industry research – Debotriya's Journal

We hear this term so much, the creative industry, among others, seems to run quite a bit on networking. However in practice, networking for students like us felt very new and elusive. What do you talk about? How will one conversation grow into any work relationship or opportunity? In the last few months, I think I am beginning to get a grasp on what it means.

Screening of ‘Queer as F**k’ programme at Brighton International Animation Festival

**Puddle** screened in Natural World Programme

One of the highlights of this term was being able to attend Brighton Animation Festival in April. It was an achievement to be able to get a festival selection for our sting and it is quite a different experience than visiting as a spectator. After our home screening for our one minute films in February, I now knew some of the Guildhall composers in person and I met them again at Brighton. Having known faces in the crowd made it feel less nerve wracking. The film screenings were incredible and I met some more new filmmakers and animators behind the films. Turns out its really easy to talk to someone when you are talking to them about their film, everyone appreciates their hard work and ideas being seen and validated. I approached someone because their outfit was cool and turns out they are studying filmmaking in my home city, we became online friends and I got to see her film later even though I missed her screening.

Also being at the festival also gave me a context as to how selections probably work and what it is like having an audience react to your film.

In the easter break, the lovely Xiaoyu had organised a studio visit to BlinkInk for some enthusiastic people in the class who had been to Nexus instead at the start of last term. We were joined by some more animation students from Middlesex University and we attended the talk and the tour together. Nicola Strinas and Jac Clinch hosted the introduction session and took us through some of latest projects and the wide host of departments under the production house. It was partly amazing to see the studio and see familiar names and projects on their house project board, at the same time it felt a little hopeless hearing them say they want applications to ‘stand out’ even referring to someone sending them a mug with their contact details on it. It is hard to play the game when you don’t know what the rules are anymore.

I also had a chance to attend the UAL graduate career fair in January and met studio founders and talent representatives from studios like DNEG and Sliced Bread Animation. I also had a chance to get a portfolio review as a part of the fair. It was a little overwhelming and while I had some valuable conversations, I felt very lost and confused as to what I am supposed to be doing.

However, I found a little bit more faith in the process when I had posted online looking for volunteers to help with the grad film, four people reached out enthusiastically and I happened to know one of them from my Indian college, and another artist I had met at last year’s The Line showcase.

**Attending the NFTS Animation Showcase, I worked briefly on An Opening Night by Rebecca Heath**

The more artists and animators I encounter, meet and talk to, the less intimidating it seems to get. Hopefully soon ‘the industry’ will be more and more familiar faces and I will feel like I am a part of it.

Part 2: What

Now that I have wrangled with the ‘where’ of the kind of work I wan to do, the next question is what roles in can I work in?

The part of animation that I had fallen in love with in the first place was preproduction. I would pore over behind-the-scenes videos from Lion King, The Incredibles and Tangled, to see how they came up with the characters, how they designed the world, how they developed the story. I would see footage of the story and concept artists put together sketches and thumbnails in meeting rooms, piecing together and arriving at the films I had come to love so much.

I have identified my interests and abilities in two possible roles— storyboard artist or character animator.

As an animator I could work in film, television or video games and as a storyboard artist I would also have the opportunity to board live-action projects alongside animation. Starting out I would prefer to compile portfolios for both kind of roles given the uncertainty of actually landing roles in the industry currently.

Looking at storyboard portfolios and how artists present their work

I reached out to animators and storyboard artists online, and though I didn’t receive a lot of responses, I had the chance to speak to animator Gaurav Wakankar, and story artist Bianca Ansems. I had asked them about how they arrived at their roles, skills they had that helped them in their practice and advice on how to get work in the industry. They were kind enough to give very thoughtful answers and helped me ground my conjecture in reality.

Gaurav mentioned how he enjoyed animation because focusing on the motion was the part that gave him the most joy, rather than researching and designing characters or painting backgrounds. He had directed a short film and realised that directing was not his preference, and he would rather pursue animation roles. He also spoke about how there is no one set path, and he had initially started a studio before changing direction and working as a freelance animator.

Bianca advised to apply to jobs of all kinds of roles to start with, even if I wanted to be a storyboard artist eventually. She spoke about how she had worked in a variety of positions which not only gave her a better understanding of the whole production process, but it helped her earn a living and brought her contacts. She kindly gave me a list of skills and resources that would help if I want to be a storyboard artist.

Compilations from storyboard artist job listings on LinkedIn, Indeed, animated jobs and Glassdoor

Compilations from character animator job listings on LinkedIn, Indeed, animated jobs and Glassdoor

Before this course, I have worked for a year at an animation studio, on a number of roles including visual development, character design, storyboarding and 2D animation. Following Gaurav’s approach, I think I enjoy the processes where I can draw the characters in action and see the story unfolding. I also understand that standing here, I only have an idea of what I can do based on my existing experiences and I still have several specific skills I will need to learn to be better suited to the roles I want to have. While I am aware the chances of me getting to work in my preferred role from my first job after this course are not likely, it is important to identify which way to veer to.

Tag: industry research

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Building a career in the animation industry: Where, What and How II