Who has been your biggest influence?
One of my idols and favourite artists ever is Frédéric Back, Canadian artist and animator who won two Academy Awards with his powerful animated short films ‘Crac’ (1981) and ‘The Man who Planted Trees’ (1987). Frédéric spent his whole career making films with positive messages about the environment and social justice. He passed away in 2013.
I discovered him and his meaningful work while I was studying at Bournemouth University, and this has inspired me since.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given and who gave it?
The master animator and director Tony Bancroft wrote in his book titled Directing for Animation:
‘A good director serves her/his team, so that the team can serve her/his vision.’
This has been the most useful piece of advice I’ve received during my filmmaker career. As the leader of a creative team, the director must make sure the team is able to express its true potential by being empathetic and flexible, while covering all sorts of roles: sometimes you have to be your team’s toughest boss, other times their biggest supporter and ‘cheerleader’!
What moved you to get involved with Creative Conscience?
When I found out about Creative Conscience, I immediately felt attracted by its core theme: I mean, a non-for-profit organization who believes that creative minds can make positive change around the globe, how cool is that? I wish I discovered this organization while I was still studying, I had to get involved!
I truly believe art and creative ideas could save humanity, and Creative Conscience is definitely on the right track to make that happen.