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

Hi Diya, why did you pursue a creative career?
Growing up, I never considered a creative career to be a feasible one. I was raised in Vellore, India, and most of my friends were on track to be doctors. Since probably 7th grade, all my peers worked 24/7 with the goal of getting into a medical college as soon as they graduated.
I drew for fun when I was at home, but at school all my hours were spent wrangling biochemistry. Around 10th grade, I realized that no one my age was actually still interested in animated movies the way I was, and I wondered if maybe there was a way I could work in animation. I started to put in the bare minimum for my schoolwork, and devoted all my free time to making a portfolio to get into art school in the US.
Now that I’m here, I truly feel that there is nothing else I’d rather do!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
At this moment, I’m working on my student film and just improving my understanding of the storyboarding process. Coming to CalArts, I had the most basic understanding of how the animation pipeline works, and I wasn’t sure of where I fit into it.
I struggled to find a foothold, but through the years here, I learned everything I know from my teachers and very talented peers. I’ve learned that developing a film’s story is a process that requires a lot of love and care, that it’s not just something that you can put down based on your gut, and it is the most important part of the pipeline. I’m working on making sure that my art reflects all that I’ve learned, starting with my short film.
I love stories that are poignant, slow and a little bit open ended. To me, the mark of a good film is when I find myself pondering it days after I first watched it. I strive to put the essence of that je ne sais quois into my films, and I hope to keep refining my skillset to tell better stories!

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.
Santa Clarita has some wonderful biking trails and running paths, and there’s some cool hiking spots nearby too, like Vasquez Rocks. And though it can get blisteringly hot, the weather is great!
My favorite restaurants nearby is Jasmine Thai Noodle & BBQ (their spicy curry with eggplants is to die for) so we would definitely have to go there for a meal. My friends have been going to Henry’s Coffee almost every day for the past few weeks, and there are a ton of great cafes in the surrounding area too! The Newhall Farmer’s Market is every Saturday and it’s a fun treat to look forward to at the end of a long week.
And, last but not least, CalArts. The acting program has various shows being put on quite often, and the dance and music programs also have recitals. In the main gallery, you can always find a student’s art on display, and some days there’s a jazz ensemble playing music in the afternoons. There’s so much great stuff to see and do on our campus, and I think it’s definitely one of the highlights of Santa Clarita.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I don’t think I could have ever gotten this far without the wholehearted support of my family. Throughout my childhood they’ve nurtured my creative spirit, and when I decided to go halfway across the world to study here, they helped me every step of the way. They’ve worked really hard to give me this chance, and I don’t ever want to waste it.
My peers and teachers at CalArts also deserve the biggest shoutout, because the impact of being in a creative community is not to be underestimated. Over the past 3 years I’ve learned so much from my friends and classmates, and I’m continually inspired by the work they put out.

Website: https://diyajoseph.weebly.com

Instagram: pemqin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/diya-joseph-442763246

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