Story Internship at Aardman

Source: animatedjobs.com

Paid Internship 

Deadline: 1pm,Friday 4th March 2016

Aardman are known worldwide as the creators of Wallace and Gromit, Chicken Run, The Pirates, and most recently, Shaun the Sheep. At the heart of all these films lies a character driven story. Join us to come and work as an intern within our feature story department.

• 6 week paid position
• The story internship affords those looking to move into story the opportunity to learn and build on their storytelling skills under the guidance of the artists at our feature film studios in Bristol, UK.

SUMMARY:

During the 6 weeks, story interns will work with a story artist to:

• Learn how to take a script and realise it for the screen and how a storyboard is used by different departments throughout production.
• Work with a story artist to learn the day-to-day processes of being in a story department.
• Develop storyboarding skills by doing the process themselves.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Someone with (or working towards) at least a degree level qualification in Animation, Film or a related subject with less than 2 years industry experience as a story artist OR someone looking to move into story from another discipline i.e. Animation, Art Department etc.

• A portfolio which demonstrates a basic storytelling ability (e.g. cinematic staging, a sense of drama/comedy/action etc.
• A competent level of draughtsmanship (knowledge of composition, design, layout, motion etc.)
• Someone who is able to work to a deadline in a collaborative environment.
• Must be comfortable working digitally (i.e. on a drawing tablet with Photoshop).
• Must be eligible to work in the UK.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

• Deadline for applications 1pm on Friday 4th March 2016.
• Email your Cover Letter and CV with a link to your online portfolio (website or blogspot/tumblr etc) tojobs@aardman.com.
• Please state the email subject as Story Internship. You will receive a confirmation of receipt.

OR

Submit a hardcopy portfolio accompanied by your Cover Letter and CV to: HR, Aardman Features Ltd, 1410 Aztec West Business Park, Almondsbury, Bristol BS32 4RT. Regretfully we cannot return any materials submitted.

We WILL only accept applications through the above channels. If you submit another way (e.g. email attachment, dropbox link etc.) we cannot guarantee your portfolio will be seen. Successful applicants will be contacted to further the process.

Animation and Film Internship - The House London

Source: www.bristolcreatives.co.uk

Deadline: Friday 7th November 2014*
Position: Internship (based in Bristol)
Salary: £20 per day to cover expenses

Days: 3+ per week

Hours: 10-6pm

Start Date: December 2014

We look forward to hearing from you soon!

*Unfortunately we will not be able to respond to all applications.

The House London are searching for a new animations and film intern to work closely with our Bristol based animator. This will be a great opportunity for anyone who is looking to expand their skills and gain some essential industry experience working with fun brands and exciting projects.

For examples of our work please visit: www.thehouselondon.com and www.thehouselondon.com/project/the-house-animations/

The role will include:

1. Brainstorming
2. Ideation
3. Storyboarding
4. Design for print
5. Animation
6. Video Editing
7. Audio Syncing
8. Youtube Channel Optimisation

We’re looking for the best, so if you have talent and are willing to learn new skills apply for this position by sending a short introduction (no more than 200 words) along with your CV, PDF folio or a link to your website (if you have one).  We’ll offer you real world training and experience, with the potential of a full time position at the end of the 3 month internship.

For bonus points, please explain why you want to work with us AND tell us which room in your house is your favourite and why.

Send applications to…

Matt Wilson, matt@thehouselondon.com

Interview with Freelance CG Animator Dani Abram

Dani Abram is a Bristol based CG Animator who truly loves her job. She graduated from Swansea Metropolitan University in 2007 with a degree in 3D Computer Animation. Since then she has worked on a variety projects, including The Pirates for Aardman and Halo 4 for Cubic Motion Ltd. 

We decided to interview Dani to get the low down on being a CG Animator and to find out why she believes that CG Animation is a dream job to have. 

1.What inspired you to become a CG Animator? Have you always wanted to be one?

I have always wanted to be one, but I can't remember exactly when or what inspired it! It might have been playing through Final Fantasy VII as a kid, or falling in love with cartoons such as Animals of Farthing Wood (seriously!) and films like Fern Gully. I remember not knowing what an animator was, so I said things like: 'when I grow up I want to make cartoons!' At the end of primary school I had learned the words 'Special FX,' and so I told everybody that was what I wanted to do! After studying art at college, I finally got to University to study 3D Computer Animation. It was a dream come true!

