Today we’d like to introduce you to Allisyn Thompson George.
Allisyn, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a desire to be a part of creating memorable moments. As the projects have come and gone, I have been able to nurture my passion and make what was a dream into reality. In 2014, I started designing for theater in Salt Lake City, Utah, which took me to California in 2016 with my husband. I worked in a vigorous program at California Institute of the Arts which lead me to my passion of themed entertainment. When I moved here in 2016, I told myself that I would be working for Universal Studios on day. After graduating with my MFA in a degree that covered scenic artistry, visual communication, and art direction, I freelanced as a scenic artist throughout the LA area for theater, themed entertainment and film. When the opportunity opened up to work on a project at Universal Studios, I took it. It’s been quite an adventure creating and fabricating worlds for people to enjoy and being able to fulfill what I set out to do.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My MFA was a really trying time for me. I had no idea what I was doing. I had no formal training in the arts. My undergrad degree consisted of the business side of theater, and here I was trying to draw a giant 6’x6′ portrait in charcoal on the first week! I turned into an insomniac trying to make it through the program. All I kept thinking about after every failed project was that I uprooted my life and the life of my husbands to do this crazy thing and I was going to do what I set out to do even if it meant re-starting my project for the 6th time while balancing 20 MFA credits and working two part time jobs and in the end taking tutoring lessons. All in all, I have no regrets, it’s a good thing I’m stubborn and forced myself to keep going.
Universal Studios – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Universal Studios is a really fun place to work. We love to try and push the envelope with all the IPs. Within the office we challenge each other to do better and be better. I have the ability to jump around from project to project. I can be working on three to four projects at a time with different designers helping with concepts, install, or close out of a project. It is quite a thrill and I really enjoy being able to jump around like that.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I think I would have started my digital tutoring earlier if I could go back. I got a tutor to help my digital skill my last year in my MFA program and I really wish I started earlier. The amount of growth I had in six months was amazing, I can’t even imagine what would have happened if I even started six months before that!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.allisynthompson.com/
Image Credit:
Austin Allen, Rob Tintoc, TJ, Grinch, Allisyn(me), Kris Konrath, Gavin Black, Arturo. This is a photo of the 2018 Grinchmas team. Photo credit: Marya Schulman Harrington. Three digital pieces: Photoshop concepts in collaboration 3d modeler Caity Schmidt
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