cambridge film festival 2014 visual effects careers talk
DESCRIPTION
careers talk about how to get into the VFX or visual effects industry. Some signposting to resources, useful contacts and films to illustrate opportunitiesTRANSCRIPT
Careers in Visual Effects (VFX) – where art and technology collide
Yen Yau Talent Development Manager Into Film With Professor Jeff Baggott Arts University of Bournemouth
3 September2014 Cambridge Film Festival
Into Film is an education charity that seeks to put film at the heart of children and young people’s learning and cultural experience.
www.infofilm.org
What is VFX?
Visual effects is a marriage of art, science, maths and technology
• VFX • Feature animation • Games • Virtualisation
Film Full Value Chain
• Research and Development, including Writing, Pitching, Finding Finance
• Pre-Production: Production is definitely on and preparations are made
• Production or Shoot: Filming • Post-Production or Post: Editing of sound,
vision and visual effects • Distribution and Exhibition, which may be the
crucial part of the process -marketing the film; getting it shown and watched.
The Gen Report
Visual effects, the fastest growing component of the UK’s film industry, grew at an explosive 16.8 per cent between 2006 and 2008. The annual revenue of the British VFX industry is expected to reach £600 million in 2014 A recent introduction of tax incentives from the European Commission will see a £188 million investment for Britain’s games development sector Since 2007, tax relief has provided more than £800 million worth of support for more than 800 British films with a combined production value of £5.5 million
VFX and SFX
Getting on – the VFX skills spectrum
.
Where is the science?
Developing a Portfolio
2D Compositing • NUKE – The award-winning tool for visual effects and the industry’s standard software • Adobe Photoshop – For matte painting and compositing for accurate image editing. • Adobe After Effects – A digital motion graphics, visual effects and compositing tool, used in post-production for film and television production.
3D VFX • Autodesk Maya – 3D computer animation, modeling, visual effects and rendering software tool. • Autodesk Mudbox – Computer-based 3D sculpting and digital painting tool. • ZBrush – 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing and digital painting tool.
Other resources
• The Core Skills of VFX http://www.skillset.org/animation/qualifications/article_8377_1.asp • Breakdown showreels http://www.artofvfx.com/?p=6591 http://www.moving-picture.com/showreels/vfx-breakdowns/ http://vimeo.com/milkvfx • Individual Career Profiles and Case studies • http://www.dneg.com/career_profiles/
The VFX Core Skills Primer
1. Where are you on the VFX SPECTRUM? 2. VFX is a TEAM SPORT 3. VFX: Where efficiency and creativity meet 4. It’s not about you, it’s about the PIPELINE 5. Deadlines really are DEADLINES 6. Somewhere, there is a CLIENT 7. Criticism is a request for CHANGE 8. Explain YOURSELF 9. VFX and the PHOTOREAL 10. That doesn’t look RIGHT! 11. Plan and DECONSTRUCT 12. The best VFX tool is PAPER
The VFX Core Skills Primer – cont’d 13. Don’t wait to be TAUGHT 14. 13. Don’t wait to be TAUGHT 14. You’re surrounded by EXPERTISE 15. The VFX LEXICON 16. VFX is cinematography and MATHS 17. Yikes, what kind of MATHS? 18. Know your tool: THE COMPUTER 19. Film THEORY 20. VFX is not NEW 21. The art of the EDIT 22. Style and VISION 23. OPTICS 24. SURPRISE us
Creative Skillset http://creativeskillset.org/
• Job Profiles • National Occupational Standards • Ge$ng Personal Careers Advice • Career Resources (templates, videos, case-‐studies, etc.
What are your options when you leave school and university?
q Degree courses
q Next Gen Skills Academy q Trainee Finder
q Runners q Producer
Useful Websites
• BAFTA Guru • Double Negative • Escape Studios • Televisual • Screen International • Broadcast • Art of VFX • The CG Society • FX Guide
Crea<ve Skillset – careers film hBp://crea<veskillset.org/crea<ve_industries/vfx/ways_into_the_industry Gravity Breakdown showreel: hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCm3FYp4hdI Beans (made by Cinesite) hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WoM2bHfr48 Making of Beans (great show and tell film of how this 42sec film was conceived and executed) hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzOzDyXZ3jw The Box (one of the places where technology, robo<cs and crea<vity are mee<ng) hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6JcybgDFo Making of The Box hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ajXJ3nj1Q