Maya Digital Studios, the company that pioneered the art & technology of animation & visual effects in India in the 1990s, and is also a leading 2D to stereoscopic 3D conversion studio today; has started yet another ‘industry first’ initiative where young animation, VFX & 3D stereoscopy professionals will undergo advanced training based on a Studio Ready Training Modules with employment at Maya’s studio facilities in Mumbai & Goa. The path breaking initiative by Maya is called “Maya In Studio Training”, MIST and will be formally launched on 11th August 2012 in Mumbai.
MIST is a first of its kind initiative by an Indian studio to provide an advanced training modules for the young professionals, with an opportunity to work on live projects during the formative years of their careers. Under this initiative, there will be a dedicated training program integrated within the studio facility, which focuses on a Studio Ready Training Modules.
Speaking to Animationxpress.com about MIST, Ketan Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director – Maya stated,” Maya has been responsible for the training of over 50000 animation & visual effects artists when we had the educational training facility integrated within Maya. However, as the training industry evolved for Animation & Visual Effects the focus shifted from creating artists to mass production. This deterred the job prospects of most of the enthusiastic budding artists who came into this industry with dreamy eyes. Also, as a studio we couldn’t really benefit from this proliferation of the training business, since the candidates that were being churned out by them, were software tool operators rather than creative production professionals. Thus in order to address this bilateral need, we decided to start MIST. With Maya In Studio Training, MIST we are all set to fill in this gap that exists between Animation & Visual Effects training and the studio environment, between ‘knowing’ and ‘doing’.”
MIST will be spearheaded by Aruna K, who joins Maya after a decade long professional stint at MAAC. An industry expert in the academic training Aruna has been a critical part of MAAC’s strategic expansion in India over 80 centres. She has played a significant role in the training process of over 20000 animation and visual effects professionals in the country today. Many of these candidates are successful studio professionals across the leading studios worldwide. Her in depth understanding of the need gap in the industry with regards to the advanced training facilities and the studio ready training module offered at MIST will be the important agents of change for the animation and visual effects industry.
Speaking about her role at MIST Aruna says,”My role at MIST is to effectively get the gap bridged in between the trained artists and the studio production requirements. I will be looking into the minute aspects of MIST; be it the areas where the studios need the skills from the budding artists along with their fresh perspectives or the artists who need to understand the nuances of being in the actual studio setup, feeling the environment and integrating with the same.”
The training modules offered under MIST will include: 3D Animation, Modelling & Texturing, Rigging, 2D to Stereoscopic 3D, Lighting, Digital Visual Effects, CG Compositing, Pre-Production & 2D Animation & Streamlining of the Production Process. These will be designed in conjunction with the respective current projects at Maya.
Elaborating about MIST, Deepa Sahi, co-founder & Director – Maya said, “Our focus at Maya has always been on artists and I’m proud to say that even after so many years Maya Is the dream place to be for any animation & visual effects artist- as the saying goes- “you’re work is as good as the person behind the machine”. We are therefore committed to nurturing the men and women ‘behind’ the machine! Hence we are now starting with the facility for a dedicated in studio training facility within the studio to create studio ready artists, who have the right blend of creativity & production skills.”
At MIST there will be stringent selection norms and the applicants will go through a meticulous selection process with the various heads of departments at Maya, who will also be mentoring the selected MIST interns. These interns will work on Maya’s current projects including TV shows like The Adventures of Motu Patlu, Captain Vyom & The Centsables, 2D to Stereoscopic 3D conversion of Sholay & Sons of Ram. This is the first time ever that interns will get to work on live domestic & international projects.
MIST will be launched at a formal event in Mumbai on Saturday 11th August 2012, and the in studio training will begin at Maya’s studio facilities in Mumbai & Goa from September 15th 2012.
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