Introduction
This is the 2nd Assignment for the Professional Practice class and is linked with the 1st Assignment for the same class as the first project to be handed in for the year. For this task, I have to create a CV, Cover E-Mail and Show Reel in order to apply for a Job Role at a real world company related to Animation. I can also create a Still Image Portfolio, but only if the chosen job is not related to animating the project (i.e. Concept artist is a yes, 3D animator is a no).
I can pick from either a job listing I find on a jobsite myself, or one of the four pre-selected job applications to be found in the Week 7 folder on Blackboard. For the benefit of time due to all the work I have to complete before the Christmas in conjunction with my own skills at finding a good job role, I will be using one of the pre-selected job applications. The role I have selected will be for the 3D Animator as I have more 3D work in my portfolio. Additionally, the job role for 2D Animator is for pre-school shows and educational material, which my work to date does not fit with that age demographic. The company is FilpBook Studio, an award winning, multi-disciplinary production company focused on providing VFX and CG animation services to the Broadcast TV, film, advertising and video games industries. It is located in Manchester, UK.
Link to Assignment 2 Brief:
https://learning.ulster.ac.uk/webapps/assignment/uploadAssignment?content_id=_5963867_1&course_id=_323029_1&group_id=&mode=view
The link to Pre-Selected Job Roles:
https://learning.ulster.ac.uk/webapps/blackboard/execute/content/file?cmd=view&content_id=_6293995_1&course_id=_323029_1
FilpBook Studio’s Website Link:
flipbookstudio.co.uk
CV -Curriculum Vitae
A CV (short for Curriculum Vitae) is a document listing down my educational history, together with the grades, awards and certificates I have earned for each class. It will also include any other activities and special achievements such as the award for 1st place at an Art competition held by the city’s art club or any community services you willingly took place in. The main role of the CV is for a recruitment agent or a leadership position employer to look over your achievements and talents and decide whether you are the right person for the job.
I have a CV already created at home which covers all of my grades, certificate and qualifications from Dromore High School through to Ulster University. Whilst the CV was comprehensive this task needed the CV to be two pages long at most and as already five pages long, I needed to amend it. As the Tutors also wanted the CV to only have the awards and skills covering animations in my post high school year, this made the job easier. So with the help of my tutor Aodhan, and my father (who as an employer has covered CV for years), i created a copy of the CV with the changes need to complete the task.
While the CV was complete this way, and it looks presentable and respectable, it did unsettle slightly. It is counterintuitive even in a copy to remove some of your life achievements as in the end it makes me feel less skilled then I really am. It’s also strange as you think the ability to handle of tasks or bring other aspects to the table would be even more appealing in a new recruit (i.e. a 3D animator who has the ability to write a script or a 3D modeler who knows character designs and concept art). However, I realise the time of employers is limited and the numbers of applicants vast so I understand the upside is the whole CV is aimed specifically towards the chosen Job role. This means it is overall more appealing for the person reviewing as they can quickly pick up the skills and feats required for the job and the extra abilities yu may have that will directly help this task.
Links to CV documents:
Cover E-Mail
A Cover E-mail is a letter in the form of a direct E-mail or a word document, that speaks to the recruiting agents personally about why you should be the next employee for their respective company.
This was the first time I would be writing a cover letter, however the week 7 learning material on Blackboard contained all the information on how to write the letter stating that the word count is 500 words max. This made the task more structured, easier for me to be direct and not to overelaborate. While the task is written in the form of a letter, it would be created in the form of a word document for submitting. This was also created with the job role and company very much in mind, as the letter should not only appeal to them, but show that you know and like their work and philosophy while convincing them that you are right for the job
Links to Cover E-Mail documents:
Show Reel
A Show Reel is a select collection of my work in a video format with my contact details accompanied by background music. Show Reels are designed to show off my work output and demonstrate talent in an entertaining way in a short amount of time that quickly highlights my abilities.
In constructing the Show Reel the content was decided as one of the biggest factors linked to job role I was choosing. I needed to have enough work to cover a 15 second video at minimum, and I have more high quality (for a student) 3D animation than other work at the moment. I did keep mostly to my 3D work, but I did make an exception for one of my 2D animations, as it demonstrated I could do more than just 3D animation, rather than fill up the Show Reel with more completed 3D work. I have produced more 3D work by it’s just not all completed or it is currently in test rigs.
The Reel was easy to put together as in this point of my academic career, I know how to put together a video presentation in Adobe Premiere Pro to a basic level. The hardest element was finding good royalty free background music. Most music I found was ether too long to fit the time frame or not fitting to the theme of my produced work (e.g. horror music for a comedy). While I did find a good track on YouTube, it was the same track used for not one but two previously pre made presentations. One this year and another for a 2D animation class in the SRC in 2019. It still good music and it fits the energy I put in my work.
Along with my details at the beginning and the end of the video, I added small text in a clip taken from a team project to certify which elements of the work is solely mine and not part of a team creation. I treasure honesty, and do not wish to give an employer the idea I have individual skills, at least not at this level.
Show Reel Full Video:
The Link to Music Used:
Screenshot for Premier Pro:
Conclusion and Reflection
In conclusion, I can now write up a cover letter, can update my CV or create a new more job role focus CV, Cover Letter and Show Reel. I was satisfied with the output, even if I was working on this as a side project in order to complete the more important work such as the 3D Environment for Assignment 1 for Animation Strategies. I was initially caught off by the strict CV requirements. It is a strange feeling to delete your grades and achievements in previous academic areas, even if it’s only a copy. I now know in speaking with my father who was an employer, that it is essential to tailor my CV to my targeted job in the same way as producing a Cover E-Mail or Show Reel. This is have maximum impact with my application, clearly demonstrating my full range of skills in connection with the company to which I am making application.
Had I Have had all my work in one folder I could have more completed project videos on hand to put on my Show Reel. I will be collecting all my assignments and high quality work later on next year into one folder and saving it to both a memory drive and my desktop. This means I’m more prepared to created a Show Reel in a shorter amount of time rather than spending hours going though my files, just to find and gather up the work.
As I move forward with my University work and self lead projects, I will continue to practice creating new show reels and cover letters, while updating my CV to reflect my growing completed work projects and related skill level of skill. These future revisions will include more of my other abilities like Character Design, Writing, 2D animation and more, as well as the 3D animations. I will also create several different showreels, each of them focusing on the skills I have such as one for 2D animation, one for VFX , one for 3D rigging and so on.
Link to upload area on Blackboard:
https://learning.ulster.ac.uk/webapps/assignment/uploadAssignment?content_id=_5963867_1&course_id=_323029_1&group_id=&mode=view
Electronic SPLD Sticker: