Kinesiology graduate, TJ Galda, BSc '99 still marvels at his luck. He
gets paid to create cartoons for one of the top film and animation studios
in the industry - DreamWorks,
in California.
As a Character Technical Director for DreamWorks, Galda's job is to meet
with producers, directors, artists and animators to determine exactly
how animated characters will need to move in a movie. He then develops
and inserts the controls that give the characters their wide range of
movements. The animators then use his work to digitally animate the characters
and bring them to life on the bring screen.
When not physically providing the characters with anatomical range, Galda
also performs computer programming, builds skeletons, solves biomechanical
digital challenges and writes mathematical expressions.
The film industry, like many others, works under tight deadlines and
Galda is often still at work at 7 pm. However, the perks of this job are
plentiful and in addition to being treated well and working in a creative
environment, staff are provided with delicious gourmet food, freshly cut
flowers, designer chairs and free movie screenings, all in a resort-like
setting with fountains, waterfalls and streams, in the shadow of the neighbouring
mountains.
While his UW science degree may seem a stretch from his current world
of Hollywood film creations, Galda says his knowledge of anatomy, biomechanics
and physiology are fundamental to his understanding and competence in
his character development role.
Galda studied kinesiology at UW thinking that a career in medicine was
his future. Even before he completed his degree, he knew his enthusiasm
for being a doctor was becoming overshadowed by other interests. During
school he met a computer science grad who worked for a film effects company
and he took a tour of the facility. He was amazed that people were paid
to do such interesting and fun work. After completing his degree, attending
the digital animation program at Centennial College was a natural step.
And a smart one. The animation industry has exploded in recent years and
with the excellent reputation of both schools on his side, job offers
have been plentiful.
Galda has been working on two upcoming animated films for DreamWorks
- Shark Tale (due to be released in October 2004) starring the voices
of Will Smith, Robert De Niro and Renee Zellweger and Over the Hedge (release
date 2005) starring Jim Carey and Garry Shandling.
Other than the steady pressure of having to solve difficult problems
under strict time constraints, Galda is very excited at being where he
is. While his career and life in LA is terrific he does not see himself
as a California-lifer. Canada still holds his family, his girlfriend,
his friends and his other consuming interest - hockey. Until he returns
to Canada, his lunch-hour pick-up road hockey group will have to suffice.
TJ Galda can be contacted by email.
Written by Jude Doble
Office of Alumni Affairs
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