Computer Graphics World

Summer 2019

Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1144162

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 71 of 75

70 cgw s u m m e r 2 0 1 9 Clearing Hurdles in the Classroom T he road to a meaningful education is always laden with barriers – some tangible, some intangible; some expected, some unexpected. Indeed, this is a very stressful time in a person's life, and schools recognize this anxiety, as many of today's animation, VFX, and film schools have spent decades and even longer prepar- ing young artists and filmmakers for careers in the industry. They probably have seen it all hundreds of times over and have worked hard to stave off many a crises over the years, nipping problems in the bud before they have time to root. A number of schools were asked to iden- tify the biggest hurdles students face today in terms of their education and then discuss how the institution helps students over- come those issues. "There are many hurdles that students face today when it comes to getting their foot in the door of the VFX industry. It's important to look at the com- plete package when we think about fixing the current problems for graduates seeking to get their first job," says Anna Hodge, man- ager of training and education at Rising Sun Pictures (RSP), which has partnered with the University of South Australia in offering accredited training opportunities in under- grad and post-grad visual effects courses. FINDING CONFIDENCE Confidence, or the lack of it, is a struggle for most young 3D artists, especially those graduating from university with expecta- tions of going into the industry. "We know that time and experience are the best options for building comfort and confidence in a 3D artist's work. Staying dedicated and continuing to build strong content will pro- duce the end results of a career," says Pete Bandstra, program director of 3D arts at Full Sail University. The lack of confidence is apparent just about everywhere. RSP's Hodge oen comes across students who are very capa- ble but fear asking questions when it comes to improving their show reel or resumes, or applying for a job. "The reality is, there is nothing to lose when it comes to applying. Understandably, there will be job rejections along the way, but the better you engage with recruiters, respond to feedback, and just keep the dialog going by showing that you are taking what they say on board, you will get there," she says. Nevertheless, the flipside of this is attitude – or the wrong one! "Again, there are many talented students and graduates out there, but with the wrong attitude, you will never get a job even with the best show reel," Hodge warns. "The industry of visual effects is a team sport, so you need to learn to participate and be a team player and understand your place on it." Another way to improve confidence is through problem solving. Max Dayan, director of education at Gnomon, notes that every discipline has its own challenges, but the one thing that transcends all others is problem solving. "We teach art, design, technique, and soware, but all of that is irrelevant if you cannot use creative problem solving to achieve your end goal. The tools and techniques change over time, and art- ists must do the same to stay relevant in the entertainment industry," says Dayan. In this regard, at Gnomon this is promot- ed in the classes from day one, ensuring that student have ample time to build solid critical thinking skills. "Our education staff and faculty are all professional production artists who understand the importance of WORK BY STUDENT SENGJOON SUNG, ACADEMY OF ART. ANIMATION, VFX, AND FILM SCHOOLS TRY TO MAKE A STUDENT'S PATH TO SUCCESS AS BARRIER-FREE AS POSSIBLE BY KAREN MOLTENBREY

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Computer Graphics World - Summer 2019