Recent Alumni News ANIMATION

Norhaslina Ghazali
Computer Animation (2003)

From Student Visa to Work Visa
A native of Malaysia, alumna Norhaslina Ghazali graduated in Media Arts & Animation from The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles in June 2003. Prior to graduation, she was offered the exciting position as an intern at Sassoon Film Design and found it to be very worthwhile. “It was helpful because I was exposed to a real life experience,” she says.

International students have numerous challenges after graduation, mainly getting a work visa (employer sponsorship) if they intend to remain in the United States. Norhaslina understood the challenges and worked very hard at her internship to prove how dedicated, dependable and creative she could be. Most of all, she believed in herself. International Student Advisor Angela Koh said about Ms. Ghazali, “I remember her well. She was focused and took her studies very seriously.”

Norhaslina's efforts paid off when she was offered a full-time position and sponsorship from Petrol Advertising. Petrol has recently been involved in advertising for the Sponge Bob and Team America: World Police feature films, as well as video games such as Megaman, Onimusha 3 and Transformers. The company invested in her because they knew they would get quality work and a dedicated employee, which is priceless. She also realized early on that a designer cannot get offended or hurt when clients reject a design idea. Flexibility is critical to making sure that the client receives the ideal design to meet their needs.

Norhaslina credits the Career Service Department in helping her find the position with Petrol. It was through a lead provided by her Career Services Advisor that she found the job. Norhaslina has been with the agency for almost a year and really enjoys seeing her work featured in major motion pictures and renowned video games. As an alumna, she looks forward to being more involved with the Career Services Department at The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles and helping current students achieve their goals within the entertainment industry.

Lori Miller
Animation (2001)

Traveling the road less traveled
Receiving a bachelor's degree in Visual Communications from The Art Institute of Colorado was just the beginning. Upon graduation, Lori landed a job as a graphic designer in the apparel industry and after about two years, she found a job at Fortune Fashions Inc. in the Los Angeles area. She spent three years working there before being promoted to Assistant Supervisor of 18 artists. That is when she decided to return to school.

Lori enrolled in Computer Animation at The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles, while maintaining her demanding full-time job. She remembers her schedule like clockwork. Day job from 6am to 3pm, school lab from 4pm to 6pm, then class from 6pm to 10pm, and sometimes being too tired to drive home. Luckily, she had friends nearby and could sometimes crash at their place. After much determination and hard work, she graduated in one and a half years and was ready to take the industry by storm.

Not quite yet! Exactly one week after graduation, Lori slipped off of a curb and broke several bones in her ankle. Three months of healing and unable to drive, she then decided to get motivated. After sending out many reels, the call finally came from a company called Lumeni. She was interviewed and hired, and immediately started editing movie trailers, including titles and some special effects. She put in 70+ hours a week. She remembers “they even had a couch, blanket, pillow, toothbrush and toothpaste for me to sleep overnight and work nonstop when there were tight deadlines.” 

After working at Lumeni for a year and a half, an industry contact she had made recommended her to the owner of Custom Film Effects (CFE). She was called in for an interview and hired on the spot even though she had overslept that morning and was wearing shorts, a t-shirt and had no reel or resume. Her reputation had preceded her!

Two weeks later Lori started working at Custom Film Effects. Dilemma: Lori had no idea how to use the software program Digital Fusion. In fact, the company had just installed a new version of the software, so she asked to borrow the program manual over the weekend so she could read up on the new features. After reading all weekend, she started work on Monday and designed a title for the movie Chicago using Digital Fusion, which was immediately sent to Miramax in New York. They loved it and the rest is history. Lori was recently promoted and is taking the industry by storm. 

“Through all of my experiences, I would have to say the key to success is keeping your head up high and making yourself look good. If you tell them what they want to hear, and if you have a good personality, they're bound to give you a shot at the job.”

Dan Fiske , Alex Chavez (Animation ’00), and Dorothy Chen (Animation’02) are animators with Heavy Iron, whose products include SpongeBob Squarepants, Finding Nemo, and Scooby Doo.

Dom Brown (Animation' 01) created the “Flavas” dolls, inspired by the hip hop culture, for Mattel. They were featured in New York ’s Times Square this summer. He loves his work and has more than 30 toys in development.

Jeanny Lee (Animation ’03) took a first job as an Assistant at Super 78 Studio. She was just promoted to producer and is heading up an animation project for Comedy Central.

