LSFMD students stood in front of a large picture of Paddington, a VFX creation of Framestore, in their offices.
LSFMD students stood in front of a large picture of Paddington, a VFX creation of Framestore, in their offices.

Special effect: University of West London VFX students visit Framestore

Intro

November saw a group of 19 London School of Film, Media and Design (LSFMD) Visual Effects (VFX) BSc (Hons) students and three staff members visit the London offices of animation and visual effects company Framestore for a careers presentation. The creative studio is responsible for effects on top films including Barbie and the Paddington movies, as well as working in TV and advertising.

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The UWL students watched a video presentation in the company’s top floor cinema, before taking part in a question-and-answer session with one of Framestore’s recruiters.

Framestore started out in 1984 creating the music video for Norwegian band a-ha’s single 'Take on Me'. We’ve been visiting their London offices for three years now and some of our students have worked on projects there too,”

explained Angus Luscombe, who is Course Leader for the BSc (Hons) Visual Effects.

Visual effects companies will ramp up their employee headcount via short-term contracts when they are busy working on films, Angus added:

For example, last year we had a student called Elias Rodriguez who was working for Clear Angle Studios based at Pinewood Studios alongside his studies. He worked on a BBC adaptation and also on a famous Hollywood film franchise.”

Final year VFX student Joanne Nilsen, who took part in the Framestore visit, said it was very useful preparation for applying for jobs next year:

I'd love to work in films, specialising in effects for a big VFX studio. So, this visit was a great chance to find out more about what they are hoping for in the show reel.”

Joanne, who moved from Norway to London to spend her final year at UWL, is a big fan of fantasy films like Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.

I really like spectacular effects. For my final project I am looking at creating simulations such as like fire, water and smoke, and it is helpful to have an idea of what Framestore is looking to see from an entry-level artist,”

she explains.

UWL prides itself on providing industry relevant degrees and graduates who are ‘work-ready’ - it is precisely this type of workplace visit that ensures this is the case.

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