We’re proud to announce that Michael Oliver, the Vice President, Creative Director of The Marketing Store has joined the Digital Design program’s Advisory Board.
Advisory Board Members are integral to VFS’s mission to bring students the most relevant skills and knowledge that will prepare them to succeed in the industry. Their input can vary from guest speaking engagements to recommendations on aspects of VFS curricula.
With extensive experience as a creative executive, Digital Design students will surely benefit from Michael’s enthusiasm for design.
“I believe we’re all designers in some respect, capable of shaping the lives we live and the world around us,” he says. “Whether it’s designing interfaces or designing the relationships we have with others, opportunities exist at every turn for passionate, engaged people to co-create the future together. This optimism and passion for design is alive and well at VFS, so I jumped at the chance to contribute to the program; one of the best in the world, responsible for shaping the future of our industry.”
Welcome, Michael!
Find out more about the VFS Digital Design program.
The honour is for his work on Hanna, a feature film scripted by Writing for Film & Television grad Seth Lochhead. With his frequent collaborator Skip Lievsay, Berkey has been nominated for three Oscars for sound editing/mixing on True Grit and No Country for Old Men. He has also previously been recognized with BAFTA and Golden Reel nominations. Congratulations, Craig! VFS students and faculty are lucky to have such an acclaimed mentor.
“Nobody ever comes to me. Nobody in the history of filmmaking has ever gone, ‘You know who we need for this? Matt Lillard.” That’s the truth. It was an audition. I read the audition and I was like, ‘Dude, there’s no way I’m going to be this guy. There’s no way I’m George Clooney’s wife’s lover. That’s not happening.” And yet it did happen. According to this behind the scenes video shot on set in Hawaii, Lillard said he did the audition quickly with his kids waiting in the car, which actually played a part in him landing the role, according to Payne. Once he was cast in “one of 2011′s best” movies — a role that could potentially blow the doors off of the legacy of successful franchises like Scooby-Doo! and Scream — Lillard turned to his friend and colleague, Head of Acting for Film & Television Bill Marchant, for coaching help leading up to production. Considering the many hours Lillard has dedicated to weekend workshops with VFS Acting alumni, not to mention his previous guest speaker engagements, working with the passionate veteran actor seemed like a no-brainer for Bill, who was kind enough to share his thoughts on the entire experience: On Matthew Lillard, the Actor “Matthew Lillard is very much an actor’s actor. He is classically trained and very professional in his attitude toward the work. Because he spent most of his youth and early adulthood immersed in the slacker oeuvre, he is too often dismissed as being a slight character, a goof, a man-child. Yes, he is all those things but they represent a very small part of his palette. He is very much a masculine force of tremendous power and charisma with a surprising depth of sensitivity. He is also like mercury, silvered and quick and electric, ultimately impossible to pin down.” “I think it is Alexander Payne’s great genius to recognize this wild cactus flower, the outrageous beauty of bloom where we expected none. What a remarkable eye to know that behind the archetype that Matthew represents, lies an actor of extraordinary substance.” The Coaching Process “Matt was excited about The Descendants, obviously, but he was calm compared to me. I am a huge fan of both Lillard and Payne. I knew that this bit of inspired casting was akin to the masterstroke of using Paul Giamatti as the hero in Sideways. I am sure Matt did have his concerns about flying to Hawaii and doing the gig but he remained fairly casual through out the process. It is never wise to do a project of this scope without working on it with a coach. It was my honour to play that role.” “[VFS instructor] Matt Fentiman and I flew down to the Lillard home in Pasadena ready to work. But we didn’t get right to it. We talked over the script and major scenes casually during the course of the next few days as Matt [Lillard] took care of his kids and wrangled busy schedules with his wife. I was chomping at the bit to play. Matt Lillard prefers to simmer. Slow.” “The day before we left for home, we finally got down to it. We started by walking for miles in beautiful suburban Pasadena down tree-lined avenues, just going over the lines, over and over again, letting them seep deep into the tissue of the actor’s body. On breaks we would ramble and debate about the truth of love and relationships and betrayal and getting caught. These are all the major hurdles his character faces in The Descendants.” “Finally, we took it back to the ‘work’ room of Matthew’s house and got the scene up on its feet. Matt Fentiman took on the Clooney role and we let it fly. Lillard is all animal impulse. He censors nothing as he repeats the scene, honing and tweaking and pushing at the edges of the scene until the ragged but glorious truth emerges. It’s not pretty. It’s not easy. But it is outrageously fun. Within a couple of hours we were done and wisely let it go. I knew Matthew could remain constant in the scene while adapting to all change regardless of the circumstance. His key strengths are energy, permission, and the connective sinew of love that defines the great actor. He brings it every time. That’s who he is.” Thanks for the insight, Bill! And a big congrats to Matthew Lillard on a wonderful performance! UPDATE (1/16/12): The Descendants has won the 2012 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture (Drama).
