Episode 401: BYU Animation: Birth of a Program

Featuring three short films made over a few years as the BYU Animation Program began to take form. Jeff Parkin, member of the TMA faculty, talks with filmmakers Chad Erekson, Craig Van Dyke and Trenton Halvorsen.

Originial Air Dates

07/07/2010 8pm

07/14/2010 12pm

07/14/2010 6pm

BYU's Animation Program started out as a handful of students and some ambitious professors. They soon found success, however, as their first completed films went on to win awards. In this episode, the former students discuss how the newly formed BYU animation program gave them unprecedented opportunities to create and get ahead.

More About the Filmmakers:

Born in Salt Lake City, J. Chad Erekson grew up in Murray, Utah. Chad was labeled an artist in his youth. After high school and a period of service for his church, he attended the Salt Lake Community College and received his A.A.S. degree in Graphic Design. He won 1st place in both the state and national advertising design competition held by the Skills USA Organization. Chad earned a A.S. degree from the Art Institute of Portland in Computer Animation, and a B.F.A. in Animation from Brigham Young University. His student film, "Faux Paw," was awarded a "Student Emmy" from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in traditional animation. Chad has spent over 10 years at various design, and animation studios in Washington, Pennsylvania, and Utah doing design, illustration, and animation work. He currently oversee the animation specialization as full time faculty at Salt Lake Community College. He fills his free time collecting books, occasionally posting on his blog, drawing in his sketchbook, and tying up loose ends on various projects. Chad and his wife Andrea are parents of two daughters, and two sons.

Trent Halvorsen grew up loving Disney animation and Super Nintendo. In 2004 he graduated from BYU's Animation program after directing "Pet Shop", an animated short film which won a "Student Emmy". He now works for Disney Interactive Studios in Salt Lake City where he frequently visits with top talent at PIXAR and the Walt Disney Animation Studio to develop console video games for their films. His recent work includes "Meet the Robinsons", "Bolt", and "Toy Story 3". He and his talented wife, Melissa, have developed freelance games for MTV Networks and Adult Swim. They have two children. Visit his blog.

*Photo: Trent Halvorsen in a mocap session at the Jim Henson Studios in
Hollywood, CA

Photo credit: National Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Craig graduated with a BFA in Animation at Brigham Young where he worked on the award winning film Lemmings. He currently lives in Santa Monica with his wife and two kids and does character animation at a studio called Asylum. You can learn more about his work here.