Have you ever wondered what it takes to make an animated blockbuster movie?
We got a chance to catch up with some of the team behind Walt Disney Animation Studios' latest epic adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon, released on Disney+, to get their advice on how you can take your first steps into the film industry.
Osnat:My top piece of advice for someone who wants to get into the film industry is tell stories. Basically tell stories that any way you can.
Adele:Share those stories with others to collaborate with others, get feedback on it. Do not be afraid to fail. Don't think that you can only share things with the world after they're completely perfect, because I'll tell you, as someone who has been a long-time Hollywood writer, collaboration is one of the most special parts about the whole process of finding ways to be able to, like, take notes, find better ideas and have a better story at the end of the day because of it.
Osnat:These days in particular, you can you can tell stories on an iPhone, you can tell stories on your ipad, on your smartphone. You don't need much, just keep telling stories because that will train you.
Don:The biggest advice I can give anybody that wants to get into film is just study… study film, but also study storytelling in all it's many forms, because it will help influence your filmmaking.
Fawn:Find your specialty and decide on it. I have seen so many portfolios that have a little bit of everything, and if the person wants to work at Disney animation where everyone's so specialised in their field, I would think that, you know, they should tailor their portfolio for that specific job. Even if they have other interests, that would really help their work shine among other peoples.
Raya:My name is Raya. Our lands have been at war for as long as we can remember. Our people never see eye to eye.
Chief Benja:My daughter, I believe our people can come together again. But someone has to take that first step.
Raya:Now in order to restore peace. We must find the last dragon.
Adele:So, the one thing I got to do on Raya and The Last Dragon that I never had an opportunity to do before, was to work with story artists. Some people have the idea of writing as been a solitary profession and that could not be further from the truth when it comes to an animated feature.
Carlos:I am new to the Disney animation universe. The way we make movies at Disney is very particular, fascinating and just so unlike anything I'd ever done, like, you really, really got to immerse yourself in the world of the movie that you're making.
Don:I love the level of intimacy that we have in certain scenes where its just a locked-down camera, a beautiful vocal performance and an animator at the top of their game who is emoting with basically this.
Liza:I got to work on a film that was heavily inspired by South East Asian cultures and it was just, you know, it's a fantasy adventure, but it is so entrenched and rich with inspiration from that region and working with the art team to bring that to life in a 3D space was so thoroughly enjoyable. The level of detail in those sets… when you see the film… I hope, I hope you guys like it. I think it's beautiful.
Fawn:The three main skills I used in my role is an ability to draw.
Liza:Having a really good eye for detail.
Osnat:Sense of humour.
Adele:The ability to share your vision with others.
Fawn:An understanding of story… If you can write, that's also a big plus.
Osnat:Flexibility… it's all about responding to the moment and seeing what the moment needs.
Liza:Being good to work with, if I say so myself, you know, being able to take direction and just being a really good team player.
Adele:The ability to collaborate, which means, you know, being open to taking notes and, you know, not all of us here have notes that we want to hear all the time. You know, you don't just want to hear that what you've done is fantastic. Great. Don't change a thing.
Liza:Did I always know I wanted to do my job? No, I grew up in Northampton, England and I honestly could say that I didn't know he could work in animation, you know, Hollywood might as well have been on another planet when I was growing up. I actually started off in theatre and it wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I found, actually you can work in this industry. So I actually changed career and went back to school and got my Masters and animation and then… Yeah. So it was a divergent, wibbly path.
Adele Lim
Role: Screenwriter
Adele knew she wanted to tell stories from the moment she could write. Her favourite subjects in school were Literature and Art. During her childhood in Malaysia, she didn't know that being a writer for film and TV was an option. Once she found out, she knew she'd discovered her path and has gone on to produce many TV shows and write two films!
Do not be afraid to fail.
Liza Rhea
Role: Environment modeler
Liza started her career in theatre before studying for a Masters in Animation. Her favourite subject in school was Art which led her to study design which, in turn, led to 3D modelling!
I grew up in Northampton, England… Hollywood might as well have been on another planet! It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties that I found actually, you can work in this industry.
Don Hall
Role: Director
Don Hall won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature for Big Hero 6. As a child, Don loved comic books and Saturday morning cartoons. He would also study films and take notice of the stylistic choices of the director – something which he says is very important for an aspiring filmmaker to do.
Study storytelling in all its many forms… it will help influence your filmmaking.
Osnat Shurer
Role: Producer
Israel-born Osnat spent her youth living all over the world. Some of her earliest memories involved making super-8 films of animals with her Dad on the game reserves in Africa. Osnat always knew she wanted to be a storyteller, but was quite surprised that she became a producer!
You can tell stories on a smartphone, you don't need much. Just keep telling stories.
Carlos Lopez Estrada
Role: Director
Carlos Lopez Estrada is a critically-acclaimed independent filmmaker but is brand new to the Disney team. He says that working on a Disney movie is unlike anything he ever experienced in the independent film world.
You really, really get to immerse yourself in the world of the movie that you are making.
Fawn Veersasunthorn
Role: Head of story
A career as a storyboarder wasn't on Fawn's radar as an option when she was growing up. Even when she went to Art school she didn't know about jobs in storyboarding! But she says it is a very rewarding and interesting job for people who love drawing and telling stories.
Tailor your portfolio… even if you have other interests, that will help your work shine amongst other individuals.
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