This interview was conducted in October 2022. Meet Akshay Ravi, who has previously worked as a VFX Production Coordinator at Industrial Light & Magic and, as of 2024, currently works as a production coordinator at Blur Studios! Read on to learn about Akshay’s journey into the industry, the exciting (and difficult) parts of a production role, and some helpful advice for the future! So, first off, tell us a little bit about you and what you do!
My name is Akshay! I graduated from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2020, where I got to double major in Media Arts and Practice, and Film and TV Production. I primarily focused on directing, producing, and editing in school, and while there, I fell in love with the act of helping foster the visions of people around me. Can you share with us a little about your journey starting out? In all honesty, I ended up in VFX by chance. I grew up in Illinois convinced, like every other Indian boy in my little suburb, that I wanted to go into engineering, law, or business— despite having spent my whole schooling excitedly pursuing roles in theater. It was a natural transition to pursue my real passion: storytelling. Production can be seen as a tedious role, dealing with all the logistics, but I found a lot of joy in building up the incredibly talented people around me, and when it came time to find a job, I not only found a lot of meaning in this, but I also felt that it was the best place for me to learn and grow as a storyteller. What makes a role in production unique from other roles in the pipeline? Production is amazing because you really get a deep insight into everything that goes into making a film or show. I work in VFX, and having been both a Production Assistant and a Production Coordinator, I’ve gotten the chance across both roles to interact with incredibly talented artists in various steps of the VFX pipeline. I also get a lot of high-level insight by working very closely with the Producers and VFX Supervisors on the shows I’ve been on. As someone whose first goal is to learn and grow as a storyteller, getting this kind of access is invaluable in understanding how to make content in an increasingly technology-oriented industry. What does a typical day as a production coordinator look like? Lots of meetings. JK. But seriously. As a Production Coordinator, I spend a lot of time chatting directly with my discipline supervisor, production, and the artists, and making sure that my department will be able to complete the work that we’ve been tasked. We have to be in accordance with the overall show schedule and with respect to client and internal priorities, as well as respond to client and internal needs as they arise. That might sound easy on paper (I thought so, at first), but the more you get into the show, the busier it gets. It’s like playing a game of Tetris, but instead of building blocks, it’s all the work needed to make sure my department delivers successfully on time, and that everything we need to do has been done. What are the most fun parts of your job? The best part of working in a VFX team is the camaraderie. In any creative space, you get very close with the people that you are in the trenches with, and it’s no different with VFX. Not only is the team that you work with just the most amazing people around, but you also just learn so much by being around people who are such experts in what they do. Some of the people I work with have been at this for decades, and getting to be in the same room as those people, learning what they have to offer, is just incredible. What is the most challenging part of your job? The most challenging part is definitely balancing out all the priorities that come our way. Coordinators are very hands-on with the department they work with and have to field questions from other departments, all sorts of meetings and correspondences, and everything to help keep the project on track, and it can definitely be challenging to find the balance and make sure that everything is being handled in the best way. What is an important lesson you learned early on in your career? I’m still early on in my career, and the lesson that I keep learning over and over again is that there’s always more to learn. First, I had to learn that when I’m overwhelmed, it’s okay to need to take a breath or slow down. Second, I learned just how important it is to just make sure to listen and pay attention— both for the sake of doing the job right (lol) and for the sake of just pure learning. This has lent itself to some of my biggest lessons on storytelling and the VFX process in my career. What advice would you give to someone aspiring to work in production? Be prepared to rise to the demands of the job, but remember that it’s a whole lot of fun. In production, you get to be in the epicenter of the whole process as an observer, and that’s not something you should take lightly; but the side effect of being in the epicenter is that people always ask you for things, and you have to brace yourself to be overwhelmed, and to not know things, and to accept growth— all of which are so okay. Most importantly: enjoy the ride! Writers: Jordan (@deadswampsofsadness) | Point Person: Gaby, AIA Team 🎉ANNOUNCING: The AIA 2024 Animation Industry Immersive Lab! 🎉
