Challenges & Projects

There are several ways to develop your filmmaking and animation skills in the studio setting, alongside larger (often collaborative) client projects. You could take on a personal project, tackle a series of smaller creative challenges, or explore something in between. These individual projects aren’t just a chance to hone your unique style and voice—they’re also an essential part of what you’ll showcase during assessments. So aim for a mix of both collaborative and personal work to highlight your range as a filmmaker or animator!

	🖐 1. Personal projects	👌 2. Design Challenges/Workshops	🤝 3. Multidisciplinary project
What do you do	Work on your own personal film, documentary, animation, etc.	Make your own design within a given framework	Work on you multidisciplinary project
Good stuff	You’re usually more motivated if you have a good personal goal	You can work within a balanced mix of structure and freedom
- A nice big project that forces you to work in a realistic multidisciplinary setting with a client.
Risks	- You’re your own client and often target audience	There’s no client so you have to take that role on yourself	- The project mostly defines what is being made, not you
For whom?	Self-sufficient students with a clear goal and path to get there.	Students that don’t really know what to do but still want to make smaller, interesting things to improve their skill levels and have fun while doing so.	Everyone

🖐 1. Personal Projects a.k.a. Non-commissioned work

One of the best ways to grow as a filmmaker or animator is to find your own creative itch to scratch—that short film concept you can’t stop thinking about, that experimental animation you’ve already storyboarded in your mind, or that quirky idea you’re unsure about but can’t wait to explore. The Studio gives you the chance to actually bring your ideas to life (sometimes as a solo creator, but also in collaboration with others). Make sure to pitch your idea to us so we can give you valuable tips and feedback!

What are good personal projects?

Pick a subject you’re passionate about. A strong personal project starts with a clear motivation. You’ll essentially be your own client, which can be tough if you’re not excited about the project. Think about the stories you want to see told or the animation styles you’ve always wanted to experiment with
Create a challenge-worthy brief. While creating a reel or portfolio piece is important, it’s not necessarily challenging. Choose a project that pushes your creative boundaries and helps you learn new skills. Ask yourself: What can I add to this to make it more exciting? What techniques or storytelling methods do I want to master by working on it?
Keep it manageable. Ambition is great, but keep the scope realistic. Starting small can help ensure you finish the project. For example, instead of animating an entire feature about climate change or a full feature film length horrormovie, start with a 30-second animation focusing on one specific solution or make a ‘short’ movie. Small, focused projects often lead to big creative growth.
Know your audience. Great films and animations resonate with people, so think about who you’re creating for. Consider the audience you want to reach and find opportunities to get their input. Show your progress to friends, peers, or your target demographic for feedback and testing.

✊ 2. Design Challenges/Workshops

Design challenges are regularly held in the studio and/or cluster. These challenges are perfect for experimenting within given frