Animation in LA

[ We invited Bethany graduates in Communication and Media Arts to report what they were up to, and respond to some questions about how they have used what they learned at Bethany and since. Please feel free to greet, ask questions, and comment. ]

When did you graduate from Bethany, what was your major, and in what, if anything, did you specialize while in school?

I graduated in December 2013 as a Media Arts major. Over time my studies became more focused as I gravitated towards motion graphics. I was also able to be a part of the hockey broadcast team during my time at BLC. Professors Christopher Johnson and Kurt Paulsen as well as my classmate Marcus Taplin among others really encouraged me to pursue motion graphics and introduced me to the televised sp orts industry.

What are you doing now with media/technology?

I currently work as a designer/animator at Two Fresh Creative in Los Angeles, California. We are a small motion graphics studio. We create animations used in live sports, video game promos, and product advertising.

Do you have any goals or aspirations beyond what you are doing now?

I think it would be fun to work on something for the aerospace industry or find opportunities to explain theology or church history through animation but we’ll see what the Lord brings about.

Have you found any opportunities to use your skills and experience for Gospel outreach? I work part time at my church helping out with the live-stream broadcast aspect of church services and events. I had the opportunity to offer some advice on lighting/rendering optimization on some animated scenes a friend was creating to depict events from church history as a part of a documentary my church produced.

Have you encountered any difficulty or hostility in your profession because you are a Christian?

There have definitely been some individuals I’ve come across who were pretty vocal about their opposition to Christianity but my closest co-workers and all of my managers have always been very respectful of my beliefs and supportive in working around my schedule so I can attend church even if I have to work on a weekend or if I need to leave early to help out with a ministry.