Izabela Bzymek

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What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Izabela Bzymek, currently i am animating on the feature” the nut job” Warner bros.

What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I was a knife seller..cutco knives, a dollarama teller, a Licks ice scream scooper…

What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
Directing and Animating on an NFB film “Oma’s Quilt”, animating on “Escape from Planet Earth”.

Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I was born in Poland.. in my arts `Canterbury arts“ high school two Disney guys came and made a

speech about life as an animator.. i got hooked..and wanted to explore this world..

What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
Early rise, get on the subway, animate from 8 30 to 6pm, do some type of exercising.. go home and draw, paint or write.. and animate of course.. flash or maya..never ends. go to bed 1 am or so.. and it begins all again the next day.. weekend..i sleep til 9 am.. and stay up way later.

What part of your job do you like best? Why?
when pieces of my shot start making sense.. make people..directors laugh.. i know then i got it.

What part of your job do you like least? Why?
Looooooong hours..and frustrating times when things aren`t working.. no time for life..travel..

What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis, how has technology changed in the last few years in your field and how has that impacted you in your job?
Ahh computers..yes.. it all started with a blank piece of paper and a pencil.. now its keyboards and wacom tablets. things have a faster turn around..more immediate..not patience and even the quality suffers.. people want things now now now.. sometimes i miss the good old days where people turned to each other to talk and not message each other across the desk. We use Maya now.

What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
its contract based…so its not stable work.. you can be out of a job in a few months..looking for work is not that attractive and updating your reel and portfolio all the time..you are as good as your last project.. have to sell yourself constantly.

In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
I wish i had more.. i sat and rode in john lasseter`s limo, haha .. worked with some great voices, william shatner.. brendan freser, sara jessica parker..jessica alba, j. louis, ben aftlek.. but that`s only voices.. in person i met whoopi golberg.. i met brian froud, .. wish there was more..

Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Heart surgery and 3 blood clots in my lungs.. i had extra lives.. doctors kept telling me i should be dead several times over the past two years.. i guess there is a plan for me yet..

Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
right now its `the nut job`with Warner bros, a feature, working on more illustration books, `coloring outside the lines“.. more to come in a few weeks..

Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
ha , i dance up a storm , i am a semi pro salsa dancer..and love to tango. i ride a black kawasakii ninja, can do some snowboarding tricks , have a double jointed back.. can be a ball.,

Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
its tough out there, if you don`t fully love it, then you won`t make it.. 13 years for me and still going strong.. but i seen a lot of my women friends drop like flies because its not a stable job.. i aspired and risen because i never quit and put my whole heart and soul into it.. and fight.. don`t loose heart . and practice at home.. always do something on the side!