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Getting hired in Vancouver:
Demo Reels, Portfolios and Resumes — Tips from the experts!
Wednesday March 23, 2005 — 7:30 PM
Please join us for an informative panel discussion on the state of the computer graphics job market in Vancouver. Panelists include Human Resources representatives from Mainframe Entertainment, Electronic Arts, and other local games and effects studios to be announced. Learn about current industry hiring trends, what type of work the industry is looking for, and how to put your best face forward through your demo reel, portfolio and resume.
The panel participants:
mainframe.ca
ea.com
relic.com
Notes from The Embassy Visual Effects Inc:
1. Experience/Training - We don't look for a particular form of formal training. We go strictly by talent. We have artist who went the film school route and found it very beneficial and some who locked themselves in their basements with a computer until they learned the software. Knowing your software's capabilities is key. Also,what some don't realize is that you still have to be an artist. Whether it's paint, clay or a computer you still have to have an artist's eye. You must understand form, function, lighting and interaction in an environment.
2. The software we use at the moment for 3D is Lightwave but we are slowly shifting to Maya and Softimage. For 2D (compositing) we use Shake because we are on MACs. For PC the most popular are Digital Fusion, Combustion or After Effects.
3. When creating a demo reel an artist needs to decide what their goals are. Cartoon animation, gaming, photo-real, arty-farty... Sometimes I receive reels with so much stuff on it I don't know what the artist wants to do. They try and show a diversity of talent but the lack of focus presents a lot of shots but nothing done particularly well. Only put the shots on which YOU are most proud of. Often reels start off well then the less than appealing stuff is put on the end. What they don't realize is that the end of a reel is what is remembered. The best reels are short and sweet with a good music track to move it along. Before and afters are only useful for compositing (2D). For 3D we do not need to see the wire frames etc. Look at the company's website to see what kind of work they do. We create photo-real effects. It is amazing how many reels I receive that don't reflect to the work we do.
4. The Embassy is a small boutique effects house. We only have 14 employees so when we hire the candidate must have experience and talent. As the owners are also working artists we don't have the luxury of some who can supervise new talent.
theembassyvfx.com
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Other Vancouver studios:
rainmaker.com
artifexstudios.com
Other online resources:
Animation World Network career reference site
VFX World career reference site
If you're on the hunt for a job, or looking to hire some local talent, don't miss our April event!
© 2005 · Vancouver ACM SIGGRAPH · info@siggraph.ca
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