A Capilano University student and a recent graduate have won first and second place in a prestigious animation competition.
Animation Magazine, the industry's international trade publication, holds an annual Pitch Party, where entrants are invited to submit a pitch, a concept that could be developed into an animated series. The judges are top entertainment executives from Disney, the Cartoon Network, the Comedy Channel, PBS and others.
Second-year Capilano student Cory Ostenberg came first in the vote with Fat Girl Mystery Club, while departing graduate and North Vancouver resident Roxana Beiklik came second with Witch Hazel.
"Witch Hazel is a young girl who was training to be a witch but she didn't like it and wanted to be normal and enjoy the finer things in life," said Beiklik. "But the witches' society she was part of didn't see eye-to-eye with her and they're trying to ruin it for her and bring her back. So she's trying to keep it a secret and start a new life while they're trying to expose her."
The young magician started life as a first-year project - and a villain. But when the pitch contest came along, Beiklik started to develop her character and Hazel wound up a more sympathetic figure.
"It was a lot of fun," she said. "I've always loved and admired any and all aspects of animation ever since I can remember. It wasn't until my third year in university that I finally decided to pursue my passion more seriously as a profession, and I'm very glad I did. I just finished the twoyear commercial animation program and I have to say, going there was one of the best decisions I've ever made; it's an amazing program with a great faculty and my time was definitely well spent. There are private institutions on the North Shore that are charging $26,000 for the same program. It's much cheaper; totally affordable for a student like me. The teachers are really focused on the students and they really hone your skills. I think everyone who comes out of that program is serious competition."
Ostenberg and Beiklik faced steep fees from the magazine to get their work in front of industry leaders, but Capilano staged a mini competition of its own and paid for six entries. The two winners got their fees refunded to the university. While they won't see any cash themselves, Beiklik said the real value is getting her work seen around the world.
"It's really good exposure because it's one of the only animation magazines in North America. Lots of executives will get a chance to look at it and that's who the judges are too, people from the industry," she said.
This is the fourth year in a row that Capilano has sent winning entries to Animation Magazine, notching first-place results in 2008 and 2009, followed by a third place result in 2010.
Capilano spokeswoman Shelley Kean said that this record of success will only get longer as the university prepares to open its brand new film and television centre. "It really establishes us as a leader in animation education," she said. "With the Bosa centre opening in the fall, we are really going to be a leader in Canada in this field. We are so excited for our students and for the future."