We’re excited to reveal our first-ever Production Program, an intensive and immersive week designed to equip emerging Asian animation talent with the skills and experience needed to thrive in the professional animation industry. Through a combination of hands-on workshops and industry production exposure, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest topics in the animation industry and how to sustain a creative career in an ever-evolving landscape. During this week-long intensive program, you will: 🎬 Produce a polished 2D animated short film from concept to completion 🎨 Gain hands-on animation production experience 💻 Collaborate virtually with industry experts and mentors 🤝 Expand your connections within the animation community This program is perfect for you if: ✅ You're an AIA member ✅ You have some experience making animated films ✅ You're excited to challenge yourself creatively with a team of collaborators 📅 SAVE THE DATE: Applications open May 6. Visit bit.ly/aia-immersivelab to learn more! Mark your calendars, spread the word, and level up your animation career with the AIA Immersive Lab! 🚀✨ Interested in learning more? See here for more information: https://www.asiansinanimation.org/production.html Special thanks to the volunteers who worked on this post: Katrina Aruta, Bianca Bancolita, Clair Huang, Kaitlyn Chen, Gaby de la Cruz, Ashley Whang, Saira Umar, Benjamin Arnold, Sarah Liu Looking for feedback on your work and portfolio? Join us for Warrior Art Camp’s Portfolio Review Session! Warrior Art Camp Founders Kayleigh Ma and Angela Sung will lead an intro and Q&A session before we open to portfolio reviews. Get feedback on your work from industry professionals as they share their combined experience! This portfolio review will be focused on BG design/paint as well as VisDev. Saturday, Dec 2th @10:00AM PT RSVP by November 29th at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 to ensure we receive your portfolio! About the Hosts
Everything you need to know about breaking into story and getting in the Writers Room! Join Catherine Chen, a Showrunner's Assistant at Nickelodeon, to discuss the ins and outs of writing for animation, including pitching tips, detailed story structure, addressing notes and feedback, and more! Open to all, and highly recommended for new students or early grads who are interested in pursing a career in writing for animation! Saturday, December 2nd @11AM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the Speaker
Looking to get feedback on your pitching skills? Join us for a pitching-focused workshop where you'll have the chance to practice pitching in front of an audience and receive feedback! Open to everyone of all levels of experience, and highly recommended for those interested in being a Director or Storyboarder! Saturday, December 2nd @6 PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostsKaitlin is a Chinese-American 3D animator and the Events Assistant at here at AIA. They graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 3D Animation and Visual Effects and have worked for studios such as Framestore, Hornet, HOPR, PDA.NYC, Jabimation and Free Range VFX.
Josh Alvarez is a self-taught visual development artist from New York currently working on his portfolio and developing his skills as an artist with the hope to breaking in next year! He works with AIA to volunteer with online and offline community events like this year's career summit or even more recently the AIA meet-up in New York City! Join Storyboard Artist Vivian Le and Director Leslie Park to learn how to navigate teamwork in the world of animation. We'll cover topics such as how to give and ask for feedback, how to manage assignment loads and work, how to improve communication with your fellow artists, peers and even superiors, and how to be the best teammate possible! Highly recommended for recent grads and those new to the industry, but everyone is welcome! Sunday, December 3rd @4PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakersLet's get stuff done, together! Join us for a virtual co-working session to work on whatever you'd like - need to update your portfolio? Want to finish a story outline? Just need some space to plan the rest of your week? Come hang out and we'll work together! Monday, Dec 4th @4 PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostSophia is an External Relations Events Assistant with AIA. She helps coordinate AIA's virtual events and is working on breaking into production management!
Let's start our week right, together! This space is a working session to discuss your accomplishments and focus on your goals for the next week - everyone is welcome! Monday, December 4th @6:30PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostAmiel is a storyboard artist based out of Los Angeles, CA and serves as one of the Coordinators for the Membership Team at Asians in Animation. He currently works as a photo editor while breaking in to the industry.
Join us for an exclusive behind the scenes look at the animated short, STARLING, winner of this year's Best Animated Short at the Tribeca Film Festival! Created by Director and Story Artist at Pixar Mitra Shahidi and Production Designer and former Pixar Character Designer Celine You as part of the Pixar Co-Op Film Program, this event will be an in depth look at the making of an indie animated short, followed by a Q&A opportunity. This event is highly recommended for anyone interested in creating their own indie films! Tuesday, December 5th @6PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the Speakers
Join Global Talent Acquisition Coordinator at Sony Pictures Entertainment Laura Bourne for an interactive workshop on recruiting tips and best practices, where you can get your burning questions answered about the application process and anything on your mind! This talk will be geared to current students, recent grads, and those looking to break in, but all are welcome to join. Tuesday, Dec 5th @7PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the Speaker
This is an in depth look at navigating early career roles for animation! Let's define success together and tackle common concerns like how to make a good first impression, how to cultivate professional relationships, and what to prep as you roll off and search for your next production. This will be a great overview on succeeding at a studio! Highly recommended for our early career members and recent grads, but all are welcome to come! Wednesday, December 6th @11 AM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostKim Quach is the ever-so-eager helping hand of the Creative Team. With recent experiences at Nickelodeon Animation as an Artist Management Intern and mentorship with Women in Animation, she’s had an exciting look into studio structures and production workflows. She continues to foster community throughout different corners of the industry, and lends support in creating safe spaces for learning and growth.
