slatevfx interviewed one of their trainees.
Read on to hear his take on learning on the job….

How did you get into the industry?

My high school student counsellor suggested I respond to an ad for a traineeship  at slatevfx. My major artwork for my HSC was very relevant and I used this in my Reel in my application. I started work in the January after finishing my HSC and attended TAFE 2 days per week and worked the remaining time at slatevfx. I completed my Cert IV Screen and Media and am currently completing my Diploma.

How do you apply what you are learning at TAFE at work?
When I learn something new, I always apply it to my work in the form of a “challenge”. This way I can cement the theory in my memory, so when I need to revisit that certain skill I can do it automatically. The challenge is usually trying to remember the steps without looking at notes or with any online influences. I extend the challenge to experiment and try to create something from scratch using my knowledge.

I also like to just try new things. That’s really the best way to learn and when I do I always repeat the process a few times to make it an ‘automatic’ response.

How has the work experience influenced your learning journey?

In a huge way – and not just in the classroom but also at work. Being on the job and surrounded by working professionals has challenged me to embrace mistakes and to learn from them. The ability to directly apply what I learn at TAFE has enabled me to fast track my learning. Being able to work full time gives me a lot of opportunity to practice in a place where if I do get stuck, I have people who can help, teach and guide me through any process in the various disciplines.

What key skills have you learnt whilst at slatevfx?

I have learnt not only technical knowledge within the profession but skills that are used in a collaborative working environment. 

In the beginning, confidence was a significant struggle for me. Being a young junior was daunting especially when having to interact with professionals in my office. I was nervous if I had to approach someone because I had a problem. Nowadays, having been in this environment for almost two and a half years, I have built up my confidence to the point where I don’t experience any self-doubt or nervousness. 

Another skill would be communication. It’s immensely important to be able to communicate with your teammates especially when deadlines are approaching. Knowing programs, pipelines and general lingo, is important to being able to communicate with your teammates. When working on projects, I have learnt to communicate really well about where I’m at or what I need help with.

What skills or areas do you wish to improve on?

I’m constantly trying to improve whether that’s in a technical or social sense, but an aspect that is quite challenging for me to master is the multidisciplinary nature of work. Having to know many diverse programs has its challenges. I want to boost my learning speed. Being able to learn and then store that knowledge within your memory while you learn another program is something I want to improve on. Being able to learn even faster and more efficiently will allow me to jump from program to program with ease and give me the ability to accumulate information that I can use at any time on command. 

How has slatevfx helped you along your career in the Visual effects industry?

slatevfx has given my career in the VFX Industry an immense boost. Being able to learn and experience a real life working environment within this area that I share such a passion for has been a blessing. Having working professionals here in the office has enabled me to fast track my learning and to get insider knowledge and strategies that aren’t available to students. This gives me an edge in this industry, which I can use to progress to a higher level and be able to express my passion of telling stories through my art on a daily basis.

What interests you the most about the VFX industry?

I’m fascinated by the VFX industry and the amazing art people create. One thing that really interests me about the industry is the 3D department. I have experienced many disciplines here but working in the 3D world has always been a gripping ideology for me. Watching animations and action movies growing up, I was always intrigued by how they create these otherworldly experiences that just amaze you. I’m particularly interested in 3D animation, as I love the process of making something move and feel like it’s alive. I’m very creative so this element in the 3D department really speaks to me. I’ve done animation for pre-vis on various projects, mainly doing creature animation, but I’m really eager to learn more about the discipline and I’m excited to test my knowledge further in the process as my career grows.