Featured Student: Scott Slater
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AnimationMentor.com:
What inspired you to learn animation?
Scott Slater:
I always knew that I wanted to do something creative, I just didn't know what. While I was working full time for the last 16 years, I went to Acting School, I looked into going to Film School at one point, and I was always trying to draw and take art classes when I had free time. I look back now, and it seems so obvious, that it was right in front of me all the time. I always loved animated movies, and my first loves were the stop motion Christmas specials (Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty). I used to watch as a kid and be totally mesmerized, and I still am when I watch them now. But, it just never occurred to me that animation was even an option as a career when I was growing up. I didn't know anyone who was doing it, I didn't know how you got started and so I never considered it. And then I remember I was watching Monsters, Inc., and it was the scene where Sully tumbled off the sled down the mountain and was lying in the snow. And I don't know why that was the moment, but then it just hit me for some reason, animation was a combination of all the things I had been interested in. I realized that in each character's shot, there's a part of who the animator is. No two animators would do a shot exactly the same, and that's what I had been looking for. I wanted to do something where I could put a piece of myself into my work, and not simply just do a job. Animation is something that I feel in order to be great at, you have to really know yourself, and constantly challenge yourself. You have to attach a piece of yourself to the character, so that people can relate to it and want to watch it, because there's such an art to entertaining people and moving them on some emotional level. So I realized, animation was just something I had to do if I ever really wanted to be not just happy, but content in my life. And that is what really inspired me to start learning animation, and that's exactly what keeps me inspired every day to learn more.
AnimationMentor.com:
What would be your ultimate dream job?
Scott Slater:
My ultimate dream job would be in a place with people that are creating ideas and stories that they're passionate about. Somewhere that I'm going to be pushed and challenged, and where I can learn from other animators, and keep striving to become a great animator myself. I'd like to be in an environment where I feel like I'm contributing to the creative process of the projects, and that so is everyone else involved. When you get everyone contributing and feeling like their input is valued, that's when I think good ideas become great ideas and I'd just like to be a part of something like that.
AnimationMentor.com:
How has your experience at AnimationMentor.com been so far?
Scott Slater:
I cannot get enough, it's been incredible. So far, it's been more interesting, inspiring, humbling, rewarding and informative than I could have ever imagined. The bouncing ball, oh man the bouncing ball, don't get me started on how that thing slapped me around like its little boy toy. The lessons to be learned in that ball are endless, I never would have guessed. But more than anything, it's been exciting, because you realize how much there is to learn. You'll feel like you grasp a concept, and then suddenly you realize that that's just the surface of it. Or, you'll see how one principle ties into another principle and a light goes on in your mind and you understand a little more, and your work suddenly improves because of it. And I've seen it in other students work and it's awesome and rewarding to see that happening around you. It's been a great experience to see all the students work hard to get better.
AnimationMentor.com:
What's one of the most important and/or interesting lessons you've learned while at AnimationMentor.com?
Scott Slater:
I would have to say one of the most important and interesting lessons I've learned while at Animation Mentor has to be observation in general. It's that conscious effort to pay attention to what goes on with not only yourself, but also in the world around you, and how it happens. To truly watch people and not just look at them, as well as yourself, is an eye opening experience. I'll watch a lecture and go "Is that really how we walk?" I've really become aware of how little I've been taking notice of how the world really moves. And now, it's just gotten out of control, because I'll find myself talking with somebody and at times I won't even be listening to what they're saying, because I'm just watching how they gesture and move as they do things. And usually, this is when I'm talking to boring people (i.e. people who aren't talking about animation), and I'm thinking in my head "wow, what was that, about 8 frames on the hand gesture, maybe 10, yeah definitely, definitely 10." I've turned into an animation Rainman. And then I'll find myself picking up a glass 20 times to really study how I do it, and I don't even care who's looking anymore, I'm in my own little world. At times I feel like I'm sliding down a very slippery slope, and I love it.
AnimationMentor.com:
Who is your favorite animator?
Scott Slater:
My favorite animator is Emilio Ghorayeb who worked on Shrek 2, 3 and Madagascar. It's not only the fact that I think his animation is absolutely brilliant, but also because he encompasses what I want to become as an animator. The guy loves animation, he loves to talk about it, he loves to teach it, and he loves to do it. It's just the way he is, it's not just his job, it's part of who he is, and he is constantly striving to become better at it and learn more. Anyone who animates at a studio for 60-70 hours a week and then still wants to work on their stuff at home on the weekends, and help people out, is a hero to me. And so that's who he is, and his level of enthusiasm and dedication inspires me as an animator and as a person.
