About Me

Where are you from?
I was born and raised Michigan and currently consider Canton Township, a suburb of Detroit, my home port. 

How old are you?
24 and counting

Where did you go to school?
I went to The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah Georgia.  Best years of my life!  Anyways I graduated March of 2006 and currently work in the 'big bad scary real world'.

Why Animation?
Why not?  Originally in high school I pictured myself developing websites rather than animating.  Yet after coming to SCAD I fell in love with animation when enrolling in a class with former Disney animator Larry Lauria who taught me the importance of strong foundations and how animation and passion go hand in hand.  The rest is history. 

What are your future plans?
To continue climbing the ladder with a studio that sets the highest standards in game development and interactive technology.  Ultimately I seek to be a cinematic lead or director.  I always believe in taking my skills to a higher level by pushing the bar further and further each time.  If an employer will allow me to challenge myself on a daily basis then I can truly say I will be a happy camper.

Any other hobbies interest?
When not animating I am on my trusty road bike or mountain bike scouring the countryside.  As a cycling fanatic I can have a healthy release from sitting all day at a computer or animation disc.  I also am a huge fan of kayaking.

Any advice for up and coming students in animation?
Well if you want my opinion look for an institution that will teach you to develop very strong foundations in the traditional skills of animation.  Do not get an education from someone who is going to teach you how to use the computer or a certain type of software.  Computers are merely three thousand dollar pencils that constantly have upgrades and change.  Learn how to use a basic 25 cent pencil first applying what you learned on paper to the computer screen.  In my experience this is where students leave schools with demo reels that land them jobs before they graduate. 

Words you live by?

Ah, my favorite quote comes from a teacher I had in high school who on the last day of school in 11th grade gave us these index cards with the following quote printed on them.  I still have my card and live by these words in everything I do.

"People are not excellent because they achieve great things, they achieve great things because they choose to be excellent".  - Scot Beamen
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