This American Life: Break Up
style frames, illustration, storyboarding
A sequence for a 15-20 second television broadcast teaser for a podcast episode of This American Life. In this episode, Starlee shares vulnerable moments from her heartbreak and how she heals from it through a creative outlet.
Full Sequence
To emphasize her personal and unfiltered storytelling, the sequence starts in a flat space that resembles a diary / scrapbook spread. As she wallows in this space filled with memories of her past relationship, she is taken into an unexpected world of creativity and starts to find joy in creating something special out of a painful experience. The opening of a portal leading to a new space serves as a metaphor for the process of growth and healing Starlee goes through after her breakup.
Process
To end the sequence back in the flat space but with a more lively energy, I decided to use rhinestones to spell out the episode title, Break Up. The fun and decorative nature of rhinestones juxtaposed with the negative connotations of the phrase, “Break up” captures both the wound and healing that comes from a heartbreak.