The Access:VFX Podcast

On episode 8 we meet Niall Smith, former VFX apprentice and now a firmly established Compositor at Jellyfish Pictures. This is essential listening for anyone interested in applying for a VFX apprenticeship. We discuss setting milestones, self-development and surrounding yourself with incredible mentors. For more info on VFX Apprenticeships head to www.nextgenskillsacademy.com/course/apprenticeship...

On episode 7 we meet with Jasmine Katatikarn, CG Lead, Creativity Coach and Co-Founder of The Academy of Animated Art. We open the AVFX 'vault' and discuss breaking down creativity, 'pre-vizzing' your life, getting industry ready and creating photo-real tomatoes! Find out more about The Academy of Animated Art at academyofanimatedart.com and more from Jasmine at jazzkatat.com and instagram.com/jaz...

We promised 'near-peer' guests on the podcast and we have delivered on episode 6 where we meet Steph Preston, Digital Marketing Apprentice at Blue Zoo Animation Studio. We hear about their application experience, their role at Blue Zoo and the importance of representation and role models. Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-preston/ https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/trans-awareness-week-2021-ste...

In episode 5 we meet Chris Fryer, Digital Compositor at Industrial Light & Magic. We hear about his career to date, some 'near-peer' top tips, how confidence is a skill, 'killer lizards', and his experience at a seasoned ACCESS: VFX Mentor! If you are starting out in the industry this is a must-listen.

Simon chats to Suraj (Sid) Harrington Odedra, Head of CG at Unit VFX. Sid talks us through his career journey from the worry of mischoosing his A-levels, then heading off to Uni, breaking into The Mill via Escape Studios, going on to work on amazing projects such as The Chemical Brothers music videos. Don't miss the invaluable advice that he would love to go back and tell his teenage self!

In this episode, we hear from Alywn Hunt, Co-Founder of The Rookies, a platform that helps digital artists get discovered without having to compete with professionals for attention. We hear about Alwyn's work from starting out as a chef, through to building CG dragons, and his work as a Texture Artist. We also get a sneak peek at what is coming soon from The Rookies! Find out more at www.therookie...

Hear Mark's golden advice on how he career-journeyed from living in a small farming village, seemingly a million miles from the world of TV, from working in a nursing home, verrucas plaster factory, a production manager, a university course leader and a live-action feature film director to eventually become the Head of Aardman Academy!

We're back! Welcome to a new season of the ACCESS:VFX Podcast. In this new season, we're doing things a bit differently; interviewing a different member of the VFX, Animation & Games community in each episode, asking them to share their career journey, career advice and thoughts on how we can build a more progressive industry. In this episode, we chat with the mighty VFX executive producer Gin God...

ACCESS:VFX is proud to announce the launch of an antipodean chapter for those living in, working in or hoping to live or work in Australia & New Zealand. We hear how the chapter hopes to help diversity, inclusion and opportunities within their local industry, including matters of gender, indigenous peoples, LGBT and neurodiversity. This podcast conversation covers why the chapter has been set up a...

With the current state of the world, young people face a bleaker outlook than ever, so in this podcast, we deep-dive into ways the industry is helping young people, what more can be done and how teachers and parents can nurture blossoming creative passion. We speak to Amy Smith from Framestore, Phil Attfield from NextGen Skills Academy, Peter Kemp from 3DAmi and Tom Box from Blue Zoo, as well as s...

After our short Summer Break the ACCESS:VFX podcast is back! In episode 43 we catch up with our Chicago chapter and welcome Sandrine Gaillot (Immigration Attorney) to the pod. Ever thought about working in the USA or Canada and don’t know where to start? This session, recorded with a live, virtual audience will answer your questions on the VISA process and more!! Sandrine leads her own US/Canada i...

In advance of our link up with the Film & TV Charity for the Spider-Man: Behind the Web tweet-along and fundraiser on 6th August we gathered industry participants to discuss their involvement with the event. The charity was founded in 1924 and supports all those who work behind the scenes, from production and post, creators and crew, through distribution, and exhibition, including a 24/7 confident...

Welcome to Episode 41 of the ACCESS:VFX podcast! A 'new chapter' special. We have historically spoken at great length about a West Coast Chapter or LA chapter of ACCESS:VFX, and often those conversations started off with best intentions and then slowly lost traction. We are pleased and proud to announce that ACCESS:VFX West Coast launches today with Framestore's Kathleen Ruffalo and The Mills Ann...

