Before Dawn at the Museum

Commonwealth Charter Academy

Educational

Before Dawn at the Museum is a creative educational short produced for Commonwealth Charter Academy of Pennsylvania. The client wanted to teach middle and high school students the etiquette of giving and receiving critique in art class — but in a way that was far more engaging than a typical lecture or slideshow. We developed a playful narrative where a humble janitor finds himself debating critique with none other than the Mona Lisa herself, bringing humor and heart to an important lesson on respectful feedback.

To bring this imaginative concept to life, we combined live-action performance with cutting-edge technology. Using AI-driven performance capture, we transformed an actress’s movements and expressions into an animated version of the Mona Lisa, seamlessly composited into a museum set built in Unreal Engine. This innovative approach delighted students, impressed educators, and earned a Telly Award for Education.