Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale Teacher Wins Animation Award

USA (SANEPR.com) May 13, 2008 -- Randy Gossman, a multi-faceted, multi-talented instructor at The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, recently won the Bronze Flamingo award in the Best Children’s category at the South Beach International Animation Festival for his short film Shutterbird.

“My short is a nod to the classic Warner Bros., cartoons I grew up with,” says Gossman. “It's about Stanley, a photographer, who is trying to get the perfect shot when a narcissistic hummingbird starts hogging the spotlight.

The Homestead native teaches classes in Hand Drawing & 3D Animation, Storyboarding, and Character Design in the college’s Animation, Visual Effects & Motion Graphics, and Game Art & Design programs. In addition to being on the faculty since 1997, Gossman’s professional credits include Art Director, Exodus Entertainment; Animation Director, Animation Factory of South Florida; and animation for Spongebob Square Pants games and Call of Duty game. He also supervised a student animation public service announcement for Florida National Wildlife Refuge.

“I love sharing my craft and the students keep me young,” says Gossman. “Ten hours are a lot to work in a day so you have to love what you’re doing.”