Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/12812
n n n n Education Opportunity of a The Visual Effects Society/Autodesk Student Award gives budding artists an invaluable career start One of the biggest challenges to freshly-minted gradu- ates of animation and visual effects programs is getting their work seen by the right people–people who understand the artistry, the technique, the innovation demonstrated in truly stellar creative work. People who recognize their talent. And more practically, people who can help them start their careers. Te Visual Effects Society (VES) and Autodesk offer just such an opportunity with the VES Student Award. First presented in 2009, the award recognizes outstanding achievement for visual effects in a student project. “Te idea for a student award had been bubbling through our Awards Committee for a number of years,” says VES executive direc- tor Eric Roth. Tings started to move quickly when Autodesk, a long- standing supporter of entertainment and design education, proposed sponsoring a VES student award in 2007. When director Steven Spiel- berg encouraged the VES to acknowledge student achievement in his 2008 acceptance speech for a VES Lifetime Achievement Award, all the efforts came together. “Autodesk was right there to support it,” Roth notes. “Tey have been a tremendous supporter of the VES, and of the craft.” “Tis award is a wonderful opportunity for us to help inspire the Thilo Ewers earned the 2010 VES Student Award for his photoreal CG short, “They Will Come to Town,” about a post-global-warming NYC. next generation of entertainers and designers,” says Jennifer Goldfinch, Autodesk Media & Entertainment marketing manager for education. “We’re proud to partner with the VES on this program encouraging students to excel, acknowledge their achievement, and help them pre- pare for their careers.” Roth notes, “Te visual effects craft is changing not year to year, Lifetime 28 June 2010