Intern Fridays: Interview with Lead Puppet Maker and Costumer Eliza Ryus

Intern Friday features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Eliza Ryus former intern at Fonco Creative Services and now Lead Puppet Maker and Costumer.  Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews!

What is your current job title and where do you work?

I'm the Lead puppet maker and costumer at Fonco Creative Services.

What does your job entail?

I make stopmotion and live action puppets and costumes for animated shorts, commercials, and trailers. 

What inspired you to become an artist?

The cartoons I watched as a child. I saw Looney Tunes when I was 5 and decided that's what I wanted to do. Of course that's changed a lot in the years since but still in the same vein. 

Where did you study?

I received my BFA at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and my MFA at Academy of Art University in San Francisco. 

Why did you choose the studio to apply for the internship?

I actually fell into my internship with Margo Mitchell Media and Marvel Comics by being friends with the guy who had it before me.    

When he graduated, he recommended me for the job. My internship at Fonco started because I was introduced to the head of the studio by my professor and my mentor recommended me for the job.

What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?

For Marvel and MMM I was working directly for a freelance artist and helping with Marvel book pages so I went to his studio and showed him some work on a slide show on my laptop (2007).

When I applied for Fo I had a website he could look at. Nowadays I keep my work on an iPad.

What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?

Being personable. I believe being friendly and easy to work with has made a large difference did me. I make friends easily and that has helped me more than anything else. 

What was the interview process like for the internship?

Very casual on both counts. We sat and talked about movies and comics we were into, art and making stuff then I was offered the job. Pretty simple considering how nervous I was. 

What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern?

I interned for a colorist so I did the flat color layouts for a little throwback indie comic for Marvel. So a lot of Photoshop work.

At Fonco it's always something new. When I was an intern, I was put to work making puppets for our original content and every puppet was completely different than the last so I had to wrangle it a totally new way with new materials every time. 

How did the internship prepare you for your current career?

At MMM working on a Marvel book I learned a lot about the pipeline and deadlines and efficiency. 

At Fonco I was an intern for my first year and I worked really hard, always tackled a challenge with a clear head and got along with everyone I worked with and that slowly got a real lead position there. 

What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?

I think internships should be paid. I worked for years as an intern at many places. We worked overtime a lot and were usually given the hardest tasks just because we were interns and “needed to learn the ropes.” I was always glad to have the experience, but I was still a student and working 40 hour weeks unpaid and because it's such an important opportunity you can't take the time off to get a second job to pay your rent. Also I believe most employers are unaware that in order to get the 'class credit' interns are paid in, students still have to pay the same amount as they would for a regular class. So essentially interns pay a couple thousand dollars to work for a company that can't even cover their rent. So yes, I believe they should be paid. 

What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio?

It's the best way to get a job after school, but it doesn't always pan out. Sometimes you really are just free labor and if you're an unpaid intern, do one year, do it well, get the credit and resume line and move on. If there isn't a job at the end of that year, hop from company to company. If you're going to be unpaid, get as many good connections as you can at different places, be friendly and work hard but don't get taken advantage of. Knowing a lot of people in other places is always helpful and they usually know each other and can recommend you if a paid job pops up somewhere. You want to be fondly remembered. 

Thank you Eliza for the interview! Check out more of Eliza's work at: 

www.elizaryus.com

And for more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco

Intern Fridays: Interview with visual development artist Callie MacDonell

Intern Friday features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Callie MacDonell former intern at Marvel.  Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews!

What is your current job title and where do you work? 
Currently I'm finishing up my master's in Visual Development and doing freelance projects whenever I
can.

What does your job entail? 
A lot of student loans?

What inspired you to become an artist? 
I can't pin it down to a single event. I was always a dreamer and very imaginative, which as many
people can attest to, can make fitting-in a bit difficult as a young child. When I found out I could
express myself through art and get praised for it, my confidence grew. When I was eleven and took a
tour of the animation house where they were working on Mulan, I decided that I wanted to be involved
in animation. I saw it to be an excellent way to tell my stories while still drawing. I never really stopped
pursuing that goal.

