Jennifer Mackie, Raine Anderson, and Brad Pitre of Pixar Canada recently visited VFS to share their thoughts and experiences with our students from 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Classical Animation, and Digital Character Animation. Pixar Canada produces animated shorts and television specials featuring characters from Pixar’s prior films. Those who saw Finding Nemo 3D in theatres last Fall will remember Partysaurus Rex, the animated short featuring characters from Toy Story that ran before the film. That was produced at Pixar Canada, right here in Vancouver, BC.
Pixar has the creative chops to make things great and they employ talented artists and animators to bring their stories and characters to life on-screen. From idea generation to completion, the team operates by the following adage – “It looks good but can we make it better?”
Brad, Raine, and Jennifer were kind enough to provide some further insight on their success. Brad, a Modeler/Rigger previously with Digital Domain, suggested that keeping it simple is key. He also advised that you should always have your work reviewed and be open to constructive criticism.
“You learn from failure. Success is great but you don’t learn from it,” said Raine, an Artist previously at Weta Digital.
Jennifer, a Lead Layout Artist formerly at Axis Animation, maintained that story was paramount. “Everything leads back to the story – it’s the most important thing. The animation can be beautiful but if the story isn’t good then people aren’t interested.”
Jennifer, Katie, Brad, and Raine pose for a quick photo.
VFS Animation student Katie Williams was at the presentation and has some highlights to share.
Guest Post by Katie Williams
Listening to Pixar Canada team members Brad Pitre, Raine Anderson, and Jennifer Mackie was truly an excellent and inspirational experience. Not only were we able to learn about their specific positions at the studio and the hugely cooperative Pixar pipeline, but we were privileged to witness genuine humility.
It is the latter detail that is perhaps the most impressive and encouraging. In so many ways, Pixar is the dream studio of any 3D artist. We look at the work that they do and hope that one day we can be a part of it. Meeting three individuals who live that reality and realizing they still feel the same was wonderful.
Pixar, as all three mentioned and as we can easily observe, is about quality over quantity. In their talk, Brad, Raine, and Jennifer brought up the idea of plussing, making the most of their allotted time, perpetually iterating on assets, and progressing as a collective and holistic creative force as opposed to working in separate departments. It was this concept that was maybe the most valuable to acknowledge, at least for me, because it makes you realize how truly cooperative the industry is, and how interdependence and constancy are vital to success.
Another invaluable practice they touched on was that of referencing in order to stylize reality, maintaining true cinematic language while bringing every part of a world to life, and taking the time to tell a story and to tell it well.
It is that last point that proves the most inspirational and the most motivational. To know that the story is alive at every stage of their process, and to know that it can be, makes everything we are doing now as students so worthwhile and on course.
A huge thank you to Brad, Raine, and Jennifer for taking the time to speak with our students and to Katie for sharing her thoughts about the presentation.
He’s back! Tony Stark aka Iron Man aka Robert Downey Jr. returns today for the third installment of the Iron Man franchise, aptly titled Iron Man 3. This time, Iron Man faces off against a terrorist named The Mandarin, played by Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley. Working behind the scenes were a number of VFS grads, from programs like 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Classical Animation, Digital Character Animation, Digital Design, and Foundation Visual Art & Design. Below are a few of our grads who lent their talents to the film. Great work, everyone!
Here’s something surprising about the VFS Summer Intensives. Every year – every year – people come from all around the world for one (or more!) of the 5-day programs. This is what we mean. Behold: It’s kind of astonishing, when you think about it. We all know that VFS is something of a global village, but how exciting is it condense that experience into a single week? We’ve heard from past Summer Intensive students that they’ve made lasting friends and professional contacts in those five lightning-fast days. Now imagine that network extending around the globe. Live far away and thinking of making the trip? Based nearby but want to work alongside talented new friends during a week-long creative boot camp? Seats in our ten programs are limited and going fast, so register today!
We’re excited to announce Vancouver Film School’s Summer Intensives are back this July and August! These five days could be the experience you need to prove you’re ready to start your path towards a demanding and rewarding career in the entertainment industry. And if you apply to a full-time VFS program, the cost of your Summer Intensive will go towards your tuition. For anyone seriously considering VFS, this summer is going to be your best. You can also save 10% on your fees by taking two or more intensives. Find out more about VFS Summer Intensives 2013 and register today! Want to learn more about what it’s like inside VFS? Download our new viewbook, inspired by the passionate and dedicated students behind all the jaw-dropping portfolios and reels we see every day.
