Fizzbuzz

MEET THE TEAM Pt. 2: Getting to Know the People Behind the Buzz

As promised, here is the second installment of our Meet the Team series — where we celebrate and feature the people of Fizzbuzz. For this entry, we look into the master crafters and creative spirits behind our Stop-Motion Animation Team.

So stick around to get to know the amazing creatives of the SMA Team — what inspires them, what they love about their jobs, and what superpowers they wished they had. Without further adieu, meet your Stop-Motion Animation Team:

 

1. Name your top three life highlights.

• When a dog bit my nose and almost cut my lip when I was 3 years old. I had to undergo 21 injections because of that but I was only able to take 11 shots. 
• When I lost my first dog. I found him after a week while I was collecting firewood. He was tied on his legs. Right after I took him, he died in my arms.
• When I was a waiter, a customer told me that I’ll be standing for the next 10 years waiting tables and taking orders from people. From that time on, something ticked and something changed in me. From then on, I decided to follow what I want in life.

2. What’s the greatest thing about your role as a Stop Motion Animator?

It is the building up a world where our toys live in their own reality. It is the moment when you press the play button, the happiness you feel inside is overwhelming seeing all hard work of the team compiled together to create something awesome.

3. What is an ability you wish you had?

The ability to play “shredding” guitar…emphasis on “shredding!” 

4. You can have only one superpower. What is it?

Easy. Mind control!

 

5. Name one person you want to bring back to life and give a short reason why.

Stanley Kubrick, the man was gone too soon. I want him to finish Napoleon Bonaparte and see how it would have turned out.

 

 

1. Name your top three life highlights.

• First Job: There were no animation schools back when I was in college. The closest course to animation was Fine Arts. I was very lucky and grateful to have landed a job with a small animation studio called BouncingBall, Inc. that was willing to train me from scratch right before I graduated. Without them, I don’t think I would be in the animation industry today.
• First Time I Was a Guest Speaker for an Audience of Over a Thousand People: I was incredibly uncomfortable and sweaty but I didn’t die so there’s that…Definitely not a job for a socially awkward introvert! But I remember focusing on what I would do AFTER the talk (take a long bath, stuff my face with food and binge watch a show) instead of how tear-off-your-own-skin self-conscious I was at the moment. This actually helped. I stay in this mindset whenever I have to do something necessary but I’m not comfortable with (like being in a work meeting with strangers or interacting with strangers in general) and it settles my anxiety a bit. “What can I look forward to AFTER this?”
• First Trip to Japan: Finally got to cross this off my bucket list 🙂 Tokyo Disneyland on Halloween is crazy! Everyone cosplays their favorite Disney character! This was also my first time riding a roller coaster (The Mummy ride counts as a roller coaster). Another thing to cross off the bucket list 🙂

2. What’s the greatest thing about your role as a Stop Motion Animator?

I like working with my hands, making things, being in direct contact with the materials and getting messy (and then cleaning up afterwards because nobody wants a messy set) 🙂 which is why I gravitate to 2D and stop-motion. Animating frame-by-frame makes me feel incredibly aware of the passage of time and the tiny details and gestures that make a character unique.

Growing up, I thought making cartoons would be fun but now I feel that the challenge itself is the fun part. It’s difficult and frustrating and backbreaking work but so satisfying when you see the end result.

3. What is an ability you wish you had?

I wish I had the ability to read, write and speak multiple languages fluently. I especially want to learn sign language and to read braille. So I can order food no matter where I am or what situation I’m in XD I could sideline as a translator. I shall never starve!

4. You can have only one superpower. What is it?

Medusa hair. I never know what to do with my hair. It may as well be useful. And it’ll help me be better at multi-tasking 🙂

5. Name one person you want to bring back to life and give a short reason why.

I say, leave the dead alone! It’s like finally settling in for a good night’s sleep but having some idiot keep poking at you because they ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO KNOW how you’re doing right at that moment.

No wonder a lot of spirits get pissed off when you call them up on the Ouija board. Whatever messages they wanted us to know, they had their chance to tell us while they were alive. If we need to know what it’s like in the afterlife (if there is one), we’ll all find out eventually. Be patient. And leave the dead alone. They’re resting.

 

1. Name your top three life highlights.

• When I was still in Nursing and I was very unhappy. I only started drawing again and I made a sketch of my grandmother and that was the third portrait I’ve done. When I showed it to her during her birthday party, she got teary-eyed, held the sketch in her hands, and told the world (or at least the attendants of the party), “Gihimo ni sa akong apo” (Translated: “My granddaughter made this.”). During her funeral, that sketch was buried with her.
• When I shifted and transferred from Nursing to Fine Arts:  “…and at last I see the light and it’s like the fog has lifted.” I found my true calling in Arts.
• While studying, working, and living in Canada: I had a blast! Made lifelong friends, created my very first animated short, had my first animation job and lived on my own for the first time.

2. What’s the greatest thing about your role as a Stop Motion Animator?

We can bring non-living things to life…like magic!

Also learning and discovering new tools to improve our animation skills.

Creating props and sets with clay, styrofoam and other objects is great, too!

3. What is an ability you wish you had?

The ability to lose weight and be fit like an athlete. Having swimmer’s shoulders.

Or the ability to play any musical instrument and compose my own music.

4. You can have only one superpower. What is it?

The power to control time.. or at least pause it.

5. Name one person you want to bring back to life and give a short reason why.

Robin Williams

I hope he can see how much he makes a difference. I would’ve supported him with whatever he had issues with. He can bring back the fun into the world. I miss his being fun.

 

And there you have it, Part 2 of our Meet the Team series has come to its end. We hope this gave you a different perspective into the individuals behind the vibrant stories and characters you see in our animated films. Marvin, Ling, and Debbie have more amazing stories to tell us in stop-motion films they have underway.

Check back with us next week as we feature another handful of talents from the Fizzbuzz fam. Can you take a guess who we’ll be featuring next week? Leave your comments below. The winner gets bragging rights for life. On a serious note, thanks for keeping tabs on our entries here on What’s Fizzling. We appreciate the love!