its place here.
