Escapeverse: A Journey into a Career in Animation
- Ethen Dent
- Mar 2
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 27
“Rebecca will be talking about her journey into and through the animation industry starting off in GCSE Art and Media studies and ending up at DNEG Animation department working on her 6th feature project. This presentation will track how her journey into this industry started, before even deciding to go into film - the strategic steps taken at University to land her first job one month after graduating, and navigating the industry after that first project.”
24/02/26
10:30 - 11:30
INTRODUCTION
Over a decade of industry experience in the London Film and TV industry, working on such films as 'The Twits', 'Under the Boardwalk', 'The Adams Family 2' and 'Spirited Untamed'.
Building on a fine art and performance foundation, I got my first taste of client work at Ravensbourne university through competitions, work experience placements and connections helping launch my career.
STATUES REPORT
In order to strategise next steps, Rebecca conducts a Statues Report that identifies skills based on what GCSEs and A levels she took.
GCSEs | Art |
Media Studies | |
History | |
Biology |
A Levels | Art |
Psychology | |
Biology | |
Chemistry |
Foundation Diploma Art & Design | Performance Design |
Fine Art | |
Fashion | |
Graphic Design | |
Architecture |
FINE ART
Observational Skills
Compositions
Colour Theory
Lighting
Anatomy
BIOLOGY
Anatomy
Understanding of complicated interlocking systems
Scientific Method
MEDIA STUDIES
Media language
Analytical and critical thinking skills
Media production proficiency
PSYCHOLOGY
How humans think
Social influences
Attachment
Biopsychology
"Recognise your past, see what you've been through. Because probably there is something useful in that experience" - Rebecca Meilak
STRATEGY
Rebecca then strategises to help identify her next steps by asking herself the following three questions:
WHAT DO I HAVE?
Draw
Reasonably Intelligent
Introverted
Stubborn
Nuerodivergent
WHAT IS MY GOAL?
To be a paid artist
To make art that will be seen
To have a career
Not starve
WHAT DO I NEED?
Structured course
Uni with a high employability rate in graduation
Strong graduation reels
Industry contacts
Rich jobs market to graduate into
NETWORKING
Moving onto networking opportunities, Rebecca talks about her path regarding networking opportunities:
BFX FESTIVAL
PITCHING
Responding to a client/competition brief
Creative and technical pitch
Assembling a team
Winning the work/competition
PROJECT SKILLS
Project management
Schedule management
Pipeline
Personnel management
Handling setbacks
Can you deliver?
INDUSTRY MENTORING
Seasoned Industry professionals
Technical advice
Career advice
Networking
"A great way to start networking" - Rebecca Meilak
CMI COMPETITIONS
EXPOSURE
Exposure to potential clients
Created a product
PROJECT SKILLS
Project management
Schedule management
Pipeline
Personnel management
Handling setbacks
Can you deliver?
SELLABLE SKILLS
Satisfied clients
Usable end product
Manage clients, contracts, schedules, delivery dates
UTILISING LINKEDIN
PROFILE
Life gets messy - LinkedIn should be clean
Make it easy for recruitment to know who you are and what you do
LinkedIn should be your online CV
NETWORK
Connections are a lifeline in this industry
Connect with recruitment, not just artists
Hiring and job alerts for LinkedIn and company websites.
Keep an eye out when companies hire for the department in front of yours i.e. layout, rigging, production coordinators, or recruitment.
"This is your lifeline" - Rebecca Meilak
PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY
SHOWREEL
Client work
Final major project
Mixed Media + Styles
NETWORK
Client base
Networking events
Festivals
Business cards
LinkedIn
Talent Showcase 2015
ScreenSkill Hiive
TALENT SHOWCASE
Platform launch
Industry support
Content & networking
"WHAT ACTUALLY GOT ME INTO THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY"
STRATEGY | GRIT |
Where do I want to go? | Passion |
Where am I starting? | Perseverance |
What resources do I have? | Resilience |
What resources I need to collect along the way? | Obsessiveness |
What are my strengths? | Long term goals (GCSE to Graduation = 8 years. Graduation to first feature film = 5 years). |
What are my weaknesses? | |
What are strategies that have worked in the past for others? Would they work for me? |
Q&A
WHERE DO YOU SEE ANIMATION TECHNOLOGY INNOVATING IN THE NEAR FUTURE? AND WHAT SHOULD STUDENTS FOCUS ON LEARNING?
