Introduction visual effects and how to get into the industry as a new entrant

1. Careers in Visual Effects (VFX) – where
art and technology collide
Yen Yau
Talent Development Manager
Into Film
24 June 2014
Edinburgh International Film Festival

2. 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

3. The Bigger Picture
Creative employment outpaces rest of economy
Convergence and disruptive digital media
The creative economy is one of the few
industrial areas where the UK has a credible
claim to be world–leading
Equipping young people with transferable skills,
21st
century skills.
Skills shortages and fusion skills

4. 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.

5. The Film Industry – the Opportunities
.
• Craft and technical skills
• Production management
• VFX (Visual Effects)
• Digital content and audience
choice
• Developing writers, producers
and directors

6. 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.
More recent figures predict annual
revenues growing to £600m by
2014
There is a short supply of young
people graduating with right mix
of technical, mathematical and
creative skills and few people
realise that the industry exists
and is a world leader here in the
UK.

7. Key Findings
At over £2 billion in global sales, the UK’s
video games sector is bigger than either its
film or music industries. Visual effects, the
fastest growing component of the UK’s film
industry, grew at an explosive 16.8 per cent
between 2006 and 2008.
High-tech, knowledge-intensive sectors and,
in the case of video games, major generators
of intellectual property, these industries have
all the attributes the UK needs to succeed in
the 21st century.

8. VFX and SFX

9. Getting on – the VFX skills spectrum
.

10. Where is the science?

11. Developing a Portfolio
•NUKE (2D compositing)
http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/nuke-product-family/nuke/personal-lea
•MAYA (3D animation)
http://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-maya/overview
•HOUDINI (3D animation)
http://www.sidefx.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=589&It
•Blender (free and open source 3D animation suite)
http://www.blender.org/

12. 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/

13. Creative Skillset
http://creativeskillset.org/
• Job Profiles
• National Occupational Standards
• Getting Personal Careers Advice
• Career Resources (templates, videos, case-studies,
etc.

14. 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

15. 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

16. Can you cut the mustard?
Who are you?
What are your skills?
What are you passionate
about?
What’s your BRAND?
Are you resilient?

17. What are your options when you leave
school and university?
 Degree courses
 Next Gen Skills
Academy
 Trainee Finder
 Runners
 Roto Artists
 Producer

18. What Employers Want
1. Honesty and integrity
2. Basic literacy skills
3. Basic oral communication skills
4. Reliability
5. Being hard working and having a good
work ethic
6. Numeracy skills
7. A positive can do attitude
8. Punctuality
9. Ability to meet deadlines
10. Team working and co-operation skills

19. Useful Websites
• BAFTA Guru
• Double Negative
• Nofilmschool
• BBC Careers
• Craft and Tech Academy
• Televisual
• Screen International
• Broadcast
• Art of VFX

20. Action Plan

21. What’s with the Purple Cow?

22. Final Thoughts
1. Be resilient
2. Be bold
3. Do a Skills audit
4. Always double check grammar
& spelling!!
5. Research, Research &
Research!!
6. Don’t be a MEDIA WANNABE!
7. Be prepared – 90 second pitch

23. Getting in Touch
yen.yau@intofilm.org
Second Light Labs
Skills Fusion
@yenyau
@getintofilm