PLP Developing

Here, I will include my presentation notes. These will be planned separately after completing my PLP work, as they are intended for me to read to the audience. Keeping them separate ensures they don't disrupt my thought process or the writing format of the previous points in my blog. The notes will serve as a concise explanation.

# Career Development & Industry Direction Presentation

Hi everyone, I'm pursuing a career that bridges multiple aspects of 3D production, with a focus on previsualization and technical animation. This direction aligns perfectly with my strengths: I have a methodical, technical mindset that helps me tackle complex technical challenges, and I genuinely enjoy exploring different aspects of the production pipeline rather than focusing on a single specialty.

My current technical foundation in Maya, including experience with Chaos Phoenix, MASH, and nParticles, Adobe suite, Blender, and VUE, provides a solid base. While I have areas to improve - particularly in character animation polish and advanced simulation techniques - my ability to adapt quickly to new software and problem-solve efficiently helps balance these current limitations.

## Industry Influences & Professional Guidance

The professional guidance I've received through industry talks has been transformative for my career direction. James Baxter and Ollie Trotman shared essential animation tips about character weight distribution - specifically, how positioning a character's weight on the appropriate leg before a turn creates more natural movement. I've already implemented this knowledge in my character performance challenges, where my character turns towards the camera, demonstrating how these industry insights directly improve my work.

Mo Ahmed's presentation opened my eyes to alternative career paths I hadn't previously considered, such as dental visualization. What particularly intrigued me about this field was the opportunity to work as a generalist, covering multiple roles while maintaining a high level of technical proficiency. Similarly, the NEXUS studios talk revealed exciting possibilities in music video production, where creative freedom and technical expertise combine in unique ways.

Vytautas Puišys emphasized the critical importance of adaptability in our field, particularly stressing the value of learning Unreal Engine for achieving efficient realism in animation. This insight has significantly influenced my decision to prioritize Unreal Engine in my technical development pathway.

While many of the technical tips shared during industry talks reinforced concepts already covered in our coursework, hearing these principles echoed by industry professionals has been invaluable for building my confidence and deepening my understanding. This parallel validation from both our experienced tutors and active industry professionals has helped cement these concepts as fundamental best practices rather than just theoretical knowledge. 

## Technical Evolution & Software Experience

I've had the opportunity to work with a range of simulation tools within the Maya pipeline, including Chaos Phoenix, MASH, and nParticles. Last semester, I experimented with MASH and nParticles to create particle-based simulations and procedural effects for my PLP project, which gave me a solid foundation in understanding how simulations can be manipulated for creative results. More recently, I've become familiar with Chaos Phoenix, specifically for smoke simulation, and I now feel confident in controlling the parameters to achieve realistic smoke and fluid effects. Understanding that Job listings for 3D artists may include experience with CHAOS suite now, as my previous research into previs job postings has demonstrated and this provides valuable information for where my skillset can apply in future.

While our course focuses primarily on Maya, I've been using Maya's built-in features like Bifrost, nParticles, and MASH for my simulations. These tools have proven versatile, though I find myself particularly interested in the procedural and dynamic control offered by other software like Houdini. However, after discussions with Paul Arion about Houdini's potential for simulation work, I've made a strategic decision to temporarily defer diving into this massive package. While Houdini is incredibly powerful for simulations, I can still develop my simulation skills through previs work and Maya's tools, focusing my immediate learning efforts on Unreal Engine, which aligns more directly with my current career goals in previsualization.

My exploration of Vue by E-on Software has already proven valuable for creating breathtaking natural environments and realistic landscapes. I recently learned more about Vue's capabilities while staying engaged with the animation community, specifically through animation news channels on YouTube. Discovering its use in high-profile projects like Avatar, where it was used to generate stunning scenery and lush, detailed foliage, made me realize its potential in professional scene creation. This has been evidenced in my recent environmental work, where I've combined Vue-created environments with my rigging work and Phoenix volumetrics. 

## Target Companies & Rationale

I've identified several companies that align with my career goals and working style:

Short-Term Targets:

- Control Chaos: Their focus on previsualization would allow me to develop my technical skills while working across multiple aspects of production. After speaking with Paul Arion, their CEO, I'm particularly drawn to their structured pipeline approach.

- Ritzy Animation: Their work in game cinematics and real-time rendering aligns with my interest in learning Unreal Engine.

- Firebug Films: Their previsualization work offers excellent opportunities for gaining industry experience.

Long-Term Goals:

- Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): Known for pioneering VFX advancements

- DNEG: Their diverse work across animation and VFX presents opportunities for growth

- The Third Floor: Their innovative approach to previs particularly interests me, especially after Marcus Ayrton's talk revealed they're actively using Unreal Engine in their previs pipeline.

