Director of animation might sound like a cushy job, but Mount Saint Agnes (MSA) students know first-hand just how stressful the job can be.

A group of students recently put together a short claymation film, 'Bermuda 2108' that will be featured in the upcoming Bermuda International Film Festival (BIFF).

"This is the first class at Mount Saint Agnes being taught animation," said graphic arts teacher Craig Diamond. "Students were around 16 or 17 years old."

Mr. Diamond previously owned an advertising agency in the United States and did animation for clients.

"I came on board last year to start a graphic arts programme," said Mr. Diamond.

At MSA he teaches graphic arts, journalism, business management and robotics, among other things.

'Bermuda 2108' envisions what Bermuda will look like a hundred years from now.

"The film has an environmental message," said Mr. Diamond. "Students thought Bermuda probably would not be very pretty in 2108. The story is set in a future age where everything is in greyscale.

"I thought to get a film that would be noticed, it would have to have a social message attached to it."

Students worked on all aspects of the film including the script, story board, character development, sound and music.

"A few of them are interested in animation as a career," said Mr. Diamond. "They didn't know anything about it before they started."

The animation was actually the second part of a two-part course.

They learned graphic arts the first year including visual photography, logo design and respect for typography.

If they wanted to go on, the second year was animation and multi-media production.

"At the beginning of the animation course, they learned about techniques from the earliest animation days," said Mr. Diamond. "They had to make little projects. Then we got into making a movie."

Mr. Diamond said it was a crash course in animation because he wanted to make the film available for January 20, BIFF's film entry deadline.

"We spent ten weeks making the film," said Mr. Diamond. "It was a combination of claymation and title sequences done on the computer."

He said if he were to do it again, he possibly wouldn't try to rush it towards completion for BIFF.

"But then again, maybe I would," he said. "I think the steps help them learn in sequence about what is involved.

"Next time, I think I would like to be more prepared for the technology. I would like to have more things at my disposal to be able to show them more. The only animation they had ever seen were the ones at the movies."

As a result he had to dig around to find older types of animation to show his students.

He said all of his students showed talent.

"I was amazed," he said. "I think the students did a wonderful job by completing it. I think the script is good."

Students each had their own job including editor, camera operator, lighting technician, technical coordinator and character developer.

"It was a fight to introduce them into movie making," he said. "It was a blank slate. Being the director was the most stressful job for them. Decisions had to be made even though they may not have been popular decisions."

He said one important skill students learned was time management, something that could be carried over into other areas of life.

"None of them had any idea how long it takes to make just one second of animation," said Mr. Diamond. "The film is about eight minutes long including the titles."

He said everything was done in house, and it really didn't cost a lot to make the film.

Expenses included buying clay, a camera and software.

The MSA animation students have now been set up with special passes to BIFF events, and will be able to hobnob with adult film directors.

"In Bermuda, there are so few avenues open to students interested in film and animation," said Mr. Diamond. "If they get involved with BIFF, they can meet the directors of films and if they like it they can take it wherever they want."

As per BIFF's request, the film has not yet been shown at MSA.

"BIFF wanted us to wait until it premiered in the festival," said Mr. Diamond.

He encouraged parents to expose their kids to all kinds of art and art forms.

"They shouldn't have to reach the end of their school career to start experiencing things," he said.