Animation films are a visually stunning format of moviemaking that draw upon the mediums of art and technology to deliver entertainment with an underlying message!
Apoorva Gaitonde, our next pathbreaker, Story Artist (California), works in the animation industry, primarily on Animation Features and Television Productions.
Apoorva talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about taking a leap of faith and pursuing her master’s degree at the Academy of Art University (San Francisco), where she chose to specialize in Storyboarding as it combined her passion for drawing, acting and storytelling, all in one medium.
For students, though the entertainment industry has evolved over the past decades, the basics skills of imagination and creativity remain the same !
Apoorva, Your background?
I grew up in the beautiful state of Goa surrounded by pristine beaches and palm trees. My parents got me enrolled into extra curricular classes after school from a very young age. I thrived in that environment, drawing and painting everyday. They also encouraged me to participate in local art competitions, and this motivated me to keep working on my skills as an artist. I come from an educated, middle class background, my father is an engineer and my mother chose to be a homemaker. Opting for a science stream after the 10th seemed like the most practical and safe option. I spent the next two critical years wrapping my head around Physics, Chemistry, Math, and Biology. But it soon became pretty evident to me that my interest lies in the creative arts, and that I should pursue something in that direction.
What did you do for graduation/post graduation?
Post high school, I found several design schools in India offering undergraduate degrees in animation. I soon found a great fit at MIT Institute of Design in Pune. Those 4 years transformed me as a person as I learned to be independent, built great relationships and tried my hand at everything before eventually finding a passion for animation design. After working for a few years in India, I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my master’s degree at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I chose to specialize in storyboarding as it combined my passion for drawing, acting and storytelling into one medium.
What were some of the drivers that influenced me to pursue such an offbeat, unconventional and uncommon career in Animation?
I think a number of factors contributed to the decision of choosing this career path. I had been watching animated movies and shows since I was a child, but realized that this could be a potential career option only as a teenager. I was also fortunate to have family members support me in my pursuit of breaking into an unconventional career choice.
Some of the movies from Pixar like Ratatouille and Finding Nemo had great storytelling and were also visually stimulating. I was drawn to this unknown world of animation and set on a journey to look for any information I could find related to the field.
How did you plan the steps to get into the career you wanted? Or how did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path
My undergrad degree was in Animation Design, where I tried different mediums like illustration, graphic design, product design but found the most joy in learning to animate and create short films. However, my real learning came from working in the industry. Animation is an extremely collaborative process and usually you’re working on one aspect of a movie or a show in a large pipeline. While working at a studio in Mumbai, I had to learn storyboarding on the job for a project and then found myself getting more storyboard work at the same studio. I soon realized that I’d like to spend some time creating a portfolio specifically for storyboards and this wasn’t possible with a full time job.
In 2017, Academy of Art University was offering a 2 year storyboard track for animation and this was exactly what I was looking for. After graduating in 2019, I continue to take classes every year to keep upskilling myself, learning from industry professionals and also building a professional network of creatives that I hope to work with in the near future.
Academy of Art was a great experience. A huge advantage of living in SanFrancisco was how close it was to LA. It was convenient for me to visit the popular animation conventions every year like Lightbox and CTN, as a student. I was able to show my portfolio to industry professionals and get feedback on how to create a portfolio that can help me break into the animation industry. We also had faculty members who had previously worked at studios like Disney, WB and Dreamworks. They pushed us through the grind to create portfolio pieces that could match industry standards. I’d encourage you to view some of my portfolio work here https://agaitonde.wixsite.com/portfolio
In 2019, Walt Disney Animation Studios hosted an event called Inspire Day. The event provided interactive learning with some of the Industry’s top storytellers and filmmakers along with a behind the scenes look into some of their upcoming feature productions. My Animation Director, Sherrie Sinclair selected 2 of us to represent Academy of Art University along with 150+ students from over 40 schools internationally.
My first full time story gig was for a Disney Junior show called The Chicken Squad. As a Storyboard Revisionist, I worked with the director and took down notes with the ultimate goal of getting the boards good enough for a network or executive screening. Sometimes the notes are small, like removing an element from the board, or it could be as dramatic as helping the director re-board the entire scene.
From there, I worked at Nickelodeon on The Casagrandes, a TV movie for CBS studios and an Emmy award winning show, Archer for Hulu. I transitioned into the role of a Storyboard Artist on Archer. In addition to boarding, I learned to pitch my boards every week to the Assistant Directors and Story Supervisors. Since then, I’ve continued to work as a Storyboard Artist for a few shows and now on a feature project.
How did you get your first break?
During the final year of my master’s degree, I was accepted into a mentorship program with Women in Animation. During that time, I was fortunate to have an opportunity to visit Pixar’s sprawling campus, and meet some brilliant artists working at the studio. One of the artists, Andrea Goh, recommended me to a colleague who was looking for story artists to work on the feature she was directing. That’s how I got my first break in the industry and learned first-hand about the incredible power of networking.
What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?
