Join the Department of Performing and Media Arts for Professional Directions: All About Animation on Thursday, March 21, from 6:00 – 7:00 pm, in Conference Room 220, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. The event will be hosted by PMA Visiting Assistant Professor, Juanie Fowlkes.
Come learn all about the ins and outs of careers in animation. Jennifer del Rey, Chaz Bottoms, and Halima Lucas will be joining virtually to talk all about the process of animation and what it takes to make your favorite animated shows and movies! Students will have a chance to ask questions, learn more about animation production, and find pathways into animation as a career.
Jennifer del Rey is a Creative Executive at Sony Pictures Animation. She began her career in the entertainment industry as a Runner and Assistant Editor at a post-production house. Later she transitioned to assisting line producers and directors on live-action productions for Netflix, Facebook Watch, and FOX. In 2018, Jennifer seized the opportunity to pursue her interest in development when she joined Sony Pictures Animation as a Trainee in the creative development department. Since then, she has moved up into her role as Creative Executive, and is actively involved in a diverse range of animated series and features.
Chaz Bottoms is an Animation Director and Storyboard Artist currently living in Los Angeles, CA. Chaz has collaborated and produced work for the Disney series Saturdays, Cartoon Network, AppleTV, Springhill, Lil Nas X, Adult Swim, Steve Harvey, John Legend, Sesame Street, and Bleacher Report. He has worked as a Character Designer and Storyboard Artist for Nickelodeon Animation and Netflix Animation. Chaz has received the Shadow & Act Rising Artist award, and has been selected as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Hollywood & Entertainment Lister. Chaz’s next short film, BATTU: An Animated Musical is coming in 2024 and is Executive Produced by Academy Award winner Matthew A. Cherry.
Halima Lucas: From the city of Stockton, California comes heart-driven LA-based filmmaker and Emmy-nominated TV writer Halima Lucas. She is the second oldest of nine siblings, who all deeply inspire her storytelling. Her short, Amelia’s Closet, became a finalist for the 43rd Student Academy Awards and also won the 2017 American Black Film Festival HBO Short Film Award. Following the success of her film, Halima was selected for Ryan Murphy’s Half Initiative TV Director Shadowing program, as well as the Break The Room fellowship, where she helped develop and write the web series East of La Brea, which was produced by Paul Feig’s Powderkeg, premiered at SXSW in 2019, and won at UrbanWorld Film Festival. She was also selected for the prestigious Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship in 2019 and Women in Film Directing mentorship in 2023. Currently, she’s a Co-Executive Producer on Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur and continues to create content for all ages.