AnimationMentor.com:
What is your favorite animated/CG scene of all time?
Scott Slater:
That is a very tough question, because there are hundreds of scenes that I think are brilliant. But if I have to choose, one scene that immediately comes to me and constantly plays over in my mind as one of the most beautiful since I saw it, is from Robots. The shot where Rodney gets his first set of big boy parts and is running down the sidewalk to go watch the parade with his Dad, and his parts just keep falling down. It's a shot that in my opinion is flawless. I just think it captures the excitement of every one as kids, where you get so excited about something that no matter what obstacle is trying to slow you down, you're not affected by it. You have just one goal in mind and everything else is secondary to that. And you don't stop to get upset about it, you just deal with it as quickly as possible and get going because you don't want to miss anything. So when I see that shot, that is exactly the feeling I get from it, and I can totally relate to it. I would really like to know who did that shot and say thanks, and then find out what their reference was, because it was perfect.
AnimationMentor.com:
Anything else you want to say to your fellow and prospective students of AnimationMentor.com?
Scott Slater:
I would first like to say thank you to all my fellow students, they make Animation Mentor an incredible place. And then I'd like to say thank you to the 3 Wise Men, Bobby, Carlos, and Shawn, all the hardworking staff at headquarters, and all the mentors and lecturers who give their time and knowledge. You have all contributed to creating, and continue to create one of the best environments I‘ve ever been a part of. I'd like to applaud every student, because everyone is working hard, and everyone is making a sacrifice on some level to do this, and that is inspiring. And the work everyone does is motivating because you see the personalities of everybody and you see the improvements each week. And when you get a little tired, you can cruise the campus for some great work and be inspired. You get people from all over the country and all over the world helping each other out and working towards the same goals. And there are students keeping some crazy hours to attend the Q&A Sessions in some cases (big applause to the people in the off time zones!!) I just really appreciate being a part of Animation Mentor with all the amazing people, so thanks again to everyone. As to prospective students, I'd have to say you can't really understand how much you'll get out of it until you do it. You can't grasp how incredible this school is until you start and experience it. Whatever your expectations are, I promise you they'll be exceeded. If you really want to learn animation, it's all right here and I can't encourage you enough to take advantage of it.
What inspired you to learn animation?
Scott Slater:
I always knew that I wanted to do something creative, I just didn't know what. While I was working full time for the last 16 years, I went to Acting School, I looked into going to Film School at one point, and I was always trying to draw and take art classes when I had free time. I look back now, and it seems so obvious, that it was right in front of me all the time. I always loved animated movies, and my first loves were the stop motion Christmas specials (Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty). I used to watch as a kid and be totally mesmerized, and I still am when I watch them now. But, it just never occurred to me that animation was even an option as a career when I was growing up. I didn't know anyone who was doing it, I didn't know how you got started and so I never considered it. And then I remember I was watching Monsters, Inc., and it was the scene where Sully tumbled off the sled down the mountain and was lying in the snow. And I don't know why that was the moment, but then it just hit me for some reason, animation was a combination of all the things I had been interested in. I realized that in each character's shot, there's a part of who the animator is. No two animators would do a shot exactly the same, and that's what I had been looking for. I wanted to do something where I could put a piece of myself into my work, and not simply just do a job. Animation is something that I feel in order to be great at, you have to really know yourself, and constantly challenge yourself. You have to attach a piece of yourself to the character, so that people can relate to it and want to watch it, because there's such an art to entertaining people and moving them on some emotional level. So I realized, animation was just something I had to do if I ever really wanted to be not just happy, but content in my life. And that is what really inspired me to start learning animation, and that's exactly what keeps me inspired every day to learn more.
AnimationMentor.com:
What would be your ultimate dream job?
Scott Slater:
My ultimate dream job would be in a place with people that are creating ideas and stories that they're passionate about. Somewhere that I'm going to be pushed and challenged, and where I can learn from other animators, and keep striving to become a great animator myself. I'd like to be in an environment where I feel like I'm contributing to the creative process of the projects, and that so is everyone else involved. When you get everyone contributing and feeling like their input is valued, that's when I think good ideas become great ideas and I'd just like to be a part of something like that.
AnimationMentor.com:
How has your experience at AnimationMentor.com been so far?
