Life beyond Radford
Jesse Zhang ( Pearl Zhang )
- Bachelor Degree, Character Animation
- Animator, Ja Film, 2017-2017
- Animator & Illustrator, Moped Games, 2017-2017
What does life look for you now?
I am currently back in Australia for a year after studying in Denmark for 4 years. I just finished a Bachelor Degree at The Animation Workshop, Viborg and have made a lot of great contacts and friends in the art and animation field.
Tell us what you are passionate about?
My passion is drawing and animation, but I also really enjoy making live action films and taking rips of music and messing them up too.
When you were young, what were you hoping to be when you grew up?
I think I wanted to be everything at some point. Writer, teacher and artist definitely came up, and now I have experience in all three, kinda
What is your favourite Radford moment?
Aside from the creative classes (english, art, music, etc)... the 5 days a year or so where you didn't have to wear uniform. Or when I got to year 11 and 12 and I could use a toaster or vending machine. Do they still got those?
Do you have a particular role model or inspirational figure from Radford or now?
In year 12 I had Ms Peters as an art teacher, who told me she basically went on a 10 year gap year in Scandinavia. She helped me feel better about my decision to drop the T package and go into an A package to focus more on my portfolio for TAW, which I got into probably due to the extra time. And now I'm the one whos living in Scandinavia studying art lmao.
How easy was it to decide what to do in life?
I kinda just do what I feel like is the most emotionally rewarding and then hope the best comes for me. Pretty easy to say when you're an artist lmao.
Did your further study or career go exactly as you'd planned?
Yes. Applied abroad, got into TAW, learned so much about animation that I dont know an Aussie school/uni could have taught me back then, and got experience in the industry while I was here.
What do you know now, that you wish you'd known when you were at Radford?
You don't have to do a T package to survive if youre a "creative", but people WILL look down on you for no reason for it lmao. Oh also, don't pretend youre cooler or better than anyone else it will bite you in the ass. (Can I say ass here?)
What advice do you have for current students?
If you were as socially unconcious and dumb as I was, remember that making fun of popular (or unpopular) girls for dressing or acting a certain way is super sexist and youre gonna feel super bad about that 2 years after you graduate so just be nice and mind your own business lol
