Jacquelyn Racine
Faculty of Animation, Arts & Design
Degree: Media Arts
Year of graduation: 2013
Behind the scenes: How Sheridan led Jacquelyn Racine to the set of top-rated television
In the four years since graduation, Jacquelyn Racine has already worked on some big shows like Suits and Grace and Frankie. Here, she talks about life behind the camera.
Q: Tell us about your work.
A: I have been working in the VFX (visual effects) industry professionally for the past four years as a VFX Production Coordinator at different studios. A production coordinator’s main task is to track a project’s progress from beginning to end and ensure the show is delivered on time. I liaise between the studio/network and the VFX supervisor. I manage teams of artists; distributing shots, prioritizing their workflow, attending reviews and delivering their completed shots back to the client. At a VFX studio we create extraordinary images and scenes for some of Hollywood’s biggest feature films and television series. It could be as small as a monitor replacement or as big as digitally forming a full CG world. You would be shocked to know how much VFX is in each and every film or television show we see today.
Q: What would you say is your biggest achievement in your career to date?
A: So far, I have worked on many different projects for both film and television. My biggest achievements for television are being the sole VFX coordinator on season one of Grace and Frankie for Netflix, the final season of Justified for the FX network, and season four of Suits on USA network.
Q: While you were at Sheridan, did any particular professors influence you?
A: My favourite and most influential professor at Sheridan was John Kneller. He taught me Live Action Production, Film and Broadcast Process, and Visual Aesthetics in the Media Arts program. Kneller teaches with patience and quiet confidence, which commands a level of respect from his students. He is an authentic filmmaker and storyteller, teaching his students to appreciate their craft. He doesn’t want us to lose sight of where it all began with film while we move into a completely digital era. I was happy to leave Sheridan with a grounded perspective on the creative process, and I learned that your ego wouldn’t get you far. You need to be adaptable to prove you are a true asset to a team.
Q: What is a part of your job that might be surprising to a new graduate?
A: In the film industry (and I believe this is true for all industries as well), you need to make friends wherever you go. Never burn a bridge, because you don’t know who you will be working for, or who could come knocking at your door looking for a job the next day. You need to be able to work as a team because a single person can’t create an entire film. You never know who you are going to need to call on in your time of need, so be kind to everyone you meet.
In the four years since graduation, Jacquelyn Racine has already worked on some big shows like Suits and Grace and Frankie. Here, she talks about life behind the camera.
Q: Tell us about your work.
A: I have been working in the VFX (visual effects) industry professionally for the past four years as a VFX Production Coordinator at different studios. A production coordinator’s main task is to track a project’s progress from beginning to end and ensure the show is delivered on time. I liaise between the studio/network and the VFX supervisor. I manage teams of artists; distributing shots, prioritizing their workflow, attending reviews and delivering their completed shots back to the client. At a VFX studio we create extraordinary images and scenes for some of Hollywood’s biggest feature films and television series. It could be as small as a monitor replacement or as big as digitally forming a full CG world. You would be shocked to know how much VFX is in each and every film or television show we see today.
Q: What would you say is your biggest achievement in your career to date?
A: So far, I have worked on many different projects for both film and television. My biggest achievements for television are being the sole VFX coordinator on season one of Grace and Frankie for Netflix, the final season of Justified for the FX network, and season four of Suits on USA network.
Q: While you were at Sheridan, did any particular professors influence you?
A: My favourite and most influential professor at Sheridan was John Kneller. He taught me Live Action Production, Film and Broadcast Process, and Visual Aesthetics in the Media Arts program. Kneller teaches with patience and quiet confidence, which commands a level of respect from his students. He is an authentic filmmaker and storyteller, teaching his students to appreciate their craft. He doesn’t want us to lose sight of where it all began with film while we move into a completely digital era. I was happy to leave Sheridan with a grounded perspective on the creative process, and I learned that your ego wouldn’t get you far. You need to be adaptable to prove you are a true asset to a team.
Q: What is a part of your job that might be surprising to a new graduate?
A: In the film industry (and I believe this is true for all industries as well), you need to make friends wherever you go. Never burn a bridge, because you don’t know who you will be working for, or who could come knocking at your door looking for a job the next day. You need to be able to work as a team because a single person can’t create an entire film. You never know who you are going to need to call on in your time of need, so be kind to everyone you meet.