With the recent news of significant numbers of industry redundancies as well as the continued furloughing of many members of the visual effects community, we wanted to pull together an episode that focusses on offering support to both those people and offering hope to emerging talent who may have questions about the stability of the VFX industry. On this episode, we assembled a core team from our...

On episode 39 of the ACCESS:VFX podcast we welcome back our Industry Connect team for the second part to the conversation we kicked off in part-one with black and ethnically diverse members of the visual effects and animation community, responding to recent events and sharing their experiences of racism working in visual effects and animation. We welcome back Nene Parsotam as co-host for this epis...

On this episode, we gather Black and ethnically diverse members of the visual effects and animation community to put out a recording as a response to current events - namely the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minnesota police department and the subsequent rallies and protests that have erupted globally against police brutality and racism. ACCESS:VFX was founded on getting stuff done fro...

37: Standing Out While Staying In #3 The third episode in our careers advice series, 'Standing Out While Staying in', with special guest, Royal Television Society! Hosted by: Simon Devereux, Founder of ACCESS:VFX With guests:
 Jude Winstanley, RTS Futures
 Tom Box, Blue Zoo
 Alice Tuxford, DNEG 
Saint John Walker, Escape Studios 
Katie Gascoyne, Blue Zoo
 Andrew Mead, Foundry
 Bonnie Dorais, Frame...

Matt Sackley - Freelance Character Animator www.mattsackley.com Andrew Maggio - Editor framecycle.com Katrina Zimmerman - Senior Art Director kazimmerman.com Ryan Urban, Visual Effects Supervisor https://www.ryanurban.info https://www.turncoatpictures.com Sara Kopke, 2D animator and Illustrator http://sarakopke.com/ Applicable links that we mentioned in this episode: Wonderful job search google-do...

The feel good episode to lighten your spirits! Hardcore members of the Q (Queer) VFX team come together for a casual chat about favourite activities and entertainment in lockdown. With members of the Q-VFX team: Sarah de Schot, Co-founder of Q-VFX Boyan 'Bobby' Georgiev, DNEG Jeszen Stokes, DNEG Chloé Deneuve, Blue Zoo Grace Hebditch, Blue Zoo Izzy Genova, Jellyfish Pictures Kat Seale, Jellyfish P...

Following up from our episode, 'Standing Out While Staying In', we assemble a group of marketing and PR experts to help you nail self-promotion and how you present yourself online at this pivotal time. With special guest, Motivational Speaker and Owner of Spark Creativity, Reuben Milne. Hosted by: Simon Devereux, Founder of ACCESS:VFX With guests: Lisa Cheung, Director of Marketing and Brand Strat...

We discuss ways we've been coping with working from home Tom Box (Blue Zoo) Grace Hebditch (Blue Zoo) Jenny Burbage (Milk) Rory Jones (Milk VFX) Andy Brassington (Escape) Sara Ricci (Framestore) Pete Rogers (Bait) Jeszen Stokes (DNEG) Chloe Campbell (Foundry) Paul Wilkes (The Mill & MPC) Sarah Tanner (Jellyfish) Welcome to another special ‘celebrity squares’ episode of the ACCESS:VFX podcast! Epis...

Regular podcast subscribers will know that we discussed the subject of parenting and caring responsibilities in last year’s VFX Mums and Dads episodes. Now the combo of parenting and homeschooling is more prevalent now more than ever – all whilst continuing to deliver of projects, jobs and shows. So this episode entitled ‘The ACCESS:VFX Guide to Caring in Lockdown’ we hope will offer some support...

Now that we’ve all been working at home for a while now, we discuss ways we've coped with some of the issues we are all facing on a daily basis. We chat with individuals and studios to hear how both employers and artists are dealing with "the new normal". By working together and sharing ideas between ourselves we hope to help others. You can find the resources page Sanctus put together here: https...

Stuck at home? There’s no better time to think about signing up as an e-mentor and support someone who wants to get into our creative industry. In this episode, we find out what it's like, how it works and how you can get involved. ACCESS:VFX Mentoring is kindly sponsored by Foundry and uses Prospela.com. Hosted by: Simon Devereux, Founder of ACCESS:VFX/ Head of L&D @ The Mill Guests: Emma Kolasin...

We discuss how you can best prepare yourself for job hunting when you can't get to a VFX/animation festival to speak to the studios in person. You can watch us chat on YouTube: bit.ly/33tnRyr Hosted by: Simon Devereux, Founder of ACCESS:VFX/ Head of L&D @ The Mill Guests: Henry Bull, Framestore Katie Gascoyne, Blue Zoo Animation Leanne Loughran, Outpost VFX Mark Flanagan, Epic Games Paul Wilkes, M...