Get an insider scoop and Q&A opportunity to ask everything you've ever wanted to know about being a filmmaker and showcasing within film festivals with Director Dan Snaddon! Dan's films have won the International Emmy Kids Award for Best Animation 2020 and been nominated for 3 BAFTA Young People and Children's award nominations. With his latest project for Magic Light Pictures and BBC One, THE SMEDS AND THE SMOOS, Daniel will discuss what it was like working on his most recent film project and what inspired him. Highly recommended for aspiring and current indie filmmakers, although everyone is welcome! Wednesday, December 6th @12PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the Speaker
Don't miss this in-depth look at the incredible art of NIMONA featuring Production Designer and Character Art Director Aidan Sugano! We'll go behind the scenes to see how the unique techno-medieval world and style of NIMONA was developed and brought to life, followed by an exclusive Q&A opportunity afterwards. Highly recommended for those interested in design, art directing and visual development! Thursday, December 7 @5PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the Speaker
This is an in-depth training course to prepare current and future Production Assistants for the ins and outs of 2D episodic production. Along with Nickelodeon Production Assistant Katie Dizon, we'll go over every step of the production pipeline, take a look at the typical tasks expected of a PA and discuss best practices for production management. Highly recommended for students and recent grads looking to break into Production, and for current PAs looking to switch from 3D episodic or feature to 2D! Thursday, December 7th @6PM PT RSVP @bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostKatie Dizon is the External Relations Director at Asians in Animation. An aspiring Producer, Katie currently works as a Production Assistant at Nickelodeon Animation on the upcoming series, TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES. She was previously on ROCK PAPER SCISSORS, the first short to be green-lit for series from Nickelodeon's Intergalactic Shorts Program.
Gobelins Short Film Screening and Networking with AIA India - Featuring Poornima Subramaniam11/30/2023
Together with the AIA India community, come enjoy an exclusive screening of Gobelins’ short film, RIOT DOLL, followed by a Q&A with Director Poornima Subramaniam about her filmmaking process behind the project. Be sure to bring all your questions about first-time filmmaking, and join the other attendees in a post-talk networking session! RIOT DOLL follows a young delivery girl navigating a society engulfed by war-induced hatred in Moscow. Friday, Dec 8th @4:30AM PT 6pm IST (India) 6:30pm BST (Bangladesh) 7:30pm WIB (W. Indonesia) 8:30pm CST (China) 9:30pm JST (Japan, Seoul) RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the GuestPoornima Subramaniam is a story enthusiast, 2D animator and designer based in Paris. She loves to tell stories with a strong point of view but also do silly animations like a grandma being blown away. A recent graduate of Gobelins Paris, she has worked on the festival opener for the Annecy Film Festival 2022 and is ready to promote her Graduation short film, RIOT DOLL, as a director!
Join filmmaker Adnan Hussain and how to best highlight indigenous cultures and collaborate with indigenous artists! Adnan will share stories such as working with Sindhi Jogis on GUL, adapting Sufi poetry and Rajasthani puppetry, and working with Uyghur activists and musicians. This talk is intended for all storytellers seeking innovative approaches to incorporate culture, human rights, and traditional art forms into animation - all are welcome! Saturday, Dec 9th @11AM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakerAdnan Hussain is a filmmaker working in animation who blends technology, human rights, and culture in his animations. His varied projects range from Sufi poetry inspired puppet films to 8 bit-Bollywood mashups to VFX and animation for Marvel, Disney and Sony. Discover his work at http://www.madguru.com.
Come take some time to work on artwork, spruce up that portfolio and get started on your goals in an open, casual setting with other Asians in Animation members! Open to all who just want some dedicated space to work on a project - we hope to see you there! Saturday, Dec 9th @6PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostMaggie Chen is a junior toy/collectibles designer who designs figures of licensed characters. Within AIA, she is the Portfolio and Art Working Session Coordinator and takes great pride in making spaces for people to work on their projects together.
Take some time to reflect on this week's accomplishments and set your goals for the next week in this dedicated space - let's start next week ready to learn, grow and make the most of everything! This space is open to all - we hope to see you there! Sunday, Dec 10th @2PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostOriginally from Orlando, Florida, Sara Marigomen grew up watching and loving animated stories. She is currently at Steamroller Animation, and she volunteers as the Director of Communications at Asians in Animation. She loves supporting fellow creatives and exploring new organization and productivity practices. Beyond the world of animated storytelling, she likes to do puzzles and wants to learn how to crochet and to speak a second language.
