(Safa Radwan)
Employment and Job Roles in the Animation/Media Industry
Storyboard Artist
The storyboard artist helps plan how the scene will play out. They are
usually used in animation; however, storyboards are also used in live action
movies and shows for the same reason.
The job of a storyboard artist includes drawing sketches that will
later help animators and cinematographers how to film or animate the scene.
These drawings will depict a sense of composition (the arrangements of
objects or people in the frame), continuity (when one thing happens in a scene,
it must follow in the next scene).
Storyboard artists also need to know the different types of shots in
cinematography, some of these includes; close up shot (a zoom into a person’s
face or an important object), mid-shot (this is the most common in movies and
shows), high angle (the camera is above eye level, looking down below on the
target, this can make them look weak), low angle (this shot is below eye level,
where the camera is looking up at the subject, the effect makes them look
strong), establishing shot (this is normally the first
shot in a scene, because it is designed to show to the audience where the next
scene will happen, or where the action is happening), and dutch angle/tilt
(this is shot when the camera is set at an angle, creating the effect of
uneasiness and nausea).
(pictured above is
the storyboard for a scene in later animated in Terminator)
Being a storyboard artist requires a range of skills, as they are
planning out the scenes. They not only need to have clear consistent drawings,
that easily depict what is going to happen in a shot, but also a deep
understanding of cinematography and film-making, be familiar with the relevant
programs and editing software, and respond to constructive feedback well, even
if they are only cleaning up already produced storyboards.
As well as that, the storyboard artist is expected to work closely
with the Director, and maybe, if the project demands it, clients, any
storyboard supervisors, and storyboard assistants, they need to have good
communication and presentation skills, as well as being able to work in a team
effectively.
To get into this field, it is easier to climb your way up through the
jobs in an animation studio. Most storyboard artists were first assistants or
animators. However, it is required that you either are an animation graduate,
have studied film, or have relevant experience in this career.
Animation Director/Supervisor
Being the animation director or animation supervisor means you oversee
the animation being produced, and are also responsible for the quality.
Confident understanding of acting, timing, how animation works and experience
within the industry is expected.
Because this job is important, and requires the employee to keep a
clear and consistent quality of animation throughout the project, it isn’t an
entry level job. Required skills or knowledge for the job; an animation or
art-related degree (includes graphic design, photography or film degrees),
existing experience as an animator in the industry, and a lot of understanding
in the field of animating and directing. Leadership and team skills also play a
big part, as you will be supervising over a whole team of animators and making
sure they are heading in the right direction animation wise.
Different types of employment available in the creative media sector,
and their advantages/disadvantages:
Full-time:
There are some advantages to working full-time in the creative media
industry, these include a higher wage than freelance, and it’s also less risky
than freelance/piecework as you are always guaranteed a paycheque. Plus,
climbing up the job ladder is a lot easier, because despite how skilled you are
in animation and cinematography, you could never be an animation director if
you haven’t worked in the lower job tiers, and had relevant, in-depth experience
working as a full-time animator or storyboard assistant.
However, working full-time obviously takes up the most amount of time,
compared to part-time, meaning less time for yourself, family, and friends.
Also, working full-time causes a lot of work related stress for employees as
they work so often.
Part-time:
Part-time workers get paid a lot less than full-time, meaning they
probably won't be able to support themselves financially on their own, however
they also get a lot more time for themselves. This would be good for a parent
that has kids, but also a partner working full-time to support them.
Piecework/Freelance:
Hiring an independent worker/artist to produce one piece can be
beneficial for the employer if they need to produce high quality or specific
pieces in a lower quantity. The employer can easily hire a freelancer to create
a piece work for their project, this gives the employer control over the
quality, and the freelancer has flexibility in their work. Freelancers are
usually payed more per hour for their piece if they are particularly skilled or
famous, however they work a lot less than full-time, because they only produce
work when they are commissioned. This type of job can be risky, as you only
earn money when you get requested to create a product (this can be concept art,
an animation, or artwork for the company), but high reward as the pay is
usually higher per hour than full-time as it is a more specific job, while
being able to work from home.
Voluntary/Internship:
Voluntary work is extremely useful for gaining experience in the field
of jobs you are interested in, and many companies, including Blue Zoo, allow
interns to animate and work with them, learning life skills that are important
to get a job in the industry.
Resources used:
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