In the series Fresh Faces together with AV platform KONKAV we put the spotlight on Marsha Onderstijn. Marscha is an animator from the Netherlands. She studied Animation at the St. Joost Academy in Breda, where she specialized in 2D animation. Since she graduated in 2012, she has worked as a freelance animator and storyboard artist. During these years as a freelancer she worked on both commercial and independant projects. Currently she is doing her magic at Ka-Ching Cartoons.
In the Fresh Faces we ask the artists to react to different quotes. This is what Marscha thinks:
“It’s a bit like doing a sport! That’s an interesting parallel to making movies: you better keep bouncing the ball or you will die.” (Ridley Scott)
I have worked on productions where it sometimes indeed felt that way. You have to keep going and continue to work hard, or otherwise it all falls apart: there is always a tight deadline, and each delay or setback directly effects every department within the production. This keeps you on top of the game, and you have to keep focussed, keep collaborating, keep communicating. Taking part in such a production is intense, heavy, exciting, and also very educational. And it’s a huge thrill when it all works out eventually!
When I am working on my own projects, alone or with a small team, everything is much more relaxed. I know what I am capable of and how much time I need, and there is no pressure as I am only responsible for myself.
“I have had a good upbringing because I don’t feel entitled. I feel like I’ve taken the same amount of success as a lot of other people are given but I’ve taken it and I appreciate it but I don’t feel entitled, I don’t feel like I deserve things, I feel like I deserve them as much as anybody else. I’ve earned them as much as anybody should. But I do think that being deprived of culture — which I think I was — is a problem. I think it’s a massive problem.” (James McAvoy)
I actually was raised with art and culture. In their spare time, my parents where always occupied with films, music, dance, drawing, painting and doing handicrafts. They have passed their appreciation and love for culture to me and I am still grateful for that. I think that this has also played a large part in my decision to start studying animation, as I was already introduced to it at a young age. I feel privileged that I’ve been brought up in the situation where my family, friends and teachers have always supported and stimulated me to develop myself as an animator, whether this would lead to success or not.
“Authentic is a silly word, really, it’s a bit like the word cool. Once you start talking about it, it becomes irrelevant.” (Róisín Murphy)
To me, authenticity is a vague concept, especially in the arts. Every single person is shaped and influenced by the culture, art and media surrounding him or her, whether this happens consciously or unconsciously. It doesn’t make someone less ‘real’ of less ‘original’. In a way, every creation is a recycled product of all influences and inspirations, filtered by the artist. And there’s nothing wrong with that, that is what I like about it! The interesting part is to see in what way something personal is incorporated in this creation.
I always try to do so in my own work. I am aware that everything I create is influenced by my inspiration, but I want to add my own twist to it. Whether it’s a commissioned work or an autonomous work, I always try to embed something genuine and personal.