Where did you study?
My undergrad was at The Art Institutes International Minnesota and I graduated with a BS in Media
Arts and Animation. Right in time for the recession.

Why did you choose the studio to apply for the internship? 
I chose Marvel because, though I had always been a fan of animated TV shows involving Marvel and
DC characters, I had also just started to really appreciate comics as an art form. I had also just finished
up an internship with a woman named Trina Robbins who is an author and artist who worked on many
Wonder Woman comics back in the day. I catalogued original illustrations and comic strips that
featured female comic-strip artists. In order to preserve them for Trina's book about woman in the
comic and illustration industries, I was able to touch a part of history and know that there were many
women before me who wanted the same things out of life. So, looking around at internships, I felt
emboldened to apply to larger studios. I also figured with the success of the Marvel films, now was the
time to try and join their team.

What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission? 
I submitted 10-15 pages from my portfolio and catered it to what they were looking for in the creative
services department, which was mainly digital artwork. They also wanted a cover letter and resume.
Luckily, I was well prepared for writing them thanks to the classes in my undergrad.
What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?
Knowing what I know about the internship now, I'd say that it was my technical skills, my eye for color
and composition, and the clean and polished layout of my portfolio. I also read and re-read my cover
letter to make sure that it offered enough information without being too long-winded.

What was the interview process like for the internship?
I received an email saying that they would like to interview me for a job and that the internship would
be in five days at their office in New York. I wrote them back saying that I was excited but, unfortunately I couldn't go to them because I was in San Francisco. After a nerve-racking day of
waiting, I received a response email apologizing and got scheduled for an over the phone interview.
The interview was between me and two of my bosses: one from the HR department and one from the
creative department. They asked me about my skills, my strengths and weaknesses, and asked me to
walk through the process of creating one of the works in my portfolio.

What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern? I 
was a part of the Creative Services team. My job entailed many jobs but, most of them involved
merchandising. I would have to adjust or color correct artwork that would be used later on different
products. I created new and interesting repeating patterns using marvel characters to be used on fabric
for backpacks, clothes, towels, ect. I would also create style sheets, creating different hypothetical
products using the Marvel graphics at my disposal. A few times I was also called in to painstakingly
trace original Marvel artwork in order to create a vector image while still being true to the original
artist's work.

How did the internship prepare you for your current career?
Though I'm still freelance and looking
for a career, I gained a lot of knowledge that is helping me in my process. I learned not only a lot of
technical skills but, also a lot about color and merchandising.

What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships? 
I loved working at Marvel but, I did have
to move across the country in order to take the internship. Looking at the Marvel office in Downtown
Time Square, I couldn't help wonder why a multi-million dollar company couldn't afford to pay me
even minimum wage when I worked 30 hours a week. I'm very very grateful to have worked for the
company though, and I would not have made any other decision. I do hope that in the future that large
companies will understand the burden of student loans and pay their interns for their hard work.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio? Make sure you only
put your best forward. Spend the extra time and money on a professional looking website. When you
write your resume and cover letter be sure to cater them to your audience and read up on the "dos and
don'ts" of making professional cover letters and applications. Also, DO NOT be a quite person who only does their job. Make friends and put yourself out there.

Thank you Callie for the interview!  Check out Callie's portfolio here: 

calliemacdonell.daportfolio.com

And for more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco

Intern Fridays: Interview with Stop-Motion Animator Ellen Yu

Intern Friday features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Ellen Yu, former intern at Starburns Industries.  Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews!

What is your current job title and where do you work?
I am currently a freelance illustrator based out of Burbank.  I recently interned for Starburns Industries for the stop-motion feature film Anomalisa.

What does your job entail?
I was an art intern on the production.

What inspired you to become an artist?
I have many inspirations stemming from anime and independent short films.  I love the work of Studio Ghibli, Don Hertzfeldt, Jiri Trnka, Bretislav Pojar, and many more.
 
Where did you study?
I studied Character Animation at the California Institute of the Arts.

Why did you choose the studio to apply for the internship?
There aren't many stop-motion internships to choose from.  I was fortunate enough that the Anomalisa production aligned to when I was available.

What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?
I submitted my fabrication portfolio for puppets and my film reel. The reel showed parts of my Senior film and projects that I worked on.

What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?
Truthfully, I think availability was the key.  This wasn't for a paid position, but I do think having prior work experience in your field will help you get a job faster.  It's a lot easier to obtain work if you have previous jobs to back you up.
 
What was the interview process like for the internship?
The interview process was very quick. The company looked at my portfolio and told me the guidelines to the internship.

How did the internship prepare you for your current career?
I originally started out as a puppet intern, but was switched over to help in the graphics department. I created miniature labels and graphics for props in the movie.  At the tail end of my internship, I track read the eyebrows and mouth sets for the 3-D printed faces using Dragon.
 
What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?
I hope every internship is paid. Sometimes studios don't offer pay due to budget constraints. Internships allow connections.  If you do get a chance and can afford to intern unpaid, I would give it a try.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio?
I advise that students intern while in college.  A lot of internships don't allow you to intern without proof of college credit.  I hesitated to intern during school because of my school work and all of the classes I wanted to take.  I would suggest interning during the summer with help from family or interning somewhere you are locally from. 

Thank you Ellen for the interview!  Check out Ellen's reel and portfolio here: 

http://vimeo.com/62231883
http://eyu-animation.blogspot.com/

And for more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:
https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco

Intern Fridays: Interview with Animator Priscila Vertamatti

Intern Friday features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Priscila Vertamatti, current Pixar Animator and former Pixar and Disney Intern. Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews!

What is your current job title and where do you work?

I'm currently an Animator at Pixar Animation Studios in Emeryville, CA.


What does your job entail?

I animate production shots, that is, I give life - from acting to polishing - to characters in a Pixar movie.

What inspired you to become an artist in the first place?
I've always been drawing, ever since a little girl. A passion I could never really explain. I just love creating characters and stories, and bringing them to life. And of course, I've always loved Disney movies! 



Where did you study?

I attended the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA for my BFA in Character Animation.



Why did you choose to apply for the internship at Pixar Animation Studios?

I've actually only started doing (and liking) CG animation at AAU, before that I've always wanted to be a traditional animator. Pixar and Disney movies have always been my biggest inspirations, and uniting my unconditional love for animation, it was the moment I was waiting for my whole life.

The reason why I moved to the US was to seek unique opportunities like these. The previous year I had done the summer internship at Disney in Burbank, CA as a CG animator, to my surprise. As I was finishing school in 2012, I applied and got into the Pixar internship, it was a dream come true!



What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?

I prepared a demo reel with a variety of animation tests that could give others a good idea of my range of skills. I had both CG and Traditional shots, a dialog test, a quadruped, shots with my own characters and shots with Disney characters. For Disney I remember sending in some life drawings as well at the end of the demo reel, but for Pixar it was not necessary, as much of that knowledge can already show through one's animation. 



What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?

I think it was my life-long passion for animation, which hopefully showed through my work. Having traditional shots in my reel also helped, I believe, since the CG animation market is so saturated nowadays. Additionally, I had work from my previous summer internship at Disney; all my other shots had characters of my own creation (for the CG rigs, I modified them to look as close as possible). I believe I had some pretty interesting ideas and I've also been told that I have very strong sense of appeal and design in my work.



What was the interview process like for the internship?

For Pixar, I never really went through a formal interview. The reason might be that they prefer to look at one's demo reel first, but also, having been in the Pixar class at AAU, I could have been recommended without even knowing it.



What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern?

I did the Animation internship at Pixar. The goal was to animate a variety of test shots with Pixar characters, much as if you were creating a demo reel. We animated Luxo the lamp interacting with a ball, a Buzz Lightyear dialog, and other shots with characters from the latest Pixar movie, in our case, Brave. None of these shots were production-related, the internship really was about strengthening one's animating skills, learning the software, attending demos and lectures and having tons of fun!



