VanArts Graduate works at Walt Disney Animation Studios
January 16th, 2012
Disney's animated classic Beauty and the Beast is now back in theaters in 3D, and playing before it is a brand new short film, Tangled Ever After. VanArts is proud to say that our own animation graduate Rahul Dabholkar contributed to the new short as a Senior Character Animator at Walt Disney Animation Studios. He also contributed there to the recent Prep & Landing Christmas specials.
Rahul, originally from Mumbai India, graduated from our 3D Animation program in 1999 and has since enjoyed an illustrious career at studios such as Sony Imageworks, Industrial Light & Magic, Framestore and many others. His feature film credit list includes box office hits such as The Smurfs, Arthur Christmas, Green Lantern, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland, and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
In a recent CGCoach interview, Rahul shared how his career got started: "I started my career in 1996 when 2D animation was still in demand. Soon after I graduated from University completing a BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration I was hired by an animation company, trained on board, and promoted as a Lead Animator. When 3D computer animation began growing due to successful films like Jurassic Park and Bugs Life, I decided then that I wanted to work for these amazingly talented studios. The obvious choice was to take my 2-dimensional drawing knowledge and translate it to the 3-dimensional computer world. I chose VanArts, and got my first gig even before I graduated, which helped me boost my confidence."
(Images courtesy of Disney & Attreo Studio)
Acting Graduate Plays Lead Role in New Web Series
January 11th, 2012
Georgie Daburas, a graduate from the William Davis Centre for Actors' Study at VanArts, is featured in the lead role (with additional credit as a co-producer) of a new local web series called Hitman 101, which consists of 12 episodes currently continuing their release online. VanArts acting graduate Jacob Wolpert is also featured with a role in the series.
Since graduation, Georgie Daburas has been actively involved in several local productions for film, television and theater. He also continues to lend support to current students at VanArts, in the areas of acting, voices & reference for animation, and visual effects. One of our visual effects graduates, Pranjal Verma, was recruited to contribute some effects work to Hitman 101, through his connection of previously working with Georgie.
(Visit Georgie Daburas online at www.gdaburas.com.)
Hitman 101 is created & directed by Scott Staven, who had this to say about our graduates working on the show: "Georgie was not known to us before auditioning, and was cast based on his acting talents and look. It was only after casting him did the production realize how awesome a human being he was and how above and beyond nailing the role on screen he aided in the production of the film. He earned the co-producer credit and was very integral to the project's completion. I think it's a testament to the work ethic VanArts teaches and the Hitman 101 team is grateful VanArts is producing professional actors who are driven. Also Pranjal Verma, who is doing all our visual fx on his own, is another great VanArts product who time and again is saving our butts in post production fixing all our mistakes and adding in elements that raise the production value. Not only driven and talented, Pranjal is also a pleasure to work with. Thank you!"
To view episodes and learn more about Hitman101, visit www.badguyfilms.com/hitman101.
Here is the teaser trailer:
Broadcasting Graduate Lands Radio Job
January 10th, 2012Congratulations to Jessie Storm, a graduate from our group of Broadcasting students who completed their training through Columbia Academy at VanArts. She has landed her first major radio job, and in this video she tells us about it and how our program helped her reach her goals.
Contact us today to find out more about our Broadcasting program!
Great Review by Visual Effects Grad
January 3rd, 2012
Madeleine McAllan graduated from our Visual Effects Diploma Program last year and began working at Zoic Studios in Vancouver. She just recently posted a great review of our program at ArtSchoolReviews.ca.
In her own words, "Studying at Vanarts was the best decision I ever made. I've gone from making silly little videos with friends to working at the company that inspired my effects fascination (Zoic Studios). I got my job less than a month out of school and just 2 months after I finished school, my work could be seen online and on TV! A fantastic feeling!
Just about everyone in my class is working now! If you're serious about a VFX career, and willing to put in the effort, this is the school for you!"
VanArts' Grad Survey shows High Placement Rate
December 16th, 2011VanArts is proud to share our most recent survey of graduate and placement statistics, with very promising results for our grads finding work relevant to their field of study. Surveys were conducted six months after our last two graduating classes, and the average job placement rate was 88%!
According to school president Alan Phillips, "This high placement data speaks volumes about what a great job VanArts is doing at offering first class, industry-relevant education."