Dani cites Fern Gully as early inspiration!

2. Are there any stars of the CG animation world which you look up to?

Ooh great question! Sadly, I am pants at names. Animators don't really get the kind of acclaim that they're worth either! But I do absolutely aspire to be as good as some of the people I have had the privilege to work with! I am constantly surrounded by amazing animators, I couldn't possibly start naming names! However, at the moment I can not stop stepping through the shots of In Seung Choi, whose work can be seen on The Legend Of Korra's opening credits. He's a key animator and director and I could just weep at his weight and timing. He's a traditional animator, but the principals are the same!

3. What is the most exciting project you have worked on so far in your career?

I worked on The Pirates In AnAdventure With Scientists! with Aardman Animations, which gained an Oscar nomination! It was such a wonderful two years and I am so lucky to have been a part of it! I worked as a CG facial animator and I also got to do some little background character animations. I worked in a team of only three facial animators, so to be involved on a feature in that capacity was incredible! I have an anecdote about almost every shot from that film ^_^

Dani worked on the Aardman Pirates film. 

4. I know you love your job. What are the best bits?

When you know within yourself that you nailed a performance and it makes you proud! Some shots get passed and some don't, that's just the way of it. But when you've finished a scene and you can sit back and think 'I gave that everything!' that's addictive!

I also love the variety! I have to move from project to project a lot which means uprooting, but new companies offer new ways of doing things and I'm a bit of a pipeline geek! I love new animation pipeline tools, often written specifically for that project! I would love to write my own someday! There aren't enough hours in the week...

5. Are there any negatives?

The size of the industry worries me on a monthly basis! I can not guarantee I'll be able to move straight onto another project when one finishes and so the freelance life can be up and down financially!

6. Are there many other women working in CG animation that you know, or is it quite a male dominated industry?

I can only really answer this anecdotally, based on my own experiences. There are women working in animation and some of the best animators I have worked with are bad ass ladies, but I do find myself wishing there were more. I often find myself one of two, maybe three on a team of animators. There are plenty of girls working in other roles within animation: producers, production, storyboarding etc. I guess it depends on what production you are working on though! In my experience 'features' was better then 'series,' which was better then 'games!' In short: MOAR GURLS PLS. 

7. What attributes do you think you need to become a successful CG animator?

Patience, tenacity, a willingness to improve, a drive to learn.  I feel awkward answering this as I still don't feel like a 'successful CG animator!' I am still trying to make it myself ^_^

8. Is having a degree in computer animation vital in gaining a job in CG animation?

I would say so, yes. I held a panel discussion at a Comic Con recently with 4 industry professionals and each one had attended a University. It gets your first showreel together and teaches you the basics of the software you need. It's also vital to attend a University that has great links with industry. My Uni invited big VFX companies to our campus often, to give talks and to attend graduate shows, which is great way to make your first steps at networking! And the people you graduated with are all potential contacts!

9. Do you keep a sketchbook or do you do everything on the computer? (In other words do you need to be able to draw well the good old fashioned way to do your job?)

Omgosh yes. Not only do I always have a sketchbook in my bag but I also make and publish my own comics. I am always drawing, or thinking about drawing, or watching people to draw later. And it totally depends what you mean by 'do everything on the computer!' I have a Wacom tablet and a Cintiq too, so I do lots of digital stuff! But I was born and will die in a sketchbook.

A sketch by Dani. She is a firm believer of the old fashioned sketch book.

10.Is Bristol a good place for CG animation?

It is in comparison with other places in the UK. I have managed to make my career mostly in Bristol and I really love it and don't want to leave. I moved here to 'make it' in 2007 and it was really very hard at first to keep trying. There are lots of animators here, and a good bunch of companies, more than most places. But that does mean competition, so you have to find ways of making yourself more employable by the companies that are here. I am currently working as an After Effects compositor for example. That said, there are lots of amazing CG cartoon series and content coming out of Bristol that people might not know about! Lot's of children's television gets produced here! My last CG series was an awesomely cute series called The Numtums!

Dani recently worked on this series.

11.Finally -is there any advice you would give to any budding CG animators hoping to gain a foothold into the industry?

The auld cliché: Never give up. It took me a year of contacting companies and hanging around animation events and turning up on doorsteps with showreels before I got my first gig in Bristol. But it was worth it! I live my dream everyday! Animation is the most creatively rewarding and coolest career and full of the very best people ;p

Many thanks to Dani for answering our questions. To find out more about her work take a look at her blog.