How did the internship prepare you for your current career?

It prepared me in so many ways! It made me a better animator in the first place, learning from the mentors and fellow animators/interns. It also prepared me technically, after all, learning the software does make a difference; and it also prepared me emotionally, as I felt more confident as a professional, receiving both positive and constructive feedback on my work and personality. After the internship I started as a Crowds & Fix animator on Monsters University, moving up to animator recently this year after completing on the Pixar short Toy Story of Terror. I want to continue to grow inside the company, but will always remember where it all started!



What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?

I think internships should always be paid. Many interns are already so skilled they could well be doing professional work, so really, it's just a position title. It's totally understandable not to have the same benefits as a full-time employee, but not be paid at all just sounds unethical to me. If you're going to "volunteer", might as well do it for a non-profit organization that truly needs your help.



What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern and eventually work at a studio?
Work hard! Animate because you truly love it, and you will be happy anywhere. If you're looking to work in a studio, teamwork and disposition are essential, being talented is not enough. Always continue to study from life, draw a lot, both animals and people, attend lectures, look for and accept feedback, and just be honest with yourself. The time will come if you truly believe it!

Thank you Priscila for the interview! For more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco

Intern Fridays: Interview with Animator Tyler Clapp

Intern Friday features interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Tyler Clapp, a former Intern for High Voltage Software. Enjoy and stay tuned for future Intern Friday Interviews! 

What is your current job title and where do you work?
Unemployed! I do have a little freelance coming in from PG&E, where I'm a computer graphics contractor. 


What does your job entail?  
It's 3D generalist work - I basically make computer graphics for clients, start to finish. I listen to what they want, come up with ideas and a general look for their approval, then create the animation / graphics.


What inspired you to become an artist?
Practicing something and getting paid for it - especially when it's something I'd want to do any way - has an irresistible appeal. 


Where did you study?
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was a film major.


Why did you choose the studio to apply for the internship?
It was straightforward: location and, frankly, existence. I was outside of Chicago at the time, where studios are a little thin on the ground. It was one of the few places with opportunities for digital art / computer graphics work that offered internships.


What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?
Looking back, my portfolio submission to High Voltage was very broad. I put everything in there: illustration, 3D modeling, texturing, animation, life drawing, etc. Basically anything remotely 3D / art related I had done went in there. I would certainly not take that approach today.

As smorgasbord-like as it was, though, I made an effort to show only my best stuff in an attractive and coherent presentation. I think that helped.


What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship? 
I can't speak to what the other applicants looked like, but I can only guess that my professionalism and thorough portfolio sealed the deal.


What was the interview process like for the internship?
Friendly and informal. They reviewed my portfolio with me, but I got the impression I had the position before I walked into the room. They just wanted to meet me and make sure I didn't toss up any major red flags.


What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern? 
The department didn't have a name, but it was quite varied. I catalogued, cut, and edited audio clips from voice actor sessions. I modeled environments - mainly cityscapes, and did some basic animation.


How did the internship prepare you for your current career?
Much of the work was the same, just on tighter deadlines. And while this is small I do think it's important: it made me much more familiar with using computers with networked version control. Simple file management became a lot more important.
 
What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?
People should be paid for their work. Unpaid internships exacerbate already rampant inequality where those who can afford to work for free for months at a time get better connections and jobs than those who must support themselves.


What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio?
It really helps to know someone. More than half of the people I know that got internships at reputable studios did so for two reasons: their work was fantastic, and they had a friend on the inside. The importance of that cannot be overstated. A network of friends and acquaintances is your best bet for getting good work.

Thank you Tyler for the interview! For more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco

Intern Fridays: Interview with Visual Development Artist Tsebahat Fiseha

This is the first in our series of interviews with former Interns at animation, film, and video game studios. Today we bring you Tsebahat Fiseha, a former Cartoon Network Intern. Enjoy and stay tuned to future Intern Friday Interviews!

