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Worldbuilding Professional Portfolio

Research + Theory

A comprehensive worldbuild includes a proficient consideration of existing theory, as well as an active approach to developing and testing theory through holistic story worlds. The worldbuilder as theorist engages actively in research, which informs the design process, helping craft meaningful elements within the story world, while also continuously testing and crafting novel theoretical insight throughout the process. Laura's experience in these skills can be seen in the following areas, briefly summarized here:

Research Background
Laura's MA in Film Studies, with exams focusing on Experimental Film and Video and Film Theory from 1965-1990, as well as her undergraduate degree in Film and Video, Psychology, and German equipped her with research skills in theory, history, and psychological research and user testing. She also approaches the arts with the mind of a scientist and poet, having been educated extensively in both realms. Her psychology research experience includes video editing in USC Brain and Creativity Institute, Motor sensor research with EEGs & EMGs at University of Tübingen in Germany, 2 Semesters UROP fMRI Psycholinguistic research and data analysis, SPSS; and within her undergraduate Psychology courses she designed tests, wrote scientific research papers, and used basic programming skills to analyze fMRI data. She also performed an anthropological study at Alex McDowell's design firm 5D Global in the summer of 2015.

Published Works
Aside from producing multiple research papers, Laura has two recently co-published papers on worldbuilding:

Laura Cechanowicz, Brian Cantrell, and Alex McDowell, “World Building and the Future of Media: A Case Study – Makoko 2036,” IEEE Technology and Society. Dec 2016

Laura Cechanowicz, Brian Cantrell, Geoffrey Long, Alex McDowell, Jeff Watson, and Ann Pendleton-Jullian, “A Thousand Stories In A Day: Building and Reimagining Lagos” Revisiting Imaginary Worlds, edited by Mark Wolf, Routledge, 201-217.

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8. Specter, 2010 How does an image form? Specter utilizes exquisite corpse techniques to explore the process of perception in the human mind. Inspired by John Cage, the animators first created a visual and aural score to represent the movements of the film. They then 'performed' the score visually through animation using a multi-plane setup, cut-outs, clay, and other under the camera animation techniques. The process was spontaneous, but directed by the score. Similarly, the animators performed sounds designed to sync with the aural graphic score.
11. St. Ulmo's Fire
14. A Letter To You Documentation This video presents documentation of my installation "A Letter to You," as well as the full footage of the installation - which is a loop. This is an autobiographical installation investigating my memory of my grandma before she died from cancer. It explores the intense pain and beauty of life and death, including the process of healing through immersive experience in water and sound. The piece was initially designed to fit the architecture of the original installation space, but as it is shown in other spaces, I am interested in seeing it develop in the context of other architectural elements. It can now create arches, opening doors of possibility, where there once stood walls.
15. YADDDA, YADDA, YADA
18. El Coyote "El Coyote" is a Film based on true a story of a human smuggler also know as a coyote. He describes his process and the mechanics of slipping between the Mexico and U.S. border. He shares the brief moments he’s has with the people he’s trying to cross over seeking for a better life.
  Director Javier Barboza interviewed a human smuggler, also known as “Coyotes”. The coyote agreed on the interview if he concealed his identity, by using the media of animation and casting actor Jose Callela as the voice over for the narration, from the original testimony.
  El Coyote code name G-lok smuggled undocumented immigrants from various regions of Latin America between Tijuana, Mexico and San Ysidro to the United States. Within five years, G-lok had crossed over six hundred people.The original interview was done in 2010.
  Directed By Javier Barboza
  javbarboza.wix.com/javierbarboza
  Music by Conjunto XI
  conjuntoxi.com
  Sound Design by Kari Rae Seekins
  kariraeseekins.com/Home.html
  
  2016-The Chicano International Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA
  2016- Highland park Independent Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA
  2016-Wagner College International Film Festival, New York , NY
  2016-Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM
  2016-Hot Spring Documentary Film Festival, Hot Spring, AR
  2016-- DC short film festival, Washington DC
  2016- Big River Film festival , Savannah Georgia
  2016- Adobe First Frame USC, Los Angeles, CA
  2015- The Atlantic, Editor Video pick , Online streaming, New York , NY
  2015-Vimeo Staff Pick, online streaming, New York , NY
  2015- Pocho Video Cultura, online Streaming, Los Angeles, CA
  2015- San Francisco Documentary Film Festival, San Francisco, CA
  2015 - 42nd Annie Awards Nomination Best Student Film
  2015- 30th Imagen Awards Nomination Best Student Film
  2015- San Francisco Documentary Festival
  2015- New Port Beach Film Festival
  2015-12th Kecskemet Animation Film Festival - Hungary
  2012- Princess Grace Award Film Grant-U.S.A.
19. Dreaming Los Angeles - LA Animators An exquisite corpse by LA animators led by Amy Lee Ketchum as part of her September 2014 Artist in Residence at the Echo Park Film Center. Artists include: Jeffrey Fletcher, Ryan Gillis, Javier Barboza, Laura Cechanowicz, Dana Wilson, Yang Liu, Louis Morton, Eric Pato, Brandon Lake, Jovanna Tosello, Miguel Jiron, and Joshua Ketchum with music by A Magic Whistle and sound design by Laura Cechanowicz.
20. Cat Call
21. The Secrets of Nitrogenase