What is your name and your current occupation?
My name is Brad Goodchild and I’m a Storyboard Artist currently looking for a new gig.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
Some jobs before I got into Animation included a summer job as a “corn detassler”, pizza delivery guy and working on the line at Fiberglas Canada.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
My first job out of Sheridan College was working at H&B doing Saturday morning stuff as an assistant and then working on “Rock and Rule”. Then I guess being the director on “Pepper Ann” series and “Class of the Titans”
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
I’m from Sarnia, Ontario Canada and I guess drawing cartoons came natural to me so after high school I worked a year in construction and then applied at Sheridan who at that time was the only college teaching Animation (1976) a 3 year course
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
A typical day is to get up, turn on the computer, check email have breakfast, shower and then sit down at the Cintiq and start to do my board assignment. I am a free lancer so gotta set my own hours…usually like 7 days a week for 4 weeks or 5 weeks. I usually break about 4 PM and go out to get a bite or do stuff.My dog Momo sleeps beside me on her bed…she loves sleeping there
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
I like to tell stories, and try and bring a vision to the ideas in an interesting way. When I direct I like being in position of bringing all the talents of the crew together and watching how they work. I get inspired by great artists, something you miss when working free lance at home I also like to collect art books, my favorite book I sought after for years was Albert Hurter” “He Drew As He Pleased” my teacher in college Bill Matthews had a copy, so since 1976 I looked for it, quite rare as only 500 were printed back in 1951…I found one in Burbank in 2000…in great condition. Part of my library of old books of Animation, having them makes it feel great to go to them for inspiration.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
I really hate deadlines, when time is ticking and you have to scramble to get it done. If something happens during the day and you lose like 3 hours, you have to make it up somewhere…the other thing is when yer computer might crash. When I first using Storyboard the program, the 1st edition it was very buggy on my computer and used to crash and if ya didn’t save had to start over…I wasn’t used to saving then.
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?
I work on a Wacom Cintiq 21 inch version..and use Photoshop for my boards and Toon Boom Storyboard Pro. I love Storyboard Pro…its everything you can do in boards, animatics, quick times and I like how you can scrub the dialogue to get exact expressions on a panel, it also allows me to work remotely for studios then just upload digital files to their sites…no more scanning pages and saving, ugh that was a time waster.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
I find now the free lance, always trying to find a new gig, or getting a response about your work that I’m “too cartoony”/ Everyone seems to want cinematic boards, but how are you suppose to get that kind of experience if the shows you work on dictate they want it flat? a catch 22 sometimes.
If you could change the way the business works and is run how would you do it?
If I was going to change anything it would be that you shouldn’t judge somebody on just what they are doing now. Sometimes people forget where they came from, not everyone did CG boards or cinematic boards, someone gave them a chance. Experience in animation does pay off and you just need a chance to show you can do it. But unfortunately a lot of places don’t want to spend the time and train you.
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
In 1979 at the Annie awards in LA I got to meet quite a few folks, June Foray, Chuck Jones, Ray Bradbury , Grim Natwick, George Pal, Frank Thomas and Clyde Geronimi ( got their autographs) it was very exciting to be out of college and working at H&B and meeting these legends
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
I guess having cancer when I was supervising in Korea, get out of the hospital only to find out that I was being laid off as Disney TV Animation was getting rid of all supervisors overseas and not getting a thanks for 10 years of hard work. That was a bit of a difficult time on what to do next living in a foreign land.
Any side projects you’re working on that you’d like to share details of?
I have been developing a few personal pitch ideas with my business partner and best friend, a studio has had one idea for awhile now, I think financing is the main hurdle right now.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?Nope nothing special other than once hitting 3 red bulls eyes in a dart tournament to win when I was in Korea.
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Study old cartoons, see what made them work and films too, especially now that cinematic staging is what they want and never forgot how to draw with a pencil and paper…digital is fast but nothing beats have an original piece of art to show and to give someone.