Behind the scenes with Z Yang™.
Lights, camera, action! Z loves stories through stop-motion video—so it's a dream come true when she gets to shoot around Seattle as a real filmmaker in the CloudSong young filmmaker contest.
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    Z's purple knit beanie is her good-luck charm—she pulls it on every time just before she says, "Action!"

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Every girl has a story to share.
Smile! Z's phone is not real. Her smile? 100% authentic.
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    Z's exuberant Dalmatian, "Popcorn," always manages to steal the scene.

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Join Z Yang™ and her friends with an interactive 360-degree view of her world!
Get ready to roll with Z.
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    Z's neighborhood is on the highest peak in Seattle, so it's fantastic for filming as she flies down hills on her scooter with her action cam set to RECORD.

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    Z's fashion-forward friend Mari makes sure Z's wardrobe is always camera-ready.

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Through another lens. Sydney—known as @5hensandacockatiel on Instagram—is an AG fan who has a lot in common with Z! She, too, loves to design digital stories with the help of her family, so we visited Seattle to give Sydney a shot at bringing Z's stories to life.
4 steps to stop-motion success
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    SKETCH.

    For visual people, this is where brainstorming gets real.

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    SCRIPT.

    Note: Words on paper read differently than those spoken as voiceover.

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    STORYBOARD.

    Stop-motion videos need 12 shots/minute, so keeping them in order is key.

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    SHOOT.

    It's easy to see why this is Sydney's—and Z's—favorite part!

Take time to pause. Make time to play. This doll set is Sydney's take on Z's favorite hobby: shooting American Girl stop-motion movies for her vlog.
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    Easter Egg!
    Do you know where this bedding really belongs? (Hint: the room of another American Girl character.)

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Take two. Another one of Sydney's sets: Z at the Beanery, her favorite place to meet up with friends and drink bubble tea!
Z Yang™ video.
Z Yang™, Check out what Z's crew has been up to: #AGZCrew.