As the Senior Vice President of The Characters Talent Agency (West), you could say he’s well-versed in the inner workings of the film industry. He’s one of the reasons Acting grad Adam DiMarco has had such an incredible year, having made the behind-the-scenes connections that resulted in getting Adam seen by dozens of decision-makers. Seated comfortably for a moderated Q&A, Tyman also reflected on signing Head of Department Bill Marchant: “I remember seeing you… I remember to this day: I am repping you.” Over an hour and a half, he shared a lot of promising stories and hard lessons, as current Acting for Film & Television student John Connolly has been kind enough to recap for us. Guest Post by John Connolly The classroom was filled to the brim with students waiting for Bill Marchant and our guest speaker, Tyman Stewart, to arrive. It was an unprecedented event for the Acting for Film & Television program, and our current three classes were the fortunate ones to be present for it. Tyman Stewart is the Senior VP of The Characters Talent Agency, the second largest agency in Canada, which currently represents VFS faculty members Bill Marchant and Jennifer Clement, as well as quite a few VFS alumni. The agency has branches in Los Angeles and Toronto as well as here in Vancouver. Tyman has also produced a few films, including Ginger Snaps Back: The Beginning, and the upcoming A Little Bit Zombie. Over the course of an hour and a half, students asked about anything they could think of: outside influences on the industry, work in the US, even haircuts. The questions varied from personal to inclusive, and Tyman would respond with stories and examples from his personal experience as well as the general standard among other agencies. He made it very apparent that he wasn’t going to sugarcoat anything for our benefit. It may have made some students uneasy at first, but that soon passed as they realized how his personality visibly reflects his attitude toward his job: professional, yet personable. The recurring theme throughout the session seemed to be stereotypes, or the fear of being pigeonholed into one specific character. “If your talent surpasses that,” Tyman answered, “then you shouldn’t worry.” Build a reputation as a great actor and possess great skills, then there will be no boundaries. Focus. Make sure you continue your training, learn techniques, and always keep an ear to the ground as to what’s happening in the business. He also made it clear that “you can be as good as you want, but if you’re an ass, no one will want to work with you.” While it may seem obvious, there are indeed actors in the world who may disregard that advice. From beginning to end, the evening was a constant outbreak of overwhelming information and each of us left with something valuable to bring into our future endeavours. Thanks, John! Visit VFS on Flickr to see photos from Tyman’s visit.
Peter will be spending a few days with students in Digital Design, reviewing their work and sharing his high-profile experience. (Check out his schedule at VFS, as well as a full background on his career, on Oomph.) His much-anticipated visit begins with an upcoming talk on design, where he’ll focus on the role of mentorship and human-powered solutions. If you’ll be in Vancouver and you’re passionate about design, we encourage you to come! “Remembering That We’re Human – Elusive Perspectives On a Career in UX” RSVP with your name (and those of any guests) to leslie@vfs.com. OVERVIEW ABOUT PETER JIN HONG Space is limited! RSVP soon to get a seat. Email neesha@vfs.com. (Please note that current VFS students will be given preference.)
