This has been an interesting one, because as an independent animation filmmaker – this will be my bread and butter. 

Sophie Koko’s Industry Talk

Sophie Koko’s industry talk was very very interesting – as a person who wants to be an independent filmmaker, this talk very much enlightened me.

One of the things Sophie mentioned was to be your own PRODUCER, which I feel I am already doing as I am very on it. She also mentioned that having a web presence was very useful.

• make your own projects, production schedule
• have a work for hire contract
• make and experiment in your spare time to build up your portfolio
• e-mail a band you like / music videos
• explainer videos
• showreel, the best pieces of your work
• send your work to design and animation websites

How to Pitch / Treatment: ‘Pitching process is brutal.’

• Telling a story
• Reassurance that you have understood them
• References
• Designs
• Mood-boarding
• Techniques

One Pager – Mainly for TV

More likely in a mood piece in the form of a rendered 20s short film or rendered stills.

• Intro
• Plot Summary
• Stills / Film

Other places to look into for opportunities:

FLAMIN, BFI NETWORK, ANNECY FESTIVAL, GLAS ANIM FESTIVAL, UK SCREEN ALLIANCE

Possible Opportunities:

Enfield Council

I saw an advertisement on LinkedIn for an application for funding about ‘Untold Edmonton’. Edmonton is a place in North London where I was bought up and raised. They were offering a grant for artists to showcase Edmonton. I jumped on the opportunity as I know it is rare to be paid for a theme that you are interested in. I had unfortunately missed the deadline for the grant , but e-mailed anyway. I got a super fast response from Enfield Council, as they wanted to work with me. From this interaction, I understood that I need to really be well versed with the working as an independent animation filmmaker. 

I have a meeting with a member of the Enfield Council and we will discuss the opportunity further. As it is a rolling grant, I will have a chance to apply later this year.

D&AD

This is something that I have seen advertised everywhere! It was also mentioned in Osbert Parker’s talk. I’m considering on working with a brief. I think I want to further develop my style and maybe doing one of these briefs can help me. 

World Illustration Awards 2023

I applied for WIA in 2021 and got long listed – which was new for me, as I never get listed for things.  I want to develop a style with my illustration skills and feel that I still have a long way to go.