Challenge 1: I think one of the most important challenges that I still face is the project-based nature of the industry. Just like actors, artists are hired for a show or movie for a set period of time. The constant pressure of not just work but also lining up our next gig can be exhausting and time consuming. I try to work on at least two projects at the same time, so that I’m not stressed when a project is cancelled or I’m a part of an unexpected layoff.
Challenge 2: I started working during the pandemic, and remote work, despite all its perks, became pretty challenging for me. I found myself constantly distracted and worried that it may affect the quality of my work. I still work remotely, but now from a coworking space that allows me to focus on my tasks and complete assignments in a timely manner.
Challenge 3: As an immigrant working in the US, there are a lot of factors that need to be taken into consideration like visa and language barriers. Staying away from the safety net of your family helps you become independent, but can add a lot of stress during challenging times. Over the years, I’ve met wonderful roommates and friends who have been a great source of support, and I’ve understood the importance of cultivating solid friendships while living in a different country.
Where do you work now?
I’m currently working as a storyboard artist on a feature project. I’ve been following the Director’s work since I was working in India. I remember watching his YouTube videos and trying to study his process. Life has definitely come a full circle now that I have gotten an opportunity to work with him.
What’s a typical day like?
A typical day involves me getting assigned a scene, and trying to play it out in my head in different versions before putting down my thoughts on paper. I spend a couple of days working on rough thumbnails before delivering a rough pass within a week. I meet with the director to work on any notes he might have. From there, it’s rinse and repeat until the scene is approved for the next phase of production.
What problems do you solve?
As a story artist, my job is to draw the first vision of a movie from a script or sometimes a rough outline. We build that framework up with drawings and work with editors to pull it together to make it into a rough cut.
What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?
A strong set of drawing skills combined with solid perspective to create good camera angles and compositions, along with acting and narrative story-telling are prerequisites for this job. Going to an art school and constantly working on my portfolio helped me develop these skills. Having said that, drawing and storytelling are constantly evolving and need persistent daily practice.
What is it you love about this job?
I’ve been working as a storyboard artist for the past 5 years, and with every year, I discover something new about my job. Currently, I’m taking a class on cinematography that has exposed me to the movies from the 1950-80s. It’s interesting for me to learn that some of the biggest contemporary filmmakers have been influenced by this era. One of the key ways of getting better as a story artist is to study film, and I love observing and analyzing different movies to create a stronger visual library that I can use for my own work.
How does your work benefit society?
With incredibly busy schedules, most people resort to some form of entertainment as a way to wind down after a long day. According to a recent study, the 7 most streamed films last year were all animated. Moreover, during the pandemic, when a lot of the major Hollywood productions had to shut down, animation productions didn’t need to shut or even slow down. It is a medium that works well remotely in a digital pipeline. It wasn’t surprising that all the networks were trying to get more animation projects greenlit during this time. Most households have at least one subscription to a streaming service. Viewers have access to a broad range of content to choose from, and they are tailored to personal preferences with the help of AI algorithms. The future of the industry looks incredibly promising, with tons of exciting and engaging content available for audiences worldwide.
Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!
My current job as a feature story artist has been extremely rewarding, as it’s helping me venture into new territories. Having primarily worked in TV, boarding in the feature is different but also fun, as you can add dynamic camera angles and multiple shots without any constraints. Moreover, TV boarding can have some limitations due to budgets, so I’m really enjoying the creative freedom I have as a feature storyboard artist.
Feature refers to a full length film. I’ve been fortunate to have worked on 2 feature films so far. TV boards are more detailed and posed out. A lot of animation studios in the US outsource the animation work to countries like Korea, Canada or India. We spend more time incorporating key animation poses and clear layouts, so that it’s easier for the vendor companies to work with them. Feature animation is mostly done in-house, so they tend to be looser. The other big difference is budget and time. TV boards are quicker, an entire season is wrapped up within a year, whereas feature artists can work for years on a single project. In TV boards, you are limited by camera moves and new assets that can be used for a shot. In feature however, you have more freedom to explore new ideas and setups within a shot.
Your advice to students based on your experience?
Do your research before choosing a career path. In this digital age, where you have access to people through social media sites like LinkedIn, students can easily reach out to industry professionals for mentorship and career guidance. Try to get into the best schools, since you will be surrounded with the most talented peers and professors. We spend around 40+ hours a week at work, so take your time, and try to find something you’re really passionate about. Secondly, as you progress in your career, you should keep upgrading your skill set to keep up with market standards. From my personal experience, this becomes easier and more enjoyable when you genuinely love what you do. Lastly, learn to work well with people, with humility, and never stop learning.
Future Plans?
I came across a wonderful quote recently while listening to a podcast, ‘you may not always get the best opportunities but you should strive to do the absolute best with the opportunities that you have at the moment’.
I had a dream of working in the hub of the animation industry and that dream was fulfilled 4 years ago. Right now, my goal is to continue working on projects that challenge me and help me become a better storyteller. I’m curious to know how AI is going to change the current landscape of digital media. As an artist I’m learning to educate myself and adapt to this new revolution.
My Instagram: