so many layers… I won’t...
Nah! Just joking Lucasfilm Portfolio Workshop
Ξ March 15th, 2008 | → | ∇ Art, Work |
Went to NAFA today, specially to attend Lucasfilm’s Portfolio Workshop.
I arrived one hour early coz intially, I thought the bus ride should have taken a longer time. 
Anyway, since I came super early, I went around taking pictures with my handphone camera while the staff were preparing for the workshop.
Bright red seats. Good choice.
Some info.
Dim…
And dimmer…
Supposedly, the speakers are Mr Jim (Recruiting Manager) and Ms Alicia (Recruiter) from Lucasfilm, but during the talk, Mr Tad(Director of Training, also in-charge of the Jedi Masters Programme) took Mr Jim’s place for the talk. Well, all the better since I’m considering to try for the programme myself. 
Original speakers from Lucasfilm
This picture don’t do them justice.
Star Wars. Oh Oh. May the force be with you.
Starto!
Before the talk began, one of the staff said that photography is not allow during the talk, so couldn’t show you guys what happened during the workshop. Hmm… the whole workshop is quite useful and I did pick up a few tips from the speakers.
In general, make sure you know about the company and look out for job openings through their websites. Also, do not give up if you failed getting the job the first time, improve your skills and try again. Pick a niche area, your specialty.
Don’t be a Jack-of-all-trades. When recruiting, resumes would be classified and placed into the basket of their preferred job-scope. If you stated wayyy too many area of interest, your resume will probably be placed into another basket. And that basket is round. 
Most likely not the basket you want to be placed into.
Demoreel wise, they said most companies would prefer a breakdown shot of your artworks or show the process of how you did your work. Look into the company’s website, sometimes they will upload a few of their showreels too. Do your showreel according to the style of how that company did their reels. Most of the time, their reels reflects what they themselves would like to see in job applicant’s demoreels.
During Q&A session, there was one really good question…
Qn: Are we, people who are just plain entry-level students, ever gonna be selected for Jedi Masters Programme? How are students selected? Coz comparing t0 people who already has some working experience and with really good demoreels, we students, although has passion, are at a really disadvantage.
Answer (From Mr Tad): That’s a really good qn. We are really looking for students even slightly below entry-level as long as you showcast your passion for the industry. We can nurture you technically. At Lucasfilm Animation Singapore, we get around 95 demoreels last week, and that’s very very little. Compared to Disney or Pixar, they get 95 demoreels per day. So long you have passion, don’t give up.
Then they also showed us demoreels sent in by students who later managed to enter the Jedi Masters Programme. In my opinion, those demoreels are slightly above average entry-level graduates, quality stuff. Slightly below entry-level he say? Well, maybe to him…now I see the difference between his perspective of ‘entry-level’ and my perspective of ‘entry-level’.
When the talk ended, there was a 1-on-1 critique session with Lucasfilm. BUT BUt But but! All the slots were booked! 
Argh! I didn’t manage to get a critique session with them. 
To think that I was the first to arrive, the staff only asked me to register for the talk at the door and didn’t ask me whether I would like to attend the critique session.
*Bangs head* 
Sighs…maybe another time…
March 19th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I know how that feels. Sad for you. And about the difference between pros and fresh grads like us stuff, it’s always like that, when anyone say ‘entry’ level, most people will think of simple stuff, but when one of the pros says ‘entry’ level, thy think of a highly polyrized assault rifle.