Meet Annette Bedrossian | Animator/Director/Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Annette Bedrossian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Annette, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
As a young kid I always loved hearing, reading, and telling stories. After finishing my undergraduate degree in animation arts, me and two of my closest friends decided that the only way we were going to be able to tell our own stories was if we started our own studio. It started as a reason to meet up all the time, progressed into brainstorming ideas, and lead to us expanding into different mediums of storytelling. To sum it up, it was the passion to tell our stories by using as many mediums as we could.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The films and art that we create are pieces of us, things we are passionate about, they are centered in story, and almost always in a different medium than the last. I believe that the use of many mediums is what sets us apart from others. One film, Night Tide was inspired by the works of Poe, was a silent, black and white, live-action short. This film made me see the world so differently, in the sense that dialogue is limiting to an audience that understands that language. Visual storytelling is far more rewarding for me and when Night Tide won, Best Adapted Film, at the International Poe Festival, we were elated. The project that we currently wrapped, is called The Patisserie, it’s a live-action/animated short film about the generational longing to connect with our past in order to understand who we are. This is a film that has been in the making for over a decade from concept to completion. We will be submitting to festivals, and we are excited to have worked with such a talented team of creatives. I don’t think anything in life should come “easy”, if it’s easy, did you really learn or gain anything from it? I think perseverance, patience, passion, and the right group of people you meet, are what makes you grow professionally. NEVER GIVE UP!!! Be true to yourself, find your pack, be open-minded, and just go for it! I am a 1st generation Armenian-American, 1st generation college graduate, my parents moved here to give us all a better chance, I am not different than many people in this country. If I can pursue my passion and dreams than so can everyone else.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Wow, where do I start? As a native to Los Angeles, I’d say go see the beaches ( Zuma is my favorite). Next, I would take them to all the dive bars, and concert venues I love…The Drawing Room, Whiskey A-go-go, The Troubadour, Foxfire Lounge, The Burgundy Room, etc. Late night munchies at 101 Coffee Shop(now Clark Street Diner), House of Pies, or The Smokehouse (Burbank, if you feel vintage and fancy.) I would want to take them to all the cool Tiki spots that I adore like, Tonga Hut (the first tiki bar in L.A.), Tiki Ti, Kahuna Tiki, and of course for fine dining The Castaway (the views are amazing). We would have to spend a few days going to all the museums, artist galleries, and exhibits. Of course the Hollywood sign (the back way). I would want them to immerse themselves in all the rich, multi-cultural foods, from all the different neighborhoods around L. A., Ethiopian, Indian, Armenian, Lebanese, Mexican, Peruvian, etc. Lastly, all the awesome theme parks in our backyard (I’m a theme park junky).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people that have encouraged me throughout my journey. The most important, are my parents, they always nurtured my creative endeavors and allowed me follow my heart. Next, would be my creative partners at R.A.T. Studios (Raffi A., and Tsebahat F.) , my Directing/Producing partner and friend Ani M., my stop-motion collaborator and friend Jeremy M., and all the rest of the amazing, cinematographers, musicians, colleagues, artists, and friends. I am so grateful and blessed to be surrounded by so many talented people, sometimes it’s overwhelming! I enjoy working with my close-circle of friends, that I not only trust, but share similar visions with.

Website: abedrossian.com

Instagram: @annettebedrossian