We recently completed a series of machinima animated videos for the San Francisco-based Level Playing Field Institute's Workplace Program that demonstrate the potential power of the animation medium. The program is designed to study how professionals across various demographic groups perceive subtle bias and unfairness in decisions made in their tech workplaces. The larger goal of the study is to help employers effectively interrupt the vicious cycle of biases and barriers and create more fair and productive workplaces.

"The Résumé"

This animated campaign is a component of Level Playing Field’s overall mission. The managers and tech professionals who view each 5-7 minute video become engaged in subtle narratives: the review of résumés for a new hire, a performance evaluation, and a discussion over which employee deserves the single budgeted bonus. Rather than pose answers, the videos attempt to leave viewers with questions about their own decisions and judgments.

Clip from "The Résumés"


At the ILL Clan, we’ve always found narrative story telling to be an effective and efficient way to train, inform and educate people. A narrative naturally absorbs a viewer into the story and can help them to more effectively absorb the overall message.

"Performance Review"

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nicely done!
written by rikomatic, June 17, 2010

Really interesting video that nicely presents the dilemma.

What would you say is the advantage of using digital animation / machinima versus doing this with live action filmmaking?

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written by Frank Dellario, June 22, 2010

Hey Rikomatic, thanks for comment and question. First off, I think a narrative is a great way to teach and inform, irregardless of the medium. Now the advantage of using machinima animaton over live action are cost and to some degree control. It's more affordable for a client then shooting the same content as live action, especilly when recording large scenes.

And you have a lot more control over detailed choices during production and post production as well as the ability to do reshoots, something way to expensive to do in live action filmmaking.

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