Go behind the scenes of Wes Anderson and an Oscar-nominated short: Tickets are now available for April’s Nicer Tuesdays Online!

Is working for screen as glamorous as it sounds? How do designers achieve that delicate balance between precision and lived imperfection on a set? This month, we’re ecstatic to announce a world-class line-up in the form of two design giants working in film and animation: designer of graphic props Annie Atkins and animator and director Siqi Song. April’s Nicer Tuesdays Online promises to delve into the creative wonders that happen behind the scenes on filmic masterpieces. From Hollywood blockbusters to cult classics, independent animated shorts and more, the hour-long event will give you a glimpse of what goes into design for moving image and the artistry that transports the viewer into another world altogether.

Pay what you can with our tiered payment system and grab yourself a ticket below. Also, did you know that if you join Extra Nice, It’s Nice That’s new membership programme, you’ll automatically receive a ticket every month for Nicer Tuesdays Online, for the entire year? That’s just one of the many perks that makes Extra Nice so special. To find out more about this and all the other benefits of joining Extra Nice, head over to the dedicated part of our site.

Find out more about our coveted international speakers below.

Annie Atkins

The Dublin-based graphic designer has made a name for herself as a master craftswoman behind some of the best loved films of our time. The Grand Budapest Hotel, Isle of Dogs, The Boxtrolls, Bridge of Spies and The Tudors are just a few of her many impressive projects to date. In a detailed Q&A with our editor-in-chief Matt Alagiah, you’ll be able to ask Annie your personal questions on her work while she gives insight into her career to date, touching on her hand rendered lettering techniques and graphic prop making in general. Annie also has a new book out titled Fake Love Letters, Forged Telegrams, and Prison Escape Maps a comprehensive compendium of designing graphic props for filmmaking. Providing juicy insights into the book which reveals top tips on how to create authentic-looking props, we can’t wait to step into Annie’s creative process. She’ll discuss the rigorous research and intricate design iterations which are then executed into visually immaculate props, even the ones that appear on screen for a millisecond.

Siqi Song

The California-based animator and director’s films have graced film festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, Annecy, Ottawa and many more. Named a Film Independent Directing Fellow and a BAFTA Los Angeles Newcomer both in 2018, Siqi was also nominated for an Oscar for her short film Sister, last year. Having taken the animation world by storm in the past few years with her arresting narratives, thoughtful characterisation and painstakingly artful stop motion techniques, Siqi will talk us through her creative process at April’s Nicer Tuesdays. Touching on both the conceptual and technical nuances of her work to date, Siqi’s talk will give us an idea of the mammoth contemplations that go into a stop motion film yet, despite the lengthy operation, how the final outcome can express creative feeling like no other art form.