Alice always wanted to be an artist, but not a starving one. Accordingly, at Skidmore College, she focused on computer graphics and animation, which earned her a place in a new and experimental graduate program for computer animation at The University of Southern California in 93. The general opinion in the movie industry was that if an animated film wasn’t hand drawn, people wouldn’t like it. Alice and her fellow students didn’t know if they had a future. They all bought tickets to see Toy Story opening night in Hollywood. Alice remember sitting in the theatre talking about how in ninety minutes they would know if they’d each just wasted two years worth of tuition, or if they had a career to follow. Happily, Toy Story was a huge hit, and the computer animation wave began.
After graduation, Alice went to work for a division of Warner Brothers Studios. She would have stayed there forever, but in what was to be a very common occurrence in the special effects industry, Warner Digital closed its doors within two years. Alice then went on to Centropolis Effects where she worked on the movie Godzilla. It was a great experience, but she worked EVERY DAY for 7 months. Thankfully not all productions worked seven days a week, but a six day work week was common. After 15 years – Alice needed a sabbatical.
In 2009 She bought a two ‘fixer upper’ cottages in Castine and came home to work on them. She only intended to stay through the summer, but realized she was happier living in Maine. It’s the people in Maine that Alice loves so much. “I just think you can’t find a more friendly and accepting group anywhere.” She does miss California weather. “I didn’t even own a winter coat. It was glorious.”
Alice transitioned to the internet at Stanley Subaru in Ellsworth, where she redesigned their website, and helped create an internet sales department. It’s also where she met Nicole. “I was so impressed. Here’s this young woman running her own internet and social media business, in a part of Maine where internet service isn’t even a guarantee.”
Finally, she and Nicole decided to team up. “Breaking Even is such a great fit for me. I get to be creative, which was the best part of being an animator, but I get to work with clients too. It’s the people factor that does it for me. I stayed in Maine because I love being part of a small community. Now I really feel like I am involved.” She’s even learning to love the snow.
Alice lives in Bar Harbor with her Maine Coon cat, Bruce Campbell.
We’re also on ….