engagement-challenge-casebook

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engagement challenge: cover letter

After some searching online, I found the animation studio Bluezoo. A company with IP's such as the Paddington animated series. I decided they would be a good company to make a cover letter for.

Cover Letter

I am writing to apply for the position of 2D Background Artist.

I have followed the work of Bluezoo for a while and I especially admire the work your teams have done on works such as The Paddington animated series and It’s a Pony. As well as your short films Mamoon, Ada and Via. I particularly admire how these projects utilise CG animation while retaining the texture and feel of traditional mediums. That is a quality I wish to emulate in my creative works. I like to think, with our shared aesthetic philosophies, I could be a valuable addition to a team like this.

I know I will bring a lot to the table as a 2D background artist. I have worked in and outside the University on my animated projects, for which I have drawn many backgrounds giving me a good understanding of the stages required to take a background painting from start to finish. I have worked with a wide variety of mediums such as stop motion, 2D digital animation, and paper cut-out stop motion. My understanding of traditional artistic mediums will be a strength in painting 2D backgrounds. I have extensive experience using Adobe Photoshop, iPad Procreate, and Autodesk Sketchbook. I am unfamiliar with the program Ftrack, but I am more than ready and willing to learn.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing back from you soon,

Brianna Mcarthur

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Prospective Animation Role

Having looked at several animation companies and creative industry recruitment sites, I found this entry-level role at Blue Zoo Studios.

I am familiar with this company due to their work on the CG Paddington animated series as well as the Playmobil movie. I feel they would be a good option to contact, and I will produce a cover letter for this role.

Pro & Cons

Pros:

This position interested me as it is for a background artist - something I would be interested in.

It is an entry-level role – so there would be an expectation that there will be some training to build on the skills I have already attained at university.

It is potentially a hybrid role and remote working is considered.

I have experience using Adobe Photoshop.

Cons:

I currently have no experience with FTrack – which is mentioned in the job description – I will need to look at learning about this. 

There is no indication of salary range

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Engagement Challenge: Creative Recruitment Sites.

Here are two sites I have been exploring in my search for suitable working positions.

Arts Jobs operated by The Arts Council England

Creative Access

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Employment Philosophies: Initial Response/Thoughts

As part of my engagement challenge, I was tasked with reading through a pDF on employment philosophies. going thorugh each point and giving my own inittial response and thoughts.

A culture of making

I have come from a culture of making, I know how to finish a project. I don’t go around in cycles for weeks. A can deliver. I am a finisher. We have spent the last 3 years making product and I love it. ‘You have an understanding that nothing is ever perfect, and you have reached a point where you can deliver to a professional standard, you understand what warrants a professional standard.

I understand what warrants a professional standard; I usually set myself to high standards anyway. However, I’m afraid about my ability to complete certain pieces of the project on time. While I have been able to complete every project I’ve done so far to the deadline and I work hard, I have needed extra time, and I can be rather slow. I am Proud of the work I produce, but it often takes me a while to get into focus with my projects.

Engaged in industry standard practice and methods

During the last 3 years we have engaged in standard industry practice. Engaged creative methodologies using industry standard planning, communication and pipeline tools. I have a good understanding of what is expected of me in my chosen role and I can fit into your process and way of working. I stopped just watching animation and started making them and I love the process, seeing things come together, it’s amazing. I’m addicted, give me more.

I agree that I have learned industry standard practices from these past few years and am good at them, such as planning, communication, experimentation, etc. I do not like the tone of this paragraph, though. While admirable, I think the enthusiasm displayed for the creative project process is rather exaggerated and, frankly, unnecessary. It comes off as forced and somewhat fake like whoever is writing is trying too hard to impress a potential employer. This goes for many instances of overenthusiasm in the EP letter. The last sentence made me deeply uncomfortable.

Seamless integration into industry

We didn’t do 9 hr’s a week teaching at University and the rest of the week on the couch and sleeping in bed. We adopted a 9-5 working culture in a fully equipped studio environment. Our projects were seen as commercial and there was commercial work around me. It was designed to make my step into the industry as seamless as possible. I can get up for work in the morning.

