Aaron Rozenfeld

What is your name and your current occupation?
Aaron Rozenfeld and I am unemployed.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I haven’t had a job any crazier than in animation except for selling(or to be more precise, not selling) ugly t-shirts to the audience of the Jimmy Kimmel Live show. But that more sucked than was crazy and was after I got into and left out of the animation industry. I’m not really sure what crazy means. I’ve always interpreted crazy as ‘knowing the difference between right and wrong, but not caring. Being that I’m a both moral and spiritual person, I always care about right and wrong so I wouldn’t participate in a crazy job.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
The Simpsons, Futurama, Fairly Odd Parents, and the next job in animation I get.
How did you become interested in animation?

I became interested in animation as a child, watching cartoons. SOme favorites include Warner Brothers Looney Tunes, Woody Woodpecker, Spiderman and his Amazing Friends and many others.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?

I’m from Walnut Creek, California. It’s about 20 miles east of San Fransisco. I got into the animation business with a combination of focus, discipline, consistancy, alot of drawing, and most of all..luck.

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?

Not applicable.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?

Not applicable.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?

Not applicable.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?

Not being able to find work for years.

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?

I use a pencil, paper, a MacPro, a Wacom Tablet, Photoshop, Illustrator, Microsoft Word, Iweb, Toon Boom Storytboard Pro, and many more.

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?

When someone mentions how much they loved a ‘certain part’ I storyboard boarded without them knowing I did it is what I’d consider greatness.

Describe a tough situation you had in life.

I’m in it now. Currently, I’m 38 and homeless. Thank God and my 78 year old mother for allowing me to sleep on her couch in her 1 bd. apartment, even if it is infested with bed bugs(not kidding). I can’t afford a car and barely collect enough to eat, do laundry, and pay my phone bill. Everytrime I apply for work I am directed to a website that leads to me never hearing from anyone. I’ve been blown off by virtually everyone I known and have lost hope that I will ever be comfortable or happy again. It ain’t pretty, but you asked.

I’m helping write and paint production stills for someone I met through facebook in the hopes that it can be pitched. Maybe that’ll lead to a paycheck. Aside from that, I do alot of bike riding, improv comedy, and web surfing.

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metalurgy?
I’m an expert with Apple computers, pretty good at digital photography, have uncanny senses, get along great with animals, love documentaries, laugh at the news and the people who believe in it, and can ride a bike with no hands for miles.

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?

Stay single, save your money, make lots of friends in the industry, be consistant, be dependable, be faster than fast, and love your work like it’s your last day you can do it because it very well might be.