Meet Vernon Manlapaz

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vernon Manlapaz.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Vernon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My love for animation, struck me in 1994 when I saw the Lion King, it was the first movie I saw as a child, and I remember being in awe to see it in the big screen and wondering how they make that because the movement looks so real, the performance is top notch considering the fact that they are just drawings on paper and not real life. And since then I’ve been a fan of cartoons, animation, and storytelling.

All through my elementary and high school life, I was doing okay in school, I studied a lot in Math, Chemistry, Physics, but I still ended up being average on my grades, I remember I also got a 75 on my computer subject when I was in elementary. But all throughout my elementary and high school days, my Art classes are the ones that really appeal to me and got fairly good grades.

When I started started college, I did not really know what to take, if I should pursue, commerce or accounting, but the Multimedia Arts course at Dela Salle College of Saint Benilde was really calling me because I saw they have 2D and 3D animation course. And so I took it. In our 3rd year in college, we started learning computer animation, and right then and there, I was hooked, I wanted to explore more, I then found myself going to our school library and just be lost reading and learning about computer animation, it’s really rare for me to read books because I’m more of a visual person, but computer animation as a topic was an exemption.

I graduated in 2010 and worked straight ahead with a Game company in the Philippines, building mobile and web-based games, I learned a lot and develop my skill immensely and in 2011 at 21 years old, I got an offer to teach 3D Animation Production at the same College I went in, Dela Salle College of Saint Benilde, I also worked part-time at another gaming company and worked on projects like Schoolville, Ben10: Ultimate Alien Xenodrome and many more.

I then got a scholarship at Vancouver Film School in 2012, it was their 25th anniversary and I was one of the ones who got a grant. I then flew to Vancouver for 6 months to study Digital Character Animation, it was a very nice experience and I learned a lot. Our Final project was a 2-minute short film where we apply all the skills that we learned and create a short animated film.

My project was Carrot Crave. Link: https://vimeo.com/55595900 It was a labor of hard work, passion and love at that time and it got noticed and featured by a lot of Film Festivals in the world.

Such as:
-CG Animation Category Finalist – Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia
-Colchester Film Festival Finalist – East Sussex
-CutOut Fest – International Animation Film Festival Mexico
-Scratch International Animation Film Festival 2013 Finalist – Italy
-Highly Commended and Honourable Mention Awardee at the CG Student Awards 2013
-2013 National Film Festival for Talented Youth (NFFTY)
-Animate Your World – Category
-Film Skillet Winter 2012/2013 Animation Contest in Animation – 3D
-Official Screening Selection in the 2nd Motion International Festival – Animesh Category
-Official Screening Selection Arts Guild New Jersey 2013
-Official Entry Bang-Awards 2013, Portugal
-Anima Multi 2013
-And Many more.

After the 6 month course, I then went back to the Philippines and worked with Animaticmedia, an international company that produces previsualizations, animations, commercials. I was the 3D Animation and Visual Effects Manager in our Manila office and in 2014, they relocated me to work on our Burbank Office, We worked on a ton of clients and brands such as Nissan, L’oreal, Zales, Audi, L’or, Stella Artois, Becks, Axe, Kelloggs Cereals, Lucozade, Nivea, Hoover Vacuum, Philadelphia Cream Cheese, Nestea and Many more.

When I moved here in LA, I found myself a bit of free time sometimes, so I decided to make short Instagram videos that Feature some Computer Generated Object that interacts with reality. Since I have always been interested in how movies do visual effects really when and make it believable.

I started making videos in November 2015, and have been consistently creating since them, Trying to make content at least once a week. These videos and my audience didnt really grew until January 2017, when one viral site asked if they can share my video, after that, the content blew up and started getting shared in social media and the audience kept getting bigger and bigger.

And up to until now, I still get excited putting out content for people to see, I think the appeal comes from me giving life to normal everyday things like a donut, teacup or a fish, and it creates this magic moment of “what if it was really true” to the viewer. My work has now been featured in a lot of Media outlets such as Business Insider, Vice, Deutsche Welle and may more (I can send links on this if you need).

I now continue to work on my passion and working with Augmented Reality Animations for Snap Inc.

You can continue checking out my work at: https://www.instagram.com/vernbestintheworld/?hl=en
And on your Snapchat Lenses.

Great, 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 not been a smooth road, it requires a lot, lot, lot of time and deadlines are crazy, there are times, I cant spend time with family because of a crunch time, times, where I spend a week in the office (not going home)*good thing they have a shower,) trying to finish work.

But I think as long as you are passionate and love what you do, you can push through this crazy times.

Please tell us about https://www.instagram.com/vernbestintheworld/?hl=en.
https://www.instagram.com/vernbestintheworld/?hl=en

I think now, my brand is more known for the video content I put out that I do in my free time. I make videos where I put a little magic on everyday videos where I add some animation and visual effects.

I think what sets is apart is the consistency and quality of the output and the dedication, passion and heart that I put in every creation.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Watching Cartoons, playing on my Playstation and hanging out with my family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.instagram.com/vernbestintheworld/?hl=en
• Email: vern.manlapazvideos@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vernbestintheworld/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/vernvernvernm?lang=en

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.