ANIMATION LEADS.
DJ Baylon
is a 3D artist and VR Developer. He has been in the Computer Graphics Industry for over 10 years doing various works for different agencies, film makers and a game development company. He has been part of the production of several TVCs, Feature Films and some popular game titles from some of the biggest game publishers. He is the CEO and Founder of Chibot VR, an Immersive Media company founded in 2016.
Juan Gabriel Fernandez
is a VR Professional who has worked in the field for almost 4 years, specializing in 360 videography and photography. He has been in the film production industry for over 9 years, focused on compositing and video editing. He is the VR partner at LFX Multimedia.
ART DIRECTOR.
Ruby Wang
is a visual development artist who works at Flight School Studio in Dallas. She is an integral part of Flight School’s creative team, working in both virtual reality and animation projects. Her passions include traditional painting, storytelling, and working in illustration. She hopes to continue using her talents weaving art with narrative to create believable stories that leave a profound impact on others.
NGO FOUNDER.
Jay Michael Jaboneta
is the Managing Director of Nexus Innovation Labs of De La Salle Lipa.
Jay is also the Co-Founder of the Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation and Chief Panda of I Am VR Panda, and several other technology startups. He sits on the boards of various organizations in the country, and consults on Disruptive Technologies, Resource Mobilization, and Social Innovation.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENTS.
Samantha Quick.
When I first heard about The Yellow Boat of Hope—a nonprofit in the Philippines that builds boats for children who swim to school—I had so many questions. Are there sharks? Is it dangerous? How did they get their homework to school without it getting wet? I didn’t want to assume anything, and as a storyteller, I wanted to be as true to the lives of the people living in this reality as possible.
Last January, I traveled to a yellow boat community off the coast of Cebu called Caohagan. I spent a week there following the children to school as they waded through sea urchins and over coral in order to obtain an education. One day we played games in the sand, and I asked them about what they liked to do, and what they wanted to be when they grew up.
Regardless of the conversation topic, there was one constant theme which always emerged — a desire to help their community. Whether they wanted to be lawyers, teachers, or scientists, their focus was to better the situation of the other people on the island.
When I sat down to write the script and develop the concept, it was important for me to honor this theme. The two main characters, Geramy and her brother Isko, exemplify what can be achieved with teamwork and a desire to improve not only your life but also the lives of the people around you.
Michaela Holland.
As a Filipino-American, I was thrilled when Samantha asked me to collaborate on a project about the incredible work of Yellow Boat of Hope.
Despite the extreme circumstances of these children, Samantha and I strove to maintain the sass, spark, and innovation that runs deeply within the Filipino culture.
Themes of sibling relationships, frustration with homework, and taking matters into ones owns hands, are universal, whether on Caohagan island or Manhattan island.
When the audience is immersed in the piece, I hope they sense the care and time that our Filipino animation studio, Chibot VR, and our art director, Ruby Wang took into making the world rich and dynamic. When a person in headset witnesses Geramy’s gumption and refusal to quit, I wish for them to feel the compassion, authenticity, and warmth that we took in crafting the story.
In conclusion, come for the immersion of a virtual reality piece, but I invite you to also enjoy with a childlike wonder—laugh, groan, smile, dance, and cheer alongside Geramy and Isko. Because if we can understand someone else’s challenges and victories, then we have perhaps taken the first step in creating true unity.