CTN Spotlight on ... Francis!
CTNX: Hello Francis, it's a pleasure to speak with you! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
FW: Born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I currently attend California State University, Northridge as a sophomore where I major in art and study animation. Getting involved and giving back to the people in my community has been a service I practiced through Minds Matter Los Angeles which helped develop my leadership and academic performance throughout the years. With amazing support from my family and friends I work hard to pursue a career in the animation industry.
CTNX: When and how did your relationship with CTN begin?
FW: I was introduced to CTN through my club, Animation Student League of Northridge, at California State University, Northridge. A month before the start of CTNX'16, my club was discussing what CTN is and how great of an experience it is for many of us that want to pursue a career in animation. I was fascinated by the idea of going to a convention for artists to explore, socialize, and refine their knowledge in the animation industry.
CTNX: What have your positions been with CTNX and what have you learned most from your experience working with CTN?
FW: As a first time volunteer at CTNX, I was fortunate to experience multiple type of jobs throughout my time at the expo. My job consisted of giving directions to people, maintaining order in the corridors, organizing panel lines, introducing new technology at Talent-opolis, and assisting artists/volunteer needs at the artist pavilion.
CTNX: What are your ultimate career goals?
FW: My ultimate career goals consist of helping create numerous animations that can inspire and give hope to people of all ages. It may be silly, but I grew up believing in Dumbo, Pinocchio, and Cinderella. These movies impacted me by believing in myself and achieving the impossible, so bringing a smile or a laugh to someones day lets me know that I am giving back all the good times I received as a child.
CTNX: How does working with CTN help you meet those goals?
FW: Working at CTN gave me a nice push out of my comfort zone in order for me to interact and meet new people in the industry. I was amazed by the amount of people I got to know at the end of the day. Being able to strike a conversation with people of similar interests and trading tips with one another was a way for me to grow as a person and figure out what I can change.
CTNX: What have you learned most from your experience working with CTN?
FW: I came to learn that going with the flow and adapting to any environment is necessary to achieve success. Most of all, do not be afraid of change, it can lead to many opportunities you have not thought about.
CTNX: What do you look forward to most in the coming years regarding your career?
FW: I look forward to internships that I can apply to next semester. With practice and continuation for my passion in art I hope to succeed any opportunities coming my way.
CTNX: It was a pleasure to talk with you Francis!