This years CGFX speaker line-up is packed with some of the most talented and experienced professionals in the CGI and VFX industry. Our speakers will share their insights and expertise on everything from the latest trends and technologies to their own personal career journeys.
To submit questions to the Q and A throughout the day, please use the link below:
www.menti.com and enter the code, 2807 4403
The currently confirmed Line-Up for Thursday 16th November is listed below:
Thursday, our day primarily for students currently studying at Solent University, is also split into two event pathways.
VFX INSIGHTS TRACK
Visual Effects & Animation
GAMES TRACK
Please see further down the page
Games
THURSDAY | Location: Jane Austen Lecture Theatre
For students currently studying VFX or Animation at Solent, be sure to check out the VFX Insights track. Featuring a range of speakers from top studios, the VFX Insights track is a great opportunity to learn about a range of Animation and VFX techniques. Make the most of these fantastic opportunities and we'll see you there.
10.45 – 11.00 Dr. Ken Pitts | WELCOME AND HOUSEKEEPING
"Welcome to CGFX"
Course Leader for CGI and Visual Effects, Dr. Ken Pitts will be giving a brief introduction to the day, including what you can expect and introducing the exciting VFX Insights Track.
Course Leader for CGI and Visual Effects, Dr. Ken Pitts will be giving a brief introduction to the day, including what you can expect and introducing the exciting VFX Insights Track.
11.00 – 11.45 Jonathan McFall | JELLYFISH STUDIOS (Remote)
"Shotgrid"
At Jellyfish I work closely with HODs and artists to establish training needs for the company. I’m also making training material for the Asset and Shot Pipeline, including training for: Shotgrid, USD and Solaris in Houdini, USD in Maya, Animation, Layout, Lighting and Comp.
Prior to Jellyfish I worked at Technicolor as 2D and 3D Trainer for VFX where I created training material for: Modelling, Texturing, 3D DMP, Compositing, Concept Art, plus also for Technicolor GAMES. Along with making training material I worked as a trainer. My roles have included teaching advanced industry skills demoing Mari, Katana, Nuke, Zbrush, Maya, Renderman, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Marvellous Designer and Shotgrid.
Prior to Jellyfish I worked at Technicolor as 2D and 3D Trainer for VFX where I created training material for: Modelling, Texturing, 3D DMP, Compositing, Concept Art, plus also for Technicolor GAMES. Along with making training material I worked as a trainer. My roles have included teaching advanced industry skills demoing Mari, Katana, Nuke, Zbrush, Maya, Renderman, Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Marvellous Designer and Shotgrid.
11.45 – 12.30 Alex Peart | MPC
"First year in industry"
Alex studied CGI at Solent University from 2017-2020, and out of the many modules he was taught,a passion for visual effects was sparked. Having always been a film enthusiast, during second year Alex began implementing effects into live action footage and experimenting with various software. This interest came into fruition in third year with his final major project The Rendlesham Forest Incident.
After graduating from Solent in 2020, Alex went onto completing a masters degree in Digital Effects at Bournemouth University and at the start of 2022 enrolled in the Technicolor Academy specifying in FX. After completing the course, Alex was offered a job at MPC Montreal working as a Tech Anim Artist (CFX), and after a year out in Canada he moved back to the U.K and has been working for MPC London since.
12.00 - 12.50 - LUNCH
Students & Staff, please feel free to make use of the open space on Campus.
13.30 – 14.15 Graham Bell, Amazon | AMAZON
"The Evolution of Advanced Computing in VFX: Past, Present and Future"
Graham Bell has over 25 years’ experience of working in creative industries. Originally trained as a technical illustrator, he started working in advertising and publishing, becoming among the early adopters of 3D CGI in this area, before moving into video games then eventually feature film VFX, software and product management. He has held a variety of motion capture, technical/art direction and product specialist roles for companies such as Psygnosis, Electronic Arts, MPC, Codemasters, and Autodesk. He's now Senior Business Development manager for Visual and Spatial Computing at Amazon Web Services.
14.15 – 15.00 Clarissa Hanekom | HONEYCOMB MEDIA
"Talk Title TBC"
Profile TBC
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15.15 – 16.00 Drew Roper | YAMINATION
"Juggles and Struggles of Uni>Studio Life"
Drew is creative director and founder of award-winning animation studio, Yamination, specialising in stop-motion animation with clients that include Roald Dahl, Walt Disney and Greenpeace, to name but a few. Drew’s entrepreneurial qualities enables him to support worthy causes, businesses and organisations leading as creative consultant, executive board member and also an ambassador but ultimately playing with plasticine is his most prized passion, that and being a dad (and not just to the studio characters).
