So, let’s dive into the important role of background artistry in animation. Read on to discover exactly what they get up to!

Animation Studios Use a Pipeline Workflow

To grasp the full importance of animation background artists, you first need to understand how animation studios produce finished pieces. Not every person who works on a piece of animation can be considered an “animator”. “Creatives” as they can be referred to, fill a variety of important roles in a studio, beyond animating the actual characters appearing on screen. Character designers, storyboard artists, animators, and background artists can all be referred to as “creatives”, each performing a vital role in the process of creating a piece of animation. Each of these creatives contribute to the final animation at different stages, in what is known as a “pipeline”. The pipeline starts like many creative projects, with an idea. This idea is transformed into a script and a storyboard artist then sketches the panels which provide a roadmap for the scenes. Here’s where the background designers and background painters come in. Using the storyboard, the background designer creates settings (or backgrounds) where the characters will come alive. The initial concept for the art and design of backgrounds may include digital media created in software like Adobe Photoshop, but traditional, fine art methods and real background paintings may also be included. Character designers then create the figures, and layout artists decide where they should be placed in the background. Moving down the pipeline, animators then bring the characters to life, working with 3d modeling, animating movements and expressions.

What Skills Does a Background Artist Need?

So, now you know how important a background artist’s role is and when their skills come into play. To dig a little deeper, let’s have a look at what skills they need to shine. If you want to be responsible for creating the vivid backgrounds in animated films, video games and more, we’ve highlighted a few of the key skills you’ll need:

1. Drawing – Probably guessed that, didn’t you? A high level of technical skill is required to be able to create work in a variety of different animation styles. Attention to detail, and a strong understanding of colour, form, texture, and light, and how they relate to each other is vital to this role. 
2. Environment Knowledge – We’re not talking about saving the rainforest (but please do, if that’s on your bucket list). In this context, environment knowledge refers to a keen understanding of architectural styles, and an awareness of the ‘feeling’ of a place (how does a countryside differ from an urban setting?).
3. Creativity – This one is probably a given too. To work in a creative industry, having imagination and vision is an obvious asset. The ability to come up with innovative background ideas and provide creative problem-solving can be indispensable in a studio.  
4. Communication – Applying to ALL types of careers, communication will be a major component of your success as a background artist. Understanding the Art Director’s vision and the ability to understand and apply feedback are all part of effective communication for a background artist.

What Tools and Software Does a Background Artist Use? 

Picture trying to fix a flat tire without any tools. Kinda tricky, right? The right tools for the job are very important and animation is no different. So, what does a background artist need to get the job done? 

Physical Art Materials – No matter whether you intend to work in a 2D or 3D animation setting, the craft of animation starts with hands-on art supplies. Think pencil and paper, paint, ink, chalk and other drawing materials and mediums.  

Image Editing Software – What starts on paper often has to end up on screen, so a digital image editing software is crucial. There are many out there, but the industry standard is Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator.  

3D Modelling, Sculpting and Painting Software – If you do intend to create backgrounds for 3D applications, you’ll likely find yourself using some animation-specific software to get your backgrounds just right. Blender, 3DS Max, Maya, and ZBrush are some of the post popular options available, many of which you’ll be exposed to in our animation programs at Centre for Arts and Technology.  

2D Animation Software – Just like 3D animation, 2D work has its own specific software. ToonBoom Harmony is the most recognized in this area. This amazing software is a comprehensive program offering all the tools and features you need to make backgrounds come to life! Working in the creative industry can be a lucrative career, and some of the roles discussed in this blog are among the highest paying positions in an animation studio. The skills and tools mentioned above, are just a small selection of what you’ll need to succeed as a background artist for animation. A program like Centre for Arts and Technology’s 2D Animation & Digital Art Diploma Program, or our 3D Animation Diploma Program will ensure you’re career-ready. You’ll walk away with these skills (and more!) as well as hands-on experience working in a studio-like setting. When you add in the industry connections you’ll receive as a CAT student and alumni support after 

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Dreams and aspirations change over time. Perhaps, in your parent’s or grandparent’s generation, bigger meant better. “Keeping up with the Joneses” meant that as your neighbour added on square feet to their home, you felt the need to follow suit. A bigger, taller house with all the trimmings of modern technology, landscaping, and interior “extras” (think hot tubs and wine cellars) used to signal success. But, times are changing. Many people from all walks of life are turning away from the trappings of modern real estate and finding freedom inside the walls of a shipping container house.  

Read on to discover 4 reasons why shipping container homes made a big appearance in 2022. 

Living Small Can Mean BIG Budget Savings 

I think we can all agree that the cost of living is higher now than it has ever been. Inflation and price gouging dominate the news cycle.  Regular day-to-day expenses like fuel, insurance, groceries, mortgage payments and other financial commitments are squeezing the average household and many of these folks are entertaining alternative ways to reduce their bills. We understand that living in a shipping container home or tiny house may not appeal to everyone…But, when you step back and look at how cost-effective they can be, this option may become more appealing.  

Let’s do a bit of number crunching. The cost of real estate does vary by region but let’s take the average “traditional” home price in Canada, which currently sits around the $750,000 mark. The cost of a tiny house or shipping container home also does vary greatly depending on location, type of container used, and design budgets, but even the fanciest, decked-out model sits just shy of $250,000! On average, most tiny home dwellers will spend somewhere between $50,000 to $100,000. We don’t know about you, but saving $500,000 or more on home costs sounds pretty appealing. Having less financial stress from a smaller (or non-existent) mortgage leaves more room in your life for things other than worrying about affording your next home payment. Hobbies or travel, anyone?

Your Dream Home Could Also be Good for the Environment 

Climate change is top of mind for a lot of people around the world, and rightfully so. If you’ve recently been impacted by wild weather such as British Columbia’s heat domes and atmospheric rivers, you know the pains we’re talking about. And, perhaps you may be thinking how you can help.  

One of the main benefits of a shipping container home is that many are made from recycled materials and are, therefore, considered a green solution to the modern home. With its growing popularity, most provinces have home builders specializing in container shipping and outfitting.  

Think you have to settle for four bare metal walls? Think again! Companies specializing in container homes offer a variety of floor plan layouts with dedicated spaces for your bathroom, dining room, living space, and bedroom. Builders often encourage additional customizations like paint, finishes, hardware and more, which can all be selected to make your new “green” home truly yours. Get what you want AND contribute to the health of the environment? Yes, please. 

Container Homes: Designed to Move With You 

The allure of tiny home living is often tied with a nomadic lifestyle. This lifestyle is growing in popularity, thanks in part to many organizations allowing their staff to work from home. Many people are finding joy and success in the ability to stay on the move and earn a living remotely. In fact, many tiny homes can be built on top of trailers, ready to hit the road when you are. Shipping container homes are no different and are also designed to be moved. Many services are already in place to allow you to move your shipping container home from one location to another. So, if wanderlust is knocking at your door, maybe you don’t have to leave your home behind to explore this unique and exciting opportunity for more work/life balance.  

Spend Less Time Building and More Time Living 

Anyone who has built or renovated their home can tell you the honest truth: It’s likely going to take you twice as long as you planned and eat up more budget than you may be comfortable with. With this in mind, new-home seekers are attracted to the speed and predictability of container home living. With many companies offering pre-fabricated layouts and designs for shipping container homes, you can skip the time and labour of building your own home and get back to the good stuff: enjoying life in your new pad. Since most of the initial work on container homes is completed in a factory setting, buyers can enjoy the comfort of fixed pricing and timelines for delivery. Many models of shipping container homes can be shipped to your location within months or even weeks.  

Savings, Sustainability, and Mobility. Container Living for the Win! 

Container home living may not be for everyone, but there is a groundswell happening to rethink where and how we live. If you find yourself among those considering a shipping container home or tiny house living, we hope this post gives you an idea or two. From financial freedom to the ability to change up where we live on a whim, container living is a unique way of constructing your dwelling in alignment with the type of lifestyle you want to have. When we’re courageous enough to step outside of the “norm,” we may just find ourselves living small but dreaming big.  

Living in a container home or tiny house and need some design assistance? Our graduates from the Advanced Interior Design Diploma Program have the knowledge and experience to elevate your small space into a dwelling big on style. Provide us with your project details and we’ll be in touch!  

Can you see yourself designing creative spaces like these? Our Advanced Diploma in Interior Design Program will get you there in 18 or 24 months. Ready to get started? Complete our Inquiry Form and a Program Advisor will be in touch! 

The post Why Shipping Container Homes are Making a Comeback in 2022 appeared first on Centre for Arts and Technology.

There are so many great choices to choose from when purchasing a digital camera for photography school. So many options in fact, that it can be daunting to pick the right one for you! Things like image quality, dynamic range and the ability to shoot 4K video may be among the features you’re looking for.  Putting aside your personal wish list, we’ve compiled a few things for you to consider if you are about to make this purchase. Overall, the best student camera will be easy to use, have the features you’ll need to produce stunning images, and be aligned with the type of photography work you plan to do. This blog will include cameras for most budgets and highlight some of the features you may want to look for.

Don’t Get Starstruck by Camera Specs  

Listen…we get that you want the best camera you can afford, and that may mean you’re focusing on the specs of your dream camera. But, are all specs created equal? There are major differences in the capabilities of compact cameras versus DSLR or mirrorless, and if you intend to “go professional”, you likely want a camera body with all the bells and whistles. So if you’re wondering what bells and/or whistles to fork out money for, here are our thoughts on a few.  

Megapixels 

It’s easy to be seduced by megapixel counts when selecting a camera. You may fairly assume that more is better, and camera manufacturers want you to think this way. In reality, unless you intend to print skyscraper-size prints, you likely won’t ever take full advantage of that lofty megapixel count. Additionally, a downside of a higher megapixel count is larger file sizes. This can have an impact on your file storage capacity and can also affect how fast your camera can actually capture image files. So, if you’re deciding between a body with a higher count versus a shiny new prime lens…we say, save your money for the prime lens.  

