Classical Animation students got a treat yesterday from Cookie Jar Entertainment, when Melissa Wolfe came to visit the campus. VFS first caught Melissa’s attention when she was Associate Producer of the Nicktoons Film Festival for Frederator Studios, where she saw “a lot of great films in the festival were coming out of VFS.” As Director of Development of Cookie Jar, she was here from Los Angeles to hang out with Larry Bafia, tour the Classical Animation department, talk about the industry, give a bit of advice, and have a look at the future.
Partly at least, Melissa is in Vancouver to hunt down some animation bloggers she’s had her eye on, as well as the chance to finally meet some more young artists face-to-face. “We have a ton of projects on the go at Cookie Jar,” Melissa said between one-on-one visits with Classical students presenting her their portfolios and work-in-progress.
Dispensing words — cookies? — of inspiration, Melissa reminded that “successful shows are created by artists who stick to their idea. Don’t give up just because someone isn’t buying. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s the person who creates the value.”
She also had suggestions for how to give a good pitch -
“It’s about great characters. Pitch with enthusiasm, embody your character. And sum up your story in a precise way.”
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After that, it was on to a bigger role for Felipe – he just finished shooting Gerardo Tort‘s Viaje redondo (“Round Trip”). We caught up with him to ask about his own round trip, from Mexico to Vancouver and back. What drew you to acting? I was born and raised in Monterrey, México. When the decision to become an actor came to mind, I was in university studying International Commerce at the time. One day, I woke up with one of those existential crises and started questioning myself about what was it that I really wanted to be or do in my lifetime. I used to think that I was going to be a musician when I was a teenager, since I always had music bands with friends in high school. I wanted to change the world by writing lyrics that would make people think about deep things and stuff like that. But I realized that the audience you can get as a musician is limited to the genre and the language in which you write your music. So I thought about making movies instead, since it’s a more universal language in which I could also perform. I read the bios of a bunch of actors I admired and I thought to myself, “Why not? If those guys could make it, so can I.” Why did you choose to come all the way to VFS? I searched for schools around the world looking for a place that could offer me great education in acting, filmmaking, and writing, but if I would’ve taken, say, a conservatory program for acting in New York City, a full-time film production program in Los Angeles, and a writing program anywhere else, I would’ve kept on studying at age 40 or something! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit.
Todd Ramsay -Classical Animation grad – Best Direction/Storyboarding in an Animation Program or Series for Chaotic – Chaotic Crisis Glen Noseworthy- Sound Design grad – Best Overall Sound in a Dramatic Series for Secrets and Lies Larisa Andrews – Film Production grad – Best Documentary Series for True Pulp Murder Dwayne Beaver – Foundation instructor – Best Direction in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series for Road Hockey Rumble – Summerside Luke Carroll – Film Production grad – Best Animation Program or Series for Barbie Mariposa: Fairytopia 4 Chris Abbas – Digital Design and Foundation Visual Art & Design grad – Best Visual Effects in a Dramatic Series for Painkiller Jane – Higher Court Emile Ullerup -Acting grad -Best Lead Performance by a Female in a Dramatic Series for jPod – Senseless Prom Death Colin Cunningham – Film Production grad – Best Supporting Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series for jPod – Senseless Prom Death Colin Cunningham – Best Direction in a Short Drama for Centigrade Colin Cunningham – Best Performance by a Male in a Short Drama for Centigrade [editor's note: Nice goin', Colin!] Patrick Britton – Film Production grad – Best Picture Editing in a Short Drama for Dog Boy Tara Hungerford – Film instructor -Best Best Music Video for In This Room by Ambush Check out the complete list of Leo nominees. Congratulations to all — and good luck at the ceremony on May 24!
Bedford Councillor candidate Tim Outhit is getting praise for the project (here’s but one example, calling it “a stroke of genius”), dubbed TimTV. You can see the webisodes for yourself here. Paul attended the Whistler Film Festival in late November for winning the Canadian Reflections Award at the ’07 Air Canada enRoute Student Film Festival. “There was a lot of talk about opportunities to produce web content,” he says. “I had no idea I’d be diving into that field so soon.” Paul thinks it’s worth pursuing. “I’m hoping I can carve out a niche and do similar grassroots viral video for other politicians – provincial or federal elections would be nice. I’m sure there’s also a way to make this process work for businesses and other organizations too.” “For one thing, it’s cheap. The crew is just me and my camera.” Update: Paul writes in to say, “Our underdog candidate surprised everyone and won the election tonight”!
J.T. Howard is graduating from the Writing for Film & Television program at the end of the week… having just had his interview with Lewis Black published in this week’s issue of TVWeek Magazine. Lewis Black, beloved for his “Back in Black” segments on The Daily Show, and on a break from his Comedy Central show Lewis Black’s Root of All Evil, was in Vancouver performing at the River Rock Casino in late February. At that time, J.T. was gearing up for his interview assignment in Entertainment Journalism class, and decided to go for gold and try to get to America’s favourite angryman. So how did he do it? J.T. says: “It was remarkably simple. I had the assignment from Alison Cunningham‘s Journalism class to interview someone in town that was some sort of celebrity. I noticed that Lewis Black was coming to town. So I pointed and I said ‘That one’. Alison said ‘Try and set it up’.” “So I went to the website, e-mailed his press people with something along the lines of ‘I’m a film school student… he’s in town… blah blah blah… Can I interview him?’ You’d be amazed at how much leeway you’re given when you say ‘I’m a film student’.” “For a while I didn’t hear anything. Then he said ‘Yeah. Sure. What the hell.’ It was at this point I started to dance uncontrollably.” “The day came when I was supposed to interview him. I went to the show for free, met him backstage in his dressing room, and just hung out for a bit. The next day we did the interview over the phone. I kept it short and sweet.” “I then pitched the piece to TVWeek via e-mail, saying something like ‘I had an interview with Lewis Black, wanna pay me for it?’ I’m paraphrasing, but they responded within a half hour of my request TO THE WRONG PERSON, and said ‘Oooo… Yes, please.’” “And I lived happily ever after…” Congrats on your first byline, J.T. – and have a fantastic graduation on Friday. If you’re looking for the magazine this week, it’s the one with Chef Gordon Ramsay looking stern — big surprise! — on the cover. (And yes, we expect to hear further tales of what can be done when you just say “I’m a film student”…)
Well, it’s a tough slog, and the team has had its share of challenges. Expedition leader Don Bowie has written a few dispatches from the climb – an approach to basecamp, then unfavourable weather – which includes photos. At left, that’s Dan himself looking on. Update: Inclement weather forced Don Bowie to scrub the summit attempt. Sadly, one of his teammates who did press on tragically died on the mountain despite a valiant rescue attempt. You can read about it here. We can report that Dan himself is now safely back in Vancouver. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Iñaki Ochoa de Olza Seguín.
