Lets Talk Animation, Kolkata, WEBEL DQE

Lets Talk Animation, with industry experts.
7th, May 2011
G.D.Birla Sabhagar,
Kolkata

It was a good opportunity to be one of the speaker at an event organized by WEBEL DQE @ kolkata.

The idea behind this event was to get the industry experts and share their experiences with the current and the future students. Through this sharing also guide them, inspire them, educate them about the current happenings and the future of the industry.

The program was introduced by Ms. Srimati Mukherjee, Center Head, Webel DQE Animation Academy
Followed by Technical sessions:
Mr, Mehul Hirani - Creative Director, Crest Animation Studios Ltd, Mumbai
Mr. Sameet Gupte - CG Lead - Prime Focus
Mr. Sumanta Ghosh - Character FX artist, DreamWorks India, Bangalore
Ms.Fahmida Ismat - 3D Animator, DQ Entertainment, Kolkata
Mr. C.S.Rajaram - CTO (2D/Digital & Overseas operations)
Mr. Ziauddin - Asst. Vice President - 3D Production, DQ Entertainment, Hyderabad
Ending with a vote of thanks from Mr. C.Rudra

The event was extremely well organized by the Webel Team at a very lovely location, and I truly appreciate their planning & hospitality. Add to this an extremely interested and patient crowd. The Webel team, the DQ team from Kolkata, the student and ex-students (now professionals) did a great job of entertaining the crowd through beautiful live music and acting as Master of Ceremonies.

It is always fun to be in a place like Kolkata which has been blessed with immense amount of Creative Talent, they have an amazing presence in the Advertising industry, Bollywood, Literature, Theater and Animation. I am sure that a lot of these students today would be great achievers in the Animation Industry in the future.

The Presentations:
Sameet presented some wonderful VFX work, Ms Fahmida Ismat - ex student and currently an animator shared her beautiful journey from being a dreamer to someone who is actually living her dream now. Sumanta Gosh - ex student, was completely nostalgic when he shared his experiences at Webel and then at different companies, he shared a clipping from their current works @ DreamWorks India and he also shared a lot of what to expect when you start in the industry. Mr.C.S.Rajaram: had a very inspiring story to share, it was amazing to see that how he started off and where he has reached today. Personally I loved the clipping he shared on the histroy of Animation, very well sourced and made. I am going to borrow it from him soon :). Mr.Ziauddin : Spoke at length about the actual work floor, I am sure that this presentation would have helped the students to get a view of what really happen on the studio side.

I was getting late and I had to leave the event at this stage itself......

The part which I like a lot was that no one, the speakers nor the team from Webel, ever stressed the prospective students to take on this field because it is lucrative, they kept it real and inspired them to follow their passion and in case their passion happens to be Animation & film making then do consider, and take the correct path.

All in all a fantastic event and one more hectic day.....  off to Mumbai to my SELP class.