We were given exclusive access to BioWare’s Edmonton campus as part of a series of interviews with VFS Sound Design grads Mike Kent, Jeremie Voillot, Jordan Ivey, Patrick Biason, Steve Bigras, Joel Green, Audio Lead and Advisory Board member Rob Blake, and Project Director Mark Darrah. In the following video the team, nominated for a 2010 Game Developer’s Choice Award in Audio for Mass Effect 2, talk about BioWare’s approach to audio, the creative challenges of working on very different franchises (Mass Effect and Dragon Age), the role of audio in gaming, and life at one of the largest game companies in the world. “We’re trying to make a really memorable and immersive experience,” says Rob Blake. “And I’ve always thought that our job as sound designers is to tell the story better.” Based on the continuing accolades, and the anticipation around Star Wars: The Old Republic and Mass Effect 3, we’d say they’ve succeeded. Check out more exclusive content and student work on the VFS YouTube channel.
Wow. What a year. As we head into the holidays and then 2011, we can’t help but look back a little. A lot of graduating classes at VFS do the same: nostalgic montages, video yearbooks, gag reels, before-and-afters. They take stock of the seemingly impossible communities they formed in 12 short months and the endless variety of incredible things they’ve created. A story emerges: of triumph, of challenges, of stressful times and good times. Here at the VFS Blog and behind the scenes at VFS, we get to do that too. Every year, we watch our students do amazing things and our graduates make waves around the world. How amazing is that? We’re lucky. 2010. What a year. We try to chronicle and celebrate those stories and those people – to the tune of 321 posts this year. It’s still not as many as we’d like, a small fraction – and yet, we take a step back, and it thrills us just the same. From the Oscars to the Olympics, the traditional to the cutting edge, singing chickens to sinister sirens, 2010 had everything we could possibly ask for. That’s why we decided to put it together in one place: vfs.com/2010. It’s a collection of some of our best memories from 2010, as well as incredible student work, grad accomplishments, and much more. We hope you enjoy. To all of our readers: have a safe and happy holiday, and we’ll back to posting on the VFS Blog in January. But we won’t be far – you can still connect with us on Twitter and Facebook and enjoy our YouTube channel. We’ll be out there with you.
As part of his work in innovation and research in Mountain View, Peter focuses on conceptualizing and rapid prototyping next-generation applications. His past roles include Group Creative Director at the world-leading interactive agency Blast Radius and National Creative Director at Tribal DDB Canada. He’s also a graduate of the program (from way back in 1996) which gives him firsthand insight into the VFS experience. Select industry professionals from around the world are invited to join VFS’s advisory boards. As lifelines to the industry, members provide the next generation of designers with a vital link to the professional world through guest lectures, project mentorship, portfolio advising, and potential internship and employment opportunities. “There have been many good mentors in my life,” he says. “Mentoring in turn, and seeing people realize their potential, is both a privilege and source of joy for me. The successes I’ve been a part of really come down to people, their stories, and inspiring collaborations – much of that started at VFS for me.” “His empathetic approach to humanistic design greatly enhances our curriculum as we continually strive to keep pace with our evolving industry,” says Head of Digital Design Amber Bezahler. “Peter is a true user experience expert and a role model for what our graduates can accomplish.”
Acting for Film & Television Advisory Board Member Matthew Lillard is coming to Vancouver this weekend for another exclusive 3-day workshop with VFS Acting alumni. It’s the third time Lillard has traveled to Vancouver to lead this intensive scene study course. Under his guidance, Acting grads pair up and delve into a number of pre-selected scenes, coming away with a rejuvenated dedication to their craft. Click on the banner below to visit vfs.com/matthewlillard where you can learn more about just how deeply connected the veteran actor is to the Acting for Film & Television department at VFS.