The short answer: “Three words…Dream Come True.” Check out the interview.
We’ll be on site at 4 CEC India Application Forums, in Ludhiana, New Delhi, Pune, and Hyderabad over the next week. If you live in the area of any of these events, don’t miss this chance to meet VFS International Admissions Advisor Dorothy Mathias, who has helped many a student from India through our admission process. If you visit the VFS Booth and bring your portfolio and transcripts, you’ll receive on-the-spot feedback to help you submit the strongest application possible. Of course, you’re also welcome to simply drop by the booth at the event closest to you to say hello, and pick up some VFS materials that may help you figure out if VFS is the right choice for you. For full details and to RSVP to meet Dorothy – visit our India Roadshow page.
Since then the 3D Animation & Visual Effects graduate, who was born in Mexico City and raised in Guadalajara, has worked at The Orphanage and now for Blizzard Entertainment as a cinematic artist. We all know what Blizzard’s best known for, but Alvaro has to remain cagey about his current projects. Still, we wanted to check in and find out what makes him tick. “I’ve been drawing and painting all my life,” he says, “So when I discovered [3D] I felt like it was a way to take my art to the next level.” He entertained a few options after graduation and settled on The Orphanage, where he gained valuable experience. “When I graduated, I had a few interviews in some studios in Canada and a few phone interviews. One of them was Blizzard, but I decided to take a four-month gig at The Orphanage as a creature modeler for Pirates of the Caribbean 3, modeling dead people floating on the sea.”
Thomas says, “Being selected to be part of Hot Docs is a very exciting and precious honor. To be welcomed so early in our careers into such a prestigious tradition fills me with great pride for the film.” Both Terry and Thomas have hit the ground running in terms of their film careers; Thomas is currently Director’s Assistant on Universal‘s Slap Shot 3, and Terry’s working on Up the Pond, a feature doc about the Royal St. John’s Regatta in Newfoundland — the oldest sporting event in North America. Congrats to everyone involved in Virtuoso… and for anyone in the Toronto area, be sure to go check out the film!
Acting Grad’s Round Trip
Felipe de Lara, a graduate of both Acting for Film & Television and Film Production at VFS, is making an impression in his native Mexico, beginning with a small role in Rudo y Cursi, written and directed by Carlos Cuarón. The film stars Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, and is produced by the company started by Guillermo del Toro, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Carlos’ brother Alfonso Cuarón.Leo Noms
Yes, it’s time again for the annual roar from the West — the nominations for the Leo Awards were announced, and VFS is well represented.
Dorian Pareis – Sound Design grad – Best Overall Sound in a Short Drama for My InventionsFilm Grad Takes On Politics
Paul St. Amand, the Film Production alum who directed the award-winning VFS doc Parallels and the sumptuous period sci-fi short Grover’s Mill and produced Alibi Inc., has a new venture on the go. He’s producing and directing a series of webisodes for a political candidate in his native province of Novia Scotia.Writer Gets to Lewis Black
What better way to head into your last week in the Writing program at VFS than with your first published writing credit?Himalayan Journey Continues
As we reported in February, Film Production grad Daniel Baas is trekking through the Himalayas right now to record a summit attempt on formidable Annapurna.Supernatural Acting Gig
Season three of Supernatural is back in full swing now that the Writer’s Union strike is over, and our sibling heroes Sam and Dean are once again tripping across the USA (but filmed in Vancouver) in their black 1967 Chevy Impala, investigating all variety of paranormal mystery while uncovering the secrets of their own past. May 1st, 9pm, microwave some popcorn, turn off the cellphone, and get set to watch episode fourteen, “Long-Distance Caller,” in which Acting grad Thomas Dobie plays the much-loved character role of the naive small-town beat cop in over his head. We interviewed Thomas to find out more about the experience.Meet VFS in India
Yet another leg of the VFS Roadshow is about to get underway – in India!Guadalajara to Blizzard
When last we wrote about Alvaro Buendia, we were celebrating his horrible monster fetus.
He eventually arrived at the decision to take the long road from Mexico to VFS. “I was learning 3D by myself at first, and then I took a 3D course in another school for a short time but felt pretty unsatisfied. I remembered that while looking for reference I was watching a bunch of reels that were really good and many were from VFS, so I applied and the rest is history.”Virtuoso at Hot Docs
Virtuoso, the student documentary made by Director Terry Stone and Producer Thomas Pound through the VFS Film Production program is going to have its World Premiere screening at the Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival in Toronto! The festival starts tomorrow, and Virtuoso will be screened three times in total, starting Friday night.