After graduating from the 3D Animation & Visual Effects program, Maia Neubig spent some time at Digital Domain, working on Jack the Giant Slayer, in theatres today, and Ender’s Game, which arrives later this year. Maia recently landed a position with Walt Disney Animation Studios and is heading to California to start work on Frozen, the story of a mountain climber and a young girl who attempt to end the perpetual winter that has fallen over their kingdom. In the midst of packing for her move, Maia took the time to speak with us about her experience in the animation program, life since graduation, and landing her dream job. Why did you choose to study 3D Animation & Visual Effects at VFS? Maia: I had wanted to work in animation and visual effects for a long time. Since I knew fairly early on what I wanted to do, it basically just came down to choosing the right school to get me started. I did research on quite a few different schools and was attracted to VFS in part because of the short length of the program and the reputation of the school. What really appealed to me was the quality of work that came out of the 3D program. I watched the demo reels of students from many different schools and was most impressed by those of the VFS students. What were some highlights from your time in the program? Maia: I had a great experience at VFS. It’s quite intense so of course it was stressful at times, but overall it’s a great program. There are tons of resources at your disposal and if you use them to your advantage, you can have a really positive learning experience. The best part for me was the people I met. My class was comprised of students from all over the world, and they became like a family to me. I loved getting to know them and work beside them every day. It’s amazing how diverse and interesting the student population is at VFS. I loved meeting so many different people from so many different places. How did you find the transition from student to working in the industry? Maia: Transitioning from being a student at VFS to working in the industry is interesting because you learn so much at your first job and it’s very different than school. At work, you can’t procrastinate and you really learn how to optimize your time and work on a schedule in order to hit deadlines. VFS is similar to working in the industry in the connections you make with the people around you and the amazing friends you find in your co-workers. What did you do at Digital Domain? Maia: I was hired as a Rigging Intern but actually ended up doing cloth setup and simulation for Jack the Giant Slayer. I didn’t have much previous experience with cloth so I learned pretty much everything on the job. Luckily for me, I actually ended up loving cloth and decided to stick with it! After that, I did rigging on Ender’s Game, as well as a little bit of cloth development work. You recently got a job with Disney and are heading to California. Can you tell us anything about the position? Maia: I am very excited to start at Disney. Working there has been a dream of mine since I was really little. I will be working as a Character TD, doing cloth and hair setup and simulation on their new movie, Frozen. I have loved Disney movies since I was tiny and have been fascinated with 3D animation ever since I saw the first Toy Story. Needless to say, getting a job at Disney is a pretty exciting opportunity for me. Best of luck to you at Disney, Maia! Thanks for speaking with us. If you want to see Maia’s work on the big screen, check out Jack the Giant Slayer, in theatres today. Along with Maia, the film had nearly 50 VFS grads working behind the scenes, from programs like Foundation Visual Art & Design, Writing for Film & Television, Film Production, Digital Character Animation, Classical Animation, and 3D Animation & Visual Effects. The film is based on the classic fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk, and stars Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, and Stanley Tucci. Check out the trailer below:
If you’re reading this, well, you probably know a thing or two about VFS. But we have another side, too. It’s our new viewbook - a different look and a fresh angle on the people, places, and history that make up our DNA. It’s a chance for us to wear our true colours, to show you what we believe, and to share students’ stories – because they’re the ones who make VFS go. Got a few minutes? Explore, download our student manifesto, say hello, and meet us again for the first time at vfs.edu/MyYear. Ready to take that first step right now? What are you waiting for? Speak with an Advisor!
This March, VFS will be at South By Southwest (SXSW), the annual music, film, and interactive conference and festival in Austin, Texas. If you’re interested in VFS Game Design, you’ll want to join us at the SXSW Gaming Expo to learn more about our world-renowned one-year program. A VFS Unity Instructor will be on hand to offer demos, and we welcome participants to stop by our booth and help us build a Unity game. At the end of the event, we will be able to show off a Unity game, created by the attendees of SXSW! Event: SXSW 2013 Gaming Expo You can also visit us at the SXSW Trade Show to meet with a VFS representative, as well as Michael Baser, head of the Writing for Film & Television program. For those looking to kick-start their writing career, Michael be sharing his insights during one on one and group consultations throughout the event. To book a session in advance, please contact eventinfo@vfs.com. Participants are also welcome to book their time while at the event. Event: SXSW 2013 Trade Show We’ll also be sharing a number exciting scholarship opportunities that will be available to potential students enrolling in any of our 13 programs. We hope to see you there!
