Winnipeg students to present original animations at Nickelodeon Studios in Los Angeles

Winnipeg animation students are heading to the heart of North America’s TV and film industry – perhaps a future home for the talented teens and young adults.

The 35 students from Sisler CREATE’s post-high program are travelling to Los Angeles Thursday, where they will present their original works at Nickelodeon Studios.

The program is a free year of training for high school graduates in Manitoba with a passion for animation or film and game design.

“I’m just so excited to show everyone what we’ve been working on,” said 20-year-old Kaya Schulz.

The CREATE students have been collaborating with program mentors in the industry since September. They produced six original projects that will be presented at Nickelodeon’s Burbank-based animation studio.

Schulz’s team developed a 2D animated short called “Am I Home?” about a child navigating the foster system – the group’s first-ever experience with animation.

“We wanted it to convey a very child-like innocence, kind of happiness. There’s pretty bright colours if you look at it, but there’s also this looming door,” she explained.

They got help along the way from mentor Arnon Manor with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

“I can say that I’m truly proud of what we’ve come out with,” added Schulz.

Julia Vallega’s group project “Misty Escapade” is a fantasy piece – with group mentors from Nickelodeon Studios itself.

“We wanted to showcase the dynamics between the characters,” Vallega told CityNews.

The 18-year-old credits Sisler’s CREATE program for the chance to experience a professional work environment – and to do it alongside friends.

“The fact that I just get to share those moments with all of my friends and get to see our final results together and just see all our blood, sweat and tears come to life, it can make somebody cry, like honestly, just thinking about it,” she said.

The other four projects are titled “Slacks vs. Slacker,” “Rock Bottom,” “Mouse Trap” and “Secrets of Belmonte.”

It will be the first visit to the City of Angels for both Schulz and Vallega. For the pair, it symbolizes the beginning of their professional careers.

“It sort of feels like I’m evolving in a way, like I’m actually stepping into adulthood,” Vallega said.

“Nothing’s holding me back now,” added Schulz. “And now I have this education of knowing all the basics. So I feel super ready and just excited.

“This year alone, I think I’ve grown more than any other year previously.”

The all-expenses paid trip – for all 35 students – was made possible by the Schroeder Foundation and Wacom Co. Ltd.

“I’m excited to just see the city,” Schulz said. “And I am a big ‘Office’ fan, so we’re gonna go to the Chili’s that one of the episodes is in. So I’m really excited for that.”

The last time CityNews spoke to the CREATE program, Schulz and other students in her class were receiving brand-new, industry-standard tablets so they could jumpstart their professional careers. Schulz, who says she’s spent hours drawing on the tablet, says it helped her embark on the next stage of her journey.

“In order to get there, I needed to have equipment,” she said. “That was kind of a worry for me, ’cause I wasn’t sure where I was gonna get it. Where the money was gonna come from. So just going to Vancouver Film School, I now have that tablet and I have the resources I need to get there.”