The Piedmont Highlander

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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Pixar’s Pete Docter shares animation experiences

Ripping, taping and drawing on a piece of paper, Pixar executive, director, producer and six-time Academy Award nominee Pete Docter illustrated to the large crowd gathered in the Student Center how a story usually develops at Pixar Animation Studios. The crowd gasped in amazement as a new piece of paper littered with characters from his Academy Award-winning movie, “Up,” magically unfurled before them.

Docter came to PHS on Dec. 16 to present about topics ranging from how Pixar movies are made to what it’s like to work with big name celebrities. The presentation was organized by the Voice Cooperative club, a student-run group whose aim is to spread diversity and empathy by inviting unique Bay Area individuals to share their experiences.

Docter had always been someone that Voice Cooperative had wanted to bring in because he has so many interesting things to say and he is also local, said Voice Cooperative co-founder and president senior Grace Sanford.

The room was filled with students hoping to have a future with Pixar. Docter fielded several questions about internships and what Pixar would like to see in a job application.

“They [employers] make them [interns] jump, they make them wear these weird suits and hats and it’s like a hazing thing,” Docter said. “It is pretty fun though, and they really learn a lot.”   

With the Pixar animation studio in students’ backyards, a job there is definitely a goal for those interested in animation, sophomore Kyle Deutsche said.

“I want to be an animator when I grow up, like at Pixar,” Deutsche said.      

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