Calendar, Important Dates, and Goals
Upcoming Events I will be attending:
Event name: The Lakes International Comic Art Festival
Organiser: LICAF Team
Date: 27th-29th September, 2024
Category: Art/Animation Festival
Reason for attendance: Events hosted by people/companies within the Art and Animation Industry will help me develop industry connections, and further my understanding of job prospects, career paths, and industry work standards.
Website: https://www.comicartfestival.com/
Event name: Manchester Animation Festival
Organiser: MAF Team
Date: 10th-15th November, 2024
Category: Art/Animation Festival
Reason for attendance: Events hosted by people/companies within the Art and Animation Industry will help me develop industry connections, and further my understanding of job prospects, career paths, and industry work standards.
Events I have attended, & Completed Training
Course: Getting into the screen industries
Organiser: ScreenSkills Learning
Date Competed: May 1st 2024
Category: ScreenSkills E-Learning Series
Reason for attendance: Learning about jobs within the Animation Industry, as well as the skills needed to succeed in it, are important for someone pursuing Animation as a career. This course helped me better further my knowledge of the industry, where to discover job vacancies, and interview techniques.
Website: https://www.screenskills.com/community/b4c11312-baef-45b5-ac65-57c5b7200703/
Course: Introduction to sustainability for the screen industries
Organiser: ScreenSkills Learning
Date Competed: May 2nd 2024
Category: ScreenSkills E-Learning
Reason for attendance: In a world constantly impacted by the climate crisis, it is important to be aware of how your actions (as an individual and as a group) contribute to the problem - and how you can rectify this. Whilst this course was mainly aimed at individuals within the live-action screen industry, aspects such as energy reduction and alternative. transport also apply to the animation industry.
Website: https://www.screenskills.com/community/b4c11312-baef-45b5-ac65-57c5b7200703/
Course: Diversity, equity and inclusion for the screen industries
Organiser: ScreenSkills Learning
Date Competed: 2nd May 2024
Category: ScreenSkills E-Learning
Reason for attendance: As someone in a privileged societal position, I feel it’s very important to recognise my position and promote equity and inclusion within the workplace and society as a whole. Whilst I already understood a lot of this course due to my interest in Activism, it did help me further understand it within the context of the screen industry.
Website: https://www.screenskills.com/community/b4c11312-baef-45b5-ac65-57c5b7200703/
End of 1st Year Edge Hill Animation BA (Hon): May 2024
Goals:
✔ Gain experience using Industry Software (Maya, ToonBoom Harmony, DragonFrame, Adobe Photoshop)
✔ Produce Animations using multiple mediums (2d, Stop-Motion, 3D)
✔ Produce a comprehensive, up-to-date Portfolio of work, and LinkedIn page.
Important Dates and Goals:
End of 2nd Year Edge Hill Animation BA (Hon): May 2025
Goals:
▢ Further develop experience using Industry Software (Maya, ToonBoom Harmony, DragonFrame, Adobe Photoshop)
▢ Begin to develop Industry connections, by attending industry events, career fairs, and potentially a placement (as well as individual research)
▢ Step out of comfort zone in my work
Graduation from Edge Hill Animation BA (Hon): May 2026
Goals:
▢ Develop a complex understanding of Industry Software (Maya, ToonBoom harmony, DragonFrame, Adobe Photoshop)
▢ Further develop Industry Connections, to expand career prospects
▢ Potentially attend interviews within Animation Industry, and be hired for Animation work
Work Experience and Placement Goals:
The kind of work experience / placement I am most interested in would involve working with a company specialising in 2D animation, with opportunities to produce storyboards, make suggestions, and ‘shadow’ employees within the company to observe the production process.
▢ Apply to ScreenSkills ‘Animation Trainee Finder programme’, which offers an entry-level paid placement for new Animators looking to get into the industry.
▢ Research further into Animation studios situated in and around Lancashire - such as Manchester-based companies like MightyGiant, or Kendal-based company Morph. Potentially contact them to ask if they have any placement opportunities.
▢ Consider potential 360 Media for companies I apply for placements in - this shows enthusiasm, and an interest in the company and it’s pursuits.