16.00 – 16.45 Q and A Panel | ALL SPEAKERS
Following the talks, we will have panel discussions and Questions/ Answers featuring a line-up of speakers from today's talks. These discussions will delve into the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry and hopefully answer your questions about some of the talks today.
- All speakers from today -
WEDNESDAY | Location: Palmerston Lecture Theatre
The Film and Television track at CGFX 2023 is designed to give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in the exciting world of film and television. With presentations by junior and experienced filmmakers alike, you'll experience everything from the basics of filmmaking to advanced techniques such as directing and cinematography.
This track features some incredible Solent Alumni and speakers from leading various studios, as well as discussions on topics such as getting started in your future career in this area.
11.00 Alex Scott | SOLENT UNIVERSITY
"A Technical What?"
Hosting the first talk, Lecturer for CGI and Visual Effects, Alex. Kicking off our first talk is Liz and Aleksandra of Funcom, both returning speakers from last year where they were part of our Ubisoft Takeover!
Hosting the first talk, Lecturer for CGI and Visual Effects, Alex. Kicking off our first talk is Liz and Aleksandra of Funcom, both returning speakers from last year where they were part of our Ubisoft Takeover!
11.00 – 11.45 Liz Beer and Aleksandra Stasiak | FUNCOM (Remote)
"A Technical What?"
Liz graduated from Teesside University in 2014, studying Computer Character Animation. She has worked at Tt Games for one year on LEGO games as a QA Tester. She has been at Ubisoft Reflections for seven years, working on The Division DLC, The Division 2 and year 1 content, moving from a Development Tester to Content Validator to Technical Art. More recently, she’s moved to Funcom to work on Dune Awakening as a Technical Animator II.
11.00 – 11.45 Liz Beer and Aleksandra Stasiak | FUNCOM (Remote)
"A Technical What?"
Aleksandra Stasiak is a technical animator specialising in Rigging. She graduated from Buckinghamshire New University and pursued a career in game industry working on mobile and AAA projects. You could see her at multiple student events as a speaker and as associate lecturer teaching rigging. Her main objective is to show everyone that rigging is not as scary as they may think.
11.45 – 12.30 Drew Cattanach | SOLENT UNIVERSITY
"Grads in Games Webinars and upcoming Events"
Hosting Nikita Lord from Grads in Games will be Drew Cattanach, Senior Lecturer for Games Art course. Grads in Games is a platform dedicated to empowering and connecting emerging talent in the gaming industry.
11.45 – 12.30 Nikita Lord | GRADS IN GAMES (Remote)
"Grads in Games Webinars and upcoming Events"
Graduate Partnership Manager at Aardvark Swift, supporting Grads in Games initiatives and helping graduates in the gaming industry find their dream job.
12.00 - 12.50 - LUNCH
Students & Staff, please feel free to make use of the open space on Campus.
13.30 – 14.15 Ethan Peters | STREETSPACE GROUP / VISUALISATION
"Student to Junior"
A Visualiser at Streetspace Group, Ethan has completed the CGI and VFX course at Solent before joining the Streetspace Group as a junior artist. He will be talking more about his journey today.
14.15 – 15.00 Simon Kay | MOCAPPY
"MoCAppy"
Mocap Supervisor with 20+ years of experience. Providing MotionBuilder and Motion Capture training and consultancy.
Since 2000 I’ve used motion capture at some of the world’s leading studios to help create hundreds of different characters for major feature films and videos games. This experience has given me a unique understanding of the entire motion capture process across a diverse range of projects, industries, and budgets.
Since 2000 I’ve used motion capture at some of the world’s leading studios to help create hundreds of different characters for major feature films and videos games. This experience has given me a unique understanding of the entire motion capture process across a diverse range of projects, industries, and budgets.
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15.15 – 16.00 Annie Durwood | BARCLAYS EAGLE LABS
'So you want to work in gaming'
Talk on Games Development and Production, profile TBC
16.00 – 16.45 Yulia Gleed | SOLENT UNIVERSITY
Co-Hosting the Q and A Panel
Co-hosting the Q/A panel will be Yulia Gleed, Lecturer in CGI and VFX. This will be a great chance to talk directly to today's speakers in a friendly space and get feedback on thoughts, ideas and questions as you make the plunge into industry!
If you would rather write questions, please ask them here:
16.00 – 16.45 Q and A Panel | ALL SPEAKERS
Following the talks, we will have panel discussions and Questions/ Answers featuring a line-up of speakers from today's talks. These discussions will delve into the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry and hopefully answer your questions about some of the talks today.
- All speakers from today -
17.00 – 18.30 EARLY EVENING RECEPTION | Location: The Bridge
Level 6 students and speakers
END OF TODAYS EVENT