While I wouldn't say my university schedule is as demanding as that of a 9-5 job, the curriculum and workflow of my course have given me discipline and a better idea of what my typical work week in a creative industry job might be like. I didn’t find the opening joke all that funny.

A broad understanding of the digitial industry I’m not simply obsessed with working in a major studio, it would be great but I know there are multitudes of other opportunities out there that can draw on my broad skill set. ‘You want to communicate that in your mind this opportunity is not second best, you are very interested in the full spread of digital disciplines, you are happy to turn your hand to anything and you are hungry to learn.

This part deeply resonated with me as a creator. Though I am more comfortable working in traditional mediums such as stop-motion, I am open to working in various mediums and fields such as digital 2d, animatic, character design, digital drawing on Photoshop, etc. I do not want to be pigeonholed into one medium. So, I can get behind the sentiment of a broad skill set being a valuable asset as an artist and to a company.

Team working has taught me to be a professional

I have worked in teams, experienced the ups and downs, the politics and the egos. I have a professional persona that will work with anybody to deliver on a project. I am a team player; I enjoy working with like-minded people. I’m diplomatic, I defuse tension, and I deal well with stress and support others under pressure.

I have so far only worked with one team on my own project, and it was a somewhat difficult experience for me at first. I wasn’t used to working with others on a project and we clashed somewhat when it came to our styles of writing, art, and storytelling. But we eventually learned to communicate well and produced a good final product. It was a good learning experience for me to prepare me for a similar work environment where I'll likely have to work with others collaboratively.

I take pride in my work and I have Honour, Integrity

If I start a job I finish it, I always work to the highest standard. I do a job first and foremost for myself, to satisfy my own high standards, I have integrity, and I don’t let myself down and in turn, don’t let other people down. I take pride in my work.

For me Personally, I have trouble registering when I’ve done well on my projects. I know I have completed the brief and produced a high quality product, yet I never seem to feel the sense of overwhelming pride others seem to do when they complete a project. Maybe its my burn out from the work itself, or the fact I can see more of the imperfections in the final product than most can. But I am working on my self-esteem and allowing myself to take pride in my accomplishments.

I’m not a dreamer, I am aware of what it means to be a professional.

I am here to work, I am grounded, I want a career as a digital creative, and I left the dream and the glamour of the animation industry behind many years ago. I want to progress myself, I know I have a lot to learn, that I will never stop learning. I understand that this is not a nine to five job, this is vocational, this is my life, and I want a chapter of that journey and that development to be within your company.

While I wouldn't describe setting my expectations realistically as leaving my dream, I do have a grounded sense of the industry and a great desire to learn in a more hands-on way. Especially if it's from my peers or a potential client.

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Engagement Challenge: Finding a job on Indeed

As part of my engagement challenge, I was tasked with finding a professional animation company to write a cover letter for. To help us, we were reccommended the job search site indeed.com to help find specific job vacancies and applications.

Searching for a specific animation job on indeed, however, proved difficult. Looking up jobs for animation olny yilded search results such as graphic design and video game animation, somthing that I wasnt looking for.

eventually, I decided to leave indeed and look for companies that would hire me. Some options considered, and which are still on my list. were Aardmn and

I found the website for the animation studio Blue Zoo studio. A company I was familiar with due to them working on the CG Paddington animated series as well as the Playmobil movie. I felt They would be a good option to reach out to via Cover Letter.

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Engagement Challenge: Finding Project Brief.

As part of my Engagement Challenge project, I was tasked with finding a client and working on a brief for them. This involved me searching online for potential professional clients. Ideally, a professional animation studio or a charity I could make a short animation for. In addition to this we were given presentations by various third year students, currently working on their final projects, who are looking for aditional support with various tasks.

After the 3rd year presentations, I reached out to one, Ty Darcy on instagram. I said I would be interested in the costume fabrication project.

While I'm grateful for the opportunity to work with Ty on this project, the work they need completing is not suffcient for my current module project. I will need something bigger to do for my project brief.

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Engagement Challenge: Digital Portfolio Powerpoint.

For my engagemnet challenge class, I was tasked with putting together a PDF showcasring some of my art and animation work to show to a potential professional client.

