February 3, 2023 Upcoming Film Screenings in LA for Nina Menkes, Lewis Klahr, and Thom Andersen Screenings and film programs that focus on works by CalArts faculty Nina Menkes, Lewis Klahr,...
January 24, 2023 CalArtian Animators Nominated for 95th Oscars Actors Riz Ahmed and Allison Williams unveiled the nominees for the 95th annual Academy Awards....
January 23, 2023 The Living Quilt Installation on View at Newhall Crossings Longtime faculty in the School of Film/Video John Hawk and students from his Videographics class...
January 18, 2023 CalArtians Among the Nominees, Honorees for 50th Annie Awards The International Animated Film Society (ASIFA-Hollywood) announced the nominees and honorees...
January 12, 2023 Tim Burton Makes Television Foray with Netflix Hit Wednesday Long known as the mastermind behind fantastical and quirky gothic horror films like Beetlejuice...
Daron Nefcy Character Animation BFA 09 Creator of Disney Channel’s Star vs. The Forces of Evil Daron Nefcy I was pitching ideas for shows while I was still a student at CalArts. My first job out was on Warner Bros.’ MAD. It ran on Cartoon Network for many seasons and was cool because I got to make my own mini films. Then, I worked at Nickelodeon as a storyboard revisionist on Robot and Monster. I pitched Star to Disney and, eventually, it went into development. It took a year to make the pilot, and when that was done, I took a job on Wander Over Yonder at Disney, a Craig McCracken show. Now, I’m full-time on Star, which is in its second season. I think the reason so many alumni are running shows, is that all animation students at CalArts have to make their own films every year. Producing a TV show is like making a bunch of mini CalArts films—except that you have a whole team helping you—and you have to make them extremely quickly. But the experience of learning every part of the process is so important. While you’re learning to write and storyboard, you’re also animating, finding actors, getting music, and editing. You graduate with four films, and, of course, your final film is much better than the first. It’s inspiring to be at CalArts. Everyone’s artistic style is different. You’re pretty much living with these people; working in cubicles that are open all night. It’s like being in the trenches with all these wonderful artists with whom you form close relationships. It’s really a special, special place.