Intern Fridays features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Nicole Ridgwell, former intern at Walt Disney Animation Studios. Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews!
What is your current job title and where do you work?
I’m finishing my last year at Academy of Art University studying animation. I also teach music lessons and play in a band called Sioux City Kid.
What does your job entail?
I teach private violin lessons and preschool music classes, and I teach a program called Music Together where kids and their families participate in group classes. I just finished a pacific northwest tour with my band, where I sing and play violin.
What inspired you to become an animator and a musician?
I’ve always loved art and music. My family lived in a trailer without electricity when I was a kid, so I spent most of my time painting and playing violin. In high school I got involved in theatre, music and art. I became inspired after seeing how deeply my philosophies were influenced by what I watched. Once I graduated I spent about a year as a professional musician playing in bands and teaching. The lifestyle was really fun but I knew I wanted something more; I wanted to leave my mark on the world. I realized that animation combines everything I love together; painting, drawing, music, acting, and collaboration. A good animator can make people laugh, make them cry, and can change the way they see the world. I applied to Academy of Art University and moved to San Francisco, and have been here ever since.
Where did you study?
I’ll be finishing my BFA in animation this winter at Academy of Art University. I also took classes at Animation Mentor and The Animation Collaborative in Emeryville.
Why did you choose to apply to Walt Disney Animation Studios for the internship?
As a kid, I was hugely inspired by Disney films. My family had no TV but our neighbors had almost every animated film on a giant shelf in their living room. I remember lying on their rug watching Aladdin on repeat, then running outside to pretend we were flying on a magic carpet. Disney films nurtured my imagination. The first three years I lived in San Francisco I worked as an actress at The Cinderella Company, playing Disney princesses at kid’s events. It was an incredible experience, seeing how much Disney inspires kids and affects their worldviews. Ever since then I think working for Disney has hovered in the back of my mind.
What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?
I submitted my demo reel, letters of recommendation, resume, cover letter, and drawings online in Disney’s careers section. I prepared by asking teachers that I respected to write letters of recommendation as early as possible, and I made sure my portfolio had only my strongest drawings. I included gesture drawings, animal drawings, and a few illustrations. Same thing with my demo reel- I only included my best work. I included a two person dialogue, single person dialogue, pantomime, and a body mechanics sequence.
What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?
I was shocked when I got the call; I’m still not entirely sure why they picked my reel over all the others. Our mentors at Disney mentioned to us that they picked Reece (the other intern) because his reel was hilarious and made them laugh, and they picked mine because they felt my acting was genuine. I think the best thing to separate yourself from other candidates is to animate shots that are personal to you. I don’t choose shots based on what studios want to see, I choose shots based on what I want to animate. I think that’s what makes my reel unique.
What was the interview process like for the Disney internship?
There actually wasn’t any interview process. I was animating in lab at Academy when I got a call from Matt telling me the internship was mine if I wanted it. The next day I started planning my trip to LA!
What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern?
I was one of two CG animation interns in an eleven person group composed of visdev, story, modeling, rigging, texturing, TD, production, and animation interns. Disney had a giant room devoted to talent development on the first floor of the building where we worked. As a summer intern group, we made a minute and a half short film from scratch- all the way from story through lighting and sound. While technically my only job was to animate, all the interns were very involved in the whole film-making process. In addition to the film we also worked on outside projects with our mentors.
What was the best and most unexpected thing you encountered as an intern for Disney?
The culture. I had never worked at an animation studio before, and coming from a background as a musician and actor, I was expecting it to be a high stress environment. But while everyone does work hard, it is one of the most fun places I’ve ever been. Everyone is so friendly, helpful, and kind. My mentor Michael went completely above and beyond his duty, often visiting me multiple times a day to give feedback, and sending me music playlists to listen to while I worked. I felt welcomed and included from the moment I stepped into the building and looked up at Mary Blair’s art hanging all over the walls.
How did the internship prepare you for your current career?
I definitely have a lot more speed and confidence in my school assignments than I did before I went to Disney. I think the biggest thing that changed about my work is appeal. I really learned there that you can’t let the rig dictate what shapes you make. I also learned a lot about how to work with a team and hit deadlines.
What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?
I believe internships should be paid. It’s a tough question because I know any chance to get your foot in the door is a rare opportunity these days. I am lucky enough that I’ve never been in a position where I had to work without getting paid.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio or game company?
Be yourself! Make sure your work is unique to you and your interests. Work hard and don’t give up. It’s a competitive industry but don’t believe it when they say that your reel doesn’t get seen if you send it cold. I sent my reel to Disney cold and it still got chosen. If you are going to an art school, make sure you go beyond their curriculum in your studies. Take outside classes and motivate yourself to learn as much as you can.
Thank you so much for interviewing me, it’s been an honor!
Thank you Nicole for the interview! You can view Nicole's work at her website:
And at Vimeo/Twitter:
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