July 2022, Interview facilitated by Tracey Miller-Zarneke

What is your current role?
Recent graduate seeking work while polishing my website, reel, and being a Mom and Wife.

What is your earliest memory of being interested in animation?
I have been painting, sculpting, and drawing since I was a Silicon Valley/Bay Area kid. It is my safe space and my happy space.

True story: After being a hairdresser and educator for 21 years, prolonged exposure to ammonia closed that career door. The loss of that income resulted in our lil’ family being homeless for 2 years, 5 months, 13 days and 2 hours…give or take. We did everything to create as safe and “normal” a Home as possible in a motel room here in the East Bay. In my ME time, I sketched storyboards and character designs for a friend who was writing a book, painted portraits, and began writing in my notes app in my cell phone. The irony of our situation was that my hubby worked three jobs while pursuing his dream as a stagehand with San Francisco IATSE Local 16, and then realized…he’s a Journeyman. On nights he would be working, I would take our sonny on trips; fun dinners in the city or sandwiches at the bus stop across from Pixar. One night he told me I was “the world’s greatest artist.” He told me I should take my work to Mr. Pixar, and he would give me a job. That is how this all started–I enrolled in SAE Expressions College in Emeryville shortly after this conversation.

What is your favorite animated movie or animated character, and why?
This will be HARD for me to answer with just one favorite… I am a Disney kid: But really I am a Villains fan-addict: Maleficent, Hades, Ursula, Cruella. When Pixar came on the scene I was HOOKED by their stories from the first moment Woody and Buzz started sparring. Hank, the SEPTopus in Finding Dori; Ed O’Neil, voice actor, is my favorite “new” character, I’m a sucker for bad guy turns good stories. Brave is my FAVORITE animated film hero, Merida, and villain, Mor’du. (I Warned You! Giggling!)

Who or what inspires your work?
Good stories. Whether working on my own projects or those for assignments, there is always a story going on in my head.

Where did you attend school?
Academy of Art University, San Francisco. MFA Anim/VFX/CVfx/Film Production studies, graduated May 2022.

What part of your studies have you enjoyed the most?
Telling stories is my passion though each medium. Each aspect has been a BLASTY BLAST of challenges, failures, and successes. I LOVE to research, collaborating with fellow artists, and building the characters and their environments.

What do you see for yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
I’ll be working in the pipeline, in story development, production, climbing that ladder, working with Brilliant people…mmmmaybe traveling. Then teaching. I educated hairdressers while being a hairdresser, I LOVE the dynamic of sharing all I have learned with the new up and comers.

How long have you been a member of WIA?
Since 2016, started during my last terms at SAE Expressions College.

Why is an organization like Women In Animation important to you?
As a Pro-Active Female Promoter/Advocate starting a journey in this industry, WIA/WIFX/WIF are touchstones for industry knowledge, networking, and connection.

What have you enjoyed most about being part of WIA?
I miss Live gatherings, but Zoom Meetings have been no less a pleasure with my Sisters. That has been such a Great motivator during my studies. I can only look forward to this group as I grow into my place in this exciting industry.

Any other insights or experiences regarding your pursuit of an education leading to work in animation that you would like to share with our membership?
This has been a very enlightening journey, the education and relationships that have been formed are both invaluable and irreplaceable.

This has all taken place during a time of social and societal upheaval, unrest, the most pivotal time in Our Nation’s history. I straddle eras in which women have been relegated to assumed feminine roles and this era when all of Our assumptions, the things We have taken for granted for so long seem to be crumbling around Us.

I have also had the great fortune of knowing and being a small part of an awakening. Watching and being inspired as young women answer the call to come forward, speak out, and stand together to protect and define who We Are and Will Be As Women in the work force and in Our Lives.

WIA and Our members and guests need more events and gatherings to strengthen this Sisterhood. And I Can Not Wait To Meet You All!