Kate Balchin
Animation / Drawing
/ Visual Narrative
2018
In 2017 I graduated from the Royal College of Art with the simple but unshakable desire to make work that matters; that moves people; to helps others tell their stories. I love looking at, talking about, and thinking about animated film projects.
Currently looking for long-term assignments as a STORYBOARD ARTIST, ANIMATOR, DESIGNER, DIRECTOR (yes, all of it!), to improve my craft, gain high-end production skills, and immerse myself completely in the art of animation.
Proficient in After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop. Learning InDesign. Good interpersonal skills.
Education
MA Animation, Royal College of Art. 2017
DipHE, Animation, Middlesex University. 2015
BA (Hons), First Class, Textile Design, School of Textiles, Heriot-Watt University. 2002
Academic Accomplishments
Honourable Mention - Maureen Furniss Award For Best Student Paper on Animated Media - Society for Animation Studies (SAS) 2017
Paper Title: Inter-Connections: Examining Metamorphism in Contemporary 2D Animated Film-making.
2017 - SHOW17, Royal College of Art Graduate show, London
2017 - Work-in-Progress, Royal College of Art, London
Exhibitions &
Screenings
Professional Experience
Filmmaker
Tommy's /Stillbirth Stories
2018
Stillbirth Stories is an audio archive supported by Wellcome Trust and Tommy's. It is unique collection of interviews with parents and clinicians talking about their experiences of stillbirth. I have been commissioned to direct and animate one of a series of films they are producing called 'How to Give Support,' a selection of audio clips taken from interviews the producers did with parents and their experiences of Stillbirth. The topic of this project requires a very sensitive approach and is intended as a resource for other parents or their close family who are going through a similar experience. Due end of June 2018.
Filmmaker
The School of Life
2018
Commissioned by The School of Life to direct, design and animate three films for their incredible YouTube channel which aims to 'develop our collective emotional intelligence'. My first film for the organisation was 'The True and the False Self' published in May 2018. Alain de Boton introduces the British psychoanalyst Donald Winnicott and his theory of the True and the False self, suggesting that a good life is one in which we can dare to show our True Self and do not mind too much occasionally having to wear the mask of a False Self. But for this to be possible, we need a certain sort of childhood.
'The Children of Snobs,' my second film for the channel was published in June 2018.
'Why we are not the centre of the show,' currently in production, due September 2018.
Workshop Leader
ReachOutRCA
2016
ReachOutRCA - Invited to join part of the college's outreach programme to design and lead two full day workshop with two London state schools, based around my research project 'Reading 'In-Between' The Lines.' The workshop explored metamorphism in drawn animation, in particular how how it can reveal something new or unintended in the narrative. Using iterative drawing methods, the students created expressive transitions from their drawings to create a short collaborative film.
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Fashion Print & Graphics Designer
Selected Roles
Working as a fashion print designer for +10 years with on-schedule LFW designers like Jessica Ogden; Maria Chen-Pascual; Eudon Choi, and UK retailers like All Saints, Arcadia and French Connection. My role usually began with researching and developing ideas, identifying and interpreting fashion trends, then creating and reviewing print designs for presentation. Key responsibilities:
Developing mood boards for print design and direction across brand.
Creating artwork for placement prints, repeat patterns and embellishment.
Working in partnership with production supply base to get great looking printed products.
Inspiration research trips to Europe and L.A. - Collating and presenting reports and artworks to Senior Management.
Mentoring and supporting design development for junior designers.