Film and digital media alumni train with Disney animators
Published: February 29, 2008
Less than two years after Nathaniel Lane (B.F.A., animation, 2007), Douglas Addy (B.F.A., visual effects, 2007) and Hector Ortiz (B.F.A., visual effects and film and television, 2006) completed their degrees at SCAD, they are immersed in Disney's Talent Development and Associate Program in Burbank, Calif., and being mentored by Disney animators.
Addy and Lane left their applications and reels with Disney at the 2007 SIGGRAPH conference - two in a stack of 300. Ortiz already was in California wrapping up visual effects work on "The Golden Compass" (2007) at Rhythm & Hues Studios in Los Angeles. (The film won an Oscar Feb. 24 for Achievement in Visual Effects.) The assistant production manager there gave him a list of studio contacts, one of which was Walt Disney Animation Studios, and he applied as well.
In December, all three found out they had been accepted to the mentoring program, and Disney helped cover relocation costs to Burbank. In January, they started the first of three training phases that make up the three-month program. Final reviews at the end of the term determine whether or not they will be invited to stay on with Disney.
Addy explained that an average day looks very different, depending which phase of the program they are in. Phase one lasts two weeks and includes training on proprietary software and pipeline workflow.
Lane, Addy and Ortiz are in phase two, in which they work on production shots under the guidance and supervision of their mentors for six weeks. At the phase's end, the mentors review the trainees' work before "real" production work begins in phase three.
Addy called it the "sink or swim" phase. "[It's] where we will be given a final review to decide if we get hired on permanently, enter another three-month trial period or finish our term," he explained.
Disney is living up to its moniker of "the happiest place on earth." In addition to the paid training program, Addy, Lane and Ortiz receive free admission to the numerous Disney theme parks, have access to the on-site fitness center at the studios, and are paid $1-2 per day for carpooling or utilizing car-free transportation.
According to Addy, most days begin at the gym by 7 a.m., and he is at his desk by 8 a.m. to review his previous day's work and make notes. He and others grab breakfast at the cereal bar and officially start the workday around 9 a.m.
"We will have group meetings with the whole facility or with the shot finalers, or have a tips and tricks session," he said. "From 9:30 to about 11 [a.m.], there will be daily reviews where the work from the day before will be reviewed and critiqued."
After lunch, live model drawing sessions last until 2 p.m., followed by the trainees refining and perfecting their work until closing time between 6 and 7 p.m.
Ortiz said he is amazed by the access the trainees have to past and present animation projects. In addition, he explained that Disney provides substantial resources and time for its artists to further their education and practice traditional skills such as sculpting and painting for free.
"Just today we got a chance to look at the original clean-up drawings for 'Steamboat Willie,' 'Oswald the Lucky Rabbit' and 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarves,'" he said.
SCAD curriculum prepared Addy, Lane and Ortiz for Disney, all three agreed. Addy and Ortiz said the majority of software they use at Disney is the same as they used at SCAD. Lane said the faculty critiques prepared him for the industry and added that he frequently uses techniques from his SCAD foundation studies courses.
"Everything is built on foundations," he said. "It doesn't matter what software you are using; it all comes back to contrast, color theory, etc."
Lane, Addy and Ortiz have been training for the computer-animated film "Bolt," about a German shepherd with supposed super powers. The film stars John Travolta and Woody Harrelson and is scheduled for release in November.
