About

Rachel Peters fell a lot as a child, and every time she fell she learned something. After ten years, she learned not to fall. Eventually, she learned to do the tottering animator’s rumba. Rachel has worked as an animator long enough to realize that the long hours, self-maintained focus, insistent deadlines, and the juggling of administrative juxtapositions primarily differ from her past employment in the fast food industry in two major ways: her wardrobe doesn’t stink of animal fat, and she no longer works for tips. Metaphorically, Rachel has been deep frying the imaginations of others in the animation industry for years; now she feels it may be time to open her own place. This collection of work is her own place.

Rachel is an Ontario based artist whose first love is animation and film, but she also dips her toes into many other facets of the arts.

Rachel has written and acted for her own work as well as for others, and is almost always in the middle of proposing films and series to funders and broadcasters.  She has performed as a comic fire eater, designed toys for major industry leaders, and is developing quite a nice niche for herself around Canada as a street festival chalk artist. She also occasionally plunks about on her classical guitar and sings when she feels like it.

Rachel has a crush on the world of entertainment in all its shapes and will express herself in whatever form necessary.

Generally, the “forms necessary” are in film and animation.

Rachel has been continually mentored and advised by many animation legends, including Oscar Nominee and Emmy Winner, Kaj Pindal and Oscar Winner, John Weldon, and has been known to rub her head against the office door of Oscar Nominee, Paul Driessen, in hopes of acquiring his talent through osmosis. He says it’s working.

RACHEL PETERS’ RESUME

Objective: To change the world through the art of entertainment.

I learn quickly and I feel that versatility, speed, and quality are things at which I excel, as well as things I believe are must-have traits within the animation industry.

Experience

St. John’s  International Women’s Film Festival
I have provided many creative services to the film festival over the last three years, and continue to do so in directing and creating the festival signal films, a series of promotional animated shorts for the festival’s 20th anniversary in 2009 and on-going animation workshops for both children and young adults.
For reference, contact Kelly Davis at: kelly@womensfilmfestival.com

Dirt Girl World
Spin Productions
Worked as a compositor for the unique and multi-medium Australian educational preschool show, airing on CBC television.

“Nagasaki Circus”
A wonderfully surreal and dark day-in-the-life of a cynical, stilt-walking mime, in the Nagasaki Circus. From the journals of circus performer, Martin Ewen. A short film acted by Hollywood’s leading marionette puppeteer, Lee Zimmerman. Funded in association with Bravo!FACT, National Film Board, and BookShorts Inc., 2008. Nagasaki has toured nationally and will be screened at more festivals from 2009-2010.

Cuppa Coffee Animation
Broadcast Design. Spent years on-and-off creating animated and multi-media commercials, movie trailers, and TV promotional spots.

Animator (in several mediums, i.e.: stop-motion, collage, classical, flash, chocolate sauce, etc), designer, compositor and actor. For reference, contact directors Dave Thomas or Ian Tucker at: 416-340-8869.

Some of my proud Cuppa Coffee project’s include, Lewis Black’s “The Root of All Evil” series opener – stop-motion, digital cut-out, compositing, acting, design and “Bruno and the Banana Bunch”, creating concepts for and animating the opening sequence.

Henry Less Productions
Compositor and animator for this award-winning documentary studio, creating animated segments for documentaries as well as compositing effects into the CMT mocumentary series, “Three Chords from the Truth”. For reference, contact Jared Lorenz at: Jared.lorenz@rogers.com

National Film Board of Canada
Director of a short animated film called “Meta Pre Ptolemy”, produced by the NFB, as a part of the “Hothouse 3” program. For reference, e-mail Michael Fukushima at: m.fukushima@nfb.ca

“Meta Pre Ptolemy” can be viewed at www.nfb.ca, under “Animation”, “Perpetual Motions” and “Hothouse”.

Chuck Gammage Animation
May 2007 – Animator for “The Dark Years” – an animated documentary about the Great Depression, as told through articles in the Toronto Sun.