Scott Slater:
I cannot get enough, it's been incredible. So far, it's been more interesting, inspiring, humbling, rewarding and informative than I could have ever imagined. The bouncing ball, oh man the bouncing ball, don't get me started on how that thing slapped me around like its little boy toy. The lessons to be learned in that ball are endless, I never would have guessed. But more than anything, it's been exciting, because you realize how much there is to learn. You'll feel like you grasp a concept, and then suddenly you realize that that's just the surface of it. Or, you'll see how one principle ties into another principle and a light goes on in your mind and you understand a little more, and your work suddenly improves because of it. And I've seen it in other students work and it's awesome and rewarding to see that happening around you. It's been a great experience to see all the students work hard to get better.
AnimationMentor.com:
What's one of the most important and/or interesting lessons you've learned while at AnimationMentor.com?
Scott Slater:
I would have to say one of the most important and interesting lessons I've learned while at Animation Mentor has to be observation in general. It's that conscious effort to pay attention to what goes on with not only yourself, but also in the world around you, and how it happens. To truly watch people and not just look at them, as well as yourself, is an eye opening experience. I'll watch a lecture and go "Is that really how we walk?" I've really become aware of how little I've been taking notice of how the world really moves. And now, it's just gotten out of control, because I'll find myself talking with somebody and at times I won't even be listening to what they're saying, because I'm just watching how they gesture and move as they do things. And usually, this is when I'm talking to boring people (i.e. people who aren't talking about animation), and I'm thinking in my head "wow, what was that, about 8 frames on the hand gesture, maybe 10, yeah definitely, definitely 10." I've turned into an animation Rainman. And then I'll find myself picking up a glass 20 times to really study how I do it, and I don't even care who's looking anymore, I'm in my own little world. At times I feel like I'm sliding down a very slippery slope, and I love it.
AnimationMentor.com:
Who is your favorite animator?
Scott Slater:
My favorite animator is Emilio Ghorayeb who worked on Shrek 2, 3 and Madagascar. It's not only the fact that I think his animation is absolutely brilliant, but also because he encompasses what I want to become as an animator. The guy loves animation, he loves to talk about it, he loves to teach it, and he loves to do it. It's just the way he is, it's not just his job, it's part of who he is, and he is constantly striving to become better at it and learn more. Anyone who animates at a studio for 60-70 hours a week and then still wants to work on their stuff at home on the weekends, and help people out, is a hero to me. And so that's who he is, and his level of enthusiasm and dedication inspires me as an animator and as a person.
AnimationMentor.com:
What is your favorite animated/CG scene of all time?
Scott Slater:
That is a very tough question, because there are hundreds of scenes that I think are brilliant. But if I have to choose, one scene that immediately comes to me and constantly plays over in my mind as one of the most beautiful since I saw it, is from Robots. The shot where Rodney gets his first set of big boy parts and is running down the sidewalk to go watch the parade with his Dad, and his parts just keep falling down. It's a shot that in my opinion is flawless. I just think it captures the excitement of every one as kids, where you get so excited about something that no matter what obstacle is trying to slow you down, you're not affected by it. You have just one goal in mind and everything else is secondary to that. And you don't stop to get upset about it, you just deal with it as quickly as possible and get going because you don't want to miss anything. So when I see that shot, that is exactly the feeling I get from it, and I can totally relate to it. I would really like to know who did that shot and say thanks, and then find out what their reference was, because it was perfect.
AnimationMentor.com:
Anything else you want to say to your fellow and prospective students of AnimationMentor.com?
Scott Slater:
I would first like to say thank you to all my fellow students, they make Animation Mentor an incredible place. And then I'd like to say thank you to the 3 Wise Men, Bobby, Carlos, and Shawn, all the hardworking staff at headquarters, and all the mentors and lecturers who give their time and knowledge. You have all contributed to creating, and continue to create one of the best environments I‘ve ever been a part of. I'd like to applaud every student, because everyone is working hard, and everyone is making a sacrifice on some level to do this, and that is inspiring. And the work everyone does is motivating because you see the personalities of everybody and you see the improvements each week. And when you get a little tired, you can cruise the campus for some great work and be inspired. You get people from all over the country and all over the world helping each other out and working towards the same goals. And there are students keeping some crazy hours to attend the Q&A Sessions in some cases (big applause to the people in the off time zones!!) I just really appreciate being a part of Animation Mentor with all the amazing people, so thanks again to everyone. As to prospective students, I'd have to say you can't really understand how much you'll get out of it until you do it. You can't grasp how incredible this school is until you start and experience it. Whatever your expectations are, I promise you they'll be exceeded. If you really want to learn animation, it's all right here and I can't encourage you enough to take advantage of it.