Tom Connor (Animation ’02) creates simulations for Vector Scientific, a national leader in the fast-emerging field of forensic animation.  He was offered the position after  completing an internship with the company.

Jim McDaniels (Animation ’03) turned an internship at V12 motion graphics studio into a full-time position upon graduation. Jim’s latest assignment was supervising the on-site motion graphics for the XGames at Staples Center.

Robin Peterson (Animation 03) is a modeler for the feature film, World of Tomorrow, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Angelina Jolie and Ben Afleck.

Marcello Benavides, EricVasquez, Nick Rizzo, and Jackie Speyer (all Animation ’03) are all working at AnimAction.

Kristopher Evans (Animation ’03) is a motion capture artist working on the new Vin Diesel film at Motion Theory studio.Interactive Media Design.

Mariana Ramirez
The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles
Interactive Media Design, 2003
Mariana is currently working at Warner Brothers Telepictures in the graphics department. The department focuses on graphics and broadcast design for shows such as Extra, Ellen, Sharon, Judge Mathis and the intellectually gratifying Street Smarts. She assists in the production of some of the graphics that go on the every day shows.

“It was not easy getting into my current job. The job search was extensive and the Career Services staff was of tremendous aid.” She realizes and understands the challenging competition in the entertainment industry, but does not let that discourage her. She used all the resources available to her and recommends that all students “get as much knowledge and be as well rounded as possible. That will help you get into your future career. This industry is very fast paced, and the more flexible you are the better chances you have. Have confidence in yourself and in your work, and never give up.”

Bobby Chapman
The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles
Interactive Media Design, 2003

After a year and a half at Sketchers USA, the award-winning global leader in the lifestyle footwear industry, Los Angeles native Bobby Chapman has sprinted from an entry level novice to the head designer and brand manager of the new “310” men's urban line. He reports that “hard work and dedication” are the keys to his success, not to mention a great deal of business acumen and creative talent.

When Chapman first came to visit The Art Institute of California —Los Angeles he was excited to discover that it seemed to be less like a traditional art school, and more an innovative place where he could bring his existing business experience and expand on that by focusing on developing industry relevant interactive media design skills. He enjoyed his experience at the school, particularly the Liberal Studies classes because they enriched his already established passion for design. He says that “…with the addition of the General Studies curriculum, you learn to incorporate other aspects and new ideas into your field of study.”

In developing the Sketchers urban line for the international marketplace, worldwide travel has become a serious perk for Bobby Chapman. “I recently returned from Europe where I visited Germany, Milan, Paris, Amsterdam and London. In the near future I will be traveling to Taiwan and mainland China. I love my job and I work with a really wonderful group of people.” One of the aspects of the experience he enjoys most is “the creative process - constantly coming up with new and innovative ideas that revolve around the box, not in it.”

Chapman can't stress enough the power of working hard and paying your dues. Asked for a tip he has for those students fast closing in on graduation, he says, “For those up and coming graduates that are dreading having to start in an entry level position - if you are focused and believe in yourself, anything is possible.”

Ruben Vasquez (MMWD’03) is an associate production manager at Mobil Planet Internet services.

Alma Rufino (MMWD ’03) is a designer with the Metropolitan Transit Authority for the City of Los Angeles.  This position started as an internship that turned into a full-time job.

Olivia Marroquin (MMWD ’03) is a Web designer at Garden Digital in Beverly Hills.

 

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Becky Redman (Graphic Design ’02) is the head designer at Maui Toys, and is also an instructor in the Graphic Design program at The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles.

Ericka Herod (GD ’03) is a production artist and designer at Campbell-Ewald, a leading international advertising firm.  Their clients include Chevrolet, Conoco, and Continental Airlines.

D.J. Nicholson (GD 02) Art Director at Diamond Graphics, hired Jacob Rodriguez (MMWD 03) as a Web Designer.  Kelly Kinney (GD 03) landed a job at Diamond Graphics through an employer meeting at the Portfolio Show.

Kitty Klehamer (Graphic Design ’03) is the head graphic designer for the architectural firm of Lee, Burkhart & Liu in Santa Monica.

