GROSSMONT COLLEGE – Staff member Karen Ostegard of the student assessment department has reason for being “darn proud” about her son, Adam. He is the designer of toys and action figures for the second and third sequels of the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean.
When Adam was in 5th grade a teacher inspired him to pursue something that could show his already amazing talent of drawing. In 1995, when Adam was 21, he attended Cuyamaca College and later moved to Burbank to fulfill his dream of working for Disney. The studio, having seen his work, invited him to become involved with Disney product lines.
Ostegard’s office on the second floor of Grossmont’s Tech Mall is filled with her son’s handiwork. On the tops of two sets of shelves are many different action figures and plush toys – all designed by Adam. Additionally, she has adorned her office with a full-sized Jack Sparrow cutout and numerous picture from the Pirates of the Caribbean 3 set.
Adam started in the Baby Mickey and Baby Disney products and was then offered the Pirates job. He has won two awards for his toy design, one for his pirate ship and one for his treasure chest bank.
Mother and son had the chance to meet Orlando Bloom and many of the other pirates in the make-up trailer during the Pirates 3 filming. Bloom personally approved the toy Adam created in honor of his character Will Turner.
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Bailey is a student in Media Comm 132. She may be contacted at [email protected]