What is your current job title and where do you work?

I am a Production Assistant at Moonscoop LLC, which is a Television Animation Studio. Currently, we are working on the second season of Lalaloopsy for Nickelodeon.

What does your job entail?

Since I am a production assistant for the storyboard dept., I am basically assisting the Production Coordinator with conforming and storyboard mark up. Conforming entails scene numbering, page numbering, camera cuts, and making sure the storyboard matched the animatic panel by panel. Storyboard mark up entails calling each character, location, and prop out-basically labeling with a call-out number. Each one of those items have a specific number that match the image, so that animators overseas are aware of which character, location, and prop to use and animate for whatever scene they are given. 

What inspired you to become an artist in the first place?

Since my parents were artists and very handy, I was intrigued and wanted to become independent and learn how to make things, which is where the passion for fashion came about. 

My father was an oil painter and my mother was more of a fashion designer/ carpenter. My father would make his own canvases and together they were able to make furniture for our home. I loved drawing, but cartooning was what I wanted to do. At the time, I felt like my style of drawing characters was way more exaggerated than fine animation. However, I wanted to perfect my skills and become more of a fine artist. Both of my parents were my inspiration.

Where did you study?

I attended Woodbury University and majored in Animation Arts, which covered 3D/2D basics, and received a B.F.A.. Three years after graduating from Woodbury, I went back to school and earned an M.F.A. in Visual Development.

Why did you choose the studio to apply for the internship?

I never applied to Moonscoop as an intern. I just applied for the job itself. I applied to Cartoon Network Studios back in 2005 because I needed school credit. It was the only studio that called me back. I’m glad they did. I honestly had the time of my life.  It was the best experience ever.

What did you submit for your portfolio and how did you prepare for the submission?

When I was applying for the internship at Cartoon Network, I showed my best paintings and character designs. And I rehearsed explaining each one beforehand. As always, put your best work only and put it in the beginning and of course smile.

What do you believe separated you from others who were also applying for the internship?

Well, I have to say, I was eager, excited, and hungry ….starving to show my portfolio. The thing is that you are dealing with HR first and must impress them first before meeting with a producer.  I took my time with the HR  personnel.

What was the interview process like for the internship?

The interview process was intense. I actually thought I blew it. There was a mini interview on campus. The second interview was at the Cartoon Network Studio. A few days later, the third interview was with the producer of a show.

What department did you intern in and what specific tasks did you accomplish as an intern?

I was a Visual Development intern for Camp Lazlo. I had to create an idea for a TV show and design characters, backgrounds, props, and storyboard an entire episode and lastly, pitch the idea to the studio. Fifty people showed up to my pitch. I basically had 12 weeks to prepare for my pitch.

How did the internship prepare you for your current career?

I think my internship at Cartoon Network Studios prepared me more for Grad School in terms of what I wanted to major in , hence, the experience I I had at my internship prepared me socially for my current career in terms of dealing with people of different personalities and how to carry myself at work. You live and you learn!

What is your opinion on paid versus unpaid internships?

Paid internships are obviously more desirable, however not always easy to get.  It’s the unpaid internship that you end up appreciating more than the paid internship.

What advice do you have for aspiring artists who want to intern at a studio?

You’re fellow classmates and artist friends are you’re best network. Stay in touch. On the side when possible, contact studios and ask about their internship program (paid or unpaid) for students. Never ask if it’s paid. Let them tell you. Show your best work. Get a teacher or chairperson to look through your portfolio. Then, apply. 

What I would like to say to aspiring artists after they receive the opportunity is be prepared to work hard, leave a long-lasting positive impression because producers, artists, and executives will NOT remember you if you don’t. Also, be prepared to wear many hats and learn as much as you can. Plus, talking to other artists at the studio maybe fun and amazing, but remember they are busy and it’s never good to linger around their office. 

Thank you Tsebahat for the interview! For more info on Women in Animation San Francisco visit our Facebook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/wiasf

and Twitter at:

https://twitter.com/WIASanFrancisco