“Sea of Madness” Wins “Best Creative” Award at Halicarnassus Film Festival

Congratulations to the makers of Sea Of Madness, which has won “Best Creative” at the Halicarnassus Film Festival Awards.

Sea Of Madness was directed by Maria Freitas and produced by Ivy Wang. Jake Hines was the editor and 2D Lead, and Sebastian McKernan was the 3D Lead. Ian Chavez Zarate stars as The Pirate. This is the film’s third festival award.

Sea of Madness

Sea Of Madness – Student Short Film from Jake Hines on Vimeo.

Sea of Madness

Sea Of Madness

Sea Of Madness tells the story of a gold-seeking pirate who stumbles across a treasure chest on a deserted beach. Unfortunately, the treasure inside guards a hideous secret.

Sea Of Madness was made by our third year VFX students, working together as a team to replicate as closely as possible the workings of a real vfx studio and facility.

Sea of Madness Credits

Maria Freitas – Director, Costume Designer, Concept Artist, VFX Artist
Ivy Wang – Producer, Casting Director, Costume Designer, Compositor
Ian Chavez Zarate – Pirate
Clement Gharini – DOP
Jake Hines – Editor, 2D Lead
Adi Lincoln – Sound Designer
Sebastian McKernan – 3D Lead
Cat Castiglione – 2D Compositing
Robert Rodrigo – 3D Artist
Guy Dijkhuis – 3D Artist
Kevin Ferhad – 3D Artist
Tahmeid Siddiqui – 3D Artist
Kieron Lee – FX Artist
Brandon Welch – Creature Concept Artist
Amy Little – Rigging & Animation

Special Thanks

Many thanks to Matt O’Reilly. Location

The live action plates were filmed at Folly House Beach by kind permission of the Port of London Authority.

Supervising Tutors
Sea Of Madness was overseen by supervising tutors Sagar Rathod (3D VFX) and Sokratis Synitos (2D VFX).

Industry Support – ILM

Industrial Light & Magic – Industry Feedback Manuel Rivoir (Snr Compositor)

Escape Studios would like to thank Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) for industry feedback, kind words and general support throughout. In particular, thanks to Senior texture Artist Ellie Dupont, Lead Animator Bernard Wicksteed, and Manuel Rivoir (Snr Compositor).

Industrial Light & Magic have been loyal industry partners for many years, offering our students the chance to get real-world feedback from industry, as if they were working in a commercial studio.

Escape Method

Sea Of Madness wins Best Animated Short in Milan

Industry feedback is at the heart of what we do at Escape Studios, part of the “Escape Method“, a blend of classroom teaching, online tutorials, constructive feedback, industry engagement, and group project work, simulating as closely as possible the workings of a real animation studio.

Festival Success
Sea Of Madness has won three festival awards: