Talks

Making Dear Upstairs Neighbors: Exploring Artist-Driven, AI-Assisted Expressionistic Animation

Sarah Rumbley is a software engineer at Google, where she builds AI-based image and video creation tools for filmmakers. After studying electrical engineering, computer science, and music at MIT, she began her engineering career working on statistical estimation for motion tracking, while working as a photographer on weekends. Her pursuits in photography and filmmaking eventually led to her current role, where she served as VFX Supervisor for the animated short Dear Upstairs Neighbors as part of her work to develop generative AI models for creative professionals. She also does her best to keep up her love of music by taking online courses in film scoring and occasionally performing as a classical pianist in community concerts.