Calling all the aspiring filmmakers - step into the world of indie filmmaking with storyboard artists Vivian Le and Jingqi Zhang! We'll discuss everything from how the filmmaking pipeline turns an idea into a completed film to how to submit your finished work to festivals. This talk is for open everyone and anyone who wants to make a film of their own! Sunday, Dec 10th @4PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakersAbout Legends AnimatedLegends Animated is a 501c3 nonprofit animation company that provides collaborative opportunities to create independent animation that is both engaging and impactful. It does so through fiscally sponsoring independent productions of members within the animation community, partnering with other 501c3 orgs and public institutions for animated co-productions, as well as offering capacity support to animation organizations and events. For more details feel free to visit https://linktr.ee/legendsanimated
Learn more about the East Coast Animation Industry with Kaitlin Yu and Sude Kurban! We'll discuss topics such as what sort of work is available for East Coast Animation Industries, networking, studios, and other resources, events and organizations available to our friends on the east coast! Especially recommended for our East Coast based members or anyone moving to the East Coast! Monday, Dec 11th @5PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakersA recent grad from Pratt Institute with a degree in 3D Animation, Sude is a Brooklyn-based Production Assistant and Concept Artist from Istanbul, Turkey with experience in indie animation production. As a volunteer at both Asians in Animation and Women in Animation, she is happy to share her knowledge and give advice to students and fellow graduates.
Kaitlin is a Chinese-American 3D animator and the Events Assistant at here at AIA. They graduated from the School of Visual Arts in 3D Animation and Visual Effects and have worked for studios such as Framestore, Hornet, HOPR, PDA.NYC, Jabimation and Free Range VFX. They are happy to share their knowledge and experience to anyone who is looking for work in the East Coast. Community Working Session: Goal Setting Space - Start Your Week Off! (30 Minutes) (SESSION 2)11/30/2023
Let's start our week right! This space is a working session to discuss your accomplishments and focus on your goals for the next week - everyone is welcome! Monday, December 11th @6PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostTir Tabandeh is an Iranian storyboard artist and producer who creates magical stories inspired by Southwest Asian culture and folklore. They're also a volunteer within the AIA Writer's Group!
Let's get stuff done, together! Join us for a virtual co-working session to work on whatever you'd like - need to update your portfolio? Want to finish a story outline? Just need some space to plan the rest of your week? Come hang out and we'll work together! Monday, Dec 11th @7 PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the HostShay Santos is a FilAm filmmaker and writer who currently volunteers on the Asians in Animation Creative Team. She likes coffee and cartoons.
Curious about how composers score music for projects? Join Jamie Pangan and Robert Mai for an informative talk on how to make the most of working with composers for animation! We'll discuss the ins and outs on how to best connect with a composer and dive into a project together! This talk is mostly geared towards animators, producers and directors who are curious about how to work with composers, but all are welcome! We will be covering topics such as: • Syncing story and music • Trusting your composer and keeping an open mind • Expressing emotions with music Tuesday, Dec 12th @5PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakersBased in Nashville, Jamie Pangan is a violinist, music producer and composer for film, TV, and games. Previously, Jamie contributed in the music departments under studios such as Netflix, Hulu and Disney+. Jamie loves to experiment with string sounds and electronic elements to create hybrid ambient textures that blend with cinematic drama. Growing up in Orange County, CA, Robert Mai dreamed of chasing an art career at a very young age. He's had a successful career of more than seven years composing for films, television, podcasts, games, and more. He's worked with companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Ubisoft and Showtime and enjoys mentoring young composers in his free time. About Legends AnimatedLegends Animated is a 501c3 nonprofit animation company that provides collaborative opportunities to create independent animation that is both engaging and impactful. It does so through fiscally sponsoring independent productions of members within the animation community, partnering with other 501c3 orgs and public institutions for animated co-productions, as well as offering capacity support to animation organizations and events. For more details feel free to visit https://linktr.ee/legendsanimated
Join our very Managing Director at AIA Dani Yuan for an engaging discussion on strategically planning personal projects! Discover how to apply leadership lessons from the US Marines to propel your own projects to success. Dani will share tips on how to set clear objectives, assess resources, and maintain flexibility as you work towards your goals! Everyone, especially those working on personal projects, is welcome to join this talk as we work on our goals together! Tuesday, Dec 12th @6PM PT RSVP at bit.ly/AIACareerSummit2023 About the SpeakerDani served in the US Marines after high school, serving with the prestigious 4th Force Reconnaissance company. After getting their degree in Political Science from UC San Diego, they decided to commit towards a career in the animation industry. They currently work as a program coordinator at the BRIC Foundation and support Asians in Animation as a Managing Director, focusing on optimizing workflows for the organization to support long-term success. About Legends AnimatedLegends Animated is a 501c3 nonprofit animation company that provides collaborative opportunities to create independent animation that is both engaging and impactful. It does so through fiscally sponsoring independent productions of members within the animation community, partnering with other 501c3 orgs and public institutions for animated co-productions, as well as offering capacity support to animation organizations and events. For more details feel free to visit https://linktr.ee/legendsanimated
|
Categories
All
|