#BehindtheSelfie with... Nina Pfeiffer
1. Where do you live, work and play?
Cape Town.
2. What's your claim to fame?
I love being able to see how all the separate pieces of a project fit together and then make them come alive.
3. Describe your career so far.
I’ve been honoured to work with very talented people throughout my career.
I started as a PA and designer to a talented theatre director, while on the side doing visual projects with friends. Unfortunately, I burnt out and decided to leave the industry before it was too late. Ironically, I decided to study medicine – which, surprisingly, is a lighter workload than designing! Whilst studying medicine, I realised I was far more excited about the styles of illustration I found in my anatomy books and the colours and patterns I saw in the microscope when I learned how to analyse blood.
Realising I couldn’t escape my passion, I stopped my medical studies and pursued design and animation again. I quickly understood I love being involved in all the phases and stages of a project and decided that production would give me access to crafting entire projects.
I joined the talented team that created The Tale of How in 2006 and we started a company called Shy the Sun. We’ve gone through some changes since starting, the most significant being the name change to Tulips and Chimneys.
But through it all, Ree Treweek and I have worked together for over 10 years, making beautiful art.
4. Tell us a few of your favourite things.
I love gardening and drinking wine, especially when doing them together. And most definitely building puzzles!
5. What do you love about your industry?
I love that every day is different and that you never know what project you’ll be working on next. In any industry, you need to push yourself constantly to make it fun for yourself, and luckily our industry insists on that.
6. What are a few pain points your industry can improve on?
It feels like we’re one of the few industries that are always apologetic for charging our fee and constantly undermining our own worth. And the fact that one doesn’t get paid for doing a treatment or pitch is so wrong.
7. Describe your average workday, if such a thing exists.
It proves to be different every day and if I think it’s going to be a relaxed day, it usually turns out to be the most manic one.
8. What are the tools of your trade?
For me, being a producer, I don’t need much more than my laptop and my phone, but it does help when your brain is not too foggy, either.
9. Who is getting it right in your industry?
People that never stop working on their own IP.
10. What are you working on right now?
A beautifully animated spot for a gin brand. We’re also 99% ready to get our next book printed, so we’re exploring getting funding to publish it. Any patrons out there?
11. Tell us some of the buzzwords floating around in your industry the moment, and some of the catchphrases you utter yourself.When is it wine time?
12. Where and when do you have your best ideas?
At 2 am in the morning, and then I usually don’t remember them when I wake up.
13. What’s your secret talent/party trick?
I’m very good at building our puzzles. Check out our Tulips Instagram to view a few.
14. Are you a technophobe or a technophile?
I’m OK with tech, but I don’t like it... I’m always yearning back to the days when cellphones and social media didn’t exist.
15. What would we find if we scrolled through your phone?
Outdated apps and pictures of random things my toddler took.
16. What advice would you give to newbies hoping to crack into the industry?
Stick to what you do best and want to do, and never compromise on quality. Always present what you want to show, never tone down anything before you’ve even started.
Simple as that. Email Pfeiffer on vt.syenmihcdnaspilut@anin, visit the Tulips and Chimneys website, and follow their social media accounts for the latest updates: Instagram | Facebook
*Interviewed by Leigh Andrews.
About Leigh Andrews
Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen, is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews.
