This short film follows Star Wars’ droid-hero R2D2 who thinks he has found true love in the form of a female mailbox adorned with a pink ribbon. However the postal service lass–despite being protected and courted by R2D2–is betrothed to a dark droid.
Devastated upon discovering this and having backed away from a confrontation with his nemesis droid, R2D2 treks across San Francisco in search of love.
Titled Artoo in Love, the short was created, directed and co-edited by Evan Atherton. It debuted on March 28 at the Sonoma Film Festival prior to a screening of DreamWorks’ animated feature Home.
Atherton shot a portion of the film at UC Berkeley using RED Epic and Scarlet cameras, as well as a DGI drone and Movi free fly gimbal for aerial shots. He used several Autodesk tools to create and control CG assets in the film, including Maya for 3D camera tracking and shadow replacements; Fusion 360 to model parts the pink droid; Inventor to design and 3D print props like the umbrella holder; and Delcam software to control the droids. Atherton also enlisted help from two professional VFX artists to bring the taser and rain scenes to life.
Atherton’s full-time gig is as a mechanical engineer and designer in Autodesk’s Office of the CTO. He is also a mega Star Wars fan.
CreditsProduction/conception Evan Atherton, writer/director/co-editor, and R2-KT droid builder & operator. Production Company TRUE MVMNT Shara Esbenshade, exec producer/co-editor; Grant McKinney, co-exec producer, Artoo droid builder and operator; Sargam Atherton, producer/production designer; Wesley Walker, DP and aerial camera operator. Music Devin Mooers, composer. VFX Landis Fields, Pete Billington, VFX artists; Brian Munger, R2-V1 & Mouse droid builder and operator; David Thomasson, robotic arm development & operation; Maurice Conti, drone pilot; Ian O’Neill, caricature drawing. Post Charlie Nordstrom, colorist. Sound Design Joshua Chang, sound designer. Titles Julian Bialowas.
Barilla, LePub Navigate Subway Commute To “Togetherness”
On World Pasta Day, October 25, Barilla partnered with the NYC subway to turn its iconic “Spaghetti n°5” pasta boxes into “Togetherness Tickets,” offering free subway rides. At a special Barilla newsstand near Hudson Yards station, commuters could pick up a pasta box that, with a tech insert, worked like a regular subway ticket to open the turnstiles.
More than just a ticket, Barilla’s campaign was an invitation for individuals to step out of their solitary routines and connect with their loved ones over a delicious pasta meal. According to a global survey commissioned by Barilla in August 2023, 60% of respondents confessed to eating alone more frequently over the past two years, forsaking shared meals for a quick bite on their own.
The primary reason cited for this shift toward solitary dining is busy work schedules. A significant 48% of people surveyed lamented that their working hours kept them from sharing meals with their loved ones, highlighting the impact of our on-the-go lifestyles on quality time spent with family and friends. Additionally, geographical distances from family and friends contributed to the rise of solitary meals, with 37% acknowledging it as a growing obstacle.
Although people are increasingly eating alone, as a resounding 63% of people admitted to eating solo during the week, a remarkable 93% believe that regularly sharing meals has a positive impact on relationships with friends and family. Building on this emerging desire, Barilla wanted to remind us of the impact of food and more specifically pasta, in fostering better human connections.
Sometimes a friend or family member is just a few subway stops away. So get together and share a pasta meal with a box of Barilla, which also serves as a... Read More