An Advisory Board Member of the Makeup Design for Film & Television program, Toby’s now paying that opportunity forward to aspiring makeup artists. Schminkën is one of three makeup studios that regularly provide mentorship placements to select Makeup Design students. Masters FX and WCT Productions also participate. “We’re always trying to involve the professional community with the program so that students have the advantage of rubbing elbows with professionals and getting different perspectives from that community,” says Head of Makeup Design Stan Edmonds. These mentorship placements began in 2006, when the Makeup Design program expanded to one full year of intense study and practice. Students, like grad Crissy Renaud, began applying to spend 40 hours-plus volunteering under the local film and television industry’s best. Taking place in the program’s final term, such opportunities couldn’t come at a better time for hungry students preparing to enter a competitive job market. “I wanted to work in the industry, not hop from set-to-set,” Crissy says. “So I knew this was what I should do.” The staff at WCT Productions put her to work: “I did everything from assisting life casting, making paint for an artist on set, cleaning molding, and sculpting.” After finishing her placement, Crissy spent a month in contact with her former mentors before they hired her to assist with some work for Reaper, the television series. Now she’s mentoring WCT’s incoming Makeup Design students. A New Crop November 2009′s round of mentorship placements saw four current Makeup Design students getting their hands dirty in the day-to-day operations of a makeup effects studio. Dili Hafezi and Mandy Imeson spent over a week with Lindala at Schminkën, while Jon Berezan and Kate Middleton went to Masters FX. But, as Stan explains, getting into one of these shops is no easy feat: “We set up professional interviews where students have a time and place to go… These shops, they don’t treat them like students. This is real.”
Cinema Audio Society Recognizes VFS Advisory Board Member
Craig Berkey, an Academy Award-nominated Advisory Board Member for the Sound Design for Visual Media program, has been nominated for a Cinema Audio Society (CAS) Award for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing. The awards ceremony will take place on February 18 in Los Angeles.Head of Acting Bill Marchant on Coaching Matthew Lillard
In what’s been described as a “bracingly honest” interview with BlackBook, VFS Advisory Board Member Matthew Lillard spoke about his career and what being cast in Alexander Payne’s The Descendants meant for him:
Talent Agent Tyman Stewart Visits VFS Acting
“You should always have an agent who thinks you can do everything,” VFS Advisory Board Member Tyman Stewart told a packed room of Acting for Film & Television students this week. VFS Welcomes Google’s Peter Jin Hong
We’re pleased to welcome Peter Jin Hong, a Digital Design program Advisory Board Member (and alumnus) currently working as the UX Lead for Google+ Photos.
A special talk from Google’s Peter Jin Hong
VFS Main Theatre, 420 Homer Street
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
4:30pm-6:00pm
Peter will discuss his career in user experience, focusing on his time with Google and also his volunteer work as Creative Director for WellDone.org. Peter has helped the non-profit develop empowering and positive strategies to get people involved with social good (WellDone.org helps developing communities source clean drinking water.) The team recently won the top award at AIGA’s and CauseEffect.org’s 2011 Do-Gooder Awards for transformative design for social change.
Peter Jin Hong has been a professional innovation catalyst and story collector for over 10 years. Most of his career has been as an award-winning Creative Director and pioneer of User Experience innovation/strategy business units at Blast Radius, Tribal DDB, and for clients such as KAYAK, CarMax, AOL, Nike, EA, Sony, Honda, and BMW. Valuing mentorship, Peter has guided many promising individuals, who themselves have become successful creative directors for other renowned agencies.Sound Design at BioWare
The last few years in gaming have belonged to BioWare. With multiple game of the year awards, and the Studio of the Year nod from the 2010 Spike TV Video Game Awards, the company has also become a major recruiter of VFS talent, not only from Game Design but 3D Animation & Visual Effects and Sound Design for Visual Media as well. 2010: The Year in Review
Google UX Expert Joins Digital Design Advisory Board
We’re extremely happy to announce today that Peter Jin Hong, Google’s User Experience Designer in Search Engineering and Mobile, has joined the Digital Design program’s advisory board!Matthew Lillard Alumni Workshop This Weekend
Blood, Guts & Hairpieces
“When I was starting out, I really appreciated that I had an opportunity to spend a month in a shop,” says Toby Lindala, owner of Burnaby, BC’s Schminkën Studios, a special makeup effects production house that designs and fabricates pieces for the local film and television industry. “I learned a lot from that.”