At 11:30 p.m. on Monday night, during the last week of classes, the neighborhood outside of the SCAD Digital Media Center (DMC) is dimly lit and quiet. Intermittent traffic drives by on Peachtree Avenue, belying the fact that inside the walls of this academic building, students are having a party. A study party that is – for animators only.
“I work best at night,” explains Michael Nash, a second year animation student. The room lights up with laughter. Clustered at drawing tables on the third floor, Nash and several other students are at the start of a long night.
“I’m a late bird,” agrees Reginald Cineus, a third year sequential arts student. Cineus started his work at the DMC around 9 p.m. He won’t be leaving until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning.
They are completing a project for the same class, the principles of 2D animation. The assignment calls for students to place a character in an animated sequence. The process is long and tedious, and if they want to do a good job, there are no shortcuts.
“I’ve gotta go hard in the paint,” exclaims Greg Mitchell, “in order for it to be done right.” More laughter bounces off the walls. Mitchell is a second year animation student and is no stranger to late hours.
Looking at the jovial group, a person would never guess that a deadline was fast approaching. The atmosphere is light and easy-going, as they hunch over stacks of paper, jot down a few strokes, then lean back to assess their latest addition. The work never stops. Neither do the jokes.
Anthony Trutman, a second year animation student, tried to explain their routine. “Everyone [here] stays up late,” he begins. “Even if I managed my time differently, it’s not like I’d get to see anyone.” He has a point. Several of the students work as student ambassadors and are involved in multiple school activities. This is the time they get to see each other. “We all work hard,” he reasons. They just sleep during the day and get to drawing at night.
Larry Beamon, a third year animation student, has a unique process. He’ll work at the DMC until about 2 a.m., until he makes a dent in the 2D animation class project. Then he’ll head home – but not to sleep – he’ll be taking a break. A break? “I need to relax! If I don’t, I’ll go crazy.” After watching some TV and drinking some coffee, he’ll gear up for the next round: tackling that sketchbook. He has several pages to fill before he’ll consider it complete.
Cineus eyes what’s left of Beamon’s assignment like it’s nothing. “I did two complete sketchbooks this weekend,” he smiles. He’s a little bit ahead. But one animator seems to have outpaced them all.
“It’s not worth it,” says David Hughes, a third year animation student. He is headed home after putting in a full day of work. “I pulled an all-nighter my first year,” he remembers. “Never again. I like sleep too much.” Hughes is a self-proclaimed early riser; starting his work as early as 7 a.m. Voices rise, as the rest of the group throws good-natured jabs at Hughes. They don’t care when the work gets done – as long as it’s done well and on time.
Students like Hughes, who keep a standard schedule, may have something going for them. They certainly won’t have a problem adjusting if and when they start a regular 9-5. But, one could argue those morning people are missing out on something special. If staying up all night was as much fun for everyone as it is for these guys, the rest of us might be hanging out at the DMC during the late-night hours, too.