Tabitha Kitchen
3D Generalist
What is your role and primary responsibilities at ADM?
My responsibilities at ADM include: animating, modeling, texturing, lighting, and editing to name a few!
What is your professional background, and how did it lead you to your current position?
Like a lot of our ADM team, I studied computer animation at Ringling College of Art and Design (and fun fact, I minored in business!) After I graduated, I moved to Vancouver, Canada to work at Sony as a 3D animator on Hotel Transylvania 4. Then I moved to Portland, Oregon to work as a facial animator on LAIKA’s upcoming stop-motion film, Wildwood. When I heard about ADM and how it blends the world of animation with helping people, I was eager to join the team and collaborate on the meaningful work they produce here at ADM.
What specific skills or expertise do you bring to your role, and how do they align with ADM’s goals and values?
Having a well-rounded grasp of the 3D pipeline has served me well with the ADM projects I’ve had the chance to work on so far – from modeling, texturing, and lighting in Maya to animating and editing in After Effects. My favorite part of the pipeline is definitely character animation, and I’m excited to utilize that skill set in future ADM projects to really bring life to the representations of the people whose stories we are telling.
Are there any milestones or accomplishments you’re particularly proud of?
It meant a lot to me when we wrapped my first case with ADM and Kevin said “Grace under pressure right out of the gate. Nice work!”
What interests or hobbies do you pursue outside of work?
Every couple of weeks, I meet up with a group of my friends to play D&D! I’ve also been getting into film photography – I’m very new and clueless but it’s fun to wait for it to get developed and hope they turn out okay. I also love thrifting, scrapbooking and board games!
Do any of your personal passions influence your work or approach to your role?
I didn’t know what to say for this answer but then I looked at Lyanne’s bio and her love for puzzle solving and escape rooms really resonated with me! Sometimes these projects really do feel like a puzzle to tinker with until we find the thing that clicks.
What is your approach to problem-solving or handling challenges in your role?
I’d say it’s a lot of trial and error, looking on YouTube for tutorials and checking in with my coworkers for help.
How do you collaborate with other team members or departments?
ADM is so collaborative and everyone is so kind and approachable so it’s never scary to ask for a second opinion. I especially love running a visual that has text in it by Heather, because I know she’ll Heather-fy it and make it way prettier and clearer to read.
Can you share a specific instance where your work positively impacted a client or project?
I just joined the team so I haven’t really had a chance to see the impact I’m making specifically but it is really rewarding and exciting to read about previous cases and the impact they’ve made in the lives of ADM clients.
Are there any areas or skills you are looking to further develop?
I already feel like I’m learning so much here at ADM – between the skills I pick up on projects to the demos my coworkers host to teach us what they’re learning, I’m excited to broaden my skill set and soak it all in.
Are there any fun or surprising facts about yourself that you’d like to share?
One time, I fell off a camel – I’ll tell you the story when we meet in Chicago!
RANDOM FACTS:
- Where do you work from: Portland, Oregon
- Favorite Pringles flavor: pizza!
- Top Bucket List Item: live abroad (maybe London?)
- Person you’d have lunch with right now: my dad
- Share an image of your favorite project:
