Topic of Discussion:
The role of acquiring talent comes by many names, Recruiter, Artist Manager, Talent Acquisition, etc, but the question is the same: how do you find good people and how do you keep them? Join VES NY in conversation with recruiters from Crafty Apes, Chicken Bone FX and Pixar Animation Studios.

Please RSVP and register for a seat at the zoom table!

Meet our guests:

Melissa Blakey’s journey began in a tiny little Connecticut seaside town, where the only access to “Hollywood” was the big movie theater complex, about a 45-minute drive away. It was during one of those many movie outings that she suddenly became curious to learn what goes on behind-the-scenes. After two decades of VFX Producing, she transitioned into recruiting. Melissa is thrilled to be a part of growing the Crafty Apes team globally, aiding in the launch of multiple locations, and seeking out the best talent our industry has to offer. In her spare time, she’s heading to the beach with her son, traveling, and dabbling in meditative hobbies such as cooking and gardening.

Mindy Berardini joined Pixar Animation Studios March 2021 as a Recruiter. Before Pixar, Mindy was at Blue Sky Studios and has been working in Talent Development for 10 years. She’s recruited for roles for the entire animation pipeline but currently supports departments like Layout, FX, Sim, Lighting and Rendering.

Emma Everett is the Director of Talent & Culture at Chicken Bone FX Studios. She is responsible for recruiting visual effects professionals, talent planning and retention, company culture, and marketing. Throughout her career, Emma has always been driven by a drive for success balanced against a people-first ethos. She has worked in multiple industries taking best practices with her everywhere she goes. Outside of work, Emma enjoys nature, good food, and family with her two young daughters and husband. She is passionate about social issues related to Aspergers/Autism and homelessness.