Expert: Russell Calabrese - 8/20/2011

Question
Hello, I am a senior in high school and at this point in my life it is  a challenge on what I want to do as a career.
My dream goal is to be an animator. However, I don't think that at this time I'm a great artist... Also, I'm torn into going to an art institute and trying to get a crud load of scholarships for out of state or go to a school in Louisiana where there is nothing about animation here..
What's the best route to go as an inspired animator? what are the best art institutes or colleges out there for this kind of field?And what are maybe some good scholarships out there?
Also, what are some good tips into drawing better?

Answer
Hi Andrea,

I'm sorry I can't help too much with these kinds of answers. I'm not a guidance councilor and most of my experience was hands on working in studios, starting as an apprentice and learning while I worked. There were very few schools that taught animation when I was your age and there were only a few classes, not a whole curriculum.

The schools I know from friends and my own experience are Cal Arts, UCLA and USC in Los Angeles have excellent Film studies courses with animation. School of Visual Arts and NYU Film School in New York City are another two.

I'm not familiar with any scholarship programs for animation.

Also, there seems to be a glut of people in the animation business at the moment, so there are more people looking for work than getting jobs at the moment. Outsourcing to other countries has put a slow down on US production. Think of another aspect of art or film you'd like to get into to have something to fall back on when business gets slow.

Hope this helps.

®©

Russell