Story Board Artists - Aardman

Source: www.aardman.com

Aardman are currently looking for Story Board Artists across a number of stop motion projects which are starting in the coming months.

Applicants must have previous story boarding experience on either Series or Feature projects; please submit your CV, CV Coversheet & Showreel to The HR Dept, (Story Artists), Aardman, Gas Ferry Road, Bristol BS1 6UN by 5pm, Friday 29th Aug 2014.

For more information about the role go here.

Freelance Call Out for a Creative Director/Games Designer at Aardman

Source: www.aardman.com

Creative Director/ Games Designer – Freelance Call Out

Aardman’s Digital team are looking for talented freelance creative ideas people to conceive, communicate and creatively lead the development of award-winning ideas for online and mobile games and other interactive entertainment.

You need to have a proven understanding for what is needed to make a game or experience fun and how to engage and inspire children and families with digital entertainment. You also need have a strong knowledge of the technical possibilities. This is not a hands-on creative role, instead you will be leading designers, animators and developers to create your vision.

Please send CV and examples of your work to digital@aardman.com

To find out more about Aardman go here

Open Call for Bristol Biennial

The Bristol Biennial is building new foundations as an interactive contemporary Arts Festival. The Bristol Biennial is intended as a collaborative project between institutions, groups, associations and individual practitioners within the creative arts sector. Its objective is to create an interactive and international platform to raise the profile of Bristol based emerging artists. By instigating and promoting new collaboration and discussion through an international network, local artists can gain access to new artistic territory.

The theme for 2014, Crossing the Line,gathers a crowd of meaning, to encourage an exchange of ideas, bringing out the best of innovative and interactive work. Using a dynamic programme of spaces and locations in Bristol, artists are asked to consider: place and space, international exchange and the relationship between artist and audience.

The programme is open to proposals from artists working with: Live Art, Performance Art, Music, Visual Arts, Video, Sculpture, Drawing, Animation and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

The Bristol Biennial will take place in various locations in and around the city. The Biennial team will match selected projects to locations, which include re-appropriated existing space, disused sites, creative buildings and public spaces. Artists are also encouraged to suggest locations.

The Festival is presented over 9 days from the 12th-21st of September 2014.

The Open Call runs from the 14th October to the 2nd January 2014.

Successful artist and art group applications will be notified during the first week of December.

Funding

Subject to funding necessary production costs will be provided.

How

For your application please include the following:

●     Current CV

●     Your project proposal (500 words max.)

●     Budget, including materials and equipment

●      Examples of previous work (incl. website links) 10-12 still images, or 5 minutes of Video. If sending via e-mail please use  https://www.wetransfer.com/ for large files, sent to the address below.

 Sent via e-mail to:

contact@bristolbiennial.co.uk

 Post to:

Admin, Bristol Biennial

Studio 108:1 Spike Island Studios

133 Cumberland Road

Bristol

BS1 6UX

Deadline for Applications 2nd January 2014, 5pm.

Participant Call Out - Asian Arts Agency

Desh project

Homeland/Motherland 

Do you, your parents or grandparents originate from the Indian sub-continent? Do you want to develop skills in animation and music, have a platform for your ideas and creativity, and explore your heritage?

We’re looking for budding animators and creative types to take part in an intergenerational project exploring and interpreting South Asian culture and its place in Bristol’s history.

Throughout the project you will work with professional artists to explore different animation techniques, digital story telling and music production, gaining new skills and experience that will build up your CV. You’ll develop your own work in response to what you discover about South Asian folk arts and get the opportunity to see what you’ve created become part of a dynamic and interactive touring exhibition at the end of the project. 

The initial series of twelve weekly workshops will run from Tuesday 7th January to Tuesday 25th March

When: 4.30-6.30pm

Where: The Station, Silver Street, Bristol BS1 2AG

Age: 16-24

No experience necessary, all equipment provided

FREE 

To sign up and for more information please see our website at www.asianartsagency.co.uk

The Desh Project will run from January 2014 until March 2015.

About Asian Arts Agency

Asian Arts Agency is an arts development agency that develops, promotes and supports international contemporary and traditional South Asian arts in the South West and across the UK.

Asian Arts Agency, Royal Oak House, Royal Oak Avenue, Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4GB