Kelly Meador and Daniel Elwing, a married couple of artists who work under the name Impactist, produce everything from music and original artwork to commercials and photography.

Channel Frederator: Where did you study filmmaking/animation?

Impactist: Actually, neither of us formerly studied filmmaking or animation in the traditional sense. Both our educational backgrounds are rooted in the fine arts. Kelly pursued and obtained a BFA with a focus on graphic design at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. During her course work, she independently expanded her focus to include the study and creation of time based media.

Daniel’s studies in Oregon concentrated on traditional fine art studio courses and as much art history as he had time for while still freelancing on set for commercial productions, beginning as a teenager. This production work enabled him to learn and work his way into more creative post roles and eventual direction with Kelly.

Honestly, most of our education came from contextual experiences and the work itself, behind the camera, in the studio, and at the computer. There is no better way to learn and gain experience than by doing.

CF: Why did you create ‘Impactist’?

I: Impactist is just an alias, a naming convention. It’s much easier to write the name Impactist instead of “a collaborative work by Kelly Meador & Daniel Elwing”. It’s a great partnership, since the flow of ideas back and forth is always underway and honest critiques, opinions, and suggestions are always mutually appreciated.

Photo by Impactist

CF: How did you develop the concept for “Parallelostory”?

Parallelostory wrote itself quite easily as it’s really just a small “what if?” story about a big idea. Aren’t we all thinking in the background of our minds about these ideas of time and scale, where we fit in the universe, where we begin and end, and how we fit in with each other while we go through our days? Or, is it just us?

The animation is made up of several small stories, sounds, and image ideas we personally enjoy. The core story is built on the ideas of parallel worlds so we tried to craft an approachable framework of sights and sounds to explore that idea. Working with small elements within a wide scope frame is an indulgence, much like the melancholy tone that ebbs and flows through the piece. And, working some type of anonymous human love story into ideas that are often presented by more technical presenters without emotion in a rather dry and non-human fashion is a satisfying endeavor.

The project is made of cut paper textures and hand drawn illustrations that are combined within the computer and animated. This combination of real elements with modern tech is our preferred method of working, rather than focusing on only one technique or one set of tools. Additionally, the music helps inform story pacing and progress and vice versa. We bounced back and forth between the mediums quite a bit to get things where we wanted them.

CF: Do you have any upcoming projects you can tell us about?

I: We just finished up a new music EP that we will be releasing as a digital download and on physical media. People have been so kind to take the time to contact us and comment on our work that it helps to keep us toiling away on both visual and audio projects. It’s always a joy know that people ‘get’ our work and it’s being received well. Right now, we’re in the middle of completing a promo video for one of the new tracks and hope to have it finished very soon to coincide with the release of the album.

Looking forward to it! Thanks for the interview, guys!

You can watch Impactist’s film, “Parallelostory”, right here on Channel Frederator.

-Bailee DesRocher