All Entries in the "Careers" Category
More on industry employment trends…
In my previous post I had mentioned how despite the bleak outlook of the market in general, VCL is about to embark upon a hiring spree. Information trickling out of other studios suggest that VCL is not alone. Many Indian studios and production houses are currently packed with work - be it outsourced or in-house. Most of them are even working on multiple co-productions simultaneously. What seems to have worked in their favour is that most of these projects began before the financial slowdown emerged. And the duration of these projects extends to another year or so. Therefore, the effects of the recession will not be visible in this industry at least for some time to come. A lot of animated features are being currently produced and though I’m not confident of the quality of the animation, it at least bodes well for the animators whose jobs are guaranteed.
What happens after a year remains to be seen. By then, if the situation is improving outside of the industry as well, then one couldn’t be asking for more.
The subject of recession particularly pertaining to the Indian Animation industry has been addressed before in this blog. Read here.
VCL bucks the trend. Plans to increase workforce 5 times over!
While there’s talk of recession, layoffs and pink slips all around, Visual Computing Labs (VCL), India on the other hand is looking to increase its team strength 5 times over!
Sources from the company revealed that VCL, which is a division of Tata Elxsi, plans to increase its headcount from the present 300 to 1500 animators and special effects artists over the next three years. Having completed ‘Roadside Romeo’ they are now working on three more animation films, TV shows for Germany and bidding for large Hollywood projects.
Arena Animation organizing Creative Minds & Placement Expo on 16th & 17th Nov.
Arena Animation, one of India’s oldest players in Animation & Multimedia training, is organizing Creative Minds, an inter-centre competition for its North zone students along with a Placement Expo on the 16th & 17th November in New Delhi.
Recession in the industry?!! Don’t press the panic button just as yet.
Now that the noise has died down and the dust has settled, the casualty is slowly beginning to show. For two years everyone was shouting from the rooftops about the animation boom in India. Institutes proclaimed India needs animators and ill-informed parents poured out their hard-earned money into many an unworthy school. Many people left their well-paying jobs and successful businesses to enter the animation industry. All of a sudden everyone wanted to be in animation.
The hype was not all bad. Many more people began sitting up and taking notice of this thing called ‘Animation’ than before. Students and parents alike opened their eyes to this new career prospect. Existing animators began celebrating their new-found respect in the eyes of their detractors who had so far looked down upon their choice of vocation. All-in-all the Indian animation industry saw a spurt in interest, enthusiasm, educational avenues and job opportunities. Within a year, more than 70 animated feature films were announced. Actual work began on a far lesser number of movies.
But the latest news coming out of studios is not good. Many production houses and studios have folded up. Others have laid off a majority of their employees. People have woken up to the fact that making an animated film is no cake walk. There may be a lot of enthusiasm and ideas but the lack of funds, acute shortage of ‘talented’ artists and short-sightedness of studios have become major obstacles.
Graphiti’s Power Sessions on Animation Careers and Industry
Following a great response to the previous two series of workshops, Graphiti School of Animation is offering its fourth set of free workshops for students, parents and anyone interested in knowing more about careers in the field of animation. They would also get an insight into the animation industry.
The Session dates are 4th July, 11th July and 18th July 2008. Each Session is been scheduled to be held at 12.00 noon at the Graphiti School of Animation.
The workshop will deal with basic issues like:
- What is animation? What are the steps involved in making an animation film?
- Is animation a formula for successful career?
- What are the Job opportunities in Animation?
- Can anyone animate or is it limited to only a particular group of people?
- Where and how should I learn Animation?
Registrations details for the workshop are given below :
Pre - register for the workshop and book your time slot, call Graphiti on 022 24440107 or 022 32448544 or sms at 09833841580. You can also visit www.graphiti.net
The address of the workshop is
Graphiti School of Animation
404, Udyog Mandir No 2
Mogul Lane, Mahim West,
Mumbai 400016
Phone No: 32448544 / 24440107
training@graphiti.net
www.graphiti.net
CGTExpo 2008 - A successful start!
After spending two full days at the CGTExpo 2008, I must say the experience was unique. Hundreds of volunteers from all over the country, the CGTantra team, the Nine team, the participants and the supporters, all put in their best to make the event a truly successful one.
The planning was perfect, arrangements flawless and the least possible glitches ensured that everyone had a lot of fun and went back having gained something. Newbies, students, job-seekers, curious spectators, anxious parents of would-be animation students, were all milling around together in the two main halls and two smaller ones.
TASI’s next event: Music for Animation on 23rd Feb at IDC
The Animation Society of India’s next event will be held on 23rd Feb. - Music For Animation by Tapas Relia.
Date: 23rd Feb. 2008
Time: 2:00 pm onwards
Venue: IDC Auditorium, IIT Campus, Powai, Mumbai
Entry Fee:
The session is FREE for TASI members
Non-member professionals: Rs.100/-
Non-member students: Rs.50/-
For pre-registrations, you can send an email to ritesh@tasionline.org
Seminar Outline
• Importance of music in the world of animation
-How music helps enhance character expressions
• Technology makes things easier and opens up possibilities
- Inevitable use of software
• How to approach a film
- The process of music production for a film from scratch
• The importance of sound-effects
- They make the animated film “believable”
• What you should know (as animators) about music
- The importance of editing “to the beat”
- Synchronize with the composer
- Composer friendly “story-board”
• Questions from audience
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About Tapas Relia
Hailing from Ahmedabad, Tapas Relia is a Music Composer/Producer based in Mumbai for the last 12 years. He is one of the leading names in the Indian advertising industry with many trend-setting jingles, including the very popular “Kya Aap Close-up Karte Hain” for Close-up toothpastes and the Amaron batteries ad.
He also has the distinction of composing for India’s most successful animated film “Hanuman” and the more recent “Return of Hanuman”.
Graphiti Launches Recruitment Drive
Mumbai-based Graphiti Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. has just announced that they will be recruiting more than 300 people in the next 12 to 18 months, expanding their current team strength to over five hundred. At MIPCOM 2007, Graphiti had announced 6 new animation properties, and will need to recruit professionals in the technical as well as creative departments.
The recruitment drive is going to be held on a national level. The first stop will be Hyderabad from 22nd to 24th Feb 2008. Graphiti is also looking out for professionals from Chennai and Bangalore.
