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Nicholas Jamison graduated from The
Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago in June of 2007
with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital
Filmmaking & Video Production (DFVP). As
Jamison was preparing for finals and final
presentations, he was offered a Visual Effects
(VFX) Location Assistant position for the
upcoming film sequel, Rory’s First Kiss.
 Since graduating, Jamison has been busy in his
new role as the VFX Location Assistant and
working on set. So why the film industry?
Nicholas said he always loved films and believed it to be an unconventional career that
would allow him many opportunities.
While attending The Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago, Jamison took advantage of every
opportunity to gain real world experience in order to enhance his industry related skills.
Jamison has worked on the Marina Tower Allstate Insurance commercial and several films
including Fred Claus, The Express, and Wanted. Jamison said these experiences gave him
the perspective on what he needs to do in order to succeed in the film industry.
Jamison worked on an unpaid week-long TV pilot called Chicagoland; he was then hired
to work as a Grip on the show. Chicagoland filmed for a week in the Chicago area and
carried a $10,000 budget. On his last day Jamison was speaking with a colleague in the Art
department about future opportunities and films. His colleague informed him that a new
film Quebec was looking for an intern. Thus by networking with colleagues Jamison was
offered a summer internship on the film Quebec. Accepting the opportunity to gain
real-world industry experience Jamison decided to take a quarter off of school and intern
on the film. It involved a great deal of work; Jamison was on set five days a week and
worked an average of 12 hours per day for nearly three months – all unpaid. While
working on the film, Jamison networked with several other industry related professionals,
which ultimately lead to his current position as the VFX Location Assistant.
Jamison’s current position with Rory’s First Kiss holds many responsibilities which
include: negotiating location contracts for use of building property, scouting potential
filming locations and establishing contacts, ensuring the crew can access locations with
ease, guaranteeing that all safety precautions are taken, procuring security for locations,
and coordinating with the Key Location Manager of the Main Unit for Visual Effects
(VFX) Location Scheduling.
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 Angelina Sereno (The Art Institute of California—San Diego, 2003, Advertising).
It was only a matter of time before Angelina Sereno, the creative force behind the San Diego Film Festival and Flower Hill Promenade, opened her own Creative Studio (Skybox Creative). With a passion for innovation and an exceptional artistic eye, she is a natural in the field. She has won the highest honors at every phase of her development and proven her metal in today’s fast-paced, rapidly changing, media-based world.
An all-star graduate of the Art Institute of California, Angelina has won many awards both in-house and citywide. Within a few years she catapulted her career from promising intern at Eurostyle Advertisng to their chief designer and Art Director. She designed and directed their largest clients and projects, from corporate branding and print campaigns to packaging lines and Web projects. Her clients included Playtex Products, Inc., White Ventures and Equastone Real Estate Investment Advisors.
Driven to reach out to a wider array of clients, Angelina launched a solo freelance career while still at Eurostyle, attracting such lively and diverse clients as Clear Channel Communications, Snoop Dogg and Infinite Entertainment, among others.
Always intrigued and energized by quickly evolving technologies and creative approaches, Angelina makes continuing education a priority for herself and her team. She recently studied motion design at Four Square Creative with some of the nation’s top motion designers. She has assembled her amazing SKYBOX team from the best talent in the industry.
Check out her recently launched site at www.skyboxcreative.com |
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Adi Granov (The Art Institute of Seattle, 1998, Graphic Design) came to the United
States looking for an opportunity to develop the skills he’d acquired
working as an illustrator in Bosnia. His education trained him in
the technology of illustration, and helped give direction to his
blossoming career.
 After graduation, Granov was hired by Nintendo to work as a concept designer.
He worked on five published titles, as well as countless prototypes and
test projects before leaving the company and starting out on his own as
a freelance designer.
Granov’s freelance career took off – his client list includes work for Wizards of the Coast/TSR, Humanoids Publishing, Shadowrun Development, Devil’s Due, Dreamwave, Upper Deck, and Marvel Comics.
Granov is now under exclusive contract with Marvel Comics, and has done numerous covers in addition to illustrating the highly acclaimed Invincible Iron Man: Extremis series, and a special edition of The New Avengers. In addition, Granov is the cover artist for Invincible Iron Man and the Fantastic Four series.
Granov
continues to take on new projects, including work on a feature film,
and concept development for a next-generation video game yet to be
released. Visit his website at www.adigranov.net to tour his portfolio, and access news and information about his upcoming projects and publications. |
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 Layne Bailey (The Art Institute of Charlotte, 2003, Interactive Media Design) has
been involved with a book project as both a photographer and web
designer for the past two years. The book, titled “Extreme Barbecue”, hit area stores the first of June. He collaborated with a long-time Charlotte Observer colleague Dan Huntley. Check out http://www.extremebarbecuethebook.com to find out more about their published book. Since graduating from The
Art Institute of Charlotte, Layne has designed and built a flash
website for the Observer’s photo department that allows photographers
to edit their own portfolios online. He built weekly internet shows for
the 2006 Panthers season that included audio he
recorded and edited. Layne and his wife, Nicole, hope to travel to
China this year to adopt their first child.
