Vancouverites know all about it, but an out-of-towner might not appreciate how huge it is that the Winter Olympics are coming here in 2010. It’s an event that’ll change the fabric of the city, and if you’re in business, you need to know what it’s all about.
In fact, sports are a big part of the Entertainment Business Management program at VFS, so instructor Ryan McKee brought a little bit of the Games to the students – in the form of Rick Ramsbottom, Manager of Sponsorship Sales for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games (VANOC).
Mr. Ramsbottom, whose management background also includes Orca Bay and the Vancouver Whitecaps, spoke with EBM students last night, dishing on the Games and his role in them.
Ryan says, “Rick has a wealth of experience in the sports industry and has been involved in virtually all aspects of running a sports franchise. Moreover, his candid and matter-of-fact style is both insightful and refreshing for students looking to break into the industry.”
“I think we could have asked him another hour of questions and we still would not have run out.”
Carlos Guimaraes took top prize in the category with his Angolan hip-hop motion project Sindicato. Stefan Belavy (Link.TV), Jeff Greenberg/Eric Wada (Orgasmic Brand Condoms), and Ryan Uhrich/Marcos (Boca) Ceravolo (Typographics) all picked up honourable mentions. The awards are run by the BC Chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, and our friends over at Emily Carr hosted the ceremony. After the awards, guests were treated to a presentation by design luminary Ian Grais. Unfortunately, Carlos was out of the country and couldn’t accept his award in person, but the rest of the gang were out in force. Great work, everyone! Pictured left to right: Marcos (Boca) Ceravolo, Stefan Belavy, Eric Wada, Ryan Uhrich, and Jeff Greenberg
This time he shares tips for developing Flash games for the PSP and the Wii. The best part is he uses Game Design soon-to-be-grad Mélanie Généreux‘s game “Feed the Chickens” to demonstrate what can be done on the platform. You can get the Wii-optimized version of her game here. Mélanie’s portfolio reveals talent in a number of areas… and a real fondness for chickens.
Naturally, our own Digital Design students are right in the mix. Four of their projects made it to the semi-finals this year, including Dave Murawsky‘s Anatomy, Natasha Ali‘s “My Love” music video, and Typographics by Ryan Uhrich and Marcos Ceravolo (a.k.a. Boca), all in the Motion Design category. To top it off, we’ve just caught wind that Boca’s been named a finalist and will be heading down to SF for the August 2nd ceremony, for another piece – his beautiful Term 2 live action project, Drop:
We said it back when we posted about her reel – amazing stuff, just amazing.
In the four years since he graduated from VFS, Nassim’s career has taken him ever southward – from Seattle with Microsoft, then to Neversoft in Redwood City, and finally to San Diego with industry trendsetters/badboys Rockstar Games, working as Audio Lead on the next installment in the Midnight Club street racing series. It’s been a winding road. “Since VFS, I have worked on nine titles for six console platforms. I was lucky to have started my sound design career with Microsoft, as the amount of games I was able to work on there kick-started my career.” But when he landed at Neversoft, working on the developer’s venerable Tony Hawk skateboarding series, he had to ask himself the hard question – would a career built around the finer sonic differences between ollies and nollies be enough for him?
VFS Acting grad Taylor Trowbridge is on the most famous balcony in the world this summer. Taylor is the latest actor to take on the role of the star-crossed lover Juliet. Shakespeare’s beloved play Romeo & Juliet, opens this Saturday, the 16th of June at Vancouver’s big tent attraction Bard on the Beach. We caught up with Taylor recently, in these frenzied days of dress rehearsals before the show opens, and asked her a few questions, like whether her interpretation of the role of Juliet changed in working with Bard director Dean Paul Gibson? Dean helped me to realize that in spite of Juliet being only on the brink of 14, she possesses all the maturity and depth and power that one has in their twenties.
WIN A WALK-ON ROLE WITH WE WILL ROCK YOU! VFSers, it’s time to take your Friday night karaoke chops to the next level. Like, rockstar level. We got word of a cool contest that’s perfect for Queen fans, and the rules are simple: One lucky winner will be chosen to appear on stage with the cast during the theatrical performance of Queen’s We Will Rock You. The selected participant will win a trip for two to Toronto, hotel accommodation, dinner and show-related merchandise. Submission deadline is June 17, 2007 at 12:00 EST.
This one goes out to all you aspiring animation students, as well as current 3D-ers. The deadline for submissions to the TELETOON Animation Scholarship is fast approaching, so if you’ve got something to put forward – and we know you do – don’t be shy and get it out there! TELETOON hands out $66,000 to nine Canadian students in three categories – Entrance, Continuing Education, and Most Promising Student. The finals take place in September at the Ottawa International Animation Festival. It’s a real boon to young animators, and you can’t win if you don’t submit by June 15th!
What we’re talking about, of course, is the VFS team’s winning entry in the Reel Ideas Studio documentary contest, Documenting Charity (and the Art of Street Shaving), made by Film grad Aaron Beckum, instructors Megan Bodaly and Glen Tedham, and Glen’s wife, Jeannie Tedham. Now Glen’s staging Documenting Charity and the Art of Fundraising at The Cellar, with a raffle, cash prizes, and a screening of the doc, and all proceeds going to the ALS Society of BC. Right in the middle of ALS Awareness Month, no less! Wednesday, June 13th Tickets can be had from Shannon Blakeman, 2nd floor, 400 W. Hastings. 10 bucks lets you jump the line before 10pm, and a free drink before 9:30.
Big Night at the Salazar Awards
Digital Design students and grads made a big showing at the Salazar Student Design Awards last night with a near-sweep of the Interactive & Motion Design category. It was the very first time VFS had work up for Salazar consideration. Impression: made.
Winners of each of the three categories took home $500, and winners and honourable mentions alike will get their work featured in the GDC newsletter, distributed to design firms across Canada.Wii Do Flash
Game Design instructor Jacob Tran is back with his third segment on G4 Tech TV’s The Lab with Leo Laporte, and once again, he’s been kind enough to host the clip.Designers Set Sights on Adobe Awards
The Adobe Design Achievement Awards are given out annually to top design students in a host of categories, from motion graphics to photography to interactive design. Winners get a trip to San Francisco for the awards gala, cash, and a pile of Adobe software.Modeling the Monster
It’s good to know we aren’t the only ones who think the world of 3D grad Julianna Kolakis‘ art. Here’s a little Q&A she did with XSI Base, a community site based around the software she used to produce her spectacular 3D models. She talks about her artistic background, her process, and what she learned in school. Heed her advice, young animators!The Sound of Speed
Adding sound to next-gen racing games isn’t just about coming up with five kinds of “vroom”. No one knows that better than Sound Design grad Nassim Ait-Kaci. He’s the guy tasked with populating an entire world for players to barrel through at 196 miles per hour.“O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!”
Mama Mia, Let me go!
TELETOON Animation Scholarship
Documenting Charity… Live!
First it swept through Cannes, then the media got wind of it, and now – one night only – it’s taking root at The Cellar in downtown Vancouver, and you can be there.
The Cellar, 1006 Granville (at Nelson)
Doors open at 9pm, screening is at 9:30
