Manager Director
Resume:
Jacqueline Smessaert Brennan
Animation and Digital Art
Chicago, IL 60645
*******@*****.***
OBJECTIVE
My desire is to obtain a teaching position which enables me to utilize my wide range of skills and experience in animation, film-making, design.
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS
I have created award winning visuals for commercial spots, feature and independent films utilizing a variety of techniques including traditional cell, cut paper, clay and 3d computer animation including cg effects for the Oscar nominated short film “Stubble Trouble”. I have also designed promotional materials (pamphlets, posters, slicks, etc.) for clients ranging from service organizations to gaming companies. As an educator, I have taken my years of experience in the visual arts to help students analyze and explore visual communication in the world around them and ultimately enable them to create work that expresses their unique point of view.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Instruction
As an instructor at DePaul University’s College of Computing and Digital Media I have:
• Taught history and visual analysis of film, animation and graphics
• Implemented hands on curricula in which students create animations with media ranging from clay to digital
• Worked with diverse student body including many with special needs (ADHD, learning disabilities, etc)
• Developed a special topics course concerning visual stylization in computer animation.
Animation
• 3D Computer Animation: Animated characters, products, backgrounds, effects and logos using Maya software
• Traditional/Drawn “cell” animation: Generated hand drawn animation of effects and characters
• Stop Motion techniques: Created animation in a variety of media including clay, cut paper and rigged objects
Production
• Story boards: Created story board panels for 10 minute film designed to promote clear, concise storytelling and set pace of film
• Camera: Designed and executed camera moves on 35mm Oxberry stand, in Maya and ToonBoom
• Compositing: Combined the final layers of background, drawn and cg art and added aesthetic enhancements and effects
• Editing: Edited rough cut of short film and other projects, working out timing issues and synching sound
• Directing: Directed Calabash Animation’s third animated short film “Botnik !”
Digital Art
• Background Artist: Created 2D and 3D background art using Maya and Adobe Software
• Promotional Artwork: Designed art for promotional items including posters, post cards, press kits, etc.
• Graphic Design: Designed art work for game consoles panels, redesigned logos for print and website
SOFTWARE AND EQUIPMENT (including but not limited to)
• Autodesk Maya 3d Animation
• ToonBoom Ink & Paint and Compositing software
• Adobe CS5.5
• Final Cut Pro
• 35mm film camera and Oxberry Animation Stand
• Stop Motion Pro
• Gimp
• Google Sketch
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
• Best Animation “BOTNIK !” / Beverly Hills Film Festival 2009 / Director
• Best Animated Short “BOTNIK !”/ Fargo Fantastic Film Festival 2009 / Director
• Mobius Award for Outstanding Creativity / “D is for dumb” psa / Animation Director
• Invited Panelist/Speaker at the Florida Film Festival Animation Forum alongside award winning animators Bill Plympton, Signe Baumane and Aaron Augenblick
EDUCATION
B.A. in Liberal Arts / University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign / 1988
Certificate in Animation / Alias-Wavefront / Santa Monica. CA / 1997
WORK EXPERIENCE
ADJUNCT FACULTY
DePaul University/ CDM/ Chicago, IL/ 2009 - present
STAFF POSITION
Calabash Animation / Chicago, IL / June 1994 to 2009 / CG production manager, director, animator
FREE LANCE POSITIONS (1992 - present)
Calabash Animation/ Chicago, IL
Candleberrie Creative/ Chicago, IL
GC2 Inc.(Great Circle Gaming)/ Hawthorn Woods, IL
Startoons / Homewood, IL
1351 Productions / Chicago, IL
Animasaur /Highland Park, IL
FILMOGRAPHY (as animator):
Space Jam – assistant cleanup (1996)
Amerikan Passport (1999) Slamdance Filmfestival: Best Documentary
Stubble Trouble (2000) nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short in 2001
The Secret (2001) Best Feature: Rhode Island Film Festival, Moondance International Film Festival and Flickapalooza
Tryst Watch (2003)
Suspended Animation (2003)
BOTNIK ! (2008)
References and demo reel available upon request
Contact this candidate