Aliens abound as Escape from Planet Earth hits theatres today. More than 50 VFS grads worked on the film, which was animated here in Vancouver by Rainmaker Entertainment. VFS has a long history with Rainmaker – over the years many of our grads have worked for the world-renowned animation studio. With alumni from 3D Animation & Visual Effects, Classical Animation, Digital Character Animation, Acting for Film & Television, Digital Design, and Film Production lending their talents to the project, Escape from Planet Earth is a real VFS labour of love. From Assistant Editor to Senior Animator, Producer to Lighting TD – even voice over work – our grads were involved in almost every aspect of the film. Featuring the voices of some big name stars, including Ricky Gervais, Jessica Alba, Brendan Fraser, Sofia Vergara, and Sarah Jessica Parker, the film tells the story of an astronaut from another planet who accidentally finds himself on Earth. Check out the trailer below: A big congratulations to all our grads involved in the film and to Rainmaker for this incredible achievement for animation in Vancouver.
A number of talented VFS grads worked on the film, including Adam Chaput (Animator), Giorgio Bertolone (Lead Creature Technical Director), Jelmer Boskma (Art Lead), and Michael Miller (Modeler/Texture Artist) from 3D Animation & Visual Effects and Dmitry Vinnik (CG Supervisor) from Digital Character Animation (then known as Maya). Warm Bodies is in theatres today. Take someone you love. Or don’t. We think it could work either way.
Animation fans around the world, rejoice! Disney has just put its Oscar-nominated animated short Paperman on YouTube, and it’s well worth six and a half minutes of your day. It’s also a chance to admire the handiwork of VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects grad Andrew Lawson and Classical Animation/Digital Character Animation grad John Wong, who both contributed to the short as animators.
Iron Man Returns, Again
Aaron Gilman, Animation Supervisor
Alex Berson, Senior Digital Paint Artist
Amir Ronen, Animator/Rigger
Andrew Park, Animator
Casey Rolseth, Visual Effects Artist
Cesar Rodriguez Bautista, Senior Paint Artist
Chrystia Siolkowsky, Rotoscope Artist
Clement Yip, Lead Animator
Daphne De Jesus, Compositor
Diego Piccinato, Lead Compositor
Joshua Herrig, Lighting Artist
Juani Guiraldes, Animator
Kieran Tether, Lighting Technical Director
Kiran Menon, Compositor/BG Prep Artist
Max Vogt, Character Modeler
Michael Miller, Modeler/Texture Artist
Moises Flores Cabrera, Stereoscopic Compositor
Nicholas Markel, Previsualization Supervisor
Paul Copeland, Visual Effects Artist
Tamir Diab, Lighting Technical Director
Tuba Yalcin – Effects Technical Director
Fun Fact: VFS grads also worked on the original Iron Man film as well as its sequel Iron Man 2.
How You Can Connect with the World at VFS Summer Intensives
How Can One Week Change Everything? Join VFS at the 2013 Summer Intensives
VFS Summer Intensives 2013
Art, Film & Design – July 8-12 *Offered at a $400 discount when paired with a second intensive!Animation Grad Lands Dream Job at Disney
There’s A New Way to Get to Know VFS: Check Out Our Viewbook
Meet VFS at SXSW 2013
Date: Friday, March 8 – Sunday, March 10, 2013
Time: March 8: 3:00pm – 9:00pm • March 9 & 10: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Place: Palmer Events Center, Booth #131
Address: 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas
Date: Sunday, March 10 – Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Time: March 10 – 12: 11:00am – 6:00pm • March 13: 11am – 4:00pm
Place: Austin Convention Center, Exhibit Halls 3 & 4, Booth #14
Address: 500 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TexasOver 50 Grads Help a Few Aliens Escape from Planet Earth
Romeo and Juliet But With Zombies
Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes Warm Bodies, which may just be the most romantic zombie movie ever. Something amazing happens when R, an unusually self-aware zombie, meets Julie, a human survivor of the zombie apocalypse. It’s the Capulet’s and the Montague’s but undead – and funny.Watch Disney’s Oscar-Nominated Short Paperman Right Now
