Week 29

Blogging is becoming very hard! I am running out of time and not taking enough pictures!

First, I finally uploaded my Ghost Granny video! I made this in April 2011, this film was a struggle because it is low quality and couldn't find anyone to score my music.  Luckily I found a great calarts alum Jason. Here is the film and it showed at SXSW this year in the Austin School of Film showcase. Hooray!

and now Week 29

I completely forgot to take pictures of my Portfolio day set up but luckily my bf did so I will post as soon as I ask him to send me one!

My setup was my Reel playing off my laptop (which I now uploaded to Vimeo) my puppets, and a Toy Theater display.  I definitely learned a lot from this experience and will be extra prepared next year.

Ambar Navarro Reel 2012

*Portfolio Day* at CalArts is when all the big animation companies (Disney,Pixar, Laika,etc...) all come to potentially hire interns and workers to work at their companies. They set up long tables in the main gallery like this:

and you set up your portfolio, (Oh and by the way, if you are a BFA-1 your table will most likely be hidden away around the corner in a dark hallway like ours was) and the MFAs and BFA-4's get all the best tables in the entrance. But anyways, all the companies come, walk around, look at portfolios, write down names, then a few hours later post up call backs and if your name is on there you have to wait in the main gallery (for a while) to have a meeting with them.

My advice would be:
Be Prepared!
Get there EARLY - half hour or more
Have business cards, Resume, Film playing off laptop or screen of some sort
Be Creative make your set-up catch their eye

No matter where your portfolio is they still walk around and look at all them, even in the BFA-1 dark alley.  There were BFA-1's that got job offers at Disney and Pixar so don't worry! Companies do go all around.

Now,

Here is my Chiodo test for the week, I don't think it was very successful because it was supposed to be more characterized than last weeks walk and after 6 takes I just couldn't grasp it.  I think I was over thinking this way too much.

Clumsy Model Walk take 2:

and finally....

My pet shop is done! I will be shooting this in 1 week. Ahhh

I can't tell if it's still too empty.. any thoughts?

but that is all for now, I watched the hunger games today and have been hanging out with my bf a lot which makes me happy.  I have a lot of work to do and will start on project #2 tonight.

Ambar

Week 28

Oh GOD! My blog post may start to die down slowly..very slowly. Well, i'm going to try my best to keep up as much as possible.

Tuesday is portfolio day! (will post pics) and I have decided to volunteer this year to see how the process works.  I think volunteering could benefit me for the years to come.  I am getting a little stressed over portfolio day, i'm not expecting any call backs since I hear that BFA 1's usually don't, but i'd love to get an internship with a stop-mo studio in the near future! Well, wish me luck.

Here is my Chiodo assignment for the week:
The assignment was to make a Character walk, since my puppet is based on the super model Twiggy, I tried going for a clumsy model walk but need to exaggerate it more! Luckily next week our assignment is to do just that.

I have been slaving away lately on my Miniature set, here is the progress on it so far.

And in miniature patters this week we made hands!

Spring break is coming up and I have tons to do.  

p.s. Are smaller pictures better for my blog? I can't tell.

Ambar

Week 27

First off, say hello to my new Sea Monkeys -
They haven't hatched yet, but once they do they will be named and can live with me here in Butler.

This week was amazing because I got to interview FRED WOLF!!!  I am writing my final History of Animation paper on him and had the chance to meet him at his studio in Burbank.   Him and his assistant were super friendly and supportive, and his office was surrounded with figurines that he animated.  It was an amazing experience to meet one of my animation idols.

here is my fan girl picture :

And for those of you who do not know who Fred Wolf is he made this:

and this:

and Tony the Tiger commercials, The Flinstones intro scene, and Ninja Turtles.  I also have this recorded, if anyone wants to hear me fan girl out and ask as many Harry Nilsson questions for my friend Ben.

My Chiodo assignment we had to make a normal walk, mine sucks by the way :(((((
I swear I am going to re-do all of these one day.

My Toy Theater assignment was to tell a story in Kamishibai style that we are going to have to present in class, my story is very depressing and made with my Instax mini polaroids

and for Mini Patterns we built arms for our puppets (mine are super tiny):

I am now making a mini mini film for my Toy Theater final.  I bought these teeny tiny (expensive) miniatures over the weekend and spent over an hour deciding which ones to buy.  I apologize to the employee who probably couldn't stand me, but look at them!!

and Saturday night was Calvin's Lacma event:

It's been a busy busy week and it's only going to get busier these next couple of weeks.





ambar

Week 26

Week 26 has been me trying to be productive and getting sick :(

But in good news, my films will be showcased at SXSW in the Austin School of Film Screening! Hooray!

I also went to this screening with my bf in LA, then ate at a deli afterwards that had this amazing ceiling

Here is a photo summary of my week:

We made bodies in Mini Patterns so we can hopefully start making clothes! We've only been working on hats lately

Yes, MORE tiny hands. I'm a perfectionist and want the smallest cutest animatable hands

Before:

After:

Had to repair my puppets arm, and I thought i'd post this for (Matthew) because I think Chiodo is a genius! The wire going through my 2 pieces of brass were breaking so Chiodo told me to wrap the same wire over the brass, then make it go straight over the wire, then back to wrapping it on the other piece of brass.  You then super glue the wire on the brass, then put Steel Epoxy over it.

Here is my twiggy puppet in progress: 

Okay, and last here is my Chiodo test of the week. The assignment was to have your puppet pick up something heavy.  Not too proud of this one :/

and on a final note....

RIP Davy Jones, my 2nd row seat to your concert will never get filled, but the hours of Monkee episodes and songs will keep me company

<3