Name: Kathy Altieri
Title: Production designer
Years with the company: 15 years
I was the first artist hired. I worked as an art designer on Prince of Egypt and most recently as production designer on How to Train Your Dragon. At the end of Dragon I was completely fried and felt like I needed a change of pace.
I went to the studio and said, I know I need a break. I said I wanted to work more with artistic development and outreach, to help people be better artists. The studio has been really amazing in terms of finding me an outlet for that.
Now I'm working with the lighting department primarily for artistic development, other groups have included the "TD's" or technical directors and surfacers (texture artists). I'll take a group of [employees] outside and do composition classes, to start them drawing again. My hope for them is that it reignites the artistry in them.
Production designers are all about the flash and show and I would love to stay connected to the artistry. I also get more time outside with a pencil in my own hand. It's my wildest dream come true.
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