Sensor 

We can assume that your goal is to buy a camera that will produce images of the highest quality. When shopping around for a camera, there are specs that will let you know about a camera’s image quality potential, and they all relate to its sensor. Think of it this way – your camera’s digital sensor is essentially the ‘film’, and most DSLRs will have either an APS-C or full-frame sensor, so what’s the difference? APS-C sensors will have a crop factor, referring to how lenses are magnified when attached to this type of sensor. Essentially, you lose a bit of the lens area when attaching it to this type of sensor. So, choosing a camera body with a full-frame sensor will allow you to get the most out of your camera.  

Choosing Between DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras

The debate rages on over the winner in the battle between mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras. While the decision will likely remain a personal one, there are some key differences to know before you make your final decision.  

Let’s look at the basics and investigate the key differences between these two types of cameras. Really, the answer is in the names. DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex, which uses a mirror inside the camera to reflect light up into the optical viewfinder, allowing you to see the scene as the lens sees it (no digital processing). When you press the shutter button, the mirror moves out of the way to reveal the image sensor, capturing the image.  

You’ve probably guessed by now that mirrorless cameras don’t have a mirror. Instead, mirrorless cameras pass the light directly to the image sensor and then display the image on either the back of the camera or through the electronic viewfinder. By removing the mirror from the function of a camera, a few advantages become apparent. The major advantages are smaller size, reduced weight, and less noise. (We mean audible noise here, not visual noise). 

While CAT doesn’t firmly dictate students use DSLR cameras, the majority of our Professional Photography students still continue to use DSLR cameras. DSLR cameras offer a wider selection of interchangeable lenses, longer battery life, and better low-light shooting capabilities, thanks to the optical viewfinder.  

Camera Brands and Models Centre for Arts and Technology Recommends 

We’ve discussed brands and mirrorless vs. DSLR, so now what? If you don’t feel any more confident in making this decision after reading to this point, here’s where we get precise on what we recommend you buy if you are considering attending CAT’s Professional Photography program. We’ll include two bodies per brand, the highest model available, and its more affordable, lower-end counterpart. But first! A general note on camera bodies and lenses:  

Camera Body 

Any DSLR or Mirrorless camera body from one of the major camera manufacturers will be suitable for use in our program. However, we highly recommend that you purchase a full-frame sensor DSLR or a pro-series mirrorless camera from Canon, Fujifilm, Nikon or Sony as the shortcomings of many cropped-sensor or micro 4/3 camera bodies will become immediately apparent. A full-frame sensor DSLR or pro-series mirrorless camera body will also take you beyond graduation and into your shooting career where the need for professional quality images and equipment becomes of utmost importance. 

Camera Lens

Invest your dollars wisely and purchase the best lens you can afford. Camera bodies are replaced as technology advances, every couple of years, or more frequently if you shoot often. A good lens, however, can last an entire career if cared for properly. Buy the ‘fastest’ lenses that you can, i.e. low aperture numbers like f1.4, f1.8, f2.8. And, if possible, stay away from ‘kit’ lenses and/or variable ‘f’-stop lenses as their optics are often made with plastic, therefore, giving inferior image quality. 

Canon Recommended Bodies 

IDX II 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: Full-frame DSLR 
• Sensor: Full-frame CMOS 
• Megapixels: 20 MP 
• ISO: Auto, 100 – 51200 
• Autofocus: 61 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3.2-inch fixed LCD screen 
• Continuous shooting speed: 16fps 

EOS RP 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: SLR-style Mirrorless 
• Sensor: Full-frame CMOS 
• Megapixels: 26.2MP 
• ISO: Auto, 100 – 40000 
• Autofocus: 4,779 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3-inch articulating touchscreen 
• Continuous shooting speed: 5fps 

Nikon Recommended Bodies 

D4 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: Full-frame DSLR 
• Sensor: CMOS 
• Megapixels: 16 MP 
• ISO: 100 – 12,800 
• Autofocus: 51 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3.2-inch fixed LCD screen 
• Continuous shooting speed: 11.0 fps 

D750 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: Full-frame DSLR 
• Sensor: CMOS 
• Megapixels: 24 MP 
• ISO: Auto, 100 – 12800 
• Autofocus: 51 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3.2-inch articulating LCD 
• Continuous shooting speed: 6.5fps 

Sony Recommended Bodies 

A9 II 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless 
• Sensor: Stacked CMOS 
• Megapixels: 24 MP 
• ISO: Auto, 100 – 51200 
• Autofocus: 693 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3-inch tilting LCD 
• Continuous shooting speed: 20 fps 

A7S II 

SPECIFICATIONS 

• Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless 
• Sensor: CMOS 
• Megapixels: 12 MP 
• ISO: Auto, 100 – 102400 
• Autofocus: 169 selectable points 
• Screen type: 3-inch tilting LCD 
• Continuous shooting speed: 5 fps 

Our Professional Photography Program Advisors have additional recommendations and can assist you if you are ready to make your school camera purchase! If you’d like to book an appointment, please contact the school at 1.866.860.ARTS or fill out an inquiry form.  

