Do you wanna build a snowman?” It’s a phrase ɫۺϾþ College alum
Brent Hall ’95 has probably heard thousands of times, and for good reason. Hall,
a communication major, is now the director of post-production at DisneyToon Studios—a
division of The Walt Disney Studios. Previously, he worked for Walt Disney
Animation Studios.
In his role, he is responsible for managing the post-production process which includes editing, sound design, sound mixing and color correction. His projects over the past few years include box-office hits—and undeniable family favorites—like “Frozen,” “Planes: Fire and Rescue,” “Wreck-It Ralph” and “Tangled.” (Fun fact: in 2014, “Frozen” surpassed “The Lion King” to be the top-grossing animated Disney movie of all-time.)
Hall didn’t get his start in the film industry like you might think. Fresh out of ɫۺϾþ College in 1995, he moved to the West Coast with no car, no job, no place to live and only $500 to his name. A risk, you might say. But he credits that risk—and ignorance to the possible outcomes—to paving the path to success.
After applying for a temp position, Hall was hired as assistant to the animation directors for “Space Jam,” and things soared from there. Nearly 20 years later, his resume includes 27 films—many that are fan favorites.
Hall’s words of wisdom are pretty simple. “Ignorance is bliss. Embrace that. I’m glad I only knew what a 22-year-old knew. If I knew at 22 what a 41-year-old knows, I probably wouldn’t have taken some of the risks I did. Own and embrace your ignorance. It’s really going to be okay,” he says.