Category Archives: Profiles

Samantha Vargas | UBSpectrum Daeil Kim wrote sci-fi and fantasy stories for friends and family when he was younger. He loved creating his “own world” as a kid. That love quickly turned into visual storytelling and filmmaking after he graduated high school, until his stories weren’t just gifts to loved ones.  This year, his filmContinue reading “Directing dreams: UB filmmaker reflects on success, science fiction and finding inspiration in the U.S (09-03-19)”

The Fantastical World of Japanese Anime, AS347, highlights the artform Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Students filed into Fillmore 170 Wednesday afternoon in the anthropology department’s lecture hall.  But the students aren’t being quizzed on dinosaur bones or ancient civilizations. They’re discussing the color theory and character designs in Studio Ghibli’s “Spirited Away.”  The FantasticalContinue reading “UwUB: Anime class teaches visual appreciation”

Up-and-coming musician reflects on career, family and mental health (08-29-19) Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum BadMoodRude would have never considered a career as a musician two years ago. The local personality was known around Upstate New York as a music promoter and online mental health advocate, but she began producing her own music at theContinue reading “Songwriting and solidarity: Introducing BadMoodRude”

Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Gianna Damico never plans on wasting time.  For her, life is about making the most of competition, physical exercise, academic pursuits, painting, graphic design and more. Between school, sports and her passion for photo-realistic portraits, Damico is one of UB’s budding renaissance women. In fact, the junior fine arts andContinue reading “Diligent Dreamers: Gianna Damico, UB’s renaissance woman (07-26-19)”

Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Inha Jung remembers a time when her club did not have a set room. The Korean Student Association and Kasanova Dance Team had to travel around North Campus looking for a space to practice last year. The group would go from the Richmond Hall gym to the Student Union FlagContinue reading “‘Living the dream:’ International Fiesta winners Korean SA reflect on journey to the top (03-14-19)”

Rutuja Sawant defies cultural expectations after leaving India Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Growing up in India, UB student Rutuja Sawant never felt like she could express herself. She struggled between the pressure to succeed academically and the lack of representation in media, but found a sense of identity through filmmaking. Sawant, a junior mediaContinue reading “Culture on camera (03-07-19)”

Rebel One Studios brings animation to Buffalo Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Animation is typically associated with big Hollywood studios, but the art form has grown far beyond film and television.  Rebel One Studios is reclaiming animation and breaking traditional stereotypes from healthcare to architecture and advertising.  The five-person animation team is based out ofContinue reading “Just a simple animation company trying to make their way in the universe (02-28-19)”

Habiba Abdelall’s cultural clash with female sexuality Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum After a serious car accident in Buffalo, UB student Habiba Abdelall found her comfort through art.  Her focus: female nudes.  The senior studio arts major picked up drawing as a way to help ease her depression and she eventually enrolled in classes atContinue reading “Sensual surrealism (02-11-19)”

Joshua Diamond’s journey through self expression and education Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum Most art students go to Michael’s to pick up supplies, but Joshua Diamond goes to the local butcher. His supplies include blood –– sometimes even his own. Diamond, a senior environmental design major, previously attended a school in the midwest for phlebotomyContinue reading “Bringing blood to brushes (11-15-18)”

Startup production company takes Hollywood shareholders by storm Samantha Vargas | UB Spectrum When Paul Scanlan, CEO and co-founder of Legion M Productions, set out to create a new production company, he intended to end the assumption that Hollywood has to be run solely as a business.  By taking advantage of the Jumpstart Our BusinessContinue reading “Legion M brings Hollywood investments to the mainstream (09-17-18)”