July 2004 – Helped in development of a pilot based on Bob Kolar’s children’s book “Do You Want To Play?” For reference, contact Chuck Gammage at: 416-593-9627

Peep and the Big Wide World
Was an animator on season two of “Peep and the Big Wide World”, and Emmy-winning, imaginative, and sharp preschool television series. For reference, contact Steve Boekler at: 416-530-9900

“Note From Mr. God”
A short, independent film –an innovative hybrid of both classical and cut-out animation, which can best be referred to as a collage of animation techniques. “Note” can be seen on the Sheridan Animation anniversary DVD.

Workshops
I’ve created and facilitated animation workshops for children and young adults in partnership with the St. John’s Int. Women’s Film Festival and have more planned for the fall of 2010. For reference, contact Kelly Davis at: kelly@womensfilmfestival.com

Lecturing
I act as guest lecturer and mentor for Sheridan College’s Animation Degree program, giving project critiques and speaking on the topic industry experience and life in “the real world”, or rather, life in my surreal world, and how attainable it can be, with some sacrifice and forethought.

Works in Progress:

• “The Great Beyond” is Rachel’s next film, currently in pre-production.
• Toys – Rachel has been making creative toy designs nearly all of her life, but has begun designing professionally.
• Street Art – Rachel works professionally as a pavement artist in Festivals around the country.
• Series – Rachel is developing and writing both animated and factual series for pitching.

Awards and Recognition:

• “Nagasaki Circus” has toured with the Moving Stories Film Festival, screened at the St. John’s Int. Women’s Festival, and will be showing at Spike and Mike’s Festival. Hopefully more festivals to come.
• Film, “Meta Pre Ptolemy” screened internationally
• Large spread and article featuring paintings in “Oblique Quarterly” Arts Magazine, Hamilton.
• Featured in David B. Levy’s book, “Your Career in Animation: How to Survive and Thrive”
• Featured in Animation Magazine’s Top Ten Winners list in the “Second Annual Student Short Film Awards”, 2004
• 2nd place winner of the “Most Promising New Animators of 2004″ category of the Teletoon Network’s competition.
• Top Ten national finalist for Teletoon’s “Continuing Education” award, 2003
• 3rd place winner in Teletoon’s “Mature Student” award, 2002

Education

Sheridan College, Animation- Classical.
A world-renowned animation program, which examines contemporary and traditional styles with a strong focus on character animation and film techniques.
Graduated: April 2004

Sheridan College, Art Fundamentals.
A one-year certificate art program designed to provide a strong base in the many different areas of applied art.
Graduated: April 2001

Quickdraw Animation Society.
Next Step Animation course.
A ten-week night class which deals with concept, story boarding, sound editing, film, and grant application –everything one needs to know to create a complete animated film.
Finished: Aug. 1998

Quickdraw Animation Society.
Introduction to Animation course.
A ten-week night class, which teaches all the basics of learning how to animate.  From bouncing ball to human movements, it is claimed to be the equivalent of first semester of the Sheridan College Animation class.
Finished: March 1998

Skills

• Many artistic skills, i.e.: drawing, painting, sculpting, carving, sewing/toy and puppet making
• Very familiar with many programs, including Photoshop, After Effects, Flash, Premiere, and basic familiarity with Final Cut Pro
• I work best independently, but also interact very well within group settings
• I feed off of, and grow from critiquing and feedback.
• I enjoy all aspects of filmmaking, but feel that I excel in development, concept/design, animating, and writing.
• I can juggle three balls, just a little bit.

As well as animation and filmmaking, I enjoy:

-Acting
-Singing
-Writing
-Painting
-Falling down stairs
-Balancing large items on my head for extended periods of time
(I can’t do liquids or guitar cases very well, but excel at trays of dishes)
-Playing classical guitar
-Eating fire
-Thinking generally funny thoughts
-Real estate
- I do not enjoy cooking, although I thoroughly enjoy eating.