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At the 2005 Experience Music Project poster show, Paper Scissors ROCK, Andrio Abero (The Art Institute of Seattle, 2000, Graphic Design) was presented as a
sort of logical end to a graphic design movement that started in the
1970’s. Innovators like Art Chantry, Jeff Kleinsmith, and Frank
Kozik help ed inspire Abero’s dynamic designs; and paved the way for his acceptance in the rock-art medium.
Abero was hired right out of portfolio review by EA Games,
a local game art and design company. Abero found working with
interface design challenging – having come from a print background –
but credits his education with training him for the fast-paced and
demanding environment. In his spare time Abero continued to
develop his design sensibility, and eventually left EA Games to start
his own design firm, 33rpm.
Abero’s
unique screen-printing style has vaulted him into the upper echelon of
rock-poster designers. His works have appeared in The Art of Modern Rock, the Art Director’s Club of NYC Catalogue, and Math Magazine; and have been exhibited at The Museum of Design in Atlanta, GA, The Seattle Art Museum, and The Center on Contemporary Arts in Seattle, WA just to name a few. In addition, Abero’s designs have been a top seller on GigPosters.Com, and have been showcased at SXSW’s Flatstock exhibit, and The Vera Project.
A
gallery of Abero’s inventive designs – as well as his client list, and
information on his full range of client services – can be viewed at www.33rpmdesign.com. |
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 Vanessa Olech (California Design College, 2003, Design) is working as a Sportswear Designer for Trina Turk.
Her responsibilities include selecting fabric and trims, designing
eleven collections per year, fitting first samples through production,
working closely with the Owner/Design Director, patternmakers and the
production team. “The courses offered in design specific computer
technology at California Design College qualified me for my first
full-time job in the fashion industry. Without the credentials I
received from The Art Institute, in addition to the valuable experience
I gained from that first job, I would not be where I am in my design
career today. “
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 Lacey Johnson’s (The Art Institute of Charlotte, 2005, Interior Design) experience at
The Art Institute revealed her passion to never to stop learning about
interior design -- a field limited only by her own imagination. Now,
through the experience gained in her design position at Wagner Murray Architects,
she has supplemented her education with a solid grasp of project
implementation, budgeting, and client relations. Some of the projects
under her supervision have included Harper’s at Carolina Place (a 7,000-square-foot freestanding restaurant); South 21 Restaurant (a 4,000-square-foot interior renovation); the upcoming Bechtler Museum in Uptown Charlotte and most notably the Wachovia Atrium and Plaza Renovation,
a $7 million interior and exterior overhaul. Her responsibilities were
to articulate a design concept by specifying flooring, wall materials,
carpeting and furniture, and to design the stage and all of its
components. The floor pattern was a concept derived from an old quilt
pattern that Lacey’s grandmother taught her as a young girl. On the
exterior Plaza are two sculpture-like benches created from Lacey’s
imagination. “I cannot take all of the credit for this massive
development because each design was part of a scrutinizing team
effort,” she said.
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“Celebrate Good Times, Come On!”
San Diego boasted warm weather and warm hospitality to alumni,
students, and employers of The Art Institutes who attended SIGGRAPH
2007 in August. Over 325 Art Institute alumni and students
engaged with Career Services staff members during the three-day
convention to share employment updates, reconnect with old classmates,
share industry job leads, and enjoy memories of their time at The Art
Institute. SIGGRAPH 2007 was, in a special way, a unique
homecoming for our alumni.
Thirteen talented alumni working in the computergraphics and animation industry gave 63 portfolio critiques, totaling over 31 volunteer hours
of their time to giveportfolio critiques to Art Institute
students. This was a great opportunity for students to receive
honest feedback about their demo reels, artwork and professional
websites.
Sebastian Strzalkowski, 2004 alumnus of The Art Institute of California – San Diego who is presently the Art UE and Effects Lead for Sony Online Entertainment
shared, “...being an alumnus, I understand where students are coming
from. I understand the kind of feedback they are looking for and
what they need to shine for future employers.”
In
addition to the critiques, the Wacom Cintiq creation station captured
the admiring eyes of convention goers and SIGGRAPH enthusiasts. Nine artists created over 22 hours of concept art at The Art Institutes booth.
Thank you to the following Art Institute alumni lent their expertise via portfolio critiques:
 Clint Batac- Chris Bolwyn
- Anthony Cortez
- Jeff Finley
- Chris Flynn
- Jesse Lavorin
- Nicholas Lucin
- Tony Mecca
- Dave Reyes
- Chad Sellers
- Victor Soto
- Sebastian Strzalkowski
- Enrique Torres
Thank you to the following artists who showcased their concept art skills:
- Alex Amitrano
- Robert Dizon
- Nate Dollarhite
- Wilfredo Gago
- Harry Hamernick
- Dee Haslett
- Tyrus Goshay
- Gavin Rich
- Wes Wheeler
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