Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Marakasherry.

Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I was born and raised in Indonesia to an Indonesian mother and an Indian father. No one in my family was an artist, but my family and my dad especially always encouraged me to try everything freely. While my interests came and went, art always stayed. Initially, I was trained in classical Fine Arts and fell in love that way, but I adored the storytelling aspect of films and their power to connect, resonate, and represent people. Animation felt like a perfect marriage of the two.

I worked extremely hard in sharpening my portfolio to get into the Top Art Schools in the United States and finally made the move to New York to study 3D Animation at the School of Visual Arts. I was completely thrown aback by just how technical 3D Animation was, I didn’t consider myself a smart kid (That’s why I did art!)- so exercising my brain around the computer science aspect was difficult at first. When I learned how to Light and Render scenes in 3D, that love and spark I felt when I was painting rekindled and that really is what Lighting is: Painting the Scene. I love the emphasis and edge of color theory and painting combined with the technical knowledge that is needed to turn a lighting scene from good to great. It brings me a lot of joy, and I’m glad to find my little pocket of joy within the expansive world of animation.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

The journey has definitely been a rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs, but the good part is, everyone feels that way too. If someone has had smooth sailing, I think they may be lying!

My constant struggle has always been living as an immigrant in the United States. Moving from Indonesia to the United States when I was 18 was challenging emotionally and physically, and it took me years to find my footing (5 years in, and I still struggle with the cultural differences from time to time). I started having battles with my own self-identity and my worth and found myself so lonely, I knew no one and had no one, I was starting my life from scratch.
But things take time and I have built a beautiful family for myself in the States, I worked hard and I wanted to prove that International Students could achieve the same things the other Americans could achieve, even with the extra barriers and hurdles we face and that was exactly what I did and what I want to continue to do.

All these struggles and lows I have always been able to go through because of the people in my life who have supported me and lifted me up. When I think of my journey, the first thing that comes to mind is the people who have come along for that journey, and it’s one that is always filled with warmth.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I am a 3D Artist and Director specializing in Lighting, Compositing, and Visual Development.
I have recently just wrapped up directing my Indonesian CG Short film “Hair for You”, alongside my teammates Tien Pham and Jijhye Kim. Without them, this film that has been a dream of mine would not have been a reality and I cherish them deeply.
Our film is currently on its film festival circuit and has won numerous awards as well as being screened globally, but I am most proud of the people and collaboration of the project. I wanted the project to be predominantly made by women, specifically women of color and immigrants, and I wanted Indonesian artists, and I was able to do all that. Seeing everyone’s work come together has been nothing but an honor to witness and experience.

Personally, I always want to tell stories and topics about where I am from and where I grew up in Indonesia. I value and recognize the power and importance of representation and I want Indonesian people to feel seen, even if it’s just by my small artworks. I believe in small acts that echo into a bigger impact on others.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?

For me, I always learned the most from my friends and peers. Everyone is so talented, but they’re also on the same journey as you, so they mentor you in ways that they wished they were taught and you absorb it a lot better. Seek and nurture people who treat you and those around you as equals. It sucks, but sometimes it’s as simple as just asking a question to get that ball rolling!

I hate the word “Networking.” I think it gets misinterpreted, and it ends up being more performative and draining. I enjoy talking to people, but at the same time, if I feel like there isn’t some type of connection I don’t like forcing it or faking it. Don’t underestimate people, if you can tell when someone is being fake and surface-level, so can they, so just let it go.
Among the 100 people you talk to, you’ll probably form a genuine connection with one person, and by a genuine connection, I mean someone you enjoy talking to. Oftentimes times, they become your friend.
I think to me, just enjoy and make friends! You don’t need many of them, just a few who care for you deeply because those I am happy to call my friends have been the people who have given me opportunities that have enriched my career and my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michellemarakasher.wixsite.com/mysite-1/storyboards
• Instagram: mish.mov

Image Credits

Tien Pham – Producer and Lead Environment Artist – “Hair for You”
Jihye Kim – Lead Animator and Character TD – “Hair for You”