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The Rider

A loosely autobiographical animated short, "The Rider" is based off of my own experience learning to surf in NYC, proving that the ocean can bring us together with nature even in the most surprising of places. 

The majority of the film is animated frame-by-frame, and the film's score is inspired by Duke Ellington's "Take the A Train."

The short centers around a character who discovers surfing while on the subway and, after a few mishaps, rides their first wave.

  • Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong
    Director
  • Bandit Lu
    Score
  • Project Type:
    Animation, Documentary, Short
  • Genres:
    Surf, comedy, animated
  • Runtime:
    2 minutes 49 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 30, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • Florida Surf Film Festival
    New Smyrna Beach
    United States
    November 11, 2022
  • Atlanta Women's Film Festival
    Atlanta, GA
    United States
    October 2, 2022
    North American Premiere
    Best Animated Short
  • Toronto Beaches Film Festival
    Toronto CA
    Canada
    May 26, 2023
    Canada Premiere
    Best Animated Short
Director Biography - Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong

Caitlin-Marie Miner Ong is an Art Director and Illustrator based in Philadelphia with a BFA in Art Direction and a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute. A creative on 10 Folio Award-nominated campaigns, her award-winning illustrations can be found in Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Parents, Travel & Leisure, Shape, and QVC.

Her first animated short, “The Rider,” won Best Animated Short from both the Atlanta’s Women’s Film Festival and Toronto Beaches Film Festival.

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Director Statement

FILM FUN FACTS
On average, it took 10 hours to complete 10 seconds of animation

There are over 160 illustrative items in the short

The score was developed using modular synthesis and lofi production techniques

Caitlin-Marie is a first-time filmmaker