Tom Gasek
Interim School Co-Director
School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design
585-475-7403
Office Location
Tom Gasek
Interim School Co-Director
School of Film and Animation
College of Art and Design
Education
BFA, Rochester Institute of Technology; MFA, Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University
Currently Teaching
SOFA-617
Stop Motion Puppet Fundamentals
3 Credits
This introductory course will give graduate students a basic and solid understanding of stop-motion animation. The class will cover aspects of stop-motion in its various forms but will mainly concentrate on stop-motion puppet / character animation. There will be demonstrations on model fabrication, animation techniques and camera / grip techniques. Topics, such as latex and silicon mold-making and intensive postproduction techniques will be introduced.
SOFA-892
Continuation of Thesis Film and Animation
0 Credits
Continuation of thesis course provides MFA students’ additional semester(s) to complete their thesis research and supporting documents. Taking COT before a Thesis film is screened needs to have the approval of the Graduate Director.
SOFA-887
Film and Animation Part-Time Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Film and Animation students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
SOFA-698
Film And Video Graduate Internship
1 - 6 Credits
Provides the student with on-the-job experience in the field of film/video/animation. The student seeks and acquires a school approved internship position in a business or industry. The working environment provides the forum for learning more about the student's chosen career. A final interview with the internship coordinator assists the student in evaluating the experience. The coordinator should be the faculty member most familiar with the student's internship field.
SOFA-522
Stop Motion Puppet Fundamentals
3 Credits
This is an introductory course that will give students a basic and solid understanding of stop-motion animation. The class covers all aspects of stop-motion in its various forms but will mainly concentrate on stop-motion puppet/character animation. There will be demonstrations on model fabrication, animation techniques and camera/grip techniques. More in-depth topics, like latex and silicon mold making and intensive post production techniques will be introduced. There will be opportunities for students to practice animation with specific goals and assignments.
SOFA-890
Research and Thesis II
4 Credits
This is the second of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester as well as present a final screening of their thesis.
SOFA-699
Film and Animation Co-op
0 Credits
Cooperative Education will provide Film and Animation students with hands-on experience in their field, directly related to a student’s major with an established studio or related business. Students will need to apply for co-ops, and interview as part of the selection process, based on available positions posted by the Co-op and Career Services Office, or found through the students’ own research. In programs where co-op is a degree requirement, students must obtain permission of their program or graduate director prior to enrollment. Co-ops are typically paid work experience, and can be part-time (150-479 total hours within the term), or full-time (480+ hours within the term). Co-ops may be one or two consecutive terms - fall, spring, or summer – with department permission.
SOFA-780
Thesis Preparation Seminar
1 Credits
The focus of this course is to develop a written proposal for an MFA Film Thesis. The thesis will provide the backbone of a candidate's final film-making production leading to the completion of MFA creative work and the supporting written document. Students must identify a thesis chair and form a committee. The course will prepare students to present and defend their thesis before a faculty committee seeking approval of the proposal.
SOFA-406
Senior Capstone I
4 Credits
Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines to pass this course.
SOFA-652
Alternate Frame by Frame
3 Credits
This course will give all students a chance to explore three different approaches to stop-motion animation. The class will study and experiment with pixilation, time-lapse and relief animation with a “down-shooter.” These techniques will expand the student’s knowledge of traditional or character animation and present an alternative means of expression. Students can explore character or experimental approaches to animation with these non-traditional alternative approaches to single frame animation. The class will study existing work with these techniques, analyze and discuss them with the instructor and then produce several examples of their own after instruction for each approach. There will be a final project in the technique of the student’s choice.
SOFA-582
Alternative Frame by Frame
3 Credits
This course will give students a chance to explore three different approaches to stop-motion animation. The course will study and experiment with pixilation, time-lapse and relief animation with a “down-shooter.” The techniques will expand the student’s knowledge of traditional or character animation and present an alternative means of expression. Students will explore character or experimental approaches to animation with these non-traditional alternative approaches to single frame photographic animation. Students will study existing work with these techniques, analyze and discuss them with the instructor and then produce several examples of their own after instruction for each approach. A final project in the technique of the student’s choice will be required.
SOFA-799
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study
1 - 4 Credits
Film and Animation Graduate Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
SOFA-717
Animation Workshop
4 Credits
This course is the student’s second experience producing a complete animated film individually or in collaboration with a classmate. In this workshop-style course, students will design and implement all phases of an animated film production and produce a short film with sound. Students will rely only on techniques learned in previous classes. The final film must be screened for the school community at the end of the course.