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Program and grad date

Professional Filmmaking April 2022  

What are you doing now?

Currently, I am working either on local sets in Kelowna, I am shooting events and products or hiking up a mountain for that perfect golden hour glow. Keeping my work diverse is my motivation right now.  

Top tip for current students?

Work Hard. If you’re truly passionate about this industry and think that there is something unique you can bring in, then stop talking and focus. Your classmates are your first line of people when it comes to networking. They can either be the reason doors are opened or shut on you, so make sure that you are the person they call when they have a last-minute open position. Prove it to them or nobody will believe you.

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your program?

Be confident and absorb all the knowledge you can. Be open to every position, and every department and go into them humble and confident. If you don’t know something, ASK. Asking goes further and will cause less embarrassment than stubbornly fumbling through a task. It proves you care.  

What are your long-term career goals?

My long-term goals are to open my own production company, I would like to write, direct and produce my own projects. I want to work with motivated, ambitious and unique people while making projects that excite and inspire audiences. I want to support my dreams, whichever direction that ends up going.

Interested in working in the film industry like Ivan? 

For complete details on our Professional Filmmaking Program, including application information, please inquire with a Program Advisor by completing an inquiry form or calling us at 1.866.860.ARTS. 

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In case you haven’t heard, the film industry in the Okanagan Valley is booming!  Even though Vancouver may be known as Hollywood North, the Okanagan has secured its spot as a highly desirable shooting and production location for film studios.  

Thanks to diverse shooting location options, a talent pool of local filmmakers and onset staff, as well as regional studio support and tax incentives, the Okanagan has solidified itself as a top contender for studios considering shooting in B.C. Living and working in a creative career in the Okanagan is a dream for many and recent graduate of our Diploma in Professional Filmmaking, Anne Billingsley, is now among those enjoying this enticing work/life balance. We recently caught up with Anne and asked her what she’s been up to since graduation.  

Program and grad date

Professional Filmmaking | October 2021  

What are you doing now?

I’m currently in Kelowna working at Enderby Entertainment as Project and Office Manager.

Top tip for current students?

Some of the best advice I got when I started at CAT was to treat it like a job. Be reliable, communicative, and learn from your mistakes.  

What was the most valuable thing you learned during your program?

The most valuable learning experience for me was getting the chance to write and direct my own projects with the film equipment at the school and a network of people ready to help out.  WHAT ARE YOUR LONG-TERM CAREER GOALS?

No matter what I hope to focus on storytelling in the future, whether that’s through filming, editing or writing. I’m curious about every stage of production and everything that goes into telling a narrative.  

Make sure to check out Anne’s short documentary film The Domestic Rabbit – A Short Documentary, on YouTube and keep an eye open for her name in future blockbuster credits! Congratulations on your success Anne. For more information on our Professional Filmmaking program, check out our program page, or book an appointment with a Filmmaking Program Advisor by calling 1.866.860.ARTS or fill out an inquiry form.  

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Program & grad date

Advanced Interior Design & Technology, January 2022  

What are you doing now?

I currently work at Stober Group as an Interior Designer and Project Coordinator. I was lucky enough to get hired while still in school so that allowed me a lot of great learning opportunities while in school and now out of school. I really enjoy the project coordination side of things because it helps me see things from the build perspective and helps me build relationships with trades and material reps. Having these relationships and a better understanding for how things are built means we can get jobs completed faster and come up with creative solutions for unseen problems.   

Top tip for current students?

The programs at CAT are all very densely scheduled and demanding; sometimes it can take a lot out of a person. They do this so that you can graduate sooner and ultimately start working in your field sooner. Make sure and prioritize your day so that you take some personal time for yourself. If you can avoid burnout, you will be able to achieve much in your time at CAT.

Best thing you learned during your program?

How to prioritize my time doing different tasks. As a designer, you could spend endless hours trying to perfect your designs; in the real world, you have to give your client a reasonable allotment of time to get your designs complete. Learning how to lay out my day and figure out what items need to be completed by a certain date really helped me in my professional career.       

Long-term career goals?

To continue with my design education and become a registered Interior Designer with the NCIDQ. I would also like to take steps to become a registered Project Manager. Having flexibility in my work so I can travel with my family and work remotely if needed; I am a spontaneous person and love to travel.   

Interested in a career in Interior Design like Rebecca?

For complete details, including application and finance information, please book an appointment with a Program Advisor, by completing an inquiry form or calling us at 1.866.860.2787.  

The post Career Success with Interior Design Alumni Rebecca Bors appeared first on Centre for Arts and Technology.

What was your first job after graduating from the 2D Animation & Digital Art Program?

Animator at Yeti Farm Creative, here in Kelowna. 

Tell us about your animation career progression since that first job – what projects have you worked on and what have been your roles on those projects?

I first started on season 2 of Hotel Transylvania the series as a junior animator. It was a big production to go feet first in. It took a while to get used to the speed of production, but soon I got used to the style and characters. 

