For most birds, it is in their very nature to fly. From the moment they leave the nest, they are not only free to live independently but also free to explore the world from the clouds above. But if flying is their nature, what would happen if they were deprived of it?
As a freshman, I often looked up to those I admired and wondered, “How did they become so creative? There’s no way I could ever do that.” I felt hollow, never satisfied in my pursuit of growth. In my turmoil over my identity as an artist—if I was even an artist—my professor pulled me aside after reviewing some of my lackluster charcoal drawings and told me:

“I can tell you will never be truly happy unless you create.”

That resonated with me. So when I arrived at SCAD, I created. I didn’t always know what I’d create or how I’d create it. I didn’t always enjoy the process, but I did it anyway because I am an artist. I realized how my creations interacted with the world around me. I saw people who were better than me, people who had perhaps gone further than me, but I didn’t care because I was happy to keep moving forward as an artist and to share that experience with others. The beauty is that you can never know everything, so you always learn—the sky is the limit. But it is in my nature to want more as an artist, just as it is in a bird’s nature to want to fly.

This struggle is what inspired Percy - a barn owl who yearns to be somewhere he never knows if he can reach. I wanted a simple story that embodied my struggle to accept myself and my love of flight; a film that resonates with a period of growth in our lives as artists and conveys the message, “You are good enough.” I knew I had to take a leap of faith as a director and trust in my team, even if I was uncomfortable not knowing everything. Our goals may fluctuate, but one thing remains constant—as artists, we must create, and as students, we are just beginning our creative journey.

You’re going to be scared and you’re going to feel uncertain. Keep creating anyway, do your best, and take pride in knowing you’ve done all you can. Even now, I am uncertain about my future as an artist. I don’t think our doubts will ever completely disappear, but I am proud of every step I take. The effort that has gone into this film is unparalleled, and I am beyond proud of the steps we have all taken as a team to bring Percy to life. I believe my fellow artists will relate to this message as you watch this film. As a team, we have created something wonderful and put it out into the world, pushing our limits just as Percy pushes himself.

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- Alani Sanders, Director