IdeasTap member Francesca Adams, a recent graduate of the National Film and Television school, is making waves with her computer-generated animation Bertie Crisp, which features the voices of Kathy Burke and Tamsin Grieg and is representing the UK at the London International Animation Festival. She talks exclusively to IdeasMag about her painstaking craft…
When did you decide to pursue animation professionally?
It was in primary school that I said I wanted to be an animator, or a cartoon maker. I loved cartoons – I was raised on cartoons - and it always stayed with me. When I was at secondary school I wanted to be a forensic scientist, but animation was always underneath. And I decided I wanted to do it, rather than have it as a hobby and do a real job.
Did you have to learn how to do it, or was it a very natural thing?
I constantly drew. My granddad taught me – he used to do little cartoons for his workplace. I actually remember the moment when I went from the childish drawings of the head with one big eye and one little eye, and he explained to me that people have a body as well. It’s one of the first memories I have, and it was one of those eureka moments.
Why did you decide to go the National Film and Television School?
I got into the National Film and Television School after my BA. Suzie Templeton (the Oscar-winning animator) came to my university and said there were only two courses worth doing – the Royal College of Art or the National Film and Television School. I’d never heard of the NFTS until that moment, but after looking into it I knew it would be the place to be.
The course is incredibly expensive. I couldn’t afford it when I applied. I couldn’t afford it when I was there. I’ve been a student for so long, sadly, and financially I scraped through my BA with my loan, but they do offer a lot of support if you know where to look at the NFTS. I managed to get a bursary from Skillset and a career development loan. My parents and grandparent also provided lots of support- I couldn't have dont it without them. Then in the second year I managed to get a scholarship from Hammer Horror. I was over the moon with that.
What did you learn on the course?
It allows you to collaborate. I want to direct, eventually, and you get to work with an editor and a cinematographer and a crew. There’s no way you would get that experience in the real world – it’s the chance to experience that in real safety.
The course also allowed me to get to know animation from the industry side of things and the commercial side.
To talk of the commercial side of art and film is quite a dirty thing for young directors, isn’t it?
It can be. I just love characters, but character animation often gets labelled as commercial. But that’s what I’ve always drawn and always wanted. I still do some art if I get in the mood sometimes.
The base of what I do is to entertain people – the very first animations I did were crude comedies that were made to try and make my friends laugh.
Tell us about your animation Bertie Crisp…
Bertie Crisp is about a bear and his wife who live in a caravan park. All my childhood holidays were in Skegness so it’s set there. It took over a year to make it from scratch, and I’ve been sending it out everywhere; it’s exciting - it’s going to be shown at the London International Animation Festival.
What’s it like seeing it on the big screen in front of an audience?
It's exciting, but scary. Especially since its a comedy - it can be heartbreaking if no one laughs, but luckily that's yet to happen.
I also have the bad habbit of focusing on all the little mistakes that only I can see...
Bertie Crisp will be screened at 8.30pm on 30 August at the Barbican, London. Book tickets here.
To find out more about Francesca's work, visit her website...