LO2: Professional Etiquette

Professional Etiquette is the sentence used to refer to the manner and way you behave and communicate in a workplace. In the job role of an animator, I am going to largely have to communicate with my employer, other animators working along side with me and especially clients. This means that when writing emails to clients discussing certain projects, that my language will need to be clear, and formal, since I am writing to someone who needs to be regarded with importance since he is either paying me or my employer depending on the situation. Regardless any form of communication to anyone during the work place needs to be contain aspects of formality, as well as a friendly nature.

This is because the people you are communicating to in this industry are likely to be people that you are going to spend a lot of time with, working on a project. The friendly aspects of a tone however, should never lead to discussions of personal problems or gossip about other people that you are associated with, since this would be regarded as highly inappropriate, and may in fact slow the production of a project down. If you come across as focused on the task at hand, your client is more likely to have faith in the fact that you are going to complete their project to a high standard.

This all applies to the animators you are working with, however animators would find it difficult to act too formal around each other, since animation is as much acting as it is animating, and you would need to act out scenes towards each other, in order to successfully communicate the desired facial expressions/ideas and mannerisms you want them to animate. This is hardly a task which can be completed without having a couple of humorous moments, however as long as those moments are beneficial towards the product then they are ok.

In terms of the job roles hierarchy, the animator is placed in the middle, since the animator requires other peoples ideas to execute in the scenario of a job role, since controlling the idea as well as animating the product would be too large and difficult of a task for one person to take responsibility for, which could risk the speed of the production of a project. It is important that the job role of a creative director and a creative director is around in the top tier, in order for the concept of the project to be formed entirely, in order for the idea to be as refined as possible. This will result in a more successful product and a happier client. Along side the animator, the art director and the storyboard artist are vital in order to refine the products visual style, perhaps one of the most important aspects of the animation project, since you are technically creating visuals which are designed to appeal to a specific audience. The lower tier of the hierarchy shows the people who's work supports the whole project more than catalysts it, however their tasks are inherently just as vital in terms of creating a stop motion animation, since you can not create a stop motion animation without models or a set, however these job roles are considered to require a lower amount of skill than the job roles above.

LO2: Task 3 Career Pathways

Chosen Pathway: Animator

Independent pathways:
-On a website called freelancer, there are many tasks and options for animators to bid on, in terms of the amount of money they would like for the task. The person who is looking for the task to be completed can then look at your profile and port-folio and decide who they think would best suit the task, and will also base their decision on the amount of money that has been suggested they get paid. Freelancing is good, because it gives the person the freedom and range of different jobs and tasks to complete, which means a freelancer will never get bored of the same project or job. The downside to freelancing is the unsteady income which freelancing provides, since each week in and out, you will never know for sure how much money you will make, or if you will make any money at all. This could be detrimental to someone with a family to provide for.

Skills needed:

-be able to work in a range of styles and genres

-be able to successfully advertise themselves to any potential client

-be flexible with your time in order to create the clients needs

-practical and technical skills:

It is important that Animators are familiar with using computers, including a range of operating softwares (both MacOS and Windows) and a range of animation/video editing softwares. This is because during different tasks, animators may find themselves having to use different softwares which are more suited to certain tasks. For example when creating a stop motion animation, I would have to use the software Adobe After Affects, meanwhile if I was needed to create a 2D animation for a task, I would be required to use 2D animation software like Adobe Animate or ToonBoom studios. It would also be important for an animator  to have artistic skills at drawing, and creating worlds which seem believable, which would be achieved at having skills at cinematography, since animation uses the same principles of shot types and camera work, however through the use of animated characters instead of real ones. I would also need to have technical experience in terms of software, since certain types of animation (especially 3D animation) require a very high amount of computer power, including high graphics requirements in order to render 3D animations. In the case of a computer crashing or breaking, I would need to know how to resolve this in order not to compromise the project.

-creativity:

Being an animator requires creativity, since you are attempting to mimic life and movement in characters, which first of all requires imagination. Imagination is also required for the design of characters, and the design of set, since you are trying to create the illusion of a certain world, which needs to appeal to a certain audience in order for them to be interested in your animation




-Another independent pathway, is the option to be a self-employed animator by starting up your own animation production company which offers the service to businesses and different types of clients your animation abilities. If the business was to grow and become successful, you would then be able to start employing other animators to animate the products for you and along side with you. This would then speed up the process of production, meaning that you business would begin to grow faster.