Afterward came many shorter projects and pilots, of which I became a full-time animator, such as Alpha Betas, Sonic Colours: Rise of the Wisps, The Pole, and Sweet Tweets.  

For the last 2 years, we have been hard at work on Summer Memories, which currently airs on Family Channel.  

I also have had opportunities as an animator outside Yeti, such as MAUD Collective’s AR Bernard in Kelowna and Northern Reflections in Calgary, using AR technology to bring murals to life through animation. 

Where are you working now and what’s it like?

Still at Yeti Farm. It’s gone through a lot of change over the last three years and moved office locations in 2022, but it is still a good studio, especially for those just starting out. 

What made you choose the CAT 2D Animation & Digital Art Program?

Originally, I wanted to go into comics, but there were no schools for comic artists. So the next best thing was animation school. A friend of mine was applying for the 3D program, so I decided to apply with him, but to the 2D program, as hand-drawn animation appealed more to me.

What things did you learn at CAT that have been helpful to you?

• Asking questions if you are unsure about something 
• Keeping to a deadline/schedule 
• Getting along with others is a valuable asset 

What advice would you give to current animation students?

You get out the work you put in. A lot of the basic lessons may seem boring, but they give you incredibly valuable fundamentals you’ll be using throughout your animation career. 

Also, while working remotely has aided animation greatly over the last couple of years, there’s still something valuable about going into a studio in person, if you can manage to do so. Meeting your coworkers and supervisors face to face creates more meaningful connections, and being in an actual work environment has helped me with my production greatly.  

What are your long-term goals?

I was planning on climbing the animation ladder (lead, supervisor, director, etc), but recently opportunities have arisen that may allow me to pursue some of my own projects, such as my comic strip Poppy: The Girl Who Slept-In 100 Years. Time will tell which direction I go from here, but either way, I’ll still be creating animations. 

Any parting words for our readers?

Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Keep working, keep trying, and keep improving. See more of Matthew’s work on his website at matthewsenn.com and make sure to follow him on Social Media to get the latest updates! 

Instagram: @matthewsenn95   

Twitter: @magooster14

YouTube: Matthew Senn

Webtoon: magooster19

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What was your first job after graduating from the Audio Engineering & Production Program?

I decided to go into location sound after enjoying my experience with it at CAT. I decided to move to Vancouver after graduating with my diploma in from CAT to pursue location sound. I worked a little bit, but since I had no industry connections here, my job network wasn’t even remotely developed. So, the only opportunities that I got were volunteering opportunities or student films. It felt impossible for me to just invest 10s of thousands of dollars into gear and only take on volunteer jobs. I, like everyone, needed to make money.  

Networking in Vancouver is probably the most important thing you need to get working. A lot of people who graduate from schools in Vancouver build that network as they study. But, because I was based in Kelowna, and didn’t focus on networking as a student when I came to Vancouver, I was a nobody. 

I worked a little bit but then chose to rethink my overall approach. I started renting out my gear and began working at a casino, using this time to rethink my place in the audio industry. I worked three years at the casino before COVID happened.

What did you learn working through the pandemic?

I was working at the casino when Covid hit, and I was just trying to make money and live in the moment. Prior to COVID, I was looking into different industries, but I didn’t really have a chance to take the time to pursue anything fully. But, when I was laid off due to the pandemic, I had the time to get that exploration done right. Learning how to pivot when things don’t go according to plan is an important lesson.  

In my exploration of the industry, I saw some trash audio setups, that I turned into opportunities. I started offering my assistance and began making connections and finding paying jobs that way too. This exploration helped me finally create my network and made me a trusted person in the industry. Once established, you’ll continue to get work through your connections.

What have you learned since those early days? What have you been working on?

The biggest lesson I learned was how much I shot myself in the foot by ignoring the importance of networking during my time as a CAT student. Early on, after I moved to Vancouver, I wasn’t getting hired for anything notable. My network was non-existent, and since everyone hires their friends, everything I went after was already taken. I was able to get on for a few jobs including some location sound mixing, boom operator, and sound assisting for some Hallmark movies being filmed in Vancouver.   

To support myself financially, I continued working at the casino, but when the pandemic happened, we were laid off. The union I was a part of was permanently suspended until the pandemic was over. So, I was jobless sitting at home, and I thought, hey, what if I just play video games again? I wanted to build a team and play games online. I got good Internet, met up with a bunch of friends online and we made a team. We played Rainbow 6 together and started playing some amateur tournaments just for fun. I started to notice that a lot of tournaments are not run well. They’re run by a bunch of kids. Basically, 17-year-olds who just want to make a tournament, but they don’t really know how to do it properly and they make a lot of mistakes. The quality of the tournaments suffered, and our players’ experience was not good either because they just didn’t know how to run them.  

 So, after this experience, I decided to start something of my own. And that’s how SCS esports started. My friends and I, who were teammates back then, decided to start a tournament together and make it the best tournament. We wanted to make sure we do only the right things and give the community what it wants. We grew very fast because we knew what we were doing, and we had the mentality of working for free so we could put all the money back into this community to ensure good tournaments moving forward. We focused on surrounding ourselves with like-minded individuals and building a network of people not solely focused on profits but making the tournaments amazing.  

