Demo Reel 2011

This is what I consider my strongest work after a year of learning classical animation. I am trying to learn Toon Boom / Animate Pro now and perhaps eventually some Flash, and will update accordingly. In the meantime, for non-Hellenes, the hand gesture made by one of the characters at the end of the reel is not dirty, merely rude. The line written in Greek is pronounced "KRA ta ta psee LA"; I opted not to overlay the recorded line as it didn't mix well with the music, but it is technically a lip sync scene.

I started out with a fairly ambitious storyline for the final piece presented on the reel, and would like to thank my instructors, Wayne Gilbert, Charles Phillips, and especially Mark Pudleiner for reigning in my 'even-the-kitchen-sink' narrative predilections and helping me decide where to judiciously apply limited animation techniques so that I could actually have a good finished piece at the end of 11 weeks. It may not be 100% classical animation, but it is 100% neo-classical, or at least Greco-classical. ('Cuz no one can reign in my predilection for bad puns).

And as for the 'crazy camera angles' - yes, I now realize that a film/video background does not always translate directly to hand drawn animation in terms of mis-en-scene and dynamic camera (unless you're James Baxter).  But that doesn't mean the envelope shouldn't be pushed - it just means I need to work even harder. Although it doesn't really feel like work.... I love animating! 

Sophia Vassilakidis Character Animation Reel 2011 from Sophia Vassilakidis on Vimeo.

Resume

      Sophia Vassilakidis          evil.i.konographics@gmail.com      832-244-7000                                                       

Education

Spring 2010 – Spring 2011:  Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts) :

·          2D Character Animation Diploma

Spring 1998 – Spring 2001: University of Texas at Austin

·          B.S. in Radio-TV-Film with Honors - University of Texas at Austin

·          Inducted into the UT Junior Fellows Program, 2000

·          Radio-TV-Film coursework included short Fish Out of Water,

           screened at Rotterdam International Film Festival, 2001

Fall 1997 - Fall 1998: Reed College, Portland, Oregon

Fall 1993 – Spring 1997: Houstons High School for the Performing & Visual Arts, Visual major

·          National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist

Relevant Experience

As an independent film co-producer, Hardball: All Balls Dont Bounce,  2006 - 2011

·          Helped raise $70,000 from private investors to fund independent feature film

·          Scouted and negotiated the use of locations, including high-security shipping ports, Texas     

           monuments, and high-customer restaurants

·          Issued casting calls and auditions for over 90 actors; maintained cast, crew, and vendor contacts and spearheaded production email blasts

·          scheduled and coordinated on-location shoots involving multiple actors and crew,  and oversaw 

           wardrobe, props, and equipment

·          Planned scene budgets and tracked production finances

·          Created promotional materials and maintained film website

·          Substitute Boom,  2^nd camera, assistant editor

·          Created & Designed DVD menus, packaging, and content

Producer/writer/editor

·          2009 DarHart Screenplay Awards, 1^st Place feature winner for Rose Marie's Egg

·          Lucky Strike, DV short, 2003. Vassily Fedyaev Digital Filmmaking Workshop.

                 Director, 2nd camera operator, assistant editor

·          F***, 16mm short, 2000. UT Austin Film Program, producer & script editing

·          Fish Out of Water, 16mm short, 2000. UT Austin, producer & script editor

·          Tension, 16mm short, 1999. UT Austin. Scripting, storyboards, editing

·          Five Seconds, DV short documentary, 1999. UT Austin. Camera, boom, editing, scripting

·          A Doll's House, in studio 3-camera short, 1999. UT Austin. Director  

Production Assistant

·          RWJF Public Health “Tobacco Policy Change”,  2009. DeSantis Breindel

·          Foreman Family, Reality Series, 2006. Zoe & Sammy Productions, Inc.

·          The Whisperers, HD feature, 2005. Excalibur Pictures, Producer Ashok Rao

·          Vassily Fedyaev Digital Fimmaking Studio, 2005. assistant videographer

·          Einstein Scribbles, DV short, 2004. Marjo Productions

·          Family Portrait, 35mm feature, 2004. Chadda Productions

·          Mr. Hell, 35mm feature, 2004. Jack Rhodes Productions

·          After Twilight, 35mm short, 2004. Roadster Productions

·          Manhood is Dead, DV feature, 2002. Dizzystick Films 

Interim Post Production Manager, Locke Bryan Productions, 2005

·          assigned projects to editors and scheduled editing sessions with clients

·          maintained a comfortable work environment for visiting clients and guest editors

·          prepared client request reports for the billing department and ensured on-time project  delivery

·          maintained editing equipment stock levels and dubbed client requests

·          assisted with basic editing on AVID equipment

Local News Volunteer Reporter, KPFT Pacifica Radio 90.1 FM, March 2004 – 06

·          Interviewed story subjects, scripted story copy, edited and recorded story and quotes

·          Converted and edited press news stories for on-air format and contacted related local officials for pertinent quotes on same day basis

Other Work Experience

Continental Airlines – Ticketing & Gate Agent, 2007 - present

·          assist a high volume of customers from all social backgrounds, including non-English speakers,    disabled and special needs, and unescorted minors

·          maintain the ability to think on one's feet and coordinate with other operational  divisions in a 

           time sensitive, high security environment

Talent Agent, Pam Francis Photography/ Real People Models, 2006-2007

·          Scouted individuals for Real People Models Agency

·          collected and maintained talent and client contact information and permission waivers

·          edited images and information for Real People Models online database

·          received client requests, scripted casting calls, and contacted applicable models 

Assistant Manager, Planet Anime 2002 – 2005

·          Provided customer service, product inventory and ordering, arranged store layout, 

           created customer promotions and incentives

·          Editor to store's online product review site - creator of store web comic

·          Related skills: able to read Japanese Hiragana/Katakana

   

Other Knowledge and Skills:

         Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, Final Cut Pro, Vegas Sound Editor

         Greek: daily conversational level, able to read and write 

References: 

Jerry Ochoa, Producer

Street Legal Productions

jerryochoa@gmail.com

Wayne Gilbert,  Head of Animation

VanArts

wayne@vanarts.com

Mark Pudleiner, Animation Instructor

VanArts

mark@vanarts.com