"What I Had to Leave Behind" Official Selection at 2022 Los Angeles Animation Festival

What I Had to Leave Behind will screen at the 2022 Los Angeles Animation Festival on December 10th. Founded in 2007, LAAF is the city’s only international film festival and symposium.

Earlier this week, Maggie Dave - Old You, the official music video animated by Cassie Shao for Christensen’s pop music project with Mark Christopher, was awarded Honorable Mention at LAAF. This honor is given "to work of an exceptionally high standard and worthy of festival praise." Shao is an alum of the festival, earning a nomination for her film There Were Four of Us as Best Student Experimental Short in 2019.

Nevada City Film Festival - Animated Shorts Filmmakers' Interview

Earlier this summer I had the pleasure of joining a panel of animators and producers at the Nevada City Film Festival - Animation Shorts program, to discuss our approaches to visual storytelling, inspirations and collaborating virtually during this unprecedented year. Representing Maggie Dave - I’m Not Ready, animated by Cassie Shao, special thanks to Festival Director Jesse Locks for hosting the conversation.

Interview with selected “Animated Shorts” filmmakers: Josephine Lohoar - The Fabric of You,
Calum Hart - The Fabric of You, Sean David Christensen - Maggie Dave - I’m Not Ready, Camrus Johnson - Grab My Hand: A Letter to My Dad, Geoff Hecht - Metro 6, Cullen Parr - Charon; Hosted by Jesse Locks

"Maggie Dave - I'm Not Ready" at LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival & Nevada City Film Festival

Cassie Shao’s brilliant music video for “I’m Not Ready” (music video for Maggie Dave) was announced on two lauded festival lineups this week. At the LINOLEUM Contemporary Animation and Media Art Festival, Shao’s film will make its Ukrainian premiere alongside 26 other international offerings in the “Commissioned Film Competition.” At the “Sundance of the Sierra,” the Nevada City Film Festival will host the music video at their innovative outdoor drive-in cinema under the stars of Grass Valley, California.

Drive-in Cinema at Nevada City Film Festival

Directed & Animated by Cassie Shao Produced by Sean David Christensen “I'm Not Ready” written by Maggie Dave Vocals & keyboard: Sean David Christensen Synthesizers: Mark Christopher & Ricky Berger Vocals engineered by Ricky Berger Mixed by Ricky Berger & Mark Christopher Mastering by Trevor Case https://www.karasucassie.com/ https://www.maggiedave.com/ --Official Screenings-- 2020 Athens International Film + Video Festival 2019 Flux Screening Series Fall edition at the Hammer Museum 2019 Music Video & Shorts Night #3 at the Gold Diggers

Vimeo Staff Pick: "I'm Not Ready" by Cassie Shao

I’m thrilled for my friend Cassie Shao, awarded a Vimeo Staff Pick for her visionary reimagining of “I’m Not Ready” by Maggie Dave. Featured on “Ladies With Lenses,” a curated staff channel that celebrates the best work on the Internet by womxn behind the camera, Shao’s delicate and abstract expression of my lyrics makes the song new again with each viewing.

“I’m Not Ready” (2019) by Cassie Shao

“I’m Not Ready” (2019) by Cassie Shao

CREDITS

Directed & Animated by Cassie Shao
Produced by Sean David Christensen

“I'm Not Ready” written by Maggie Dave
Vocals & keyboard: Sean David Christensen
Synthesizers: Mark Christopher & Ricky Berger

Vocals engineered by Ricky Berger
Mixed by Ricky Berger & Mark Christopher
Mastering by Trevor Case

Maggie Dave "I'm Not Ready" by Cassie Shao

Cassie Shao is a visionary talent in animation. I had the great pleasure of meeting her through USC’s John C. Hench Division of Animation & Digital Arts after a screening of her breathtaking thesis film, There Were Four of Us:

A dizzying blend of claustrophobic environments that fold backwards with vivid bursts of color and hand-painted debris, Shao’s work traces the jagged edges of dreams with startling clarity. Shortly after getting to know her and learn more about her work, I invited her to visualize “I’m Not Ready,” a debut single from Maggie Dave (my band, with artist Mark Christopher). I was humbled and honored by her expressive and delicate exploration of the song, one that now sounds brand new each time I watch her video.

Maggie Dave - I’m Not Ready arrives October 23rd. Watch this space!

Maggie Dave - Mean Like Monsters (Concept art)

As Maggie Dave continues to record its upcoming full-length album, Mean Like Monsters, concept art for the cover is beginning to take shape. Here’s a glimpse of what’s forming, from illustrator Kadie Cook.

Maggie Dave in the studio

June 8th, 2019: Underneath the warm acoustic rafters of Voltiv Sound in Los Angeles, Maggie Dave rolled up its sleeves and got down to work on its first single. It was invigorating to hear musicians like Brian breath life into our demos, what once were tidy attempts to simulate a “live” band, now pulsed with rhythm and soul. It’s been a blessing to involve so many of our friends and fellow artists we admire on this project, and with so much album left to go, we can’t wait to share these experiences together, again!

Haven't Been The Same

I recently gave my musical project a name, standing atop a mound of eviscerated ideas at the hands of Google search: "Behold, I am become Google search, the destroyer of first drafts of band names." Nevertheless, Maggie Dave is here, and in the meantime - while I desperately try to banish the creeping suspicion that there's somebody out there waiting to pounce on that unreserved domain name...I'll choose to breathe instead. 

I'll be performing new songs during the holiday months ahead, so check back here during Decembertime for concert dates, live performances & more. Until then, enjoy this kitchen-recorded demo of "Haven't Been The Same," a cover of one of my favorite songs by the magnetically gifted singer/songwriter Uni and her Ukelele, aka Heather Marie-Ellison.