Thursday 1 July 2010

The 'Moving Image' Industry | General | Jobs in Animation and Film

So what I'm doing is identify the different disciplines within moving image from this website Skill Set to start to get an idea of whats out there in this big wide moving world of image. Starting with 2D computer, 3D, 2D drawn and Stop motion. Also things I've missed out or things that i think come under the title of moving image will also be included.

Development
Director - From what I've been reading the director literary sees over everything heres a list...

> The design of the project
> storyboards
> layout
> animtion
> post-production
> schedule
> budget?!?!!  (they have to sometimes manage how much money they can spend, never knew that, always thought some one followed them round bening a killjoy)
> casting
> sound

So really, anything that involves a creative decision.

Looking at how to become a director, it says that appropriate qualifications are needed, like graduating from an animation coarse or something creative, and from that work up the ranks. People look for good leadership skills and have a creative outlook.
Also the concept /original idea /vision, normally comes from the director in the first place.



Pre-Production
Production Designer - this guy or gal is responcable for the look of the porject, he or she thinks through how things can be done keeping in mind the treatment, script and most importantly the directors origonal vision

They should be able to 'illustrate the narrative and enable the director to realize their vision'

In a way you need to be able to read the directors mind, go inside his or hers head and claw out the concept and get cracking on how it can be achieved, also keep in mind the budget of the project (money always seems to be a burden) 

There is no real career path for becoming a production designer, the production designer could well be, if the project is bringing to life a book or comic, the author etc.
'Ideally, Production Designers will have worked their way through the Art Department, possibly starting as character or set designer and working their way up to Art Director.' so again, like the director, you work the way up the ranks (seems to be a trend here)



Storyboard Artist - We have done storyboards in class but will go threw it anyway. Storyboard artist brings the script and initial sketches together to tell the story, they work very closly with the script writer, produce, client and storyboard supervisor.
They will always have to, like Chris and Rick say, go back to them if something dosn't work or if the client isn't happy with something or if the script changes. so that's why they work closly with the script writer and client, so they can quickly go back the the drawing board (literary!) to make the sufficient changes.

Storyboard artists must be 'film literate', have good understanding of composition, layout ect. also they have to be able to work alone or in a team. Like i said before, depending on the project the drawing skills need to be good.
Also they need to be able to communicate the story to the director via presentation, so presentaional skills are needed.

Most storyboard artists did some sort of animation degree, because storyboarding is an essential part of the process, they might sway towards wanting to become a storyboard artist. or they can alternate from animator to storyboard artist.
So for storyboard artist its not just 'Work your way up', although from being a storyboard artist you could keep going.

Too much writing, heres a video...



Layout artist next...



Layout Artist - These guys will plan out the scenes, although I thought that was the storyboard artists job???

After looking at some other websites I've found a sentence from an article that helps out with what a layout artist dose...
'Gladstone gives an example of how the artist (in this case the layout artist), director, and art director work together. These individuals interpret the storyboard into the various sets, backgrounds and foregrounds for each shot of an animated film.'
So from this I'm guessing they look at the rough storyboards of a scene and bring it to life, give it a fitting background and colour ect.
The article goes on to talk about what a layout artist has to consider; Lighting, scope and the way the camera moves and even says that in the case of an animated film they can be seen as the cinematographer.

Yet again like the two of the past three job rolls, there is no specific career route to get into the layout department, unless you have an exceptional portfolio.
People who have worked on comic books or have had experience in illustration have a good chance of getting a job as a layout artist, the skill set website says,

'At the beginning of a project, Directors will often view illustrators' portfolios looking for a filmic style or an appropriate talent for composition and lighting.'



Production
Animation Director - AD Could help recruit animators picking people who are right for the specific production and will leads the animation team which is chosen.

AD is in charge of making sure everything works in sequence eg - one animators work fluently rolls in to the next shot which might be done by another animator, making sure the performance of the character stays the same and also the style of the character ect
On big projects there also in charge on keeping track of budget and making sure everything is done on time.

To Be an Animation Director you must have a good knowledge of animation and have had worked as an animator at some point. Must have good communication skills and be able to manage time well and budget.

Animation Directors are likely to have first-hand experience of most of the jobs within the department, from Runner to Inbetweener to Animator....so yet again to really become one, you need to work your way up!



Animator (2D drawn) - Animators bring to life the characters or whatever their animating following the design and brief given to them by the Director and Animation Director. Animators also need to be aware of the style of the production and also keep track of time and schedule.

Inbetweener (2D drawn) - Animators mostly do the key positions and work out the timing, then hand their work over to inbetweeners who will fill in the in between shots following what notes the animator has given them.

Working for a team in a production can be or is different to stuff you do at university, this website says the best thing to do is get work experience (yer, if anyone will take us)

Runners (2D Drawn) - Entry level job, wow, reading through it (i read it before writing anything) it sounds like i'll have to start learning how to make tea and coffee!

I'm gonna copy and paste this one because...

Runners provide support and backup wherever it might be required within the studio, but particularly at the request of the Production Office or Editing Department, and it can be very varied work. They check and, where possible, maintain studio equipment, including carrying out 'housekeeping', or office management duties, such as replacing batteries or light bulbs; fixing chairs; hanging pictures on walls; keeping track of materials and ordering new supplies; keeping the kitchen and other areas clean, tidy and well stocked; making tea or coffee, etc.


It has another paragraph but it ends with this....'but should also be watching and learning all the time.'

Keep on top of the tasks given and prioritize them.

No degree needed really, just look your best and have a smile on your face n' look enthusiastic. Although having a good portfolio and a degree of some sort will help your chances.

Being a runner lets you look first hand how a production company work in the real world, which is helpful, and also lets you decide what you think is best for you by looking at what jobs are available.

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The above are taken from 2D drawn animation (from the skill set website), but the same will apply in what ever animation process the job requires, but with a few changes like for instance....

Animating hand draw, you don't need to keep up to date with the latest 3D software (although you might want to if your like to mix it round and do 3D as well, or you might want to move on to 3D after starting in 2D.)
Also, there maybe other jobs in 3D that might not be needed in 2D, like a modeler, who will build the models (characters or sets etc) in the computer for referencing the concept art and so on.

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I renamed this to include film as well, because after doing research into film I realized things stay the same. The best place to start if your a graduate is a Runner and working your way up (no inbetweeners in it)

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What I've learnt (how do you spell learnt????   learned?  or learnt? or something totally different) from looking at jobs in animation and film is that you work your way up from the bottom, unless your a veteran and are going to another company, but to start off (which we will be doing in 2 years) being a Runner or a Inbetweener is the place to start, then find what you feels the right place for you in the company.


If you feel like you want a change, go to a different company or maybe start your own.....

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