Young Guns 19: Catherine Prowse
By Alixandra Rutnik and Brett McKenzie on Oct 27, 2021
Featuring the creative stars of Young Guns 19
A year and a half of uncertainty across the creative industry and beyond has finally given way to a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel — a spotlight with a great big "YG19" standing in the middle of it. After more than 70 acclaimed creatives from around the world and across a multitude of disciplines reviewed hundreds of submissions, whittling them down to a formidable finalist list, we can finally reveal the phenomenal winners of Young Guns 19!
This year, we welcome a diverse class of 32 inductees into the exclusive Young Guns family, a collection of young creative talent that is already near the top of their game — and will only get better. These are the designers, the art directors, the illustrators, the filmmakers, the animators, the multidisciplinary artists whose names you'll want to know — if you aren't already following their every move, that is.
Ahead of the Young Guns 19 Ceremony + Party taking place on Wednesday, November 17 — our first in-person event since the pandemic began — we are featuring the future legends who will be stepping into the spotlight that evening.
CATHERINE PROWSE
ANIMATOR, SET DESIGNER, & MODEL MAKER
Based:
London, England
Hometown:
London, England
When did you first hear about Young Guns?
I know someone from YG15.
You're a first time winner, congrats! What made you enter this year?
I had been interested in previous years, but I couldn't really afford the entrance fee. I was so happy to receive the discount code.
Since you are only allowed to submit six projects, how did you decide which pieces were best to enter and truly reflected you and your work?
I tried to balance bigger budget projects that had a higher production value with lower budget projects I had more creative control over. In the latter I felt I had a stronger narrative that better reflected my original vision.
How did you feel when you found out you won Young Guns?
I actually saw a couple of people posting about being shortlisted on Instagram before I got my email! I assumed I hadn't got in because I hadn't heard yet. So it was a really pleasant surprise to hear I'd made the cut.
If you had to pick one of the six projects that you entered as your favorite, which one would it be and why?
My advert for Childline is by far my favourite. It was my lockdown project, so despite it having a very low budget, I was able to invest a lot of time and energy into every single detail, from character design, to refining the animatic, to set building, to prop making, etc.
If you had to describe your creative style, the part of your work that’s most distinctively “you,” what would it be?
I love making really tactile, intricately hand crafted work. If you can tell a human hand made what you're seeing on screen, then it will really connect with the viewer. Wobbly hand-drawn lines just feel more emotional.
"If you can tell a human hand made what you're seeing on screen, then it will really connect with the viewer."
Who are some of the biggest influences on your work and career– people who may have had a hand in mentoring and supporting you?
My representation at Rowdy and Blinkink have been really great at supporting my career in the early stages. Before I was directing full time, I worked in the art department on various stop motion jobs directed by Blinkink directors I really admire and respect. It was a great learning opportunity to get to see how other people make films.
The pandemic of 2020 is slowly starting to taper a bit, so do you have any big goals moving forward into 2022?
I want to build up my portfolio by working on a lot of different commercial jobs and experimenting with different visual styles.
Name a professional dream that you have yet to fulfill — hey, maybe Young Guns can help propel you in that direction!
I really want to make some non-commercial narrative films. I have ideas in many formats– short film, TV pilot, feature film, etc.
Go check out all the Young Guns 19 Winners in the archive!
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