Community Highlights: Meet Jamie Bartkowicz of The Essential Art Department

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamie Bartkowicz.

Hi Jamie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up in Metro Detroit, I didn’t really have exposure to the entertainment industry as a career, but I was always super interested in it. I came from a family of engineers and trade professions, so a creative/artsy career wasn’t exactly embraced or encouraged; but when it came time for college, I knew I had to pursue a degree in Film.

I studied Film/Video production with a focus on writing and art direction. A few months after graduation, I packed up my tiny car and headed west to LA in January of 2015. Looking back on it, I was very naive and unprepared. I had very little money saved up, no job lined up, no place to live, and no strong connections. Times were tough for a while, but I knew I would make my way.

I did some freelance PA and Art Department gigs for a while before landing a job at Universal Studios Hollywood. What was meant to be a few months working on the Halloween Horror Nights event turned into a full-time job. During my nearly seven years at the company, I worked my way up from Production Coordinator to Associate Production Designer.

However, when the Covid-19 pandemic started, the entertainment industry took a massive hit- especially live entertainment/theme parks. I was laid off and that is when I really got a chance to process my career and what I wanted to do next.

When things started to get rolling again, I jumped back into the film & TV world working in the art department. I also made a major move with my mentor/former boss, Brandi Creason, and started our own online school to teach students about working in the art department for the entertainment industry (The Essential Art Department)!
After freelancing for a while, I finally landed at a new full-time job with Walt Disney Studios. I now currently work for the Physical Assets team where we manage and oversee props, costumes, set dec, etc. for live-action movies across Disney, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has had its ups & downs for sure! I tell my students all the time that you need to have dedication and motivation to survive this industry. It can be cut-throat and competitive. “Feast or famine” is the common saying- the industry ebbs and flows, and so do jobs. I think finding you niche and what you want to do can take some time. Many think they need to know exactly what they want to do right from the start, but I’ve learned that it takes time and experience to find your way- and that’s ok! Even now, I am still discovering new things I want to try.

The pandemic was also a very rough time. When you are so passionate about what you do, and it’s taken away from you, you can feel lost. I had a bit of an identity crisis if I’m being honest. I poured my heart & soul into my job; and most of my friends worked with me. So when I lost my job, I felt like a failure, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. It took a lot of healing to really come to terms with the idea that there is more to me as a person than my job and there were more opportunities to come. In a weird way, it was the redirection I needed. Without my lay-off, I wouldn’t have explored other jobs and I certainly would have never started my teaching business. I consider myself very lucky to have found those new paths in such a dark time.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If there’s one thing I am most proud of in my accomplishments, its starting The Essential Art Department (TEAD). I have never been a teacher before or own a small business, so I was very scared to take on those responsibilities- especially in a time where I was feeling like I wasn’t good enough in my career. And while it took me some time to find my footing, I ended up finding such joy in it.

Like I said before, the entertainment industry can be harsh; and I wished I had someone guiding me through it as I started. Even such minutia things like understanding how unions work or how to file my taxes as a freelancer would have been things I would’ve benefited from learning. These are the “real-world” lessons I had to figure out myself. That is why Brandi and I started TEAD. We wanted to dive deeper into the art department, give our personal advice, and also encourage students to really put themselves out there in jobs they might not know exist. I want my students to walk away from our courses and feel more confident in their work and also feel like they have two industry professionals that they can always come back to for advice and help.

Our flagship course is called Crash Course- it’s a 6-week online class where we get into all the essentials of working in an art department. From character environments to paperwork to building a resume; we tried to pack as much knowledge as we can into the course. We also provide some 1-day classes and seminars on specific subjects, like concept illustration or portfolio building. What sets us apart from others is that the classes are available to anyone around the world since its online. We’ve had students from LA, New York, Florida, Costa Rica, and even India! The courses are designed for students to go through the lessons on their own time, but then we always meet as a class over Zoom once a week to get that more personal time with them.

TEAD has been operating as an online school for almost 2 years already, and we are growing our team of instructors and classes constantly. We are excited to really expand our business and offerings in 2023!

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Brandi Creason is my longtime friend, colleague, mentor, and now business partner. She is an incredibly talented human and I am so grateful to have her in my life. She took me under her wing years ago and has continued to teach me all she can. Not only has Brandi been there for me professionally, but she has also been there for me personally. She has seen me in darkest times and been there for me when I needed her. I couldn’t imagine starting a business with anyone else.

Some other colleagues and friends who have championed me throughout the years are: Cassie Lopez, Casie Coddington, Rob Tintoc, Chris Williams, and Melina Mata.

And of course, my parents and siblings have been my biggest supporters over the years. While I know my career path was not ideal to my parents in the beginning, they have turned into my biggest cheerleaders I have.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.theessentialartdepartment.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theessentialartdepartment/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheEssentialArtDepartment
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Essential_AD