What’s that thing that CAT says? Make passion your profession? Yep, that’s what this was for me. Gaming mixed with my knowledge in audio was one of those puzzle pieces for me.  

We grew fast and for my efforts, I was noticed by a company called Faceit. It’s an esports tournament company and I was brought on to run their North American Rainbow 6 Challenger League, which is an actual official circuit event. I was asked to work as a broadcast producer and then I became Lead Producer shortly after; I’ve done that for 15 months now. Throughout this time, I also continued to work some freelance jobs. I continued making money in this way until June of 2022, when I was offered a full-time position at a company called NerdStreet in Philadelphia. I’m still there now, working as a Broadcast Engineer. We’ve now run over a dozen in-house and remote Valorant tournaments. In addition, we run Madden, Apex Legends, and other fun games. Most importantly, NerdStreet produces VCT, Valorant Official Championship Tour, and I get to be responsible for their Women’s League, “Game Changers”. We just finished the $100,000 prize pool for the Counterstrike Tournament which I was assisting production for. So, I work full-time remotely and have a studio in Vancouver that I built myself. 

 If you want to succeed in this industry, you must be prepared for a long-term investment of your time and energy. You will get to where you want to be, for me, it took 5 years. It might be shorter or longer for you, there’s no set timeline for success.   

What’s the best thing about working in the esports industry?

Probably independence. I get to work on a team, but I also get to lead. Also, I get to work with a bigger team now where everyone is passionate about what we’re doing. Other industries attract people to make money, and those people can be the bad apples who don’t really care about their work, but with esports, no one’s there to make money. The path to that is extremely long and sometimes it’s not worth it to people who are solely focused on profits. So, only the people who really love what they’re doing and are passionate about their craft do this. Also, we get to make some cool stuff happen. There are a lot of world tournaments that my friends and I work in now. I even got to fly out to North Carolina and do a broadcast to 300,000 people. That was Rainbow 6 Charlotte Major, an incredible event. I got to work as a replay operator in front of a live crowd and the energy in the venue was ELECTRIC.

What drew you to the Audio Program at CAT?

I was really into music and wanted to know more from a technical perspective because I used to write music for the piano, and I wanted to have an engineering background for it. In terms of what was advertised for the CAT program, I was excited about the studio time and software experience. CAT gave me a good understanding of everything this industry has to offer and let me choose my own direction. I was most interested in learning the technical side of things: how the gear works, how to operate all the equipment etc… I chose CAT because the program is straight to the point. I had issues with other schools requiring me to take electives in other areas I wasn’t interested in. I didn’t want to take social studies or psychology, I wanted to study engineering! I don’t think there are any other programs in BC like CAT’s program that focus specifically on skill development. I also enjoyed the fact that everyone was there because they had a passion, and that sets a good environment in the classroom.   

What’s something you’d like to improve about the esports industry?

Well, the industry is kind of shaky. The issue is that compared to traditional sports, esports is still developing. Compare it to the early NFL, where people considered it a joke, just people throwing balls at each other, but now it’s considered a major industry with multimillion-dollar sponsorships and salaries because there’s a captive audience now. Esports is still an emerging industry, and because of that, it’s still shaky in terms of investments, or lack of, and sometimes you wait a bit to get paid. It’s an industry that hasn’t solidified fully yet. Because it is still developing, and growing rapidly, if you’re good at what you do, you will be recognized and progress quickly. 

What was the top thing you learned at CAT that has been helpful to your career in audio?

Audio processing, and the ability to troubleshoot issues. Troubleshooting is used in pretty much every industry and is an invaluable skill. Also, learning compression, EQ, and audio effects when it comes to voices or processing audio. It is a universal skill and is used in many industries that have audio as a part of it. Knowing how to operate audio and most importantly troubleshooting issues is a great way to progress quickly in your career. Troubleshooting gets you instant respect and people will start to come to you for help and ask questions. If you’re in audio, knowing how to troubleshoot is what’s going to help you the most.  

What advice would you give to current audio students?

Build. A. Network. I can’t stress the importance of this enough. I shot myself in the foot by not building my network while I was a student. At the time I thought networking was a gimmick.  A joke. I just figured, hey, I’m good at what I do, so I don’t need a network because I’m going to get jobs because I’m good. No, that’s not how it works. You can be the most skilled person for a job, but if nobody knows about you, you’re not going to get anything. And, you can’t keep wasting time volunteering to create your network, because once you’re in the real world, you will have debts and bills, like rent. If you’re lucky enough to have family help you financially, that’s great, but you still need to build that network and make those connections.  It’s extremely important to get yourself out there and start establishing those connections. All the jobs I get now, virtually every single one, come through my network. My tip? If you can’t keep track of all these people you meet, start writing lists and notes about these people. But overall, I can’t stress this enough…do NOT shoot yourself in the foot as I did during school by not networking when it matters most. It will cost you years. It’s only now after 5 years of building that I can say I make a good income from my network.  

What are your long-term goals?

