About the Film:
When reaching the bus stop involves outrunning a pack of vicious monsters, a young girl must put on a suit of armor (a baggy hoodie and sunglasses) and cleverly maneuver to the end of her street to catch her bus safely.
About the Animator:
Jordan DeOcampo
As an animator, I’ve always been drawn to telling the everyday stories of people like myself in ordinary neighborhoods like my own. I love giving center stage to the characters and struggles of those who are less often given opportunities to be made protagonists and heroes in film and TV.
For my film Look Down, I wanted to represent the every day fearful encounters experienced by those in targeted groups like LGBTQ people, racial minorities, and young women. Just as the main character in my film has to learn how to navigate her commute around the vicious monsters on her block, for many of these more vulnerable groups, fear is woven deeply into how they approach their environments and the limitations they feel in presenting themselves socially. The protagonist experiences this to the extent that she feels she must cover up her “going out” look in baggy clothing in order to avoid being attacked by one of the monsters. In this film, I wanted to recognize all those who have desired to hide their differences for their own safety and as a means of not disrupting people in their environments.
Additionally, by giving the film a happy ending, I wanted to encourage those who have felt like they needed to “look down” to instead realize they are not alone in their struggle. While these everyday acts of hatred are not easily resolved, a key factor in firing against these groups’ oppressors lies in solidarity and friendship between the oppressed.
Jordan DeOcampo she/her
Class of 2024; rising senior
IG: deadlyswampsofsadness
