MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — When Middle Tennessee State University animation student Jazz Suarez applied for a summer internship with Sony Pictures Animation, she submitted a resume that was anything but ordinary. Her resume was bright pink and covered in sparkles and stars, reflecting Suarez’s personality and immediately catching the attention of a Sony Pictures Animation recruiter.

The recruiter shared it with hiring managers, who were intrigued by the unexpected pop of color in a stack of more traditional applications and scheduled an interview. Suarez said the hiring managers told her during the interview that they agreed they had to meet the person behind the “Barbie” resume.

Preparing for that opportunity started at MTSU’s Department of Media Arts. Professor Kevin McNulty’s candidacy class helped Suarez strengthen her resume and portfolio while giving her insight into how industry recruiters approach applications and the importance of making a strong first impression.

That interview led to an offer and sent Suarez to Los Angeles for a summer internship with Sony Pictures Animation, or SPA.

Over the summer, Suarez worked as a production intern on an animated feature in the “Ghostbusters” franchise, gaining hands-on experience inside a major animation studio and getting a closer look at the career she hopes to pursue after graduation.

“I was expecting a large business like Sony to feel very corporate and impersonal, but it was one of the warmest environments I’ve ever worked in,” said Suarez, a native of Belvidere, Tennessee. “SPA has some of the kindest, smartest, most creative people in the world, and being in an office with them, I’ve never felt more inspired.”

One of Suarez’s most memorable experiences came outside of her daily internship responsibilities.

Each month, Sony Pictures Animation hosts a “Happy Hour” celebration recognizing new releases, new hires and employee anniversaries. For Suarez, seeing employees come together to celebrate their work gave her a glimpse of the community she hopes to find in her own career.

“You could tell every single person was so proud of the work they were doing at Sony,” Suarez said. “Their love for animation and art was so contagious, and I knew I wanted to come back to a community like this.”

Her experiences at MTSU also helped her transition into the collaborative environment of a major animation studio.

As an officer for the student organization MTSU ACM SIGGRAPH, Suarez developed skills in public speaking, teamwork and communication that she said helped her adjust to working in a large studio.

“Being an officer for MTSU ACM SIGGRAPH allowed me to get comfortable with presenting and public speaking,” Suarez said. “I learned a lot about teamwork and communication that helped me transition into a big studio.”

The MTSU animation community also remained a source of support while Suarez was in Los Angeles. Faculty and fellow students offered advice about living in Los Angeles and checked in with her throughout the summer.

“Both the faculty and the students in the MTSU animation program gave me incredible support throughout the whole internship,” Suarez said. “I’m so lucky to have a community like MTSU animation to come home to!”

The experience also gave Suarez greater confidence in herself and confirmed the direction she wants to take after graduation. Working hands-on on an animated feature reinforced her interest in production for CGI feature films, and she hopes to use the experience she gained at SPA, along with her work at MTSU, to pursue a role as a story coordinator.

“SPA brought me a lot of confidence, both in myself and what I want to do after graduation,” Suarez said.

Now back at MTSU for her senior year, Suarez is bringing that experience back to campus as she prepares for the next step in her career.

Her advice to other animation students is simple: Let your passion show.

“There’s no substitute for genuine passion for this industry,” Suarez said. “If you truly feel that you are meant to be an artist, recruiters will see that. It’s nothing to hide or be modest about. If you love animation, make that known with every person you meet.”

About MTSU’s animation program

MTSU’s animation program, part of the Department of Media Arts within the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, has been ranked No. 1 in Tennessee for three consecutive years by Animation Career Review.

The program combines creative storytelling with real-world skills and professional workflows, giving students experience in areas including 2D and 3D animation, visual effects, motion graphics and Unreal Engine virtual production.

Students can pursue either a Bachelor of Fine Arts or Bachelor of Arts in Animation. The program also supports internships through MTSU’s in-house animation studio, MT IMAGINE.

To learn more, visit https://mediaarts.mtsu.edu/.

— Stacey Tadlock ([email protected])