Animation, Experimental Film
Essence In / Essence Out (Trailer)
VIDEO
2022
5 min 34 sec
One of four experimental films created by Eva Lee in collaboration with neuroscientist Dr. Richard J. Davidson. Inspired by his innovative research on the brain bases of emotions. Commissioned for The Wellbeing Summit 2022, an international event held in Bilbao, Spain.
This film draws its imagery from the Kindness Curriculum for preschoolers, developed by Dr. Davidson at Center for Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison. It creatively visualizes this mindfulness-based program and its concepts of settling into one’s sense of self, such as having a breathing buddy on one’s belly which rises and falls as one breathes in and out.
The program teaches children to pay attention to breath and body, to recognize and work with their emotions as part of caring for themselves and others. Studies have shown that kids in the Kindness Curriculum improved on sharing, attention, and empathy, as well as grades.
Directed & Animated by Eva Lee. Sound Design by Chris McKenna.
The four films screened at The Wellbeing Summit were: Who Am I; Essence In | Essence Out; NeuroReflections; and Nature of Mind. Directed & Animated by Eva Lee. Sound Design by Chris McKenna.
Watch Dr. Richard Davidson’s summit talk here on the brain bases of emotions and the Four Pillars of Wellbeing.
Watch Eva Lee’s artist talk at the summit here following right after Dr. Davidson.