Autodesk Media & Entertainment
A student film that dares to dream big
For Indonesian filmmaker and animator Fadhlan Irsyad, storytelling is like solving a puzzle—one that starts with a single image and grows through curiosity, emotion, and creativity. His short film HOME, made as his final school project, dives deep into themes like life, identity… and death—all wrapped up in stunning visuals.
The story? A robot and a baby crossing a post-apocalyptic desert together, searching through the ruins of a lost civilisation. It all started with a song:
“It was A Drifting Lens by Amos Roddy,” Fadhlan says. “I imagined a robot walking through an endless desert, passing ruins. Then I asked myself— why is it walking? What’s its goal? What happened to the world? That’s how the story started coming together. Like a puzzle.”
That puzzle became HOME—a film that explores the contrast between humans and AI, using Autodesk Flow Studio and a robot character to bring that idea to life. Behind the scenes, Fadhlan blended classic filmmaking with cutting-edge tech to make it happen.
How HOME was made
Fadhlan’s creative process is incredibly visual. He starts with images and lets the story build around them. He used Blender to block out scenes, design environments, and create characters that matched the vibe.
But animating those characters? That was the tricky part—until Flow Studio stepped in.
Using Flow Studio’s cloud-based AI motion capture, Fadhlan animated characters with live-action reference footage without any of the fancy mocap gear. The platform preserved his camera angles, lighting, and scene setup, so he could focus on what mattered most: telling a great story.
“Flow Studio helped me realise that character animation is actually doable—something I used to avoid because it felt too hard.”
“It makes things easier, but still lets artists add their own style.”
Lighting that speaks
Lighting isn’t just about making things look cool—it’s about making them feel right. For Fadhlan, it’s all about clarity and emotion.
“Lighting can totally make or break your image. It’s all about readability.”
His advice? Watch movies. Study art. Even check out AI-generated content. See how light shapes a scene, defines characters, and sets the mood. Then experiment and find your own style.
AI: Not Just a Tool—A Creative Sidekick
AI wasn’t part of Fadhlan’s school curriculum, but that didn’t stop him. He used Flow Studio for motion capture and prototyping, always keeping hold of his creative control.
Even the poster for HOME was a mix of tech and talent—posed in Blender, painted over with AI, and polished in Photoshop.
“I still put in the effort to make the art my own. That’s the key. AI is just another tool—like 3D software or editing apps. Flow Studio is the perfect middle ground. It helps, but doesn’t take over.”
School Projects That Feel Like Blockbusters
Balancing personal projects with schoolwork isn’t easy—and Fadhlan admits he struggled. “I think I’m one of the worst offenders…”
But he found a way to mix his passions with his assignments. He added 3D animation and VFX to his film projects, turning open-ended briefs into full-on cinematic experiences.
With help from directable AI, like Flow Studio, he saved time and pushed the limits of what he could create—making school projects that look as if they belong on the big screen.
What’s Next?
Fadhlan believes the future of filmmaking is all about collaboration—with other creatives and with technology.
“AI makes filmmaking feel way more achievable.”
Now working at an animation studio in Indonesia, Fadhlan’s still dreaming big. He’s developing HOME into a feature-length film, surrounded by collaborators who inspire and challenge him. His journey is just beginning—and we can’t wait to see where he goes next.
Fadhlan’s journey into storytelling shows what’s possible when curiosity meets the right tools. Flow Studio makes professional workflows accessible without the usual barriers. Giving creators room to experiment, learn, and bring their ideas to life.
Want to try Flow Studio for yourself?
Now, students worldwide can explore that same creative freedom with Flow Studio for education—free for eligible students (18+), educators, and educational institutions.