"All the big studios still use Maya. So learn Maya. Learn how to animate in it. Blender, I hear, is doing quite well. Once that software got the Oscar with Float. Learn how to use constraints and the graph editor. Just the bare bones. Animbot is good, I live by it. I cannot work without it." "So what animators really need to learn how to do is act. Your acting choices which have got nothing to do with software. The 12 principals. So I would focus on the content you are making within the technical space." - Rebecca Meilak
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES A SHOWREEL STAND OUT?
"A bit difficult for me to say as I don't see... I'm not a recruiter so I don't see a wide range of showreels. But it's good if it has a bit of personality to it. I try to cut my showreel like a short film. So have a flow to it. Still have your strongest shots front and back cause you got 10 minutes to impress a recruiter. They'll turn off after that if it's no good. Try and sort of have a bit of a narrative to it. I sort of have my villain stuff at the beginning and then I slow down and then pipe up at the end. If you listen to the showreel, have some musical notes to show the text at the end. Make sure it works as a short film itself and that can help. Keep it clean. Keep it entertaining." - Rebecca Meilak
ANY ADVICE ON MANAGING SOCIAL SKILLS OR TO SEEM LESS INTROVERTED?
"Well I use my business card as a way of cutting the ice and getting things going. You could be very meta and create a persona for yourself. You wear certain clothing. You now have become the person who can talk and interact. I find I absorb dialogue in an interesting way. So before an interview, I will often watch pride and prejudice to speak in a certain way. So try and bend your mind a bit to get ready for it." - Rebecca Meilak
REFLECTION
TASK: Conduct a Statues Report
TASK: Conduct a Strategy Report
"Recently, I hoped to return to the VFX industry and my first step was to begin networking, starting with Escapeverse. However, circumstances have changed for me and my partner and I am now responsible for her visa sponsorship. For the time being, whilst I focus on sorting out the visa, I will continue to network and work on my skills but wont intend to return to industry until the visa has been processed." - Ethen Dent
TASK: Identify upcoming festivals and acquire tickets for them
BFX FESTIVAL | 1st - 5th June 2026 | |
WORLD VFX DAY | TBA | |
RENDR FESTIVAL | TBA |
TASK: Update and clean up LinkedIn profile
TASK: Ask myself Rebecca's strategy questions
WHERE DO I WANT TO GO?
"I want to break into the VFX industry in ~6 months time. This timeline stems from the visa sponsorship I am doing on behalf of my partner. During this time, I intend to continue working on Project: Horizon and brush up my skills." - Ethen Dent
WHERE AM I STARTING?
"I'm starting having good fundamentals and artistic ability/understanding. I'm rusty at certain tools as I have spent some time not using them but this can be brushed up fairly quickly." - Ethen Dent
WHAT RESOURCES DO I HAVE?
Financial savings through OddWatch projects
Full time work to mitigate bills/costs
Studio space + equipment
Various software
WHAT ARE MY STRENGTHS?
Artistic foundational skills
Software proficiency
Work ethic
WHAT ARE MY WEAKNESSES?
Limited time due to other commitments (full time work, Project: Horizon, etc.)
Long duration using certain tools like Maya.
Isolated from networks and social circles.
WHAT ARE STRATEGIES THAT HAVE WORKED IN THE PAST FOR OTHERS? WOULD THEY WORK FOR ME?
"Access:VFX and their success stories is an upcoming Escapeverse talk that I'm excited to attend. Access:VFX seems to be a successful programme that brings artists into the industry. Perhaps it could work for me." - Ethen Dent
What I’ve been listening to:
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