Building a Student Showcase & Exhibiting Work Pen Lister, MSc PGCert, 2009

Showcases & Exhibitions What do I include? How do I present the work? Do I make different showcases for different situations? Is a showcase the same as a showreel? What’s a portfolio? What about disc/website/mobile/interactive?

Showcase, a definition –noun a glass case for the display and protection of articles in shops, museums, etc. an exhibit or display, usually of an ideal or representative model of something. the setting, place, or vehicle for displaying something on a trial basis: The club is a showcase for new comics. –verb (used with object) to exhibit or display. to present in or as if in an entertainment showcase: The bar showcases young jazz pianists. to show to best advantage: The part minimizes her acting ability and showcases her singing. to present as a special event: The TV network plans to showcase a new production of the play. –adjective prominently or proudly regarded or presented: a showcase city. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/showcase

Showcase A showcase contains only your BEST work It can also be known as a showreel, but isn’t the same as a showreel It can be interactive It can be concerned with only ONE aspect of your work It can be a summary of all your work It can be the same as a portfolio

Showcases - Animation You could showcase ONLY your storyboard skills Make a video of edits from all your best storyboards Call it ‘Jim Smith and his Storyboards’, for example Or lay out several great examples of your storyboards in an appealing way, and print them out Or showcase ONLY your 2D animation Make a video of edits from all your best 2D animation Call it ‘Jim Smith in 2D’, for example

Showcases - Animation You could showcase ALL your (best) skills Make a video of edits from all your best work, animation AND still image work AND Make print copy of some of your best animation stills and image work to accompany your video in the place where it is being shown

Showcases - Multimedia You could showcase ALL your (best) work Flash: AS2/AS3 Flash Drawing and Animation Images and Logos Web Design Coding functions (jquery, CSS) Video and Audio

Showcases, who, what, when A showcase can be AIMED at one client or event A showcase can be ABOUT an event, after or before it has happened, E.G. (LiveMusic Trade Show, Excel, 2008) So, prepare several for different purposes

Showcases, what’s in it? A showcase can contain various technical elements: Flash Video Audio Interactivity Stills (photography, design work etc)

Showcases or Showreels? A showcase can contain interactive elements, and is not necessarily (all) linear A showreel is a linear experience (e.g. video or Flash animation) – it is a reel, that you view. It is not interactive. A collection of work by an artist, animator, or other media professional, presented in video/sequenced format (on VHS, CD, DVD, or other medium) containing a demonstration of their best work (http://animation.about.com/od/glossaryofterms/g/demoreel_def.htm) A showreel – a.k.a. a demo reel

Showreels When do I use a showreel? When you have linear content, e.g: Video Animation Series of still images Compositing work (After Effects, or video effects) Titling or graphic transitions

Showreels - Multimedia Do multimedia people use showreels? - Yes! Flash game animations Flash interface animations Web design interface stills, in series BUT! Only when it is appropriate

Showreels - Multimedia When is appropriate? In a ‘closed’ scenario – i.e. the audience cannot interact with it When the audience is walking through an area at an event When it is part of a larger showreel, with other people’s work too When it forms part of the entertainment

Showreels - Multimedia When is NOT appropriate? When it is part of an event where people can interact You can then showcase your games, Flash websites, php/mysql websites, interactive interfaces etc, and people can try them out

Showreels When is MOST appropriate? When it is part of an exhibition

Exhibitions Exhibitions can be in real life or virtual: Online Forums and websites Competitions Media social networks At ‘real life’ events Arts (galleries or festivals) Trade shows Educational events Entertainment events Film Festivals

Exhibitions Exhibition work needs to be in various formats and qualities: Online Optimized (file sizes and quality) Suitable for many people to access At ‘real life’ events Optimized to requirements Broadcast or very high quality Provided on suitable DVD with back up copies

Exhibitions Formats: Online Optimized (file sizes and quality) – flv or QuickTime are best Suitable for many people to access – make sure you use EARLY versions (flash player 6 for interactive work if possible, QuickTime 5 for .mov) At ‘real life’ events Optimized to requirements – what does the event want/need? Broadcast or very high quality - DV/DVD Video/MPEG2 Provided on suitable DVD with back up copies – have plenty of disc copies, and also have USB versions for back up

Exhibitions An exhibition could make all the difference to your career Make SURE your work looks its best Test on MANY systems if it’s at all relevant (MAC and PC) Make sure you are shown with work that flatters you if its in your control Be part of SUITABLE exhibitions

Exhibitions – how to get involved Think about getting together with other people and mounting your own exhibitions or events where you can showcase your work Do some research on places and funding Go to other exhibitions like the sort you want to be involved in Get to know who puts them on, or other people who could exhibit with you

Portfolios - A word Everything you do is part of your portfolio, but that doesn’t mean its for the public to see Only your best work should be public Respect the confidentiality of your clients Respect the copyright of your work team Credit anyone you work with Respect the copyright of other peoples work you see – NEVER use work that is not yours Keep EVERYTHING you do – make copies and store on separate hard drives (Western Digital or Seagate are best)

Portfolios - A word How good is your portfolio? ALWAYS LOOK AT THE BEST WORK AROUND How good is yours compared to those? GET NEW INSPIRATION AND IDEAS – always keep up to date Present your work so that people can find what they are looking for Present your work ‘beautifully’

Research Places to look for more information on exhibitions and shows: Facebook groups Arts Council(s) Educational events Competition winner shows What/where else?

References Animation.about.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_portfolio http://webdesign.about.com/od/portfolioprojects/p/portfolio.htm Showreels to check out: rousseau13890 http://vimeo.com/3076648 Lois van Baarle http://vimeo.com/3747872 mark jones http://vimeo.com/4723742 Ian Pfaff's MotherF@#%ing Demo Reel http://www.buzzfeed.com/philholbrook/ian-pfaffs-motherfing-demo-reel-d85 (WARNING - CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE) (All webpages were live as of 25/10/09)

End