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Former JATC Student Living and Working in Hollywood Pursuing His Passions
Description
He is hoping to make it big in Hollywood working with the best of the best in animation and film.
On this episode of the Supercast, meet Ethan Jones, a former student who talks about his time at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers (JATC) North Campus. It’s a place where Ethan found the confidence to pursue his dream of heading to Hollywood to work in animation and film.
We also meet a JATC North teacher, who Ethan credits with setting him on the path to career success.
Audio Transcription
Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. He's going to make it big in Hollywood, working with the best of the best in animation and film.
On this episode of the Supercast, meet Ethan Jones, a former student who talks about his time at the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers, JATC, North Campus. It's a place where Ethan found the confidence to pursue his dream of heading to Hollywood to work in animation and film. We will also meet a JATC North teacher, whom Ethan credits with setting him on the path to career success.
We're talking now with Ethan Jones, a former student of the Jordan Academy for Technology and Careers. Ethan, thank you very much for talking with us.
Ethan Jones:
Yeah, thanks for having me.
Anthony Godfrey:
You're joining us via Zoom from where?
Ethan Jones:
Los Angeles.
Anthony Godfrey:
And tell me about the career that you have now as a result of a lot of factors in your life, one of which includes your experience at JATC.
Ethan Jones:
Yeah, so yeah, I started my creative pursuits at JATC, doing the digital media program. And during that time, I got to do a tour of Gnomon, which is the college I just barely graduated from. There at JATC, I kind of was exposed to 3D animation, and that kind of kickstarted my aspirations for the discipline. Back then, I wanted to be a filmmaker. And thankfully, JATC was like, no, animation's way cooler. And thanks to my teacher. Yeah, that's the dream happened.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about your teacher. What do you remember about your teacher, the class, that experience at JATC?
Ethan Jones:
The class was pretty great. My teacher was amazing, Lisa Wadzeck. She teaches the digital media program at JATC North. And she really just pushed me and showed me these new career paths I could go down. How the program works, you kind of are like a jack of all trades for the first half of the year. And then the next half, you get to kind of specialize in something. And so I did the JATC program twice. The first time I did video production, and then the second, I did 3D animation. And that 3D side of things, the creative freedom I had was just perfect for me. And yeah, since then, I haven't looked back, and that's my career path since.
Anthony Godfrey:
Tell me about what attracted you to the 3D work after you were exposed to that through the program where you get to try out some different things.
Ethan Jones:
Yeah, what really bothered me about traditional filmmaking, especially being a young student, was I didn't have a lot of resources. So in order to make a film look good, you have to be at a good location, somewhat decent camera, and a million other equipment, lighting, audio, all that stuff. And as a poor student, I couldn't have access to those things. And so 3D, all I needed to do was just dedicate my time, and I could make whatever I want. I think that aspect of 3D is what really attracted me to make the movies I want to make. Eventually, I want to be a director, so the 3D is kind of temporary. It's just a way of me understanding the discipline and getting to work on a few productions eventually. And hopefully, one day, live out my real dream, which is to make my own stuff.
Anthony Godfrey:
So the 3D