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Desmond (Myung Jae) Kim

"I Solve Social Problems with a Camera, Computer, and Pen."

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Immersive Media Artist & Innovator

A creative visionary at the intersection of art, technology, and humanitarianism,

Desmond brings a dynamic blend of creativity and technical expertise to the table.

 His capabilities extend from filmmaking to crafting a VR-based 3-D internet ecosystem, aiming to break down physical and social barriers. 

Honors

Innovative Talent Scholar of South Korea - Ministry of Education

President's List - Sungkyunkwan University

Undergrad. Full Scholarship Student of ILJU Foundation

Final Presenator of KOSMA Fall Symposium 2022

Official Selection in Competition, 19th SYIFF, Short Film Pierrot

Grand Prize, 4th KBC Youth Arts Festival

Winner of Future Presentaion Sector, Happiness Olympiad & Memeber of National Assembly

Education

Joongdong High School

Graduated at Feb. 2019

Sungkyunkwan University

Major: Film, TV & Multimedia & Computer Science

Overall GPA: 4.4 / 4.5

Tranferred to USC as a Sophomore

University of Southern California

School of Cinematic Arts

Major: Cinematic Arts Media Arts and Practice, B.A.

Overall GPA: 4.0 / 4.0

Work Experience

OGG Visual - Directing Crew / Camera Crew

Hyundai Genesis Commercial

Celtrion Commercial 

ROK Air Force - Airman Staff Sergeant 

18th Fighter Wing

Clicker - Co-Animator & Co-Art Director

Kakao Friends Commercial

Human + A.I. Interaction LAB - Research Assistant 

USC School of Cinematic Arts - Student Worker

3D Modeling:

Migration of Monarch Butterflies

Role: 3D Model & Animation

Immigrants from Central America embark on journeys to the North filled with hope and resilience, much like Monarch butterflies migrating thousands of miles. Each flutter and step marks a brave quest for new beginnings and flourishing futures.

AI Image:
Gray Heron: Ghibli Film / The Boy and the Heron

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Role: Midjourney Designer

Watching the film, I was fascinated by the heron's uncanny existence.

I reckon that the fact that the heron is breathtakingly elegant on the outside and terribly instinctual on the inside resembles human beings.

This AI-Genereated image is a juxtaposition of the two contradictory elements of ourselves.

AI Image:
Visualization of the Imaginary City: Baucis

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Role: Midjourney Designer

Collaborated with Darcie Hatcher and Sade Korbieh to create Baucis, the imaginary city depicted in the novel ‘Invisible Cities‘.

AI Videography:
The Muffin Song - Music Video

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Role: Director & Developer

Collaborated with Midjourney & Runway Gen2 to create a AI music video of Sean Bertram's lovely song, 'The Muffin Song.'
The music video was screened at the

S.C.A. A.I. Art + Film Exhibition on December 4th 2023.

AI Videography:
Recreation of 'Princess and the Frog'

Role: Director & Developer

Recreated the Disney Animation Studio Film 'Princess and the Frog'

using Kaiber & Midjourney

AR: Red Bull Hack It: XR Edition (Hackathon)

Role: AR Developer & Engineer

Ideated and Developed an AR program using image recognition technology to identify the Red Bull can and summon dancing digital twins of BC One Dancers

on top of the can

Graphic Design:
Los Angeles Contemporary Archive Souvenir Design
 

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Role: Graphic Designer

Created a graphic design to be printed on the 

Los Angeles Contemporary Archive souvenir carpet

Game: INTERCEPTION 2023 (Bullet Hell Genre Flash Game)

Role: Main Programmer

During my coursework at SKKU, I built a bullet hell genre flash game. Working as the main programmer of the team and coding everything from scratch for the first time was challenging but a lot of fun! I would like to thank my fantastic colleagues, Hyun Jun Choi & Suhoon Lee, for all the inspiration and painstaking effort.

Animation:
Movie - Tom Misch
Unofficial Music Video 2023
 

Role: Director, DOP & Editor

Inspired by Tom's romantic music and Polly's sentimental narration, I made an animation music video connecting the scenes with the background of WW2. It took roughly 6 months, rotoscoping, animating, and editing.

VR Research:
At Home VR Software for Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder to Enhance
Social Communication Skills through
Mother and Child Based Interaction 2022

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Role: First Author

Animation:
Kakao Merchandise
Stop Motion Advertisement 2022
 

Role: Co-Animator & Co-Artwork Producer

I collaborated with the famous Stop Motion YouTuber 'Clicker.'

Volunteering for the project, I was uncompensated to learn the fundamentals of Stop Motion Animation.

Film:
Pierrot 2017
 

Role: Director, Writer & Producer

Chaewon, the most promising violinist in South Korea, recalls his school days after being asked by a student reporter at a concert. Young Chaewon tries to keep his dream despite the oppression and conciliation inflicted by the abusive educational culture.

Background

​Despite the numerous bright sides of South Korea, the extremely competitive educational culture is a serious social issue. As a student, I witnessed many friends suffering from severe depression and even committing suicide due to the pressure of the abusive culture. 

I wanted to spotlight the issue with a satirical metaphor and encourage my friends to live their lives, not the lives that society coerces.

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Making

At 16, I didn't know how to shoot, act, or draw. So I posted a myriad of recruiting letters in nearby high school Facebook communities and persuaded seven talented students in Seoul to join my audacious journey. I invested my whole fortune in this film, about 900 dollars I had accumulated since childhood.

The production process was challenging but breathtakingly exciting, considering my adventurous nature. To gain permission to shoot in public locations such as the bus, I visited the last station of the bus line to persuade the bus driver face to face and finally got permission to shoot.

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Response

Pinching a social issue everyone acknowledges but simultaneously nobody steps forward to change, the film got progressive attention in the educational field. Two teachers screened this film in their classes spontaneously. Furthermore, the film was screened for all first-year students during regular classes, supervised by teachers. Considering my school was one of the most competitive high schools in South Korea, it was a big decision for them.

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Honors & Award

Pierrot was invited to the Official Selection in Competition 13+, 19th Seoul International Youth Film Festival (SIYFF). SIYFF is one of the world's top three international youth film festivals. Pierrot was one of the 25 films that were selected in the Competition 13+ sector among 857 pieces submitted. Moreover, the film was screened in a public theater a magnitude of 315 seats, and I held a GV 

with the audience and press.

As well as the international acknowledgment described above, Pierrot was nationally acknowledged receiving a Grand Prize (1st place) in the 4th KBC National Youth Arts Festival. The film was broadcasted on December 20th, 2017, 4pm, on KBC. The panels and the judges evaluated Pierrot as,

"A well-groomed piece which pierces teenagers' overriding issue," and,

"Film with a high level of completion which contains

an overwhelming scene."

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Photography:

Wedding

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Bongeunsa

Uncanny Valley

Confucian Scholars

Stars of Kilmt

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Blush of Passion

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