Animation Grads Collaborate on Short Film
December 7th, 2011Animation Graduate Patrick Colquhoun, originally from the UK, is calling out to his fellow alumni and upcoming grads at VanArts to collaborate on an independent animated short film. Patrick first came to our summer intensive course in 2007 and afterwards returned for 2 years of full-time study in our 2D & 3D Character Animation diploma programs from 2008 to 2011.
Today he paid us a visit to give a presentation on his short film currently production with a growing team of other VanArts grads. The results so far are exciting and we look forward to seeing how the project unfolds.
Visit Patrick's website at www.wunderwurld.com.
Animation Grads document their year at VanArts
November 24th, 2011Our recent graduates from 3D Character Animation have cut together a video using footage they took themselves throughout their year at VanArts. It is a moving tribute to our city of Vancouver, the fun that goes on between all the long hours of hard work, and the lifelong friendships that are born as a result. Thanks for sharing your year with us!
(Animation by Warner Brothers. Music by Coldplay)
Vancouver Sun covers local VFX Industry
November 24th, 2011The Vancouver Sun has published a news story about the growth of our local Visual Effects industry in our city, including a short video highlighting Zoic Studios, where several VanArts grads are currently working.
According to VFX grad Maddy McAllan (from Scotland), "You can see me and my mate, Chris Lucas in a video included in this Vancouver Sun article about Zoic Studios BC.
You can see us 1 minute into the video, I'm wearing a white Canucks cap working on a green screen shot of a guy's head :). Keeping the school pride going with my VanArts water bottle a permanent feature at my desk.
Chris is to my left.
I was so focused on my work, I didn't even know they were filming behind me!!"
VFX Grads from Sweden launch their Careers
November 23rd, 2011
In September 2010, VanArts welcomed Eleonor Lindvall and Johan Nilsson from Sweden into our full-time Visual Effects Diploma Program. Prior to coming here to study in Canada, Johan was a high school teacher at Ljud och Bildskolan in Varberg, and Eleonor was a student there.
Upon graduating a year later from VanArts, Eleonor returned to Europe and landed a job at Double Negative Studios in London, UK, one of the largest VFX companies in the world. She reports to us, "It feels fantastic to be working for such a good and established company, well organized and it's been absolutely awesome!"
Johan received his post-graduate work permit and got hired here in Vancovuer at their branch of MPC (Motion Picture Company). Of his experience at VanArts, he tells us, "I checked out a bunch of different schools, and VanArts had the best reputation. I came here because Vancouver is Hollywood North and this is the place to be right now."
It's great to see both of these talented grads land their dream jobs and begin contributing to the worldwide field of visual effects, which is growing in leaps and bounds.
Johan and Eleonor are both featured in this promotional video for our VFX program, along with several of their classmates.
Read other related stories here:
Nik Brownlee - VFX Grad at Double Negative
VFX Grad Career Update from L.A.
November 23rd, 2011
(Updated blog story from 2010)
Shane Wicklund first came to VanArts from the USA in 2005 for our full-time 2D Animation program. He continued into our Visual Effects program for a second year of study, finally graduating (with honors) in 2006.
Since then, Shane has worked for various studios in the greater Los Angeles area including Prime Focus, R!OT (Method), and Luma Pictures, and more recently receiving more global job opportunities. He has worked on many major feature films such as Jumper, The Spirit, G.I. Joe: The Rise of the Cobra, & Clash of the Titans.
UPDATE: More recently in 2011, Shane has contributed effects work to TV series Terra Nova and Hawaii Five-0, and feature films The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and The Muppets (opening in theatres today!!!).
Shane shares with us, "My experience at VanArs was a real game changer. It was a truly life-changing experience being taught and guided by such established, talented artists, as well as being surrounded by classmates who shared common interests and goals. There was a great family element: always someone around to bounce ideas off of, and a great bond between students and instructors like. Many of my closest friends to this day are people from VanArts. One thing I will say about that, even better than graduating with a demo reel is that you graduate with a network of potential co-workers.
VanArts did a very good job of preparing me for the real thing, and gave me a true sense of what a real work environment would be like. Starting my job search, I had a very accurate sense of what to expect and which common mistakes to avoid. My work ethic and sense of professionalism to this day are very much based on the standards set by VanArts."
Shane's Website: www.shanesaddiction.com
Shane Wicklund on IMDB
