Student Snapshot – Erica Chow
Erica Chow
BFA Class of 2022
Introduce yourself briefly and tell me a little bit about your background. Are you an MFA or BFA?
Hello I’m Erica a BFA studying CGi animation, especially modeling. I’m an American born Chinese with family coming from Hong Kong. I travel a lot and try to keep an open mind. I take pride in my nationality and am involved with the Asian American Student Union on campus. Prior to joining the film school, I studied in London for documentary filmmaking and also graduated high school with an International Baccalaureate diploma.
Who is your favorite Filmmaker and What is your favorite movie?
Mamoru Hosoda! His animated works have strong themes involving family (Mirai, Wolf Children etc.) which I find dear to my heart. My favorite movie is Maquia:When the Promised Flower Blooms because it came out just before I left for college. It made me uncontrollably bawl at the theatre because of the themes of time and death. “How will people fare when I die one day bwaaa!” I love movies that stick in your mind.
What are you currently working on?
I just finished production on my F3, an animated short film about a bear struggling to get juice from a vending machine. It was my first solo project where I had to model, rig, animate and basically create everything from the ground up. I definitely learned and explored levels of animation that I haven’t thought of before.
What does your typical day look like?
As an animator, I don’t really have early call times to rush to set. I wake up at a decent time in the morning, between 8am to 9am, and walk to school with a cup of milk tea. I then sit at my work station and work on my film until 5pm to 6pm. Of course, I take small breaks and lunch to look away from the screen. Balance is important, so I try to get outside and sit in the grass.
What has been the best part of film school so far?
The people. All my peers are endlessly welcoming and trustworthy. I don’t know if I could have found the same kind of people had I went to another school. Everyone is serious to achieve their dreams, they all chose to be here.
Which faculty member has made the greatest impression on you and how?
Jason Maurer is constantly working to better the program. I appreciate how he also cares for all his students. Sometimes we feel burnt out (and that’s normal) and he will make us take a break. We all work very hard to the point that it can eat away into our lives, so having a professor that actually looks out for your mental health aside from just grades in school is something special. I wish it was more normalized in high school. Of course, just because he gives you breaks doesn’t mean you won’t learn or work!
What do you think someone applying to the program should know about the FSU Film School?
Film school is a great guide and catalyst to help you go down a path that you want, but that doesn’t mean you absolutely need it. If you want to make something, what’s stopping you? Like a wise one once said, “just do it”.
Favorite Film School Moment?
I volunteered at an Oscar party hosted by the film school. Sure, I was just in charge of the popcorn machine and I stared at people passing by with a yearning that they would want popcorn…But I also got to meet the wide variety of alumni, families and upperclassman that support the school. I highly recommend people to step outside their comfort zones and meet people. Also there was a buffet style food bar 10/10
It’s late, you’re at the Film School working on something you need to finish before tomorrow: where are you and who are you with?
I’m in the DA Suite (next year I’ll ascend to the Production Pit). I’m probably huddled in my dark corner with a bulletin board of stuff to get done on my left and two monitors in front of me. Since the animation department is small, there’s usually only one or two other students working late with me. The later it gets the more likely we begin to get more loopy and have crazy conversations as we work. It’s a fun atmosphere but obviously we try to avoid working overtime when we can.