Manchester Animation Festival: Meet the Experts

Whilst at MAF, I managed to get tickets to the 'Meet the Experts' event, where I got to go on a 'speed date' with producers and directors from different animation companies; Real Time UK, Studio Liddell, Factory, Brown Bag & Cosgrove Hall Fitzpatrick. It wasn't quite what I was expecting from the event as we got put into groups, so didn't get the chance to chat with people one-on-one, but it was still a great opportunity to talk to industry professionals.

It was really interesting to hear about their first hand experiences of how they made it in the industry, as well as seeing the difference in opinion on what companies want to see from CVs and applications. For instance, Tracy at Studio Liddell stressed the importance of having work experience. By this she didn't just mean in the animation field; she'd be interested in seeing that I've got up and done something with my time, and the skills I've taken from these experiences. For example, doing volunteer work or building social skills from a part-time job. However other companies such as Brown Bag aren't as interested in this, and just want to see the work you're capable of producing.

One thing that was consistent across all of the companies, was how much the importance of our showreels was stressed. They made it clear that they wanted our showreels to be easy to find in our applications, and how they should be precise and to the point, showing our strongest work. It was also mentioned that it might be a good idea to tailor your showreel to the company you are applying for, or to have different showreels for different job positions, but you MUST state what you are applying for in your application, as it may not be clear from the work you send in and so you might not be considered.

It was quite reassuring to see that some studios put a lot of emphasis on taking on junior animators too, and it was pointed out that we shouldn't be disheartened or put off by a company just because they might use a different software or method to what we are used to working with. Some companies will admire the passion and willingness to learn, and will train up junior animators anyway. In most cases they may just be looking for the talent and ability to animate and/or work as part of a team.