SOFA-407
Senior Capstone II
4 Credits
Students work independently with their advisor towards completion of their capstone experience for their BFA degree. Students have a predetermined timeline and must complete all deadlines of that timeline to pass this thesis course including completion and public screening of finished work or final presentation of craft experience.
SOFA-790
Research and Thesis I
4 Credits
This is the first of two courses designed to advance a student towards completion of their thesis. Students will work independently on their approved plan of work for their thesis while meeting on a regular basis with their committee chair. They are required to meet at least twice with their full committee during the semester.
SOFA-599
SOFA Independent Study
1 - 6 Credits
SOFA Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty adviser, should propose a course of study or project with clearly defined deliverables. Students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll. Student must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to apply.
In the News
-
January 16, 2020
RIT animation programs receive high national ranking
RIT's School of Film and Animation is the No. 11 animation school in the country, according to Animation Career Review's 2020 rankings.
Featured Work
Alternative Frame by Frame class reel 2006
Tom Gasek
This is a down-shooter stand for the Alternative Frame by Frame class.
Tom Gasek demo reel 2000
Tom Gasek
This is an early stop motion character reel I created for my studio, "OOH Inc".
Select Scholarship
Shows/Exhibits/Installations
Gasek, Tom. TRAIN. 29 Oct. 2020. Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, Chicago. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. TRAIN. 29 Oct. 2020. Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, Chicago. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. TRAIN. 29 Oct. 2020. Big Teeth Small Shorts Film Festival, Chicago. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. TRAIN. 29 Oct. 2020. VIN312, Chicago. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. TRAIN. By Tom Gasek. 7 Sep. 2019. Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Haven. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. Ain't No Fish. By Miki Cash, Tom Gasek. Jan. 2017. Bridgetown Barbados, Bridgetown, Barbados. Exhibit.
Gasek, Tom. Ain't No Fish. Director. Tom Gasek & Miki Cash. 17 Apr. 2015. George Eastman House, Rochester, New York. Exhibit.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Gasek, Tom. "Product/Object Stop Motion Animation." Summer (online) Workshops. Maine Media College and Workshops. Rockport, Maine. 1 Jul. 2020. Lecture.
Gasek, Tom, et al. "The Value of Photographic Reality in the World of Animated Imagination." UFVA annual conference. UFVA. Minneapolis, MN. 31 Jul. 2019. Conference Presentation.
Gasek, Tom. "Non-Puppet Photographic Animation." Fulbright Grantee. Pontifical Catholic University of Peru. Lima, Peru. 18- 4/3 Mar. 2016. Lecture.
Invited Article/Publication
Gasek, Tom. "Animation at the Jilin Institute." ASIFA East. (2019). Web.
External Scholarly Fellowships/National Review Committee
5/9/2018 - 6/17/2018
Fulbright Specialist Program - World Learning
Amount: $10,000.
Fulbright Specialist Program - World Learning
Amount: $10,000.
3/17/2016 - 4/3/2016
Fulbright (US Government)
Amount: Flight / Housing and $200 per day
Fulbright (US Government)
Amount: Flight / Housing and $200 per day
Full Length Book
Gasek, Tom. Frame by Frame Stop Motion; The Guide to Non-Puppet Photographic Animation Techniques. second ed. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press / Taylor and Francis Group, 2017. Print.
Gasek, Tom. Frame by Frame Stop Motion;The Guide to Non-Traditional Animation Techniques. 1st ed. Boston, MA: Focal Press (Routledge Publishing), 2011. Print.
National/International Competition Award Winner
Gasek, Tom. San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival. Director's Award. San Francisco, CA, 2014.
Published Review
Beck, Jerry. "Books Books Books." Rev. of Frame by Frame Stop Motion, ed. Focal Press. Frame by Frame Stop Motion 1 Oct. 2011: 1. Web.
Published Article
Gasek, Thomas.“Flying the Flag at Se-ma-For.” ASIFAEast Exposure Sheet. Association Internationale du Film d’Animation East Chapter. 13 September 2010. Web. ^
Installation/Exhibit/Performance
Gasek, Thomas. “Off-Line,” 2010, a dozen film festivals including South by South West (SXSW), ASIFA East, Black Maria Film Festival, Savannah Film Festival, Imagine Science Film Festival, Animation Block Party, The Big Easy, and Stop Motion Montreal. Exhibition. É