About
CV
Videos
Showreel
Water Knows the Way
Symbiome
Between Us and the World
Absolute Pitch
Geo-Erosion
Navigating in the Glacial World
Long Days Journey Into Nights
Images/Installations
Imaginalgia
Xenosoma
Affective Skin
About
CV
Videos
Showreel
Water Knows the Way
Symbiome
Between Us and the World
Absolute Pitch
Geo-Erosion
Navigating in the Glacial World
Long Days Journey Into Nights
Images/Installations
Imaginalgia
Xenosoma
Affective Skin
Water Knows the Way
2025
Role: 3D Animator
Software: VFX - Houdini, Compositing - After Effects
Written and Directed by Zeping Sun (about the film)
This University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts (SCA) Expanded Animation program thesis film features the journey of a girl navigating through memories to find her sense of home. The film includes dance, Virtual Production, Motion Capture, and AI alongside live-action cinematography. (no public release)
Trailor
Produced | Zoe Muñoz, Sifan Liu, Zeping Sun
Cinematography | Surui Guo
Editor | Yuxiao Zhang
Music | LouZhang
Sound Design & Mix | Jiatian Tan, Shufan Zhang
Creative Visual Animator | Zeping Sun, Zitong Wang
Cast | Millie Novak, Dalya Modlin
Choreographer | Millie Novak, Cardin, Peiyi Liu
Assistant Director | Leslie Yang
Casting Director| Carlos De La Torre
Steadicam Operator | Boyu Chen
1st AC | Bruce Salomon, Aizhan Zho, Namanh Tran
2nd AC | Annie Wang, Angela Ruiyi
Gaffer | Eric Tang, Phoebe Rensink
Key Grip | Nam Anh Tran
G&E Swing| Ray Robinson, Iniko Amaechi
Production Designer | Yunlei Liu, Chelsea Qiu
Art Department | Jing Ting, Yifeng Wang
Virtual Production Supervisor | Sunny C
Virtual Environment Builder | Eric Tang, Zeping Sun
Virtual Production Technician | Anne Kolen
Production Sound | Shufan Zhang
Sound Coordinator | Kemy Remy
Hair & Makeup | Kara Sue
Wardrobe | Paris Zhuang
3D Animator Zeping Sun, Yujia Who, Siyun Sun
Additional Editor Zeping Sun
Assistant Editor | Runhe Zhang, Yifeng Zhang
VFX Zeping Sun | Daoba Han
Compositor | Jianyong Long Zeping Sun
DIT | Runhe Zhang
Title Designer | Shuai Li
3D Scanning, Zeping Sun, Leslie Yang
Motion Capture Dancer | Ellery, Peiqi Liu
Motion Capture Technician | Britta Neyms, Jiaxi Wang
Shot Stills
Process
Static vs Zooming-In CamerasLow vs High Render Samples Research
Compositing & AI-Upscaling Research (no AI in final renders)
Visual Development
Alongside recursive growth as the key concept, other organic morphism like pyro simulation with deliberate preservation of mushroom shapes and plant growth (L-system) were explored for the film’s merging with nature and the search for sense of belonging.
R&D Stills