Skills needed:

-be able to budget efficiently with your business's money

-be able to advertise yourself on a larger scale to appeal to clients with more budget

-be able to employ people in a professional way and pay them fairly

-communication skills:

It would also be required of me to be able to communicate fluently and successfully when interacting with clients. This is because when animating a product, I need to be sure that what I am creating fits their requirements in order for the animation to be successful. In terms of communicating with other animators, it is important that we have a mutual understanding of the task in hand, and an understanding/ability of how to make our animated sequences link together in continuity.

-organisation:

In a similar way to the organisation sector, working as part of a team is vital, since when working as an animator along with many other animators, you need to be able to create a sense of synergy within the product, since if you are all animating different parts of the same product, you wouldn't be able to animate in separate styles, since the animation wouldn't have a clear sense of continuity and flow. All the animators will need to decide on a certain style that they are all able to work in, and then all complete their designated sequences in as similar a style as possible.

Voluntary sector pathways:
-For the job role of an animator, a good way to begin your career would be to volunteer for the company you would like to work for. This would be a good way to get your foot in the door, and demonstrate your animation skills, meaning that they may either eventually employ you, or recommend you to other people looking for people with your talent. Businesses are usually happy to do this because of the amount of work you would provide for them for no cost. The down side to this pathway however, is the fact that no profit would be made from this huge dedication of time.

Skills needed:

-be able to listen to to an employer and fulfil his needs

-be able to work professionally along side actual employers

-be able to dedicate yourself to the task at hand, which may include new styles of animation, or production tasks which you are not familiar with.

-working as part of a team:

Working as part of a team is vital, since when working as an animator along with many other animators, you need to be able to create a sense of synergy within the product, since if you are all animating different parts of the same product, you wouldn't be able to animate in separate styles, since the animation wouldn't have a clear sense of continuity and flow. All the animators will need to decide on a certain style that they are all able to work in, and then all complete their designated sequences in as similar a style as possible.

Employment pathways:
-Perhaps the most ideal pathway, in the animation industry you could find a company who works in the similar style to you, and also uses similar techniques that you use personally as an animator. This would mean that would be able to integrate easily into the business, and quickly get up to speed with the types of products they are creating. Companies that employ animators include Aardman studios, Laika Studios or Finger Industries. As a beginning animator however, you are likely to be more successful at getting a job at a smaller studio than a larger one to begin with, since well established studios like Aardman like to employ very experienced animators.

Skills needed:

-be able to work in a range of styles and animation techniques

-be able to animate smoothly and fluently in a way which creates an appeal to the target audience

-be able to dedicate yourself fully to the job in order for the media product at hand to be as successful as possible

-problem solving:

In a similar way to the practical and technical skills section, it is important that I am able to resolve problems as quickly as possible with as little help from anyone else as possible in order to speed up the production of a product.

-specific industry knowledge:

Being an animator in the industry would require me to have a huge amount of experience in a large range of softwares. These softwares include Adobe Premiere, Adobe Animate, Adobe Character Animation, ToonBoom studios, Adobe AfterEffects, Maya (3D Animation software) and also the ability to use professional industry standard cameras (to create stop motion) and lighting equipment (again for in case of creating a stop motion). It is also important that I have a general awareness of the type and visual style of animation which is popular during the time, in order for the animation to successfully appeal to an audience.

Further Education:
-During the study of A-Levels or BTEC qualifications, there are a number of subjects where you can develop animation skills under, for example the qualification Creative Digital Media contains units where you can animate short films and media campaigns. This can train you to use the right equipment for productions of animation like Stop-Motions, as well as it can train you to use certain softwares to produce a range of animations. These qualifications can be studied at colleges such as the University Technical College in Sheffield.

-be able to listen and learn intently from your teachers

-use time outside of college to work on projects

-improve your animation skills rapidly and learn how to work in as many styles as possible

-problem solving:

In a similar way to the practical and technical skills section, it is important that I am able to resolve problems as quickly as possible with as little help from anyone else as possible in order to speed up the production of a product.

Higher Education:
-In a same way to A-Levels there is a range of qualifications where you can explore your skills as an animator, however the most logical qualification to choose, would be a Bachelors Degree in Animation, where you can learn the techniques of animation to the industry standard, preparing you of a career in animation. Courses like this can be studied at Sheffield Hallam University, as well as the University of the West of England in Bristol.

-be able to listen and learn intently from your tutors

-use time outside of University to work on projects

-improve your animation skills rapidly and learn how to work in as many styles as possible

-problem solving:

In a similar way to the practical and technical skills section, it is important that I am able to resolve problems as quickly as possible with as little help from anyone else as possible in order to speed up the production of a product.