Selecting the right institute/college( Mr. Mohit Sonis Interview)
1. How to find the right institute/college in your sector? What criterions should a student look into evaluate a college?
Sorry for being very lengthy on the answer but I feel, this is the most important question and will benefit the students in taking a right call, so I felt the need to be descriptive. Various points which a student should consider while selecting an animation institute or college are:
1. Infrastructure The first thing that separates a good animation college from run of the mill animation schools is the infrastructure. An international studio quality infrastructure is what a student will need to produce the quality required by the animation studios, and this plays a vital role.
2. Faculty Of course the quality and experience of the faculty members are important for any educational institution and there is no exception in case of the 3D animation film schools. Trainers with a background in handling international 3D animation/gaming projects is a must to have students move out with hands on experience and understand production pipeline.
3. Comprehensive Course The courses at the animation colleges should take care of every aspect that is important for 3d Animation film making. It is not that the animation schools will teach only a part of the entire process. The course should cover all the areas of 3D Animation film making that will give the students a comprehensive idea.
4. Curriculum The curriculum of the college should be in proven with a placement record and needs to be in tune with the best animation schools around the world. The courses should incorporate contemporary style of animation film making and latest techniques that are being used globally.
5. Association with Industry The institutes should have close ties with the animation industry/studios. Thereby the students will get the chance to learn from the person who have hands on experience and also understands the requirements coming from them.
6. Alumni The alumni of any institute speaks a lot about the standard of learning facilities at the institute. So, you should try and find out how the past students have done after leaving the institute.
7. Demo Reels Demo reels produced by students from animation schools are very important as that will give you a chance of seeing the level of quality and output. Also the stages where they have been winning awards can make a difference
8. Internship/Live Projects The institute should have proper infrastructure and ambience for providing students with an internship program or facility to work on live projects by making short films and should promote the films at different film festivals that will eventually help you showcase your work.
9. Student Exchange Programs /Credit Transfers The scope of student exchange program with other animation schools present internationally will give you the much needed exposure to international education and technologies.
10. Placements This is the most important parameter to judge any academic institute. The record of placements since inception should be considered and evaluated before taking a call.
2. How easy/difficult/relevant is it to do an internship as a student? How do you choose the right mentor/company?
Internship provides a unique opportunity to students of having hands on experience and understanding not just the animation studio culture but also the entire production pipeline, its been observed that after the students have been through internship they get much better offers, pay package and profiles. Based on the specialization/interest a student should decide the right companies as there are various studios handling specialized outsourcing/co-production projects.
3. We are living in a global world. In such a scenario, how can one build a global career in this space? Does it require one to study abroad also?
Considering the fact where animation industry in India is moving up the value chain and animation/gaming studios are looking for Indian talent, many international animation colleges have been setting up their campuses in India; its been very easy for the students now to acquire a global expertise living in their country. Initiatives like Picasso Animation College, which brought in not just an internationally accredited certification through Centennial College, Canada but also the curriculum, training methodology and real animation experts from Hollywood. With such colleges setting up, students pursuing animation programs can now be trained on the similar quality required by such internationally acclaimed studios.
4. How can one branch off as an entrepreneur? How much experience does it require to do so?
With ample work outsourced in animation/gaming industry and Indian Animation Industry also moving to a new dimension of co-production and IP Creation, its very easy now to get projects as a freelancer. One may require creating a facility in line with the projects he is looking at, the most crucial factor to be considered while one wants to be an entrepreneur is the level of team he is hiring. My suggestion to guys planning to be an entrepreneur is first to have an experience of minimum 2-3 years in handling international projects and understand the flow of market.
5. What does the future look like, in terms of industrial growth? (Scope)
Rather than talking on figures I would say, Animation industry is booming in India and not just its usage in films, television has become a major part, but also other sectors like automobile designing, interior designing, gaming, scientific animation, digital tutorials shows a much high incorporation of animation. Being a part of the entertainment industry and having the power to create an unreal environment makes this industry generate as a unique combination of art and technology. With the setting up of international studios in India the requirement of talented animation artists has grown and will be requiring much more hands then what are being produced by animation colleges at present.
Contributed by : Picasso Animation college
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