While students throughout the country took a spring break, two groups from SVA headed out to California to expand their creative horizons. SVA Destinations programs brought students out west to Los Angeles and San Francisco over SVA’s Spring Break to visit and learn from industry professionals about their experiences in their respective fields. Here’s a look at a few highlights from the trip to Los Angeles.
SVA in LA in front of the original Disney Animation studio building.
SVA in LA students in front of the new Disney Animation Studios.
SVA in LA students at Disney Studios in Burbank, California.
Academy Award-winning sound engineer Mark Ulano (1975 Film and Video), who has worked on such films as Titanic, and Kill Bill I and II, speaks to the SVA in LA group.
Ian Jones-Quartey (BFA 2006 Animation) speaks to SVA in LA students at Cartoon Network.
SVA in LA students visit Dreamworks Animation Studio.
Emmy Award winner Katie Hetland (BFA 2008 Film and Video) speaks to students.
SVA in LA students meet with director Bryan Singer.
The SVA in LA program, now in its fourth year, brought students to studios throughout the city. The first stop was Disney Animation Studios, on the Monday after the release of their 50th animated feature, Zootopia. Students heard from Disney recruiters about the structure of the studio and received advice about how they might land a job working on the next big film.
“The SVA in LA week presented our students with a rare opportunity to meet some of the top film and animation artists in the industry up close and personal. These artist’s shared their experience and personal journeys and the students came away not only inspired and motivated, but with a true life experience,” said Sal Petrosino, director of operations for BFA Film and BFA Animation, and the organizer of the trip.
Other events included a chance for animation students to meet SVA alumnus and Steven Universe co-developer Ian Jones-Quartey (BFA 2006 Animation) at Cartoon Network; attend a breakfast conversation with Kara Vallow (BFA 1985 Media Arts) and Shannon Smith, producers of Family Guy; participate in a film panel organized by Petrosino and actress Caecilie Carlsen on The Artists’ Journey, which included Emmy Award winner Katie Hetland (BFA 2008 Film and Video). The week ended with a session at FOX Studios with director Bryan Singer (X-Men, The Usual Suspects), who studied at SVA.
Coinciding with the SVA in LA trip, the SVA Alumni Affairs department organized an alumni networking reception in the Chinatown Arts District with LA-based artist Wyatt Mills (BFA 2013 Fine Arts) at the Project Gallery, the site of his solo exhibition, “Normal.” Mills shared some of his thoughts about the exhibition to the group and students from the SVA in LA trip were able to meet SVA alumni who live and work in the Los Angeles area.
Chase Tarca (BFA 2015 Design) and Jared Simon (BFA 2015 Film and Video) Photo by Star Montana.
Wyatt Mills (BFA 2013 Fine Arts) stands in front of one of his paintings from "Normal." Photo by Star Montana.
Wyatt Mills (BFA 2013 Fine Arts) speaks about his work on display in "Normal." Photo by Star Montana (BFA 2013 Photography).
Wyatt Mills (BFA 2013 Fine Arts) speaks about his work. Photo by Kate Styer.
Dahlan Netsch (1971 Advertising), Yvette Kaplan (BFA 1976 Animation) and Wyatt Mills (BFA 2013 Fine Arts). Photo by Star Montana (BFA 2013 Photography).
The Project Gallery is located in the Chinatown Arts District. Photo by Kate Styer.
Ruben Rabasa (guest of Camilo Vila) and Camilo Vila (1968 Film and Video). Photo by Star Montana (BFA 2013 Photography).
Anna Beeke (MFA 2013 Photography, Video and Related Media), Kate Davis Caldwell (MFA 2010 Fine Arts) and Ilona Szwarc (BFA 2013 Photography). Photo by Star Montana (BFA 2013 Photography).
Emad Beshay (BFA 2001 Film and Video) and Tien Li Wu (Senior Systems Support Specialist, BFA Film and Video). Photo by Star Montana (BFA 2013 Photography).
“The reception provided a tremendous opportunity to engage with a broad group of our Los Angeles-based alumni—the largest alumni population outside of the New York metro region. We were thrilled to be joined by alumni from several different departments, including fine art, photography, design, advertising, film, animation, illustration, and computer art graduates,” said Jane Nuzzo, director of Alumni Affairs at SVA.
For more information about SVA Destinations, click here.
Related post: When in Rome, Study Typography: SVA Summer Destinations 2016