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M A D I S O N T H O M A S
F I L M D I R E C T O R
[ 2 / 4 / 19 ]
A B O U T
Madison Thomas is a filmmaker from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Growing up, she emerged as a natural storyteller and artist at a young age. Her work reflects her mixed cultural roots, Oibwe, Sauleax, Russian and Ukrainian. Thomas also draws inspiration from experiences growing up in the inner city and has committed herself to diverse representation in her films.
Q U E S T I O N S
1. When writing what are some of things you take the most inspiration out of from the media around you?
2. What is your favorite project you've worked on, and how has that shaped the creative mind you are now?
3. What advice would you give to someone just entering the industry as a writer?
R E F L E C T I O N
The Madison workshop was the first of the year, so it really set off the pace of what DV was going to hold for the coming year. Madison’s work is a lot like what I have my eyes set on to do in the future, so it was interesting to pick apart her brain, and see the things she has been able to create in the industry.
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A N I T A L E B E A U
DIRECTOR, ANIMATOR, WRITER
[ 4 / 16 / 19 ]
A B O U T
Anita writes, directs and edits in documentary and animated film. She has created two award-winning animated films with the National Film Board of Canada (www.nfb.ca/film/louise_en and www.nfb.ca/film/big_drive), and with Scott Collins, created a number of documentary projects through MTS - Stories From Home (Art City, the Starry Night Exchange series). Anita does contract freelance animation and graphic work. She has a full working knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite and Toon Boom Animation software. She also presents an Artists in the School (Manitoba Arts Council) residency in Winnipeg schools called Scraphic Novels, with writer Karin Adams.
Q U E S T I O N S
1. What is your general pathway you take to create, and come
up with your ideas for your short films?
2. How do you deal with challenges you face on occasions, such
as writers block?
3. On your path to where you are now, what was the most
influential advice anyone has given you?
R E F L E C T I O N
After hearing about Anita's come up, and how she comes up with ideas it really struck me as to thinking that really anything is possible. Her advice given to the class was really important, telling us to create stories that directly have impacted us. Telling true stories are the best stories, or stories that reflect events that you have had in your own life.
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K A R A V A L L E G A
VFX ARTIST
[ 4 / 18 / 19]
A B O U T
Kara Vallega is a Sisler graduate who has taken the industry by storm, after attending VFS.
With her latest work being on 'Detective Pikachu'. In Sisler she was at the top of every class, stunning the teachers and students with her dedication, and amazing work.
Q U E S T I O N S
1. How has Sisler helped shape the path you
are currently going down?
2. What is the best advice you can give to an aspiring VFX student?
3. What has working on a big company project
helped you with your career?
R E F L E C T I O N
With Kara being a former Sisler student, I was able to take in the fact that anything is possible. If you put in the dedication and hard work. Hearing about what it takes to go to a post secondary institution and succeed at a high level makes me feel ready and willing to take on the challenges set ahead of me.
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K E N T W I L S O N
LIGHTING ARTIST
[ 5 / 15 / 19 ]
A B O U T
Kent Wilson is a environmental and lighting artist for Ubisoft Canada with over 16 years of experience. He has also worked with Electronic Arts (EA) and Radical Entertainment. Kent graduated from Red River College in a degree in 3d Animation as well as graduating from University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts.
Q U E S T I O N S
1. How has working in a big studio helped
you through your career?
2. What had interested you so much
into the lighting of a game?
3. How did you decide this is what you
wanted to do with your life?
R E F L E C T I O N
Hearing Kent's story, and how he came to be where he is at in the industry gave me a view into a different way on how you can succeed in the industry. Coming from humble beginnings you still have an equal opportunity to achieve your goal with every single step. It was also cool to find out that as someone in the industry working on games for a living. You still have some time to kick back and play on your own time.
U B I S O F T W I N N I P E G
GAMING STUDIO
[ 5 / 28 / 19 ]
A B O U T
"Ubisoft’s newest Canadian studio is officially open in the heart of downtown Winnipeg.
The team at Ubisoft Winnipeg is honoured to be part of such an innovative and creative community where we have already started to see strong success in the few months since announcing our studio in April 2018. We’ve already hired more than 35 passionate, talented and creative individuals to join our team. And we are looking for more! The contribution of the team at Ubisoft Winnipeg is truly something special. We are the only Ubisoft studio focused on creating technology to empower our creators – at all of our Canadian studios – to build even better worlds across our major brands such as Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed and Watch Dogs.This leading-edge studio is the vanguard of technology and tool advancement in video game development."
Q U E S T I O N S
1. What has been the transition like for coming to a small city like Winnipeg,
with a AAA studio backing you guys?
2. Has there been any problems development wise and how
do you solve it?
3. What has been the biggest struggle you guys have
had since moving to Winnipeg?
R E F L E C T I O N
Sitting down and talking to Ubisoft, a titan in the industry, and being able to show off our projects was something really special. To get to learn about the different processes in a AAA studio is really something interesting to talk about. Also to hear about everyone's individual come up through there own eyes was also something really cool.
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G L E N S Y L V E S T E R
ANIMATOR / INSTRUCTOR
[ 6 / 11 / 19 ]
A B O U T
"Glenn’s Animation career began over 30 years ago working on children’s TV shows and the film “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”. Since then he has worked around the world on such classics as “The Magic School Bus” (Assistant Director), “Men in Black” (1&3), “The Mummy”, “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs”, “Hotel Transylvania 2” and many more. His work titles range from Animator to Lead Animator, to Director, and now Educator. Experiences in both 2D and 3D animation fields have given him a well rounded understanding of what is expected of a working Animator and how to bring life to your work. Glenn has recently completed an MA, Creative and Media Education from Bournemouth University in the UK."
Q U E S T I O N S
1. What has been the best advice you were given growing up, that
pushed you to be where you're at today?
2. What was the most impactful project you have worked
on that helped get you to the next level?
3. What is the difference with working on projects with
complete CGI and live action films?
R E F L E C T I O N
As a wrap up to the year, we were lucky enough to sit down and talk to Glen Sylvester. A well distinguished man in the industry at this point. It was very interesting to hear about the different stories he has as he's been through and seen a lot. The things we see as classics in society he sees as just another project. He is a true inspiration and an amazing mentor to the students he teaches.
