Yay! My Project Got Picked! What Now?

What comes Next ?

So you've pitched a project at Escape Studios and - hurrah! - your project got selected.  What happens next?

Generally, students who pitch a an idea and have it selected then go on to direct the project.  However, it is important to understand what directing a project means - and what is does not mean.

Group work is all about harmonious collaboration to ensure success - and avoid the pitfalls of failure. 

The Director is Not a Dictator

Multi-award-winning "Jerich0"

Directing a project is a huge opportunity; you get a talented team to bring your project to life.  But it doesn't mean that you get a team who does everything you tell them to do.  The director leads the project, but is not a dictator.  

Listen to Feedback

The director always has the final creative say, but they should always be looking to get the best out of the ideas generated within the team.  That means listening to those ideas and being flexible about the final outcome.  

Anyone directing a film will be expected to make a lot of decisions every day, and this involves listening carefully to the other team members, and respecting their ideas and suggestions. 

Getting Notes

Award-winning "Shimmer"

Getting feedback and notes can be tricky, especially for first-time directors. You have a vision for the project, and now you have all these other competing ideas to deal with.  The key thing to remember is that in our industry, this is quite normal.  

Animation is a team sport, and your team will have many voices.  Clients, bosses, studios, executives - all will offer you "notes" on how to make the project better.  Some notes you will agree with, others not.  Dealing with these notes - while still holding on to your original vision - is at the heart of how the industry works, and how our students learn to flourish within it. 

Teamwork

Teamwork is at the very heart of what we do at Escape Studios.  We focus on teamwork not because it is easy - but because it is difficult.  Studios hire our graduates not just for their talent but for their experience working together in teams, and their understanding of the necessary compromises that are essential to success.

Compromise is Necessary

Award-winning "Russell"

When you get notes from other members of the team, it can be tempting to down tools and say that you cannot work with these other people.  "What do they know?" a voice inside you will say. "It was my idea - I'll do it the way I want". Resist this temptation.  In industry, you almost never get to hand-pick your team, and you will inevitably get notes and comments you disagree with.  

The key thing is to keep the project moving forwards in a spirit of co-operation and good humour.  After all, that is why you came to Escape Studios - group work is at the heart of what we do. 

Teamwork at Escape Studios

Award-winning "Kiwi's Dream"

To see more about teamwork at Escape Studios follow the links below:

• "Yay!" My project got picked! What now?"
• Managing Team Projects at Escape Studios
• When Group Projects Go Bad
• Group Projects - Six Rules for Success
• The Escape Method - How it Works
• How Feedback Works at Escape Studios
• Marking Group Projects
• The Rookies Ranks Escape Studios in Top 5 Globally for Teamwork
• How to Make a Short Animated Film
• Framestore Brings Teamwork to Escape Studios
• How We Select Teams for Group Projects at Escape Studios

Escape Studios Film-making Resources

For more information and resources on the making of animated short films, follow the links below:

Development & Pre-Production

• How to Write a Story
• How to make a short animated film
• How to pitch your film idea
• Why Animators Need Mood Boards
• Why Animators Need Colour Scripts
• Key Creative Roles on an Animated Film
• Managing Group Projects
• Why Animators Need a Storyboard Animatic
• How to Record Voice-Overs
• How to Use Grammelot
• Sound Design for Animators
• Why Animators Need Production Design

Production

• Why Animators Must Wreck Their Rigs
• What an Animation Editor Does, Exactly
• Ten Rules of Animation Dailies
• The Job of Editor on an Animated Short
• Why Animators Must Check Their Hookups
• What are CBBs? (Could be Better)
• Using Lighting to Tell the Story

Post-Production

• How Animators Work with Composers
• Royalty-free music at Bensound
• Colour Grading your film
• Thanks and Special Thanks - Getting Film Credits Right
• How to Create the Perfect One-Sheet Movie Poster (and Why You Need One)
• Getting Yourself (and your film) Listed at IMDB

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To apply for our BA/MArt in 3D Animation, follow this link.