Alenka Abraham, Glassworks

Had you always wanted a career in the industry?

I've always been interested in the Visual Effects industry and have always loved cartoon animation in any form. However, I didn’t know what to study at university and decided to just do something fun and interesting, and that I was passionate about - not necessarily for my career but just for fun.

How did you find out about Escape, and what was it like?

I Googled for courses and Escape Studios came up. I went to see Ben at Escape and had a peek through the door of one of the classes and from then on I knew exactly what I wanted to do and where I could do it. I had no previous training but came with enthusism and dedication.

What happened after the course?

I applied for a job as a runner at Glassworks.  I had been in for a trial day before Escape and hoped they would remember me. They took me on as a temp and then full-time, and I have been working on projects and learning loads ever since.

What are you doing now?

I now work as part of the production team and I love it! Even if I'm not going to animate the next Pixar film all by myself, the Escape experience definitely got me in the right place. I couldn't imagine myself doing anything else.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

You've got to love what you’re doing because the hours are horrendous, but it's worth it. If you're serious and committed then the course is definitely for you.

[Images - Top: Alenka Abraham, Right: Alenka Abraham]