by Len Lear

If award-winning Chestnut Hill filmmaking animator John Serpentelli, founder of Animation Stewdio (now closed), has his way, several young people in this area will follow his lead in making the highest-quality animation films but with a powerful message. John Serpentelli, 51, who has lived in Chestnut Hill since 1997 and formerly taught at Woodmere Art Museum, has directed more than 100 films, collaborating with children, for networks such as Nickelodeon, HBO and Sesame Street.

Serpentelli's films have been reviewed in Variety, New York Times, Animation Magazine, etc., and have received numerous awards including the Blockbuster Award in the NY Expo of Short Films and a Most Creative Award from the American Motion Picture Society. “The film award I'm most proud of,” he told us, “is the Most Creative Award for my animated film, 'Once Upon A Time.’”

Serpentelli just finished conducting an animation workshop for kids at Penn Charter School, is now running another one through July 15 at The Philadelphia School and will be leading more summer animation classes for kids at The Crefeld School in Chestnut Hill from July 25 to Aug. 5. About 30 would-be filmmakers signed up for the classes.

During the animation workshop at Penn Charter, students worked collaboratively to make a film that examines how people treat others who are different. The project, entitled 
”Just Do Unto Others,” utilizes scripts written by the students as well as three different animation techniques.

A second film, “From Homeless to Hopeful,” a combination of live-action documentary with animation, will be produced by the students at Serpentelli’s other summer classes.

The focus is on non-profits and programs that enable homeless people to take an active role in helping themselves work towards a better life. Homeless people are being interviewed about how they became homeless and what they are now doing to start over.

“The idea for 'From Homeless to Hopeful' came about when I bought a paper from one of the homeless vendors in early afternoon, and he told me I was his first customer,” said Serpentelli during our recent interview. “This was at Broad and Walnut, and I thought, 'How could this be?' Don't people realize that these are homeless people selling a paper to better their lives, a paper that they are actively involved in creating?’

“So I thought I could raise awareness by featuring a few vendors and having them tell their stories. I don't think that most people walking by these vendors know that they are homeless people doing something constructive to change their situation. They're not begging; it's their job. They have ownership and pride in their product.”

An online fundraising campaign (indiegogo) for the project started about three months ago and will continue until August, when John hopes to finish the film. As of our recent interview, about $1,500 had been raised towards a goal of $4,200. “The homeless vendors get paid for the participation in the film,” said John. “I also would like to pay my students who are helping me make the film as well as pay people for post-production since the students won't have time for that. I also would like to have funds to promote the project. The rights to the film will go to the newspaper 'One Step Away' for them to use for fundraising and an awareness campaign…

"People would tell me kids won't have the patience," Serpentelli said about comments he received when he first started teaching animation to kids in the early 1990s, "but I have found that children will focus on what they find interesting."

Serpentelli, raised in Toms River, N.J., first came to Philadelphia after high school in 1983 to attend the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He stayed for three years, then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied film studies and art history and developed a passion for animation.

Serpentelli completed his studies at Penn in 1988 and went on to graduate school at the University of the Arts. He earned his bachelor's degree in fine arts and film in 1991, followed by a master's degree in the art of teaching in 1993. He has been teaching art and animation to children ever since. “My favorite filmmakers,” he commented, “are Woody Allen, Ken Burns and John Cassavetes because of their take on the complexities of the human condition.”

When asked what was the hardest thing he ever had to do, John responded, “It was to accept that my father was slowly fading away due to Alzheimer's Disease. It took over eight years, but the best advice I ever received was from him when he would say, 'Just do the best you can with what you've got.’”

When asked what was his most treasured possession, John said, “That would be the roof over my head. Working with the homeless has given me a renewed gratitude for the things that can so easily be taken for granted … I'm very happy living in Chestnut Hill. It is such a beautiful neighborhood.”

In his spare time John likes to read, and he loves the Quiet Ride car on the Chestnut Hill trains. He also likes to garden, go for walks and have coffee with friends. His most impressive characteristic is “maybe a good sense of humor or maybe that I can do a pretty good Donald Duck impersonation.”

If John could meet anyone on earth, who would it be? “My first thought is David Bowie, but sadly he has passed away,. My second thought is Donald Trump so I could slap him silly, but my third thought is Bill Gates so I could ask him for money (pocket change, really) because I think he would find 'From Homeless to Hopeful' a worthwhile project.”

For more information, email kmodarelli@crefeld.org or visit www.crefeld.org/summerprograms.