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Pinata Pre-Production

APPLY HERE

Meet Your Director James Lopez

JAMES LOPEZ is a veteran Disney animator who has been working as a professional in the animation industry for 25 years. He is the creative behind and the Director of Hullabaloo.


His credits at Disney include being a Lead Animator on films such as The Emperor's New Groove and Hercules and as an animator on the character "Dr. Facilier" in The Princess and the Frog and "Timon" in The Lion King. He has also worked for studios such as Warner Bros., Dreamworks and Nickelodeon in both television and features an has performed a variety of positions that range from Directing, Storyboarding, Layout, Art Direction, Production Design and Character Design. 


He is an alumni of CalArts where he recently taught drawing and animation to inspire a new generation of artists.


Check out this interview  with Voyager LA  James Lopez:


Grab a look at his bio and links to his other sites: James Lopez

What is the purpose, and goals of this program?

To learn the pipeline for producing an independent animated short film. The goal is to work on creating an animatic as a team, and getting familiar with professional production workflows in the animation industry.


Check out this great animation short from the first few runs of this program. Created by Team Cowabunga in 2023. Now is your opportunity to go into production with a new pre-production crew of veterans and newcomers alike!

The Program Details

 

Are you looking for a creative production opportunity that gives you some real world experience, where you can build on what you have already learned?


Are you looking for an experience that helps you gain context and confidence to develop a legitimately valuable skill set in a field that you want?


Are you looking to land an awesome portfolio, and build a network of people who will vouch for you, your talent, work ethic, abilities, and character?


Now is your chance to gain experience being in a production-like setting, on a tra-digital animated film project as a valuable member of the crew. You will be walked through the pipeline. Gain the kind of ‘experience by doing’ and upgrade your existing skills in a fun creative team environment.  

Jump start your career with this new format!

Whether in addition to your current schooling or instead of school you will gain real world experience.


Maybe you know for sure that you want to be an animator, story artist, or art director. That's great!  You can go all-in on that role in this program.  Or, maybe you don’t have a clear picture of what role you want to play or where you fit in yet. You can discover your skillset with this opportunity.  This program is for you. 

Ready for a world class experience?

The most important thing early on is getting the proper guidance and career experience to uncover the options and opportunities available to you.   


Open to aspiring animators, story artists, art directors, effects animators and others in the Tra-digital (Traditional and Digital combined) pipeline who possess  the same passion, dedication, motivation and drive needed to enter into a professional career environment and work with a team.  

This program has three main elements to help you achieve your goals.

Element 1 

Bi-Weekly, Online in Zoom Meetings where you collaborate and are given feedback, knowledge, and direction. Using your own skills, you will accumulate the abilities and secrets known to professionals and understand the framework for working with a creative team.


Element 2 

Director James Lopez will cast crew positions, hand out assignments, and deadlines. Meetings include lectures and a live class critique, followed by notes. There is a private Discord group for the crew to connect in-between meetings. 


Element 3 

Coaching, collaboration, and teamwork.  Imagine being plugged into a team of filmmakers, animators, producers, art directors, and more who help guide and provide you with real world accountability, support, and feedback. Everyone on the team is being relied on to contribute their part. You will gain access to mentors and a community to continue during and after your journey. 

What results should I expect?

  • Knowledge, Perspective, and Experience 
  • Identify your strengths and passions and the direction you want to focus on  
  • Entrance into a community of like-minded people Professional 
  • Recommendations from well-respected professionals when applying for jobs 
  • Entrance and feature in a Producers Show held at the CTN Animation eXpo.  
  • Featured  in trade magazines and publicity channels. Lifetime membership in this creator community. 
  • Fun, Creative, Once in a Lifetime Experience. 

What will be expected of me?

You will get out of this program exactly what you put into it, because you will be relied on to do your part using your own skills.     


A bi-weekly, roughly 6 month program that culminates at CTNX. Requires a 10-15 hour weekly time commitment that is flexible to your schedule. The program is 100% remote, so you can do it from anywhere, and work on your own schedule. It combines a production-based curriculum with bi-weekly meetings, dailies, reviews, live demonstrations, and guidance. 

This program is for you if…

  • You want to work in the animation industry. 
  • The program can be completed as an alternative or supplement to college, graduate programs, or trade school. 
  • You can participate remotely. 
  • You are imaginative, motivated, and driven to a life of creating and telling stories.  
  • You are dedicated and self motivated. The team will be relying on you to meet deadlines and contribute. 
  • College Level Understanding of Animation, Drawing, Composition, Color, and Design 
  • You have your own computer with Zoom and other animation/ drawing software. 
  • You speak and understand English.
  • You can work as a team, and meet deadlines. 
  • You are ready to have fun with an amazing team of artists in a unique casual online 'studio' environment. 

We look forward to welcoming PASSIONATE CREATIVES, newcomer to pro, that are interested in ...

  • Pre-Production 
  • Art Direction
  • Writing
  • Story
  • Visual Development
  • Character Design
  • Compositing 
  • Editing
  • Music


"I really liked that James talked about various styles in Visual Development, and how the thought process of creating ideas goes down in this department." ~Karina Acosta


By application only.  Once accepted, you will be working with Director / Mentor James Lopez, whose work can be seen in some of the most treasured films in the history of animation. He will be joined by other leading professionals in their specific fields.  Just like being in a real professional 2D Tra-digital production environment, with Department Leads you will be 'on the crew' with these pros.  


  • (APPLICATIONS CLOSED)
  • CTN Foundation is awarding a limited number of full scholarship seats to this program. 
  • Open to aspiring animators, story artists, art directors, effects animators, production assistants and others in the Tra-digital (Traditional and Digital combined) pipeline who possess  the same passion, dedication, motivation and drive needed to enter into a professional career environment on a team.  


Application Information

LONG FORMAT:

This Master Class Program is Bi-Weekly, Online.

ENTER DATES

ENTER TIME 


Production culminates with an industry screening at a 'Producers Show/ Wrap Party' held at the prestigious Creative Talent Network Animation Expo (CTNX 2023) November 16-19, 2023 in the animation capital of the world - Burbank CA.  (Ticket to the event  is included)

Reserve your Hotel Room for CTNX2023 before they sell out: HOTEL RESERVATION

APPLY HERE

Video Credit: Indy Consulting and Productions LLC

All copyrights belong to their respective owners.


We Are Here to Help Make your Experience Extraordinary!!


CTN Studio 

847 Hollywood Way Suite 100

Burbank, CA 91505 

(818) 827 7138 Phone Hours  M-F 9am - 5pm Pacific


Creative Talent Network Business Office  

3500 W. Olive Ave #300 Burbank, CA 91505  

(818) 827 7138 Phone Hours  M-F 9am - 5pm Pacific


help@ctnexpo.com

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