University of Alberta Grad Finds Success in Hollywood

Hard work and high ambitions helped Melissa Krystofiak land her dream job.

Melissa Krystofiak started her education at The University of Alberta with the hopes of becoming Martha Stewart. But one assignment changed her life, and convinced her that her destiny was to work in films.

“One of our school projects was to design two clocks that would fit in with a movie’s set… So I chose Moulin Rouge, a very elaborately designed movie,” says Melissa.

“As soon as that project was over I was like, this is it. I love design, but designing something that’s for a narrative, such as film, and where the sky’s the limit when it comes to design, it was amazing. I was like, I have to be doing this.”

After earning her Bachelors of Design, she boldly applied to the prestigious film school The American Film Institute and beat the odds by being one of only 14 new students admitted each year.

Her resume now boasts work on a small TV show (you may have heard of) called Glee, and worked on a small movie due out next Christmas called Transformers 3.

Hard work and high ambitions helped her land her dream job, where there’s no such thing as a typical day.

“It could be painting guns for a horror movie one day and the next you’re assembling kindergarten art room picture frames.”