Preparing Students for 21st Century Careers in Digital Production: Opportunities in Digital Production and Helping Students Find

Their Way
June 11, 2012 John I Leonard High School

Lisa Tripp, Ph.D. Research Scientist FSU College of Motion Picture Arts

Benoit Doidic Training Manager Digital Domain Media Group

Note: This PDF includes selected presentation slides from the event. Please do not share or circulate without permission.

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What are the current opportunities in digital production?

How can we help students be better prepared for college and careers in digital production?

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What kind of jobs are out there?

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What kind of jobs are out there?

Artist Roles Technical Roles Production Roles Administrative Roles

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Artistic and Technical Disciplines

Modeling Texture Rigging Pre-visualization and Layout Character Animation Effects and Simulation Lighting and Rendering Digital Matte and Environments Compositing
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Sample Job Titles

Character Animator 3D Modeler Texture Artist Digital Matte Painter Level Designer Technical Director Lighting T.D. R&D T.D. Technical Artist Compositor Matchmove Artist Rotoscope Artist Hard-surface Modeler Environment Artist Game Engineer Tools Engineer Resource Assistant Technical Assistant Production Assistant Production Coordinator Assistant Editor IS Coordinator System Administrator Concept Artist Previz Artist 3D Layout Artist Rigging T.D. Technical Animator Cloth Simulation Effects Artist Art Director Digital Asset Artist Production Manager

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More Job Titles

Layout Artist Maya Generalist Motion Graphics Artist Surfacing Artist Asset Creation Artist Effects TD Look Development TD Shader Writer. Production Accountant Intern Background Animator Flash Animator Trainer Documentation Graphics Engineer Database Admin Texture Artist Desktop Support Graphic Designer Hard Surface Modeler Organic Modeler Game Tester 2D Story Animator Water TD Nuke Compositor Pipeline TD Environment Layout Motion Capture Artist Research Coordinator Color and Lighting TD Hair TD Systems Coordinator Digital Roto Artist

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Opportunities
Feature Visual Effects Broadcast Visual Effects Feature Animation Broadcast Animation Commercials Previsualization Games Architectural Visualization Scientic Visualization Military Applications Virtual Performances Theme Park Design

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Research
Whos work do they admire? Research studios past work. Use their websites. Watch DVD and game extras. Presentations, Events, and Trade Shows.

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Where do they think they want to work?

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Digital Media Companies

Digital Domain Tradition Studios Lucaslm Animation 2K Games Electronic Arts Pixar Tippett Studios High Moon Nintendo Imageworks Deamworks Animal Logic Roto Factory Disney Feature Animation Hammerhead The Mill Rhythm & Hues Buf Disney Toon Boom Nickelodeon Blizzard LucasArts Activision Double Fine Double Negative Wild Brain Framestore The Third Floor Mr. X Bungie Real U Ubisoft A52

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More Digital Media Companies

Dr. D Codemasters Laika Disney Feature Animation Starz Animation Polygon Fox Animation Klasky Csupo Production I.G. Rough Draft Playlogic Mikoishi Pentamedia Studio 4C Microsoft Game Studios Sega Driving Studio Virtuous Liquid Development Matte World Digital Dreamworks Animation Lightstream Animation Kuju Mainframe Studio Ghibli Massive Black Evil Eye Pictures Double Negative Neversoft Telltale Whiskeytree Shaba Games Weta Digital Image Engine

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Still More Digital Media Companies

Stargate Digital Rainmaker Proof Industrial Light & Magic Z-Axis PRPVFX Aardman Animation Nickelodeon Cartoon Network Williams Street Jim Henson Studio Anya Animation Kaleida Framestore Valve Paragon Streamline Studios Juice Games Rockstar Travellers Tales Crytek Blizzard CIS Hollywood Du Monde Funcom Naughty Dog Rhino Double Negative Game Loft Atomic Fiction Motion Theory Free Radical Criterion

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Post-Secondary Opportunities in Digital Production

...in Florida
(an incomplete list)

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How can we help K-12 students be on the right path for college or careers in Digital Production?

The shelf-life of a digital artist is 4-5 years.

Knowing software isnt enough Being creative isnt enough

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So dont specialize in your teens!

A better strategy? Specialize 2 years out from a job search. Until then, focus on those soft skills.

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Soft Skills

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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Research Creativity Productivity Teamwork

The ability to absorb data and categorize it for later use. The ability to nd and judge the usefulness of sources. The ability to analyze a situation, and in spite of prior knowledge and experience, synthesize a new viewpoint. The ability to manages ones time and creative energy, allowing for the exibility required to keep a steady output of work. The ability to contribute input and act accountable, realizing that todays projects cross multiple levels of specialization.