I want to continue as a broadcast engineer in a live studio. I’m focused on upgrading my skills and building upon my knowledge because there’s a lot of high-tech gear in this industry that I don’t really know how to fully use yet. Esports is an exciting industry to be in and I have options to branch out if I want to. The same people in esports also run concerts, and other live events because a lot of the same gear is utilized. 

Any parting words for our readers?

I know it is scary going out in the real world, but there’s also nothing wrong with NOT getting a job right out of school. You don’t have to be scared. The reason you go to school is to build the skills, but then again, as mentioned, you need to network. There’s also nothing wrong with working a day job to make money to get by, and I think a lot of people don’t realize that. Fresh graduates are often opposed to working day jobs, but it’s a one-in-a-million chance to get out of school and go right into a job with a good salary. Keep your part-time day job and begin slowly getting out there. It’s a marathon, not a sprint and there’s no reason to be afraid.  

The post Audio Alumni Finds Success with Esports appeared first on Centre for Arts and Technology.

Centre for Arts and Technology (CAT) is one of Canada’s leading post-secondary education institutions specializing in technical arts diplomas like Animation, Audio Engineering, Graphic and Web Design, and Interior Design to name just a few. Located in the heart of the Okanagan (also known as Canada’s year-round playground!), international students love the culture, job opportunities, and accessibility of the city of Kelowna. Here are 5 reasons why we know you’ll love it here too:

1. Affordable Education for International Students

Your education dollars can go up to 30% farther in Canada than in the U.S. It’s no secret that Canadian Universities are consistently ranked among the top post-secondary schools worldwide. And thanks to the current USD to CAD exchange rate, a Canadian education offers you the most value for your money. And so, depending on the location in Canada and the program of study, you can expect to spend up to one-third less on tuition compared to schools in the United States. The affordability of studying in Canada can’t be ignored, and it plays a significant role in many of our international students’ decisions to study north of the border

2. Canadian Universities Offer Quality Education

Now that you know that Canadian universities are often more affordable than their United States counterparts, you may assume that this means a lower quality of education. This statement couldn’t be further from the truth. Canadian post-secondary education is held to very stringent quality standards, with British Columbia being among the most regulated. British Columbia (B.C.) is the only provincial government that endorses certain schools under an “Education Quality Assessment.” This quality assurance program helps international students choose a school in B.C. and offers some consumer protection. Centre for Arts and Technology is in exceptional standing with the British Columbia Education Quality Assurance Program, and further details on our designation can be found on our website.

And, at CAT, you’ll get to learn from the best instructors in the business too! Small class sizes, taught by award-winning professionals who have the experience and knowledge to give you a leg up on your competition? What’s not to love?

3. Excellent Standard of Living and Low Cost of Living

British Columbia is a nature-lover and adventure-seeker’s paradise. Defined by the Pacific coastline and mountain ranges, B.C. has a bounty of natural wonders to explore year-round. Home to our campus, Kelowna is a bustling, vibrant city in the south of British Columbia, nestled on the Eastern shore of Okanagan Lake. Kelowna is only a short, four-hour drive from Vancouver, and only 90 minutes to the US border,  making it a great home base for many careers and a great destination for those seeking an escape from city life.

The cost of living is less than in other major urban cities, without sacrificing any of the perks of big-city living. Many technology and creative industries call Kelowna home, offering plenty of career opportunities for grads.

Want good food, too? Kelowna has a wide array of cultural culinary options and boasts many wineries and breweries to explore. For the days you need to take a break from your studies, Kelowna has you covered there too. You’ll find that the city has something to offer no matter your extra-curricular flavor.

Skiing and snowboarding are less than an hour from downtown, plentiful hiking trails, and let’s not forget about the lake! Okanagan Lake is 84 miles long and has so many beaches and water sports that you’ll have a tough time deciding what to try first. Lastly, it’s true what you’ve heard…Canadians are very polite; we do say ‘eh,’ apologize too much, and have some of the safest schools in the world.

4. Immigration Opportunities

“Friendly” immigration policies, a good climate, and a high standard of living are just some of the reasons why Canada is one of the most attractive choices for students from the United States. Canada is a progressive, multicultural country made up of many diverse communities, and we pride ourselves on welcoming those from all walks of life.

Additionally, international students who have completed their education at a school in British Columbia may qualify for a significant number of points towards Express Entry immigration selection. Moreover, international students studying in Canada are eligible to apply for permanent residency status after graduation. Lastly, you may even qualify for immigration through B.C.’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) International Graduate Category. The BC PNP offers a pathway to permanent residence for international graduates, skilled and semi-skilled workers, and their family members who intend to settle in B.C.

5. Work Permit and Long-Term Job Opportunities

You can work up to 20 hours per week as indicated by your study permit. This is all while you’re still enrolled in your program of study. This not only helps with finances but also helps you familiarize yourself with the professional working environment in Canada, giving you a leg up for future job applications after graduation.

