How to be a Purple Cow in the Film Industry – careers in the film industry

Yen YauTalent Development Manager

Into Film

What drives you?

What’s with the Purple Cow?

The Bigger Picture

Size of the industry

Creative Industries Strategy 2014

Skills needed by the film industry

• In-demand roles• Production Manager• 1st, 2nd & 3rd ADs• Costume Supervisors• Steadicam• DITs• Digital asset

management• Studio management• Script supervisors• 3D Rigging

• Priority skills• Make-up in HD• Wig application• Period hair• Prosthetics• Sound recording• Editing 3D• Pre-visualisation

Where are the Opportunities?

.

• Management, leadership and business skills • A key gap for the future is new and digital

technology and particularly managing the change from traditional to digital media.

• In production digital camera skills and awareness are lacking

• For exhibition and distribution employers a key focus is exploiting opportunities such as online and digital sales, marketing and distribution and dealing with threats eg. file sharing.

• In production there is an on-going need for training is in health and safety.

What we associate with feature films

What we probably don’t imagine

Examples of technology impacting on film-making

• Cloud and collaborative workflows

• Drone cameras• Jaunt VR/Go Pros• 3D printing

Source of image: CosProp http://www.cosprop.com/

Film Value Chain

Connecting to the Curriculum Production accountants to make sure films come

in on budget (maths)

Production designers (art, design, architecture) to define and create every visual aspect of a film

Producers (law, business studies, maths) to develop projects, find the finance and pull the different players together

Script supervisors (English) to ensure that there is continuity in the script

Riggers and carpenters (construction) to build sets

DIT or digital imaging technicians (ICT, computer science, physics/STEM), to back up the camera and sound files, checking for technical errors

Compositors (STEM, art, computer science), to put together all the various layers of computer generated images in visual effects

Craft and Technical departments

Costume & Hair/Make Up DepartmentsLighting/Camera & Grips Departments

Different Roles

• Line Producer• Script Supervisor• DoP• Data Wrangler• Stereographer • Film Distributor• Compositor• Location Manager• Colour Grader• Prop Maker

• Film Sales Agent• Editor • Sound Recordist• Publicist• Art Director• VFX Supervisor• Film Programmer• DIT• ADR Recordist• Scenic Plasterer

Routes In

Historically, entry into VFX was informal, usually through the runner route.

However, the industry is changing and most entrants now study a course offered by a private vocational training provider or a university.

Merida – it’s all in the hair!

Creating the hair and a wet dress

VFX Film Resources

•The Core Skills of VFX http://www.skillset.org/animation/qualifications/article_8377_1.asp

•Breakdown showreelshttp://www.artofvfx.com/?p=6591

http://www.moving-picture.com/showreels/vfx-breakdowns/

•Individual Career Profiles and Case studieshttp://www.dneg.com/career_profiles/

Developing a Portfolio• The FoundryNUKE – The award-winning tool for visual effects and the industry’s standard

software (http://www.thefoundry.co.uk/products/nuke/non-commercial/)• AutodeskMaya – 3D computer animation, modeling, visual effects and rendering software

tool(http://www.autodesk.com/education/home)• FusionTools for compositing, keying, painting, animation, stereoscopic 3D and more, all in

a single application. Currently only available for windows(https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/fusion)• SculptrisIf you're new to the world of digital sculpting, Sculptris is the ideal ground on which

to get started(http://pixologic.com/sculptris/)

Getting noticed

Who are you?

What are your skills?

What are you passionate about?

What’s your BRAND?

Are you resilient?

Six Key Soft Skill ClustersCrawford et al: Comparative Analysis of Soft Skills, Michigan State University, Aug 2011.

Six Key Soft Skill Clusters

What Employers WantPersonal attributes•A positive attitude: a ‘can do’ approach, good work ethic and willingness to learn•Good personal presentation •Honesty and integrity•Reliability•Timekeeping and personal organisation•Team working, collaboration and co-operation•Flexibility•Commercial awareness and customer focus Skills •Communication – oral and written•Numeracy•Computer literacy/IT skills.

What skills do you need?

• Has a film related degree

• First aid certificate• Can speak foreign

languages• Has made a short film• Has a driving license• Has a university degree

Ranked in order according to employers

1. Has a driving license2. Has a university degree3. Has made a short film4. Can speak foreign

languages5. Has a film related degree6. First aid certificate

Useful Websites

• BAFTA Guru• Double Negative• Escape Studios• Shooting People• Screen International• The CG Society• College of Production

Creative Skillset

• BBC Academy• BFI Film Academy Network

(NFTS Craft Residential)• FDA• Creative Choices /CCS• UK Film Export• Creative Access• Working Title• Creative England

• The Network• 4 Talent• BBC Writers Room• Broadcast• Televisual• So You Want to Work in TV• The TV Collective• The Sky Academy

Television

Action Plan

Share the Plan

Final Thoughts

1. Be resilient2. Be bold3. Do a Skills audit4. Always double check grammar &

spelling!!5. Research, Research & Research!!6. Don’t be a MEDIA WANNABE!7. Be prepared for opportunities – 90

second pitch 8. Work out how to convey your

passion

Getting in Touchyen.yau@intofilm.org

@yenyau@getintofilm