Meet Kalee DeHamer | Storyboard Artist

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

Hi Kalee, what inspires you?
This is a bit like asking my favorite color and it’s so hard to choose! In truth, I am inspired by everything, life, science, music, nature, people. However, I will be more specific for the sake of being more interesting. I am deeply inspired by the empathetic human spirit. Humans have, and continue to do, both incredible, beautiful things and horrible, monstrous things, but deep down I feel most of us know that our world, our society, should be more beautiful and true, more empathetic and kind, and that is what most humans fight for their entire lives, in whatever way they are able. I am inspired by that fight.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I don’t need to tell you all that I have always loved animation, that bit is probably obvious. However, it is not my only love. Initially, I went to college to be an environmental engineer. I am as passionate about environmental sustainability as I am about civil rights, human rights, accessible education, and art. Unfortunately, I couldn’t major in everything all at once, so I started with engineering. A few years and a few internships in, I realized I was more passionate about learning environmental engineering than I was about doing it for a job. To make a long story short, that led me to discover my passion for storytelling.

It was not easy to get to where I am today; I don’t think anyone’s journey is ever easy. My senior year, we were all sent home early because of the pandemic. I am thankful to still be alive and healthy, COVID is not just a flu. I finished my thesis film from home, in isolation from my peers; all film festivals were virtual that year. It took nine months to get my first job as a production assistant. In the last two years I’ve worked at many studios as a production coordinator, layout artist, storyboard revisionist, and storyboard artist. Several shows and a movie I worked on were suddenly canceled or shelved and everyone was let go. The metaphorical rug was pulled out from under me, many, many times. My start in animation has been tumultuous to say the least. As many of my coworkers and peers know and have acknowledged, it should not be like this. We will change our industry for the better. If there is anything I’ve learned from my early career journey, it is that you only fail when you fail to try. Never give up.

Now that I’ve had a few years to marinate, I can say with confidence that I know this is what I want. I changed schools and majors for it, I know it is not easy. I know that getting storyboard jobs consistently can take great time and effort, but I have already put my blood, sweat, and tears into this profession and I am willing to put in more.

I want to tell stories that cultivate empathy in and amongst people, not only for each other, but for the planet and the other beings we share it with. I want to help people develop their ability to care through my storytelling. I want to help the world become a more kind, gentle, and understanding place. I believe empathy is not something all people naturally have, perhaps we are born with a bit of it, but as we grow, it does not always grow with us unless it is cultivated.

Part of cultivating empathy is being an ethical storyteller. As a storyteller, it is vital to be aware of one’s own philosophy. It is the storyteller’s responsibility to construct stories in an ethically responsible way. The impact of storytelling is so psychologically, culturally, and mentally powerful that we cannot afford a lack of awareness and ethics. As both audience members and storytellers, we must remember that power lies in both how stories are interpreted and told.

Another important part of cultivating empathy is incorporating meaningful diversity. I am passionate about creating stories with multi-faceted, flawed, and diverse characters. When I talk about diversity, I don’t just mean race; I mean the full span of personality, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, sexuality, physical ability, and mental ability.

Human beings are unique, messy, and complicated and I believe that the characters we create should reflect that, they should be more than a simple trope. I want to make stories that succeed in creating characters people care about, relate to, and learn from. I have developed my storyboarding skills in order to tell stories that matter, stories that teach awareness and acceptance, while showing every kid and adult, that no matter where they come from or what they look like, they can be the protagonist of their own story. I will tell stories that cultivate empathy and stoke the flames of hope.

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.
A week long trip? I don’t know if I want a friend in my little shoebox apartment for a week!

Let’s see….

Places I would take them:

The Getty, The Norton Simon Museum, The Huntington Gardens, Griffith Observatory, hiking in Griffith Park, Little Tokyo, China Town, Manhattan Beach, hiking in Malibu, Santa Monica Beach/Main Street, Burbank AMC 16

Places we would eat (if we had the money):

Saladang Garden, Osawa, Marugame Udon, Republik Coffee, Jones Coffee Roasters, Beard Papa’s Creampuffs, Copa Vida, Randy’s Donuts, Okayama Kobo, Chinchikurin, Fugetsu-do, JIN Tea, Wanderlust Creamery, Shiro, Amara Chocolate and Coffee, Agnes Restaurant and Cheesery

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?
I would like to shout out to my mom, who always taught me to see all professions as equally important to society, encouraged all of my many interests and passions, and raised me to be empathetic, curious, aware, and fiery. I would like to thank every single person that has ever mentored me, whether in art or engineering, and selflessly given me their time and knowledge. Special shout out to S. H. Cotugno, Rad Sechrist, Sam Tung, Chris Copeland, Justin Copeland, and Bill Wolkoff, who have been my friends and mentors from the very beginning of my journey. Shout out to my family and friends who encouraged me to never give up and stayed up talking to me on the phone many, many nights. Lastly, shout out to everyone who has ever told me that the stories I want to tell need to be told. I love you all!

Website: https://kaleedehamer.wixsite.com/portfolio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emotionalkale/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalee-dehamer-93462764/

Other: https://kaleedehamer.wixsite.com/voiceover email: kaleedehamer@gmail.com