Portfolio Personal: www.bekky.ca | Studio: www.cardboardreality.ca
Contact bekkyoneil@gmail.com, 647-642-6276, 157 Crosby Road, Roseneath, Ontario
Skills Directing for Stage & Screen, Storyboarding, Traditional and Mixed Media Animation, Puppet & Mask Construction, Armature Construction, Scriptwriting, Photography, Video & Sound Editing, Web Design, Illustration, Textile & Surface Pattern Design, Comics
Software Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere, AfterEffects, ProTools, TVPaint Animation Pro, DragonFrame Stop Motion, Final Draft, Final Cut Pro, Procreate, ToonBoom, Excel, Quickbooks
Languages English (mother tongue) | Français (fonctionnel)
Education
Ontario College of Art & Design (OCAD University), Interdisciplinary Art, Media & Design – MFA Specialization in Animated Documentary & Sustainable Agriculture | Toronto, Ontario | 2016 – 2020
Thesis: “What Does a Garden Know? Permaculture Explorations in the Field & Studio”
Concordia University, Major in Film Animation, Bachelor of Fine Arts | Montréal, Québec | 2013-2016
Bread & Puppet Theatre, Volunteer Intern & Performer | Glover, Vermont | 2008-2011
(Including performances at the UNIMA International Puppetry Conference in 2011 at University of Connecticut & Honk! A Festival of Activist Marching Bands in Somerville, MA)
Concordia University, Major in Playwrighting, Bachelor of Fine Arts | Montréal, Québec | 2005-2010
Teaching Experience
Professor, Media Studies, Animation & Games Development Program, Loyalist College of Applied Arts & Technology, Belleville, Ontario, 2021-Present
Courses Taught: Production Design I, Communications 2: Intro to Visual Communication, Animation I
Workshop Leader, Cardboard Reality Farm & Studio, Cobourg, Ontario, 2018-2020
Subjects of Instruction Include: Silkscreening, Shibori Indigo Dye, Needle Felting, Stop Motion Animation, Papier Maché Mask Construction, Lino Carving / Relief Printing, Papercraft
Private Animation Instructor, Cardboard Reality Farm & Studio, Cobourg, Ontario, 2019-2020
Worked both with adult artists looking to add an additional medium to their craft, and home schooled children.
Workshop Leader, Intro to Shadow Puppetry, Critical Mass Port Hope, Port Hope, Ontario, 2019
Teaching Assistant, Concordia University, Technical Aspects of Animated Filmmaking, Professor Jean Théberge, 2014-2015
Volunteer Workshop Leader, Art City St James Town, Giant Puppet Construction, 2011
Grants & Awards
Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Research and Creation, Inter-Arts Artist, 2021
For creation of graphic novel / autobiography Bumblefoot or Twelve Ways to Kill a Duck
Ontario Arts Council, Grants to Visual Artists, 2020
For creation of Animated Short Lessons
OCAD University, 3 Minute Thesis Competition, Second Place, 2020
Private Donor, Bailey Scholarship for Canadian Artists, 2018
Concordia University Film Festival, Best Animated Film, 2016
Concordia University, Richter Award for Animated Filmmaking, 2015
Canada Council for the Arts, Grants to Theatre Artists, 2010
For creation of script for multidisciplinary puppet play Urge for Going: The Joni Mitchell Project
Concordia University, Shuffle Entrance Scholarship, 2005
Artist Talks & Lectures
Guest Speaker, Film Animation Program at Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Professor Luc Otter, Concordia University, 2022
AGN (Art Gallery of Northumberland) Spotlight Series: Cardboard Reality Farm & Studio, 2020
Ah! (Arts & Heritage) Warkworth, Of Wool & Wire: The Stop Motion Worlds of Cardboard Reality, 2018
18th Animation Show of Shows, Last summer, in the garden, Tour speaking about my film at theatres, animation studios and universities in California including: Sony Pictures Animation, Illumination Entertainment, Blizzard Entertainment, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Google, Pixar Animation Studios, Industrial Light & Magic, Apple, Tippet Studios, 20th Century Fox Animation, Cogswell College, USC Animation School & UCLA
Filmography, Director & Animator, Cardboard Reality Studio:
Animated Shorts
Be Inspired, Directed by Mark Northwood & bekky O’Neil, Skunkworks International Corporation & Cardboard Reality Studio, SING Festival, 2022
Official Selection: Cervino Cinemountain Film Festival
Lessons, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2022
Official Selection: Les Sommets Du Cinéma D’Animation, Vaasa Wildlife – International Nature Film Festival
How to Lose Everything: A Field Guide, Directed by Christa Couture & bekky O’Neil, CBC Arts, 2021
Official Selection: London International Animation Festival, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, Imagine This Women’s Film Festival, American Indian Film Festival, Uptilt Film Festival, Reel Abilities Toronto Film Festival
Winner, Best Animated Short: Imagine This Women’s Film Festival
Winner, Best Animated Short: American Indian Film Festival
Winner, Best Animated Short: Uptilt Film Festival
What Does a Garden Know?, Directed by bekky O’Neil, MFA Thesis Film, OCAD University, Supervised by Philippe Blanchard & b.h. Yael, 2020
Last summer, in the garden, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University, Supervised by Shira Avni, 2016
Official Selection: Ottawa International Animation Festival, Les Sommets du Cinema d’Animation, London International Animation Festival, Golden Kuker-Sofia International Animation Festival, Anibar International Animation Festival, Animation Block Party, 18th Animation Show of Shows, LunaFest
Winner: Best Animated Short, Concordia University Film Festival 2016