Studying in Canada has many obvious benefits, but what about after graduation? Graduates from Canada’s education system will find plenty of opportunities for work in Canada. A post-graduate work permit (PGWP) can allow international students to work for up to 3 years after graduation, and many companies offer attractive career packages, including benefits and paid vacation.

Centre for Arts and Technology Welcomes All International Students

We have an incredible, diverse student community with a good mix of domestic and international students. Our caring staff is eager to assist you with any immigration, student visa, or program application questions. This support carries on even after you graduate too! Our Student Success team offers mentoring, coaching, and career support even after completing your program. Our state-of-the-art campus and facilities have everything you’ll need to jump-start your career in arts and technology. We haven’t even mentioned the friends you’ll meet! At CAT, you’ll find your tribe of like-minded people passionate about the same things you are! So, now that you know how awesome it is to study in Canada at Centre for Arts and Technology in Kelowna…what are you waiting for? Apply now, and let’s get you on the path to the career you’ve dreamed of.

The post The Advantages of Studying in Canada appeared first on Centre for Arts and Technology.

Decades ago, when you worked on an album or single, your name would appear in the liner notes that came with a CD, cassette, or vinyl. I can remember being young and being more interested in who recorded an album, than who played on it.

This is where my first influences in engineering and producing came from. Seeing names like Bob Rock, Brendan O’Brien, or Michael Beinhorn in the credits on most of the albums I loved made me realize that more so than the artists themselves, these people were a key part to the music.

This practice has followed me my whole life; I hear an album or song I love, and I immediately have to look at the credits to find out who helped create it. Unfortunately, with the near-death of physical media, credits are becoming harder and harder to find.

If I ask a class full of students who their favourite engineers or producers are, a job that they themselves aspire to, very few can name any influences outside of producers-turned-artists like Kanye West.

This lack of knowledge about the people who make the music they love isn’t their fault, it’s a lack of accessibility. With a generation that has mostly grown up on pirating music, YouTube, and Spotify, very few have any concept of who is even involved in making albums.

This is further compounded by the lack of respect for audio work in general. Spotify is lagging heavily in this area, begrudgingly adding composer/writer credits in 2020 but has yet to add other credits.

Want more proof? Go to YouTube and look up Michael Buble’s most recent single, “I’ll Never Not Love You.” The info panel is full of credits for everyone involved in the song and video.

The record label is credited, to the entire film crew, including personal assistants and caterers, and quite literally anyone involved in it, except for one missing name: Greg Wells. Greg Wells produced and co-wrote the song and album; he also engineered it alongside Joe Chiccarelli and played almost all the instruments. It’s essentially a Greg Wells song that Michael Bublé is singing, but Greg’s name is nowhere to be found. A dozen other audio names should be included but simply aren’t.

This leads us to today’s problem: How do you get credit so that people know you exist?

Without some visibility online or within creative communities, your work largely goes unnoticed, which leads to difficulty continuing to get work. As I outlined above, this isn’t easy when working in music.

So what can you do as a small engineer or producer getting their start?

First, have frank discussions with the artists you work with, explain how critical the credits are and show them how to add them if needed.

Most digital aggregators such as TuneCore, CDBaby, or the most popular DistroKid have easy ways to add credits to digital releases. They also offer updates and fixes at any time.

I tested DistroKid and was able to add credits with ease, and about a week later, I corrected it. The correction showed up in less than 48 hours on the platforms that would display it.

Ask artists to include your social handles in any posts they make about the album’s release or single. Ask them to include you in the Bandcamp/YouTube/ platforms.

Before a single or album is even released, ask the artists’ permission to do “teasers” through your TikTok or Instagram with small nondescript clips from the album. Getting credit for your work does nothing but expand an artist’s reach, as you will be more incentivized to market it for your own benefit.

Remember this when working in music: your next gig often comes from someone hearing the one you just finished. Your last project is often the catalyst for the next one. This only works if someone can look up a song they like and see your name.

It would help if you had a website to show off your credits and document all the projects you’ve worked on.

Simple one-pagers can be built with many website building sites, and all you need is a basic Who / What / Where / Credit. Who was the artist, what did you work on, and when did it release?

What’s even better is using apps like the new Muso.ai. Muso uses metadata from digital aggregators to store, catalogue, and generate analytics from your credits. Relatively new, it comes with a monthly cost; it’s a great way to humblebrag about what you’ve done and entice people to work with you. They have easy-to-add share options for TikTok and Instagram, which increases the awareness of the app, and further expands its validity.

The final point to consider when working on any project is the value of the credit.

While financial stability plays a huge part in this decision, a credit is far more valuable than any monetary gain from a project.
I will take pay cuts if I think the credit will do more for my career than the money. I will often take jobs on short notice with high stress for a good credit.

To me, credit is always the highest-value currency I trade in.

I have friends who work as ghost mixers for labels, and while they may mix hundreds of songs a year and have a steady income stream, no one knows they are doing that work.

When that job dries up, they will have a gap in their resume that they can’t really fill.

Credit. Is. Everything.

By Chris Holmes, Department Head, Audio Engineering and Production

The post Credit Where Credit’s Due appeared first on Centre for Arts and Technology.