CTN Spotlight on... Erin!
CTNX: Hello Erin, it's a pleasure to speak with you! Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
EC: My name is Erin Connally and I am a military brat from all over the place. I currently live in Nashville, Tennessee!
CTNX: When and how did your relationship with CTN begin?
EC: My relationship with CTN began in a whirlwind! While working at an artist residency in France during the summer of 2015, I began to research how to share stories beyond my fine art knowledge and I stumbled upon the film and animation industries. On a whim, I volunteered at CTNx in 2015, just to see what it was all about. A week before the conference they called me and asked if I could come volunteer (it should be noted I lived in Texas at the time). I decided that my curiosity was too great, so I flew to Los Angeles and had an amazing weekend learning about the animation industry, making friends and acquaintances, and feeling as if I had found my tribe.
CTNX: What have your positions been with CTNX and what have you learned most from your experience working with CTN?
EC: In 2015 I was a Booth Buddy and this last year I was a Talent Buddy working in the VIP room. I have learned so much from my experience working with CTN! I have learned that being an artist can be sustainable, a viable career path, and can happen in the context of a normal, "married with children" life.
CTNX: What are your ultimate career goals?
EC: Oh my! Well, do you want the five year plan or the ten? Ha. Ultimately I would love to work with a small multi-disciplinary studio in the concept phase of the work, and then move into one of the disciplines more fully past the conceptual phase. That sounds relatively vague, but that is because I am in maybe stage 1-2 of my goals :). In the next five years I would like to grow my concept art portfolio and apply to work with animation, film, and gaming studios to see where my work fits best; ideally I would work on site so that I can see the pipeline in action, but I understand that freelancing is also a norm in this industry!
CTNX: How does working with CTN help you meet those goals?
EC: CTN has helped by educating me SO much in the entertainment and animation industries, both in personal conversations and in sessions. I have made friends and acquaintances with everyone from the intern still in college and the veteran artist being called to work on Moana. Those friendships have been crucial in my discovery and learning how people survive in the animation industry and what they do to enjoy their work for the "man" and their personal work. It has helped form my trajectory in where I would like to go, as well as giving me a wonderful network to hopefully work with in the future!
CTNX: What have you learned most from your experience working with CTN?
EC: I have learned that I love concept art, I have learned that I love this industry and the people in it, I have learned that EVERYONE, from the VIPs to the freshman in college, has a quirk and when you find it, it only makes them more endearing, and most importantly I have learned that I fit in most with this group of people.
CTNX: What do you look forward to most in the coming years regarding your career?
EC: I look forward to making amazing art with people that I deeply enjoy.
CTNX: It was a pleasure to talk with you Erin!
Photos by Alex Crawford