Invisible Hands, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema, Concordia University, Supervised by Luc Otter, 2015
Official Selection: Monstra Festival of Animated Film
Commissioned Work
Heart Like a Pow Wow, Part of How to Lose Everything: The Series by Christa Couture, Directed by Chief Lady Bird, Animated by bekky O’Neil & Keith Del Principe, One Foot Tapping Media, CBC, 2022
Paddling on Both Sides by Blake Angeconeb & Buffy Sainte-Marie, Directed by Justin Stephenson, Cel Animation by bekky O’Neil, Downie Wenjack Fund, 2021
Beading Together by Corrina McKay, Directed by Justin Stephenson, Animation by bekky O’Neil, Downie Wenjack Fund, 2021
Animated Trailer for The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk, Canada Reads, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2021
Animated Hero Video for LibraryLab, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2021
Animated Credit Sequence for Award Winning Web Series GhostBFF, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, Babe Nation Films, 2020
Let’s Talk About Our Feels, PSAs on Mindfulness and Meditation Accompanying Season 1 & 2 Award Winning Web Series GhostBFF, Directed by Katie Nolan & Lindsay Tapscott, Animated by bekky O’Neil, Babe Nation Films, 2017-2020
Naila & The Uprising, Directed by Julia Bacha, Additional Animation (Not Key Animator) by bekky O’Neil, Just Vision, 2017
Official Selection: International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Dubai International Film Festival, DOC NYC
Music Videos
White Christmas by Karl Loxley, Directed by bekky O’Neil & Keith Del Principe, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2021
Stuff by Ronley Teper, Directed by bekky O’Neil & Keith Del Principe, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2020
Drummer Boy by The Tenors, Directed by bekky O’Neil & Keith Del Principe, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2017
An Eighteen Wheeler is Coming by Paul Godin, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2018
Sting of the Cactus by Ori Dagan, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2017
Official Selection: Portland Music Video Festival, WideScreen Film & Music Video Festival, Best Independents International Film Festival, Mumbai Shorts International Film Festival, Athens International Film + Video Festival, Milledgeville-Eatonton Film Festival, Apex Short Film & Music Video, Bellingham Music Film Festival, Nassau Film Festival, 18th Nickel Independent Film Festival , New York Jazz Film Festival, Beijing Indie Short Film Festival, Music in Cinema (MIC) Film Festival, Summerfolk Short Film Showcase, Long Beach Indie International Film Festival , Palena Film Festival, CineMuskoka Film Festival, Salento International Film Festival, Williamsburg International Film Festival, Buffalo Niagara International Film Festival, Tucson Film & Music Festival, Austin Under the Stars Film Festival, Birmingham Film Festival
Winner, Best Music Video: Open World Toronto Film Festival
Winner, Best Animation Music Video at LA Music Video Awards
Winner, Best Music Video at Rincón International Film Festival
Winner, Platinum Reel Award at the Nevada International Film Festival
Winner, 2018 Silver Lei for Music Video at the Honolulu Film Awards
Winner, Silver Award Best Music Video South Georgian Bay Film Festival
Winner, Silver Remi Award WorldFest-Houston International Film & Video Festival
2nd Runner Up, Best Music Video at Albuquerque Film & Music Experience
Nominated, Best Music Video & Best Animated Short at Nova Film Festival
Mr. Pigeon by Ronley Teper, Directed by bekky O’Neil, Cardboard Reality Studio, 2015
Gallery / Installation / Concerts
Small Creatures Such as We, A Virtual Solo Show at Henderson Lee Gallery, Toronto, 2021
Winter Stories, An Interactive Shadow Puppetry Installation at the Port Hope Candlelight Festival, Critical Mass, 2019
Of Wool & Wire: The Stop Motion Worlds of Cardboard Reality, AH! Arts & Heritage Warkworth, 2018
Course Credit (Group Show), OCAD U Grad Gallery, Toronto, 2017
Humanalia (Group Show), OCAD U Grad Gallery, Toronto, 2016
Philosophical Toys, Concordia University Fine Arts Reading Room, Artist in Residence, 2015
Otherworldly Curiosity (Group Show), VAV Gallery, Concordia University, Montreal, 2013
Paper Moon, NextStage Theatre Festival Courtyard Installation, Factory Theatre, Toronto, 2012
Off The Wall (Group Show), Canadian Sculpture Centre, Toronto, 2012
Infinity in the Palm of Your Hand: A Brief History of the World, Leitmotif, Nuit Blanche Toronto, 2011
Cabinet of Curiosity, Visual Fringe, Toronto Fringe Festival, 2011
Jehovah’s 3D MegaParty, Pop Matters, Les Saints, Pop Montreal Music Festival, 2008
Theatre (Writer, Director & Designer | Quality Slippers Productions)
Complete Theatre C.V. Available Upon Request
Urge for Going: The Joni Mitchell Project, Montreal & Toronto Fringe Festivals, 2014
Exit, pursued by a bear., SummerWorks Festival, 2014
for you, Emmy, Lower Ossington Theatre, Toronto, 2010
Being the Enthralling Story of Herculine Barbin, International Toy Theatre Festival, NYC, 2010
Feed the Birds Cabaret (Curator), Henson Puppet Slam Network, Various Venues, Toronto, 2010-2012
Arts Administration
Fund Development & Administrative Coordinator | Apathy is Boring | 2013-2014
Gallery Administrator | The Al Green Gallery for the Arts | 2011-2012
Studio Assistant | The Al Green Sculpture Studio School | 2010-2012
Assistant to Chief Operating Officer | Just For Laughs Festival | 2006-2008