VIFF Today with An LFA Alumna

Q. Can you tell us about what you’ve been up to since graduating from LFA?
A. After LFA, my interest in animation led me to SFU’s School of Interactive Arts & Technology (SIAT) program. Although I started in their media arts stream, the interdisciplinary program provided engaging interaction design courses and I dived right in. The highlight of my post-secondary education was participating in the SFU Italia Design Field School. As a team, we had the opportunity to visit architectural firms and various design studios (product, graphic) and interview architects like Massimiliano Fuksas. Our interview with Danese’s Carlotta de Bevilacqua left a great impression on me, especially when she spoke about innovation and design. She shared with us that designing is giving to the present a future, but that it needs to reflect the current state of the world and promote the quality of life with sustainable design practices. That design is not just an emphasis on new technologies or processing of information but the ability to synthesize the two to make the world better. 

Q. What are you passionate about in your field? 
A. I’ll always be interested in technology and interaction design. It influences how we gather and consume information that shapes our experiences in both digital and physical worlds. I want to continue to lend my skills and help create meaningful design that improves the quality of life for everyone.

Q. What does an average work day look like? What kind of tasks does your work day involve? 
A. Preparing for the film festival is our busiest period! More than 300 films are programmed, along with talks and events featuring industry guests/professionals, and all this is packaged within a two-week timeframe. I collaborate daily with all the departments (film programming, media relations, sponsorship, and marketing, etc.) in preparing a variety of communication and promotional materials. Besides producing marketing collateral, I also support website maintenance, build / deliver electronic communications, and create various on-screen / print graphics. During the festival, all our preparation enters execution mode. It is also the most exciting time, when we finally get to celebrate the work created by local and international filmmakers, creators, and artists. Of course, I do manage to sneak in a film or two each day. Outside of the festival time, I shift into supporting the year round programming, where the films get a longer run period. It is a more comfortable pace, but there’s just as much content creation that’s made compared to the festival.

 

Q. What advice do you have do you have for LFA students considering a career like yours?
A. If you’re creative and tech-savvy and interested in technology, design, media and the arts, I would look at whatever it is that inspires you (a short film, an app, a digital photograph, graphic artwork, game etc.), and try to recreate some form of it with the various digital tools/resources available to you. Or just create anything and don’t worry about perfecting it. Just keep creating and have fun with the process. Collaborate with others and challenge your skills in student competitions or volunteer your time to places that need digital support. Feel free to reach out to creators that inspire you; they’d likely be happy to talk about their work with you. You could even share your work and ask for feedback. Exposure to different technological tools or digital mediums will allow you to be comfortable with the technologies and will help you get a sense of whether this is something you want to pursue and decide what programs or post-secondary institutions would be the right fit for your interests.

Q. What professional achievement are you most proud of?
A. It’s been exciting to be a part of the organization’s re-branding process. I’ve enjoyed having a role in shaping the new brand aesthetics and providing critical feedback throughout this change. Re-building an entire film festival site within 2 months with limited resources I’d say was quite the feat. As a designer I feel that as long as I’ve made things better in some way or form - whether it be an element to the customer experience or the workflow for a co-worker - is something to be proud of. I’m also pretty happy about a silly fangirl moment where I had the chance to speak with Emmy-award winner Tatiana Maslany from the Orphan Black television series. 

Q. What inspired you to pursue a career in the arts and media? 
A. There was nothing specifically that inspired me, but perhaps it was that feeling of joy when you encounter incredible storytelling or have a memorable interaction with a product (digital or physical). That has motivated me to be involved in a field that allows me to create meaningful experiences in a space that embraces technology, design, and art. 

 

Q. Did your time at LFA impact your choice of career? If so, how? 
A. The career options in my field and the one I am currently in did not exactly exist when I was back in high school! To be honest, I struggled seeing myself involved in the career choices that were on display on career fair days. The options I had in mind were perhaps something in kinesiology, as I had participated on the high school basketball team or possibly in education, with my volunteer work at youth camps. However, I knew my interests were in digital technology and the arts, which led me to choosing SFU’s SIAT program. 

Q. What do you enjoy the most about your career? What are some highlights?
A. Being involved with VIFF - a local and cultural organization - has been an enriching experience. From documentaries to animations, there’s always great content to learn and be inspired from. Even though there are challenges working at a non-profit, it also forces one to develop creative solutions. I appreciate working with the diversity of communities and interacting with these people who share the same enthusiasm for film. It is also a pleasure working alongside such kind and dedicated individuals who are open to your suggestions and willing to work together to make things better.