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Art & Film Research Creativity Productivity Teamwork

Art/Film History, Design, Observation Brainstorming, Exercises/Routine, Practice Time Management, Iterations, Deadlines Interdisciplinary Projects, Transmedia, Critiques

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Screenwriting Research Creativity Productivity Teamwork

Fables, Story Structure, Dialogue, Backstory Free Writing, Brainstorming, Finding the Zone Time Management, Revisions, Milestone Drafts Critiques, Style Guides, Common Voice

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Animation Research Creativity Productivity Teamwork

Physiology/Biology, Locomotion, Literature Thumbnailing, Improv Acting, Practice Time Management, Iterations, Deadlines Pipeline Hand-off, Transmedia

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Game Design Research Creativity Productivity Teamwork

Historical Settings, Physics, Puzzles, Marketability Vision, Lore, Efcient Storytelling, Play Sprints, Iterations, Flexibility to Change Discipline-specic Input, Critiques, Playtesting

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The Artistic Kid

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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The Prodigy

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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The Button-pusher

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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The Ideal College Freshman

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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The Future Manager

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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The Future CEO

Research

Creativity

Productivity

Teamwork

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Importance of Prior Knowledge

Allows for the combination of disparate ideas Avoids repetition, but grounds new ideas Aides the creative process Aides communication between teammates

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Importance of Practicing Creativity

Routine leads to clarity of purpose Frustration becomes play, accidents become
opportunities

Reduces fear of the unknown

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Importance of Time Management

Reduces the impact of distractions Promotes input, change, and improvement Allows the creative process to occur

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Importance of Your Peers

Working with others Help each other focus Shadow Recruiting Network

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Professional Organizations

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How do they set themselves apart?

I can see this person doing this job.

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 Target their reel to the job theyre applying for. Work backward from the job description. Multiple versions of their reel. Companies have different styles. Companies have different requirements. Differentiate themselves from other applicants.

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Apprenticeships and Internships

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How should students present themselves?

Class assignments are not enough! Hole-llers Personal projects Group projects

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How do studios present their work?

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T H E F L O R I D A S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y
C O L L E G E O F MOTION PICTURE A RT S

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B ACHELOR OF F INE A RTS

A NIMATION & D IGITAL A RTS

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B ACHELOR OF F INE A RTS

A NIMATION & D IGITAL A RTS

W HAT ARE THE A DMISSIONS R EQUIREMENTS FOR F RESHMAN ? B E A CCEPTED BY B OTH FSU & THE F ILM S CHOOL H AVE AT L EAST A 3.0 GPA & G OOD SAT S CORES A PPLICATION P ROCESS INCLUDES R ESUME , S TATEMENT OF P URPOSE , L ETTERS OF R ECOMMENDATION , & I NTERVIEW
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B ACHELOR OF F INE A RTS

A NIMATION & D IGITAL A RTS

W HAT ARE THE A DMISSIONS R EQUIREMENTS FOR T RANSFERS ? B E A CCEPTED BY B OTH FSU & THE F ILM S CHOOL H AVE AN A CCEPTABLE C OLLEGE GPA, U SUALLY A BOVE 3.0 M EET FSU S L IBERAL S TUDIES R EQUIREMENTS OR H AVE AN AA

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B ACHELOR OF F INE A RTS

A NIMATION & D IGITAL A RTS

W HAT DO WE LOOK FOR IN A STUDENT ? A CADEMIC S KILLS U NIQUE V OICE D EMONSTRATED I NTEREST IN F ILM &/ OR A NIMATION T EAM P LAYER H ARD W ORK & D EDICATION
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B ACHELOR OF F INE A RTS

A NIMATION & D IGITAL A RTS

I F Y OUR S TUDENTS A RE I NTERESTED ... C OME V ISIT U S ! I NFORMATION S ESSIONS A CADEMIC A DVISING S PECIAL E VENTS A ND M ORE ....
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Download the handout at www.scribd.com/doc/96676418

Lisa Tripp, Ph.D.
Research Scien,st FSU College of Mo8on Picture Arts Youth Outreach Advisor Digital Domain Ins8tute 560 Okeechobee Blvd West Palm Beach, FL ltripp@fsu.edu 561-835-4215

Benoit Doidic
Training Manager Digital Domain Media Group Curriculum Steering Member Digital Domain Ins8tute 10250 SW Village Parkway Port St Lucie, FL bdoidic@media.d2.com 772-345-8905

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