Channel Frederator Blog

CalArts graduate Daron Nefcy’s “The Terror From Mars” is here just in time for Halloween! Below, she answers very important questions pertaining to candy and imaginary creature fights.

What was the most useful thing you learned about animation when you were in school?

To understand what you’re going to do before you do it. Learning to act out the movement beforehand, creating thumbnails, and then keeping the key frames rough so that you don’t waste time doing things over and over. School was a series of looming deadlines, so getting things close enough to the way I wanted them as accurately and as quickly as possible was great preparation for me.

Any cool stories/accidents/explosions involved in the making of “The Terror From Mars”?

Hmm… I’m not sure I can remember any. There were always happy accidents, but this film went from an idea to completed product in 5 months. I don’t remember much aside from being in a crazed work frenzy.

What artists/filmmakers have influenced your work the most?

This is a hard question because it changes pretty often. I’ve always liked Stanley Kubrick’s films, right now I think Bwana Spoons paintings are awesome, Scott Pilgrim is the best comic ever, and I’ve had a life long obsession with the animated film Unico. Working on “The Terror From Mars” I was lucky enough to have a room mate who had a huge collection of 1950s-1960s horror films that I watched for inspiration.

If Izzy from “Fern and Izzy” had to duke it out with the space alien from “The Terror From Mars” - who would win?

Haha, I’m afraid poor Izzy might be doomed. He would put up a good fight though.

Are you working on anything new you can tell us about?

I recently created a short film for Nickelodeon, but the details are secret.

Who (or what) is your arch nemesis?

Boredom.

What’s your favorite Halloween treat?

You know, I don’t actually like candy. I’m more about fruit salads, ice cream, and cupcakes when it comes to sweets.

Ice cream filled caramel apple cake it is! What are you going to be for Halloween this year?

I don’t know yet but I need to figure it out! Usually I will throw something together last minute that looks costume-y but isn’t anything in particular. This year I want to be some kind of super hero princess, a made-up one with lots of glitter.

Superhero glitter princess… who battles boredom. Radical.

You can check out “The Terror From Mars” right here on Channel Frederator!

-Bailee DesRocher