 

CULINARY

Raymond Alvarez, Jr.
Culinary Arts ('02)

Ray Alvarez, Art Institute of California — Los Angeles alumni, is rising under the tutelage of internationally renowned culinary stars Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger at their prestigious Latin fusion restaurant, Cuidad. As Grill Chef, he says, “I love that I learn something new every day. I hope to grow professionally to be like the Chefs who are teaching me.”

Ray got his start in the culinary field sitting around the dining table at home in the San Fernando Valley . Raised by a single mom with three other siblings, Ray has an older sister and younger twin brothers. He says, “There was always a cooked meal on the table and love being distributed. My mom did a great job raising us.” Beyond the fond memories of family meals, Ray has always had a passion for the culinary arts. “It has always been in me. It is what I am meant to do.”

At Granada Hills High School , Alvarez enrolled in a Home Economics class where he learned about a scholarship program where the winners were funded to attend the culinary school of their choice. A winner himself, Ray chose to begin his studies at the Art Institute of California- Los Angeles. He found school extremely demanding, but he loved his time there. “All of the instructors were very inspirational, but the man who taught me the most was Chef Fournier. He never allowed me to plate anything that wasn't perfect.”

When asked what he found most challenging in his present position, he replied,” How about when you do 300 clients, a la carte, in a two hour period! To be in this field you have to be crazy!! But you also have to have passion and a straight head on your shoulders.”

Duddana Watt
Culinary Arts 2003
Chef, Catalina Island Resort Services
Private Chef, Bel Air, CA
Catering by Duddana
Chef, Bistro 31

Hard work, commitment, a great attitude, and a passion for the culinary arts is Duddana Watt's recipe for sure success. As a full-time student at The Art Institute of California — Los Angeles she attended classes Monday through Wednesday. Wednesday evenings she would take a ferry twenty-six miles across the ocean to Catalina where she worked full-time with Catalina Island Resort Services. On Sunday nights she would return to the mainland and prepare for Monday morning classes. Her commitment paid off when she was awarded the first ever Catalina Island Resort Services culinary scholarship. “My family always inspired me to cook and prepare meals for family and friends. I had made a decision to go to culinary school, but I didn't know which one. I visited several and chose The Art Institute. The Admissions person was wonderful and answered all of my questions. I was impressed with the school and the detailed culinary program.”

Duddana's commitment was again evidenced when she began her studies in the Culinary Arts program. She was involved as a student worker in the store rooms, Bistro 31, and regularly volunteered as a caterer for school events. “While I was in school I felt so much passion among the culinary students. We were a team. I got involved with the program and the entire school. I got to know every department and could identify with fellow students.”

As an alumna, Duddana Watt returns often to assist students working in the Bistro 31, assists the chefs and instructors who have helped her to succeed, and is available for catering various on campus events. She says, “I still enjoy being part of The Art Institute. I look forward to continuing work with The Art Institute alumni services, and in helping current students in whatever way I can.”

Brandon Wolf (Culinary 03) and Reginald Tagorda (CUL 03) have both landed culinary positions in Las Vegas. Brandon is at the Palms Hotel in the Alize restaurant, and Reggie is at the Bally’s Las Vegas Casino.

Thelma Portillo (Culinary ’01) is the Executive Chef at Spark Woodfire restaurant in Studio City.

Jeff Montgomery (Culinary ’02) was just promoted to Banquet Sous Chef at the Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara.  The Bacara grows all of its own herbs and produce.

John Leone (Culinary ’01) and Nikita Stokes (Culinary ’01) met and married at The Art Institute, and have opened a very successful Italian Soul Catering Company.  John is also Executive Chef at the Westlake Hyatt, and Nikita is at Universal Studios.  They have a 2-year old son and are soon expecting their second child.

Esteban Gonzales (Culinary ’02) is a private chef for a University of Southern California fraternity.  During the job interview process he developed an exceptional menu for a week that landed his the position.

 

VIDEO PRODUCTION

Robert Webster (VP 03) just took a position at City TV in Santa Monicaas a camera operator for both live action and studio work.

Erica Dugas (VP ’03) earned her first job as a Production Assistant with Vin Di Bona Productions, producers of America’s Funniest Videos.

Anthony Buncio (VP ‘04) was hired by Stained Iris as the Unit Production Manager on their Matrix spoof, The Helix.  Anthony was able to hire four other Art Institute of California — Los Angeles students as Production Assistants, Jacqui Villalobos, Van Nessa Manalunas, Gonzalo Guzman, and Sitha San.