RIT on TV News: Lindsay Berkebile

WHEC-TV (Channel 10) profiles RIT film and animation student Lindsay Berkebile after learning she is this year's recipient of the Princess Grace Award.

Rubbing elbows with royalty. That's what a Rochester Institute of Technology student will be doing next month. Lindsay Berkebile is one of two undergraduate film students to win the prestigious 2009 Princess Grace Award. It is given to aspiring artists and she is an artist in the truest sense.

For instance, when she moved out of her dorm and was apartment hunting, she was looking for more than just living space, she wanted to make sure she could make films there too. "It was more like set hunting than apartment hunting," says Berkebile.

And this Film and Animation major at RIT found just what she needed for her next movie. It is about a baker who lives in a make believe world and builds "fantastical cakes." She and fellow animator Brian Baldwin got paint, wood, hammers and nails and went to work building the set for the bakery its right in the middle of the apartment. Berkebile says the films she and her classmates are required to make aren't cheap. They can average a couple thousand dollars. "All of our films have to come out of our pocket", says Berkebile.

Berkebile who concentrates on pixilation animation with live action says winning the Princess Grace Award is an honor. "The people who get it, their films are amazing. I guess I am kind of humble about my work, I didn't even expect to win to be honest."

Winning also means something else. Much needed money in the bank and just in time for her senior thesis film. "I'm going to use the money to build my set and build my animation props and tools and also to buy equipment."

Now she won't have to borrow equipment from school which she says you can only keep for a certain amount of time. "For stop motion animation you can't move the camera for weeks at a time because it's frame by frame so this helps me do my stop motion animation using my own equipment. I can leave it, leave the lights up and work on it every day until its done."

She will start shooting next month and will wrap by May. She'll do all of this plus go to class every day. After graduation New York City beckons. "I have a few freelance people who have kind of been looking at me. With my style of animation, I'll probably get a lot of commercials and music videos which will I will be pretty happy to do!"

As an award winner, Berkebile is in good company. Past recipients include the creator of the popular cartoon Sponge Bob Square Pants. She will be honored with the 2009 Princess Grace Award next month at a black tie gala in New York City. Prince Albert II of Monaco is expected to attend.

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[mrmuthafucknb]

Another Berkebile.. Didnt think there were more of us...Brent Berkebile..Stockton, ca...I like how they say our last name wrong!!! Good luck...R we related??

[choirofangels89]

This is fantastic! I can't wait to see the movie you're making. I'll be praying for you.  Have fun at that gala! =)

))Joanna((

[EverythingZen14]

Way to go, sis. When you are a famous celebrity, remember me! Expecially if you ever need a computer engineer.

[OdinofWei]

hahaha

48 hours?!

Photo students only get to check out stuff for 24hours.

Boo Hoo.