An Evening with Brooke Keesling

Brooke Keesling brings a rare, inside look at how animation talent is discovered, developed, and hired at the highest levels of the industry. Currently scouting artists for Chronicle Studios, Keesling has spent decades shaping animation and VFX careers as a filmmaker, recruiter, educator, and mentor. Her work has connected artists to studios including Cartoon Network, Disney, Warner Bros., and Bento Box Entertainment.

A CalArts MFA graduate, Keesling created the stop motion short Meatclown and the Student Academy Award winning animated film Boobie Girl. She went on to work in practical and miniature visual effects on major films including Inception, The Dark Knight, Hugo, and The Aviator. Today, she teaches in the Character Animation department at CalArts while remaining deeply engaged in the professional animation community.

An active member of the Motion Picture Academy and Television Academy, Keesling also serves as Vice President of ASIFA Hollywood and sits on the advisory board of the GLAS Animation Festival. This event offers aspiring animators and filmmakers a firsthand opportunity to learn what studios are truly looking for, how creative careers evolve, and how to position yourself for long term success in a competitive industry.