Assistant Director

about the author: gillian blekkenhorstGillian Blekkenhorst – ResumeGillian Blekkenhorst – Film Resume

*** ***** ** * *** 2gillian@blekkenhorst.ca647-339-4728

OCAD Bachelor of Design. Illustration Major

May 2006 – June 2009

Majoring in illustration, electives in Integrated Media (Film), Animation and Printmaking, classes in web programming and graphic design.

Sheridan College Diploma. Animation Fundamentals.

September 2005 – April 2006

Now defunct fundamentals program catering to animators. Courses included: character design, background design, sculpting, and 2D animation basics.

Production Assistant

Magnus Theatre

2003 – 2005

Long-term volunteer with Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay, Ontario.Volunteered each summer for to help on set for various theatre productions touring through the Thunder Bay Fringe Festival. Duties included set construction and tear-down, handling props, and set dressing as directed by Fringe directors.Other duties included ushering, ticket-selling, bartending and concession both at the Fringe Festival and regular season productions at Magnus Theatre.

Director, Production Designer

Independant Short Film

A Grave Engagement

May 2011 –

Designed and directed short stop motion animated melodrama film.Designed and built sets, props, and puppets using a variety of materials and techniques, to specifications in treatment to create a specific atmosphere.Wrote script and treatment, created storyboards and timing animatic. Use of x-sheets in Dragon Stop motion to direct timing.Collaborated with others on grip work, lighting set-up, and camera tripods specific to the conditions required for stop motion animation.Animated film using Dragon Stop Motion, Canon 7D and a Canon T2i camera. Post production in Adobe After Effects and Final Cut Pro.

Assistant Set Dresser

The Ballerina

June 2010 –

Director: Jacob Wiebe

Assisted Kailee Clayton for both set decoration and on-set dressing on a short sci-fi fantasy film.Maintained the integrity of the set between takes for continuity and style, took digital pictures for continuityLocated and acquired materials and props required to create the atmosphere of a post apocalyptic museum of the old worldDistressed sets to achieve an authentic appearanceAssisted in set construction and breakdownAlso assisted Jen Woodall in the Wardrobe department. Duties including sewing, screen printing, and constructing accessories out of wire and fabric.

Director, Production Designer

Independant Short Film

SWC Drama Club

2002 – 2004

Theatre Production for a variety show, two years in a row in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Adapted a scene from a Midsummer Nights Dream in a squeegee kid aesthetic, and a scene from Hamlet into a Gothic Victorian vaudeville aesthetic. Directing large groups of actors for rehearsals and eventual presentations of scenes adapted from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream and Hamlet.Collaborated on designing and constructing a shared stage with other directorsOrganizing a production, both from a producer and a production designer role. Duties includes organizing rehearsal times, procuring props. Designing, constructing and acquiring costumes to fit the look of . Designing the overall look and feel of the production adaptation.Collaborating with others on the overall variety production: securing venue, funding, and advertising the event.Awarded prize for Best Costume Design, 2004.

Calphalon Culinary Center

425 King St. West, Toronto

Utility Clerk

June 2007 – Now

Designed and arranged spaces for a variety of specific events, anticipating needs of clients and customers interacting in an attractive staged environment, including film set-ups for Food Network spot, culinary competitions and photo shoots for Calphalon promotional materialsResponsible for daily maintenance and repair issues in the chef’s kitchen, dishpit, and classroom.Distributing the tasks among the subordinates and providing detailed instructions about the line of action to each of themAbility to manage time efficiently and handle multiple tasksDetail-oriented with ability to perform tasks under pressureResponsible for providing minute details and valuable inputs to clients and managers on different aspects of the event

Production Assistant

Magnus Theatre

2003 – 2005

Long-term volunteer with Magnus Theatre in Thunder Bay, Ontario.Volunteered each summer for to help on set for various theatre productions touring through the Thunder Bay Fringe Festival. Duties included set construction and tear-down, handling props, and set dressing as directed by Fringe directors.Other duties included ushering, ticket-selling, bartending and concession both at the Fringe Festival and regular season productions at Magnus Theatre.

Director, Production Designer

Independant Short Film

A Grave Engagement

May 2011 –

Designed and directed short stop motion animated melodrama film.Designed and built sets, props, and puppets using a variety of materials and techniques, to specifications in treatment to create a specific atmosphere.Wrote script and treatment, created storyboards and timing animatic. Use of x-sheets in Dragon Stop motion to direct timing.Collaborated with others on grip work, lighting set-up, and camera tripods specific to the conditions required for stop motion animation.Animated film using Dragon Stop Motion, Canon 7D and a Canon T2i camera. Post production in Adobe After Effects and Final Cut Pro.

Assistant Set Dresser

The Ballerina

June 2010 –

Director: Jacob Wiebe

Assisted Kailee Clayton for both set decoration and on-set dressing on a short sci-fi fantasy film.Maintained the integrity of the set between takes for continuity and style, took digital pictures for continuityLocated and acquired materials and props required to create the atmosphere of a post apocalyptic museum of the old worldDistressed sets to achieve an authentic appearanceAssisted in set construction and breakdownAlso assisted Jen Woodall in the Wardrobe department. Duties including sewing, screen printing, and constructing accessories out of wire and fabric.

Director, Production Designer

Independant Short Film

SWC Drama Club

2002 – 2004

Theatre Production for a variety show, two years in a row in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Adapted a scene from a Midsummer Nights Dream in a squeegee kid aesthetic, and a scene from Hamlet into a Gothic Victorian vaudeville aesthetic. Directing large groups of actors for rehearsals and eventual presentations of scenes adapted from William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Nights Dream and Hamlet.Collaborated on designing and constructing a shared stage with other directorsOrganizing a production, both from a producer and a production designer role. Duties includes organizing rehearsal times, procuring props. Designing, constructing and acquiring costumes to fit the look of . Designing the overall look and feel of the production adaptation.Collaborating with others on the overall variety production: securing venue, funding, and advertising the event.Awarded prize for Best Costume Design, 2004.

Calphalon Culinary Center

425 King St. West, Toronto

Utility Clerk

June 2007 – Now

Designed and arranged spaces for a variety of specific events, anticipating needs of clients and customers interacting in an attractive staged environment, including film set-ups for Food Network spot, culinary competitions and photo shoots for Calphalon promotional materialsResponsible for daily maintenance and repair issues in the chef’s kitchen, dishpit, and classroom.Distributing the tasks among the subordinates and providing detailed instructions about the line of action to each of themAbility to manage time efficiently and handle multiple tasksDetail-oriented with ability to perform tasks under pressureResponsible for providing minute details and valuable inputs to clients and managers on different aspects of the event

Ontario Class G driver’s license

2004 –

SmartServe Certification

2004 –

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)

2003 –

Toronto Public Library Card

2007 – Now

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Copyright gillian blekkenhorst. All Rights Reserved.

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Copyright gillian blekkenhorst. All Rights Reserved.

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