Professional Futures

Professional Futures I & II

The intent of this class is to prepare the student for entry into the next level of work. Future scenarios in
professional studios, corporations, research institutions and graduate education are discussed, general
business and ethics are addressed and portfolios are prepared according to the student's personal aims and objectives.

Google Drive Fall2018 > https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1z-H8wk8HghDslbfRUiFprUqdC_cY_PUJ?usp=sharing

Detailed Description

Professional Futures I

Professional Futures I is a companion Course for Senior Production Studio I. While ample
studio time will be allotted toward students’ thesis projects, there will be an emphasis on
professional development, in anticipation of life after graduation. Workshops and
demonstrations may include visiting artists, demo reel production, writing resumes, cover letters,
developing and maintaining a web presence, presenting and talking about work, and best
practices for obtaining clearances and releases.

As in the professional world, portfolios, demo reels, resumes, and websites are viewed as living
works — they are always in process and grow with you. These items will be updated and refined
throughout this final year of study.
All scheduled project presentations — pitches, midterm presentations, end of semester critiques
— will encompass work from both courses (Senior Studio and Professional Futures) as the
professional presentation of work is key to career readiness. Other presentations — small
groups, impromptus critiques — will be focused on specific needs.
Note: All students should have a web presence beyond social media. The second semester of
this course will emphasize this, but it should be begun this semester.

Professional Futures II

Professionals Futures II is a companion course for Senior Production Studio II. While ample
studio time will be allotted toward students’ thesis projects, an emphasis will be placed on
professional development in anticipation of life after graduation.
Workshops and demonstrations may include visiting artists, demo reel production, writing
resumes, cover letters, bios and production schedules, developing & maintaining a basic web
presence, presenting & talking about work and best practices for obtaining clearances &
releases. Other technical workshops may also be scheduled during or outside of class time.
Students will also develop and present a press kit for their project (print & electronic versions).

As in the professional world, demo reels, resumes and websites are viewed as works in
progress. These items will be updated/refined throughout the semester.
All scheduled project presentations (pitches, midterm & end-of-semester critiques) will
encompass work from both Senior Production Studio II & Professional Futures II as the
professional presentation of work is key to career readiness.
Students will need to fulfill the requirements of both courses in order to graduate.

Deliverables

Midterm and final grades will be dependent on your presentations.

EVERYONE IS EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE TO PRESENTATION CRITIQUES.

It's important to be able to talk to fellow artists (as well as non-artist clients) about both your own, and others, work in a meaningful and constructive way. Clear communication of art concepts are critical to your success as an industry professional. Being able to communicate in a way that fellow artists and clients can understand will yield much better results with less wasted effort (and money). It's also valuable to have your classmates/ coworkers creating better content, as they are representing the same CCS brand (or company) as yourselves.

Pitching your ideas and providing feedback to others in large and small groups will be part of your careers, and also part of your grade.

Midterms

Pro Futures I

1. Project progress. You should also present all other work created this semester relevant to your field of study, ie potential portfolio content.
2. Documentation. See below. This is required
3. Updated production schedule. Remainder of the year (both semesters).
4. Up to date demo reel(s) if applicable. Show all content available that is reel worthy, even if not edited into reel currently (start cutting clips).
5. Web presence/ portfolios.- You need to have at minimum one accessible webpage that displays a portion of your best work.
6. Updated resume.
7. Cover Letters. Templates below.

Pro Futures II

1. Project progress. All progress to date, including content outside of senior thesis.
2. Documentation. See below. This is required
3. Updated production schedule. Final 7 weeks of college
4. Up to date demo reel(s) (if applicable). Show all content available that is reel worthy, even if not edited into reel currently.
5. Updated web presence/ portfolios. LinkedIn, collegecentral.com, and portfolios.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/ (Behance) are 100% worth it.
6. Updated resume.
7. Updated Cover Letter.
8. Project press kit(s). Compilation of press kit contents. See Below.

Finals

Pro Futures I

1. Project progress.
2. Documentation.
3. Updated production schedules for final semester(s).
4. Up to date demo reel(s) and/ or Sketchfab Content (for 3D Students).
5. Updated web presence.
6. Revised cover letter(s).
7. Up to date resume.

Pro Futures II

1. Finished senior thesis project(s). With supporting process work
2. Documentation.
3. Project press kit(s). Physical and/or digital.
4. Up to date demo reel(s) and/ or Sketchfab Content (for 3D Students).
5. Updated web presence.
6. Revised cover letter(s).
7. Up to date resume.

Progress work includes any and all content applicable to your specific field of study. Concept art, character sheets, "making-of" asset breakdowns (models, sculpts, textures, rigs, composite breakdowns, rigs, animations etc), pencil tests, still images, storyboards, background art, test shots, location scouting, color palettes, mood boards, costuming, audition tapes, equipment breakdowns etc.

Documents include things like scripts, story treatments, synopsis (Short, Medium & Long), cast and crew bio's, game design documents, asset lists, shot lists, reel breakdowns, pitch documents, artist statements, production blog/ diary, FAQ's, reviews, etc.

Documentation Resources

Game Design Documents

A game design document (often abbreviated GDD) is a highly descriptive living design document of the design for a video game. A GDD is created and edited by the development team and it is primarily used in the video game industry to organize efforts within a development team.

LogLines

A logline is a one (or occasionally two) sentence description that boils the script down to its essential dramatic narrative in as succinct a manner as possible. A tagline is a piece of marketing copy designed to go on posters to sell the film.

Story Synopsis

A synopsis conveys the narrative arc, an explanation of the problem or plot, the characters, and how the book or novel ends. It ensures character actions and motivations are realistic and make sense. It summarizes what happens and who changes from beginning to end of the story.

Film and Story Treatments

Treatments read like a short story, but are told in the present tense and describe events as they happen. A treatment may also be created in the process of adapting a novel, play, or other pre-existing work into a screenplay.

Scripts/ Screenplays

Reel Breakdowns

Press Kits

Storyboards/ Story telling / Animatics

Resumes/ Cover Letters/ Interviews

Resume Guide

Cover Letter Guide

https://myccs.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/career_services/_pdf/cover_letter_guide.pdf

Interview Skills

https://myccs.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/career_services/_pdf/interview_skills.pdf

Top Interview Questions

https://myccs.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/career_services/_pdf/top_interview_questions.pdf

Online portfolio providers & Web Presence Resources.

Portfolio Tips

Official School Networks

Misc platforms

Other Portfolio based sites (free)

More

Demo Reels

Resources/ Tips

Examples

CCS Student Vimeo Reels (https://vimeo.com/ccsentertainmentarts)

Film

Animation

3D

Job Hunting

Misc Links

For Everyone…

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