My name is Vivi Markatos, I'm originally from Greece and ever since I was a child I always wanted to make animated films. I grew up in Athens, as the eldest daughter in a family of five. After a financial disaster, we moved into a rural area around Delphi were I finished my schooling.
I was always drawing during the school breaks, on the desks, in my books and notebooks... I was making my own stories and heroes. I always dreamed that one day all of these will come to the big screen.
However since I grew up in a conservative environment facing a difficult financial crisis as a country and as a family, my parents were very concerned about the career path of an artist and this wasn't unreasonable; In Greece there was no established film or animation industry, school or intensive studies... Their reaction towards my dream was very negative, wanting me to choose a degree that could provide me a stable income. However I knew that nothing else would make me happy.
My first degree was in Theatre in the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens where I furnished myself with skills in theatrical and cinematic knowledge and where I also attended a college of graphic design. Next I applied to the University of Portsmouth, my only option to study computer animation. I got accepted and I left everything behind to achieve my dream. If it is your dream you have to make sacrifices.
I had only 100 euros, nowhere to live, and I knew no one in England. I took the student loan and I started a new journey in a brand new world. With no family support or anyone else I learned to stand on my own feet.
Right now, at 28, I am a children's book illustrator with more than 30 titles published in Greece and Cyprus. I have collaborated on some international projects with clients like The Greek-German Embassy, worked with promising start-up businesses in the UK, I made my first short film which was nominated both in London's Lift off Film Festival and also the Greek Film Academy.
Now I am working on my next film with a small fund provided by the Greek ministry of culture and the Greek film centre for a short animation. The theme is inspired by the history and myths of the UK and some research into Medieval England. I am very excited about this project and I hope to see it finished soon.
- Vivi Markatos
Book illustrator
Email: Paraskevi.Markatou@myport.ac.uk