Chris Bowden's Reply! (At Last)

Finally today I recieved a reply from Chris Bowden (after further contact) answering the questions I emailed him just over a month ago. Here is what it said:

Dear Alastair,

Sorry your note has been neglected but things here have been rather busy with evening and weekends both taken up with our shows. I’ve answered as best I can below.

Chris


1. Have you got any advice for any future work I do?

Focus on what you want a piece of work to do for you. if you want to show that you’re an animator, make sure the character animation is great. If you want to be a director, show that the pace style, composition and ideas are solid. Usually simple well told stories are best.

2. What do you look for in showreels?

In animation reels we look for thought. Thought about the character and the what’s going on its head. Often we don’t look for smooth slick animation (though that’s bonus) because in most cases that comes with day in day out practice.

3.What job opertunities are there at Cosgrove Hall?

It depends how busy the studios are. We have periodically run training courses to get animators new to a standard where they can begin work in the studio but at present there are quite a few animators around and we have no need to train new ones at present. Of course that could all change very quickly if a new project comes in.

4. Do you have any briefs/mock briefs that I could work on as part of my final year?

Not really. I have been asked this before and we don’t really have anything that could constitute a meaningful brief for a project.

I feel the answers to questions 1 and 2 will be quite useful to know.

eDward - Result

Well I recieved another email from the eDward Young Filmmaker's Award today. Unfortunately I haven't made it through the selection process. Below is what the email had to say:

"Dear eDward-Participant,
thank you very much for your submission to eDward 2007.
We want to inform you that the pre-jury already held a meeting during which they elected the finalists of eDward 2007. Having so many works made by very creative and talented film makers made it very difficult to select only the best.
Unfortunately, we have to inform you, that your contribution has not come into the narrower choice of the finalists. Nonetheless, we thank you for your engagement and wish you all the best for your further film productions .
We thank you very much for your commitment and hope you will participate once again next year.
Kind regards "

I shall have to wait and see what the theme is next year as well as if I will have the time to enter.
I might not have got through but at least I tried.

eDward Email

Upon checking my email account today I have found an email from eDward sent on the 20th, letting me know that they have recieved my entry to the contest and that after they have recieved all entries they will then contact me again with further details.

HOT Animation and eDward

Yesterday I contacted HOT Animation again to see about visiting the studios for a day to look around and show my second year animation. I was told, unfortunately, that it wouldn't be possible as the company is currently undergoing changes and that if I am still interested then I should try again at the end of the year when they should know more about their situation.

As for the eDward competition, I completed the registration forms and posted off my entry yesterday as well so that should hopefully arrive at the destination in plenty of time.