We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cecilia De Jesus. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cecilia below.

Alright, Cecilia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve worked on many projects that I feel very passionate about and that had really important messages, so it’s no simple task to choose my most meaningful project. I recently finished an animated short called Back to Normal that I created through the LatinX in Animation Spark grant and seeing how it has touched people has been unlike anything I’ve ever done. I directed and wrote Back to Normal based on my experiences during the pandemic and it was a cathartic experience for me. I was feeling so many complex emotions about my time during the pandemic and quarantine, and making this short helped me work through a lot of those feelings.

We all collectively went through so much during the pandemic and I still feel like many have yet to process those feelings and experiences. Our society tends to move on quickly and force us to march forward, no matter what is going on in our lives. However, I know the pandemic was incredibly difficult for many, in one way or another, and it’s ok to acknowledge that and to find ways to heal those traumas.

I made Back to Normal not only for myself, but to help comfort and inspire others who felt those painful effects of the pandemic. Whenever I share Back to Normal with an audience, the most wonderful thing has been happening. I’ll have someone come up to me or contact me later and tell me how much my film meant to them. For me, that means more than any award or accolade.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

In my day job, I am a motion graphics artist, mainly working on title sequences and trailers for film, television, and streaming. I’ve been in the motion graphics industry since I graduated in 2013 from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, where I received my MFA in Animation. I’ve created title sequences for such films and television shows as Sonic the Hedgehog the Movie, Phantom Thread, Motherland: Fort Salem, and The Hate U Give.

I have a passion for storytelling and its led me to writing and directing animated short films. Last year, I completed an animated short called Back to Normal and it’s one of my proudest achievements.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

When I’m collaborating in filmmaking or graphics, I try to find projects that will contribute to a greater good or benefit others. I think it’s very easy to think that the problems in the world are so big, that we can’t make an impact as just single individuals. This daunting feeling can be overwhelming and can lead to inaction.

However, I feel like anything you can do to make the world a better place, no matter how small, is worth doing. This is why I really enjoy my volunteer work as a WWF Panda Ambassador. I use my artistic skills and my voice to spread awareness and conservation.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

One the most inspirational books I’ve read in the past few years was More Than Ready by Cecilia Muñoz, who was a top advisor in the Obama Administration. In her book, she gives incredible advice to women, particularly women of color, on how to change their outlook and advance towards their goals. I literally took notes while I read More Than Ready because I wanted to remember all the amazing advice Muñoz shares. I read More Than Ready during the summer of 2020, when I was furloughed from my job and it gave me so much motivation when I needed it the most. One of my biggest takeaways was that you are already more capable than you think and your perspective is valuable and essential.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dejesusdesign.com/
• Instagram: @cecdejesus
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecilia-de-jesus-design/
• Twitter: @cecdejesus
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/backtonormalfilm/ – Back to Normal IG
  https://www.instagram.com/endangeredanimalmay/ – My WWF Panda Ambassador IG