I made the protfolio first in powerpoint and them converted it to a pdf once it was finished. I took the peices of animation work I was most proud of and showcased my range as an animation artist. I Chose my animatic short film, River Snake, as an example of my work in 2D drawing, storytelling, and storyboarding, my stop motion film Craven as an example of my skills on stop motion costume making and set fabrication, and my other stop motion short Mysterious Package to showcase my character animation and perforamce in stop motion.

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Engagement Challenge: statement of intent

For the Engagement Challenge, I’m tasked with producing a product for a professional client and charting the product pipeline.

To do this I will need to research potential clients - these can be private companies, organisations/charities or competitions etc.

 I must then approach chosen professional clients, engage with them, outlining what I am offering and seek to attain a product brief.

During the process of creating the product I will create a detailed account of the animation production pipeline. (i.e. thinking of ideas based on the brief guidelines, pitch/project synopsis, thumbnailing, concept art, finalised art, animation, editing etc)

In terms of clients, I would ideally want to work with a non-profit charity or community organisation. Not only will this be preferable to me, but it will also allow me to use my talents to promote an important message or cause. However, I would be open to working with other companies or organisations.

I would also ideally wish to have a brief from a client that involves creating something short, such as for instance, a company or organisation logo.

Charities I could work with

Autastic charity – a local Manchester, community based, support charity focused on autistic advocacy. As I myself am autistic, I felt working with a Manchester charity specialising in the care and advocacy of young autistic people would be a fitting way to utilise my talents if they were to provide me with a brief.

Society for abandoned animals – a charity that cares for and re-homes cats, dogs and rabbits. I care greatly for animals and animal welfare. So, I felt I could bring some passion to a brief they might give me.

Local community organisations near me

The Sale Nomads (Drama Club) – this is a drama club close to where I live and thus will be a good opportunity to get involved with my community and help promote a part of it through animation.

J7 Community Health Centre – similarly to the drama club, this gym is in my local area. They particularly specialise in giving free access to fitness classes and personal training for people with disabilities. Though I’m not passionate about the exercise and bodybuilding lifestyle, I feel working outside my comfort zone would be good work experience. I can easily imagine designing a new logo or logo animation for them.

Other competitions and opportunities

BBC Ignite – a competition to create an innovative fully funded animated series idea for the BBC.

Mediums I could work with

Stop-motion

Using my own armature to make a character for a short 11-second test animation. Maybe make a set for it.

2D animation

Short Digital frame-by-frame animation with a character or logo

Contingencies

Plan A – try to contact potential clients (charity, company, etc) to be given an animation brief—ideally a short animation for the company's use.

Plan B – if potential company clients don’t get back to me, I will try to find a project to work on with third years. I have a wide variety of skills they could use, like storyboarding etc.

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Engagement challenge: 3rd year pitches (23/1/24)

For my newest brief, Engagement Challenge, I was tasked with reaching out to a client, such as a commercial company, local business, charity, organisation or other suitable client to seek an animation brief from them to complete for my project. This could be anything from designing a character, making a short animation to advertise their company, or a small role in another animation project, such as a costume fabricator.

Another type of clientele that we were encouraged to look into was the third-year students at the university. These students needed extra hands for their projects such as costume fabricators or assistant animators. During our lesson, they pitched some of their ideas to us.

Mohamed Javert needs a stop-motion costume designer for his stop-motion short film about werewolves. I am somewhat hesitant to work with this type of project, as while I have made costumes for my own stop-motion characters in the past, I wouldn't say it's one of my strong suits yet; however, I’d be willing to try it.

The other was a multimedia short film about a coffee shop run by monsters utilising 2D animation, stop-motion and 3D animation. This one is looking for some character animators, which I might be able to provide through my stop-motion skills.

The next project was a short film called ‘Roadman’, which needed photos for the backgrounds and voice actors for the main characters and the monsters.

While I mostly specialise as an animator, I must admit voicing the monster would be fun. Plus, I have done voice-overs for my own short films, so I have some experience in voice acting.

The last project shown was ‘The Nomad’, a 3D animated film. I didn’t have much interest in this one as I don’t specialise in 3D animation and most of the jobs they were looking to fill were not suited to my skills.

Overall, I was intrigued by the projects on display in the lesson. While I will mainly focus on finding a brief from a professional company/charity client, I might pursue one of these projects as a side part of the project.