So the tally is in, and consensus says the inaugural
CTN Animation Expo in Burbank was BRILLIANT! Naming a favorite moment is much like choosing your favorite pie… an impossible feat, for pies are so incredibly diverse and exciting. It would be criminal to pick just one!
What makes this fest particularly excellent is its lack of pretension. The environment encourages conversation, and through my short few days I was able to connect to more people than at any other industry event. This venue is a hotbed for conversation! As a Canadian who has found the American market quite mysterious, it was great to chat with a range of creative talent from California and beyond. And also make some new friends along the way!
So, here I’ve got a few pictures that I thought you might like, for those who were unable to attend. Maybe I’ll see you out in Burbank next year!
Peter de Sève (Illustrator/Designer) spoke about his published works and how he landed his first front-page gig for the New Yorker.
Kathy Zielinski (Disney/Dreamworks Designer) and Brenda Chapman (Pixar Feature Director) discuss the myth of “a woman’s luck” and their approach for navigating a male-dominated industry.
Here's Lou’s colourful table displaying his prints, plus my new favorite book,
“The Ancient Book of Sex and Science”.
I was able to snag this lovely
Lou Romano print of a bug and butterfly at the
Gallery Nucleus booth, which Lou graciously signed.
In addition to the many panels, visitors were able to watch drawing demos from various artists throughout the Expo.
Bill Presing (designer of America’s most adorable pin-ups) and his lovely wife Ikumi present their colour illustrations and books for sale.
In my favorite point-form format, here I will list some more highlights of the event:
~ A round-table discussion with a team of Pixar Story Artists.
~ Networking Breakfast with some of the Expo’s top talent.
~ Portfolio feedback from every American studio imaginable.
~ Finally seeing what Andrew Gordon looks like! (I’m a
Spline Doctors devotee)
~ Chatting with designers and filmmakers while scoring free drink tickets.
~ Marveling some killer dance moves at the evening parties.
~ Eagerly consuming a 6-course tapas tasting menu for two (with wine parings) at Bazaar SLS all by my gluttonous self. (I was later informed that I had just downed over $200 worth of food! Tax write-off, anyone?!)
~ A not-so-suave seduction attempt by an over-eager middle-aged Amtrak worker. (Story of my life!)
~ Running around Hollywood in the middle of the night with a bunch of strangers to then be hit-on by an intoxicated Fabio look-alike.
~ Experiencing my first palm tree in the middle of November.
~ Pondering "the qualities of a good pinup drawing" with a new friend.
~ Finally settling down to a delicious slice of all-American pie.
~ Tucking myself to sleep in a killer king sized bed.
~ Scoring some sick RayBans at 50% off!
Farewell to LA for another year. It sure was a blast!