## Development Plan

Short-Term Goals (Remainder of Year 2):

1. Technical Skills Enhancement:

   - Complete advanced rigging projects to strengthen technical foundation

   - Continue developing simulation skills within Maya

   - Begin learning Unreal Engine fundamentals for real-time visualization

   - Master scene assembly and camera work for previs

2. Portfolio Development:

   - Create dedicated previsualization examples

   - Document technical problem-solving processes

   - Build simple but effective character rigs

   - Develop environment showcases

3. Professional Development:

   - Continue attending industry events

   - Expand LinkedIn network

   - Follow industry trends through channels like Corridor Crew, askNK, and InspirationTuts

Year 3 Goals:

1. Software Mastery:

   - Achieve proficiency in Unreal Engine for real-time visualization

   - Deepen Maya technical expertise

   - Explore Vue for environmental enhancement

2. Project Focus:

   - Create complex previs sequences

   - Develop technical animation examples

   - Build a varied showreel demonstrating versatility

3. Industry Preparation:

   - Target internship opportunities

   - Build relationships with previs studios

   - Create production-ready work examples

4. Industry Engagement:

• Maintain active LinkedIn presence for professional networking

• Follow up with industry contacts from guest talks

• Engage with alumni network for mentorship opportunities

• Stay informed about industry trends through professional channels"

## Professional Growth & Technical Discovery

What's particularly interesting about my journey is how my perspective on different specializations has evolved through hands-on experience. Initially, I found rigging to be somewhat tedious and viewed it as a boring procedure. However, after rigging several custom and preset rigs, I've discovered that I actually quite enjoy rigging because it appeals to my technical and methodical thinking process and is helped by my strong mathematical ability when working out rotations and translations. This experience has taught me an invaluable lesson about how only through proper practice do you really understand the landscape of a craft.

I've actively built my professional network through LinkedIn, which has become an invaluable tool for staying connected with industry trends and developments. Beyond digital networking, I've maintained meaningful connections with UCA graduates, including my good friend Elan, who can offer mentorship and insights from recent industry experience. These relationships, combined with the connections made through our course's guest speakers, have created a robust support network for my professional development. I particularly value having access to course mentors who can provide tailored resources and guidance specific to my career goals. 

## Career Evolution & Industry Understanding

My journey in understanding my career path has been significantly shaped by our industry talks and professional interactions. Initially, I was drawn to modeling and simulation, fascinated by the ability to create detailed assets and dynamic effects. However, I was hesitant about pursuing previsualization as a career path. The idea of working primarily with rough layouts and preliminary versions, never seeing the final polished product, initially dampened my enthusiasm for previs work.

But the industry talks we've had have completely transformed my perspective. Through conversations with professionals like Marcus Ayrton and seeing real-world examples from The Third Floor, I've discovered how modern technology, particularly real-time engines like Unreal, has revolutionized the previs workflow. What once meant working with basic greybox environments and rough animations has evolved into creating sophisticated real-time visualizations that can achieve remarkable quality even in their preliminary stages.

This technological evolution has helped me realize that previsualization actually offers the perfect platform to pursue both my interests in modeling and simulation. Modern previs artists can create detailed environments, implement dynamic effects, and see their work come to life in real-time - all while playing a crucial role in shaping the creative direction of projects. The advancement of real-time rendering has eliminated my initial concern about never seeing the final product, as the line between previs and final quality continues to blur with each technological advancement.

Through analyzing employment landscapes across different sectors, I've gained renewed confidence in my career direction. I'm now certain that my technical adaptability and dedication to learning new software will serve me well, even if I start as a rigger, modeler, previs artist, animator, or in any related position, i will still be able to perform at a high standard and succeed. My extra research into alternative sectors has reinforced this confidence - from the creative freedom of music video production highlighted in the NEXUS studios talk, to the generalist opportunities in dental visualization presented by Mo Ahmed. These diverse paths have shown me just how many doors my skillset could open.

Through industry talks, I’ve gained crucial insights into entry-level pathways and market trends, which have been instrumental in shaping my career planning. For instance, I’ve learned the value of runner positions as a stepping stone into the industry, providing invaluable exposure to various aspects of production and a practical understanding of studio operations. At the same time, these talks highlighted how roles like rotoscoping are increasingly being outsourced from the UK, a market shift that help solidify my decision to pursue previsualization. This knowledge has allowed me to strategically focus on opportunities with the highest potential for growth in the UK market, aligning with my goal of building a career in previs. 

[At this point, I'll present my showreel which demonstrates:]

- Character animation exercises

- Technical rigging examples

- Scene assembly and composition

- Basic simulation work

- Environment creation

Moving forward, I plan to continue practicing multiple specializations to further discover where my strengths lie. I recognize that our initial projects in any area only scratch the surface of what's possible, and just as my perspective on rigging evolved with experience, I want to give myself the opportunity to fully explore each specialization. I'll continue developing my skills in rigging, simulation, previs, and modeling, as I believe they all need more dedicated practice time.

I think I have succeded at producing a showreel of a high standard for my chosen specialism. By analising and applying principles such as keeping the length to a minimum and keeping it snappy and leaving the audience wanting more by only choosing my best and most suitable of works I have created a compelling selling point for my position especially as a generalist or previs artist- as well as the many other specialisms which apply and are demonstrated.

Furthermore, professional insights from Mark Brown at Firebug films, have shown me how previs sits at an exciting intersection of technical expertise and creative storytelling. Vytautas Puišys emphasis on efficient realism in Unreal Engine, combined with the creative freedom and experimentation from previs described in other talks, has helped me see how this role aligns well with both my current desire to be a generalist, and my creative aspirations for high end stunning detail.

This evolution in my thinking exemplifies how valuable our industry connections have been in shaping my career direction. They've not only provided technical insights but have helped me understand how my skills and interests can find their best expression in today's rapidly evolving animation industry.

Thank you for watching.