Meet Alexandria Siah

We were lucky to catch up with Alexandria Siah recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alexandria , so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
Sometimes I forget that I am in a different country and that I’m a minority amongst my peers. It’s a weird feeling you only learn of if you ever get the chance to move to a different country on your own. I think even being the only one in the room that looks like me, it doesn’t make me less different from others. Being yourself is what makes you unique, no one in a room full of different faces has the exact same story as you and I find that very facinating. Everyone has a different journey through life and when you are able to use all you have learnt through it is when you become a successful storyteller.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Alexandria and I am an animator. My job in my industry is to bring things to life, just as how the blue fairy brings Pinnochio to life. Like Pinnochio, we use 3D character models as puppets and we give them character, personality, and make them run, jump sing and dance to the story we are to convey to the audience. My job in the industry is working in games, where for the last game I worked on, Jedi: Survivor, we animate characters acting out scenes, making them talk to other NPCs, as well as making animation for them to fight monsters and bad guys with. I also make my own animations and illustrations for my own projects, that being my award winning animated film The End which won The Rookie Awards in 2022 for 3D Animation.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
3 things I definitely recommend to others is 1) learning to ask questions. A lot of people starting out including me get really shy asking for notes or feedback on their work because they don’t want to bother anyone or are worried of showing their work to someone better than them. However, you are not going to improve if you don’t ask questions and talk to others. Talking to people is actually very important in our industry which gets to 2) Talk to everyone you meet. Connections are really important in our industry, and it’s not just going up to the biggest person and cuddling up to them. Making friends, getting to know people and their journeys through life is great inspiration for stories to inspire you as well as helping you to find that next job. Be respectful, be kind, for this industry is big but also very small. Everyone knows everybody so it’s best to always be good and polite to everyone you meet. Lastly, 3) references are important in both art and animation. Animation is basically acting but behind the camera, so every great reference is just a better chance of a great animation. Acting is tough, and not everyone is good at it, so study movies, anime, games if you can’t act for yourself. The more you learn the better you will be able to see the world and put it into the animation you make.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Right now the animation and games industry is facing a difficult time. Lots of layoffs in almost every studio whether you were there for a few months or for decades. It is tough, and there’s not really a way to resolve it on my own. It is definitely disheartening to see so many talented individuals struggling during this tough time, especially those under a visa like I am who are less likely to be employed compared to locals. I think one major thing to understand and comfort those in this situation is that none of this is a fault of your own. We cannot predict this change in the industry, and we cannot equate our abilities to the rejections or layoffs you might end up receiving. Because if someone who has worked in a studio for a decade can be laid off just as easily as someone who only worked there a month, then it is not the fault of the artists or their talents but the corporations themselves who treat their employees like they are expendable. The only thing we all can do in this situation is to brave the storm, help others like you and keep on working your craft.

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