NON-ARTIST SOFTWARE KNOWLEDGE FOR SUCCESS
By Shannon Muir
Also reprinted at Digital Media FX
***
Most everyone
seems to know Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook these days
because business in today's world demands it. Animation is no exception. Memos
are still drafted, schedules and expense reports still constructed, meetings
are tracked on electronic calendars, and e-mail is the preferred way to get all
the above sent quickly and efficiently to anyone involved in the production
anywhere on the planet. However, other
programs are used in the animation industry -- and I'm not just talking about
CGI software used by the artists. Outside of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft Outlook, there
exist additional specialty software packages that I feel a non-artist should
familiarize him or herself with to be competitive.
Filemaker Pro
appears at many studios, customized to the specific studio. If you're not familiar with Filemaker Pro,
it's essentially a database program with a high degree of customization. Everywhere I've worked, plus other major
studios large and small, uses this program to track the creation of the layout,
props, and character models for the episodes. Definitely go out of your way to learn it, and if you can learn
Filemaker Pro programming and design, do so. Personally, I haven't mastered that yet and definitely think I should.
The two
art-based computer programs that I believe a non-artist must become familiar
with are Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Knowing a competing program that does the same functions is
definitely helpful, but many people may not recognize the competitor's names on
your resume. At home, I own JASC Paint
Shop Pro, which performs a lot of the same things as Illustrator but I've found
cumbersome for some tasks. Since I'm
not an illustrator, but needed to work with art to mild degrees at home, this
fits my needs. However, I do have Adobe
Photoshop on my resume because I've used it at Nickelodeon and also took a
course in it during my BA studies. On
some productions now, some or all of the original rough backgrounds are being
sent overseas and cleaned up there, then the cleaned-up versions scanned and
sent via FTP (File Transfer Protocol) back to the American studio for
approval. The image sizes may need to
be manipulated slightly to fit on a printer page, as they will be cel-sized
cleanups, which doesn't match paper standards.
FTP definitely
must be learned, especially with the interaction of multiple studios in this
global environment. Not only are
backgrounds exchanged as above, but on some shows I've worked on, all the
computer colored models get sent directly by FTP to the overseas studio doing
the animation; no more printed reams of glossy paper to send by international
courier.
Whether you plan
to write, creatively produce, or just work as part of the production personnel,
I also recommend familiarity with the screenwriting software. Even if you don't use it yourself, you'll
develop an understanding for how the scripts are constructed on which all your
efforts are based. Final Draft still
remains the one most commonly used by studios, with Movie Magic Screenwriter in
second. Another competitor, Scriptware,
I still encounter but not as frequently. If someone mentions ScriptThing to you, that program merged with Movie
Magic Screenwriter in 2000, but also had a very loyal following and strong
reputation.
Now, if you're
really ambitious -- and especially if you ultimately plan to be a line or
creative producer -- Movie Magic Budgeting software may be worth learning. There's even special templates now
customized to budgeting an animation project. However, be advised that the software is expensive to own and classes
only seem to be taught in the major metros such as Los Angeles and New
York. Unless you expect to be budgeting
your own projects at some point, you're probably best just spending the money
on a one or two day primer course. I
took one at UCLA Extension taught by Bob Koster, but there may be other
locations as well. This program,
however, should be a lower priority over the others listed above.
If you've already
got knowledge of these programs on your resume, and can back it up with
intimate knowledge of how the software titles work, it can only help you get an
edge in this very competitive industry.
NO ARTICLE MAY BE SUBSEQUENTLY REPRINTED
WITHOUT EMAILING SHAN@DUELINGMODEMS.COM FOR PERMISSION. Thank you.
All content copyright 2001 - 2011 Shannon Muir. All rights reserved.