Who am I?

I’m Kim Laume. I’m a junior modelmaker available for work in both the UK and NZ. I started my model making career in 2020 after over a decade of working as a graphic designer and professional musician, though my interest in model making started earlier than that. I dabbled in back in 2007 when I took a few short courses in 2D and 3D digital modelling and animation at Natcoll School of Creative Technologies (now Yoobee) in New Zealand.

My first foray into the world of stop motion was in 2011 where I entered New Zealand’s infamous V48hr film competition where I had just 48 hours to write and produce a short film. I’d been doing the competition for a few years as live action crew, but decided to go solo after those in my city were granted a waived entry fee due to the low morale from the devastating earthquakes earlier that year. Everyone thought I was crazy as I decided to attempt a stop motion film, having always been inspired by shows like Wallace and Gromit, Postman Pat, and Pingu. I received 1st place for animation in the Christchurch heats. But back then, I never thought for a second that it could ever be possible to do work in stop motion as a career, especially being from little old New Zealand.

Fast forward a decade or so and a country change (UK) later, I found my love of stop motion was rekindled during the UK lockdowns. I’d just put out my first solo full length album (and 6th record) and couldn’t tour it because of the lockdowns. But I decided I needed a break from the music industry anyway, and an idea for a stop motion film happened to pop into my head. So I started planning and building things for my film idea. When restrictions were lifted, I started taking short courses in puppet making, scale model making, casting, basic animation, and more. I volunteered on other projects and soon found myself working making scale models, props, puppets and set dressing for small productions, adverts, and a even a music video for one of my favourite bands.

I’ve been continuing to expand my skills and knowledge, taking further courses in props fabrication, moulding and casting, painting, character design, puppet fabrication, fine arts, and now modelling software such as Blender and SketchUp. I still tack away at my short film idea, but lack of studio space and the joys of renting have so far made it a bit tricky to execute! Thankfully my idea won’t age and I know it will get done when possible.

I look forward to many more years growing in this industry, meeting like-minded creative people, learning more great skills and being apart of telling brilliant stories through the medium of art.