10 QUESTIONS WITH GIL ZIMMERMAN HEAD OF RLO & PRE-VIZ

1. Can you give us a little description of your job on “How To Train Your Dragon?”
I oversee all creative aspects related to camera placement (composition) and motion, as well as rough character blocking.

2. Have you worked on any other 3D films?
Disney’s animated short “Glago’s Guest”.

3. What sorts of things inspire you?
Unusual stories about interesting characters and seeing/creating images that communicate emotion in a “musical” or lyrical way.

4. What did you find most challenging when working on “How To Train Your Dragon?”
Making our cameras look and feel like their real/physical counterparts. It took alot of attempts at each shot to get them feeling just right.

5. Do you have a favorite book?
Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath”.

6. You’ve been involved in the Siggraph Educators Program, can you tell us a bit about that?
I’ve always enjoyed working with students, they inevitably give back more to me as an teacher in terms of energy and appreciation than I’m able to give them.

7. What do you like to do on your downtime to relax?
Photography, hiking/camping/fishing. Reading.

8. Could you give us a little background on your career?
I started in animation about 17 years ago. I originally was trained as a conservatory musician (trombone) and performed with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. My first feature animated film was Disney’s “Tarzan”. Besides working as a Layout Artist, I’ve also been a Technical Director, Modeler and Modeling Supervisor.

9. Who is your favorite cartoon character?
Tough question, I guess a toss-up between Homer Simpson and Marvin the Martian

10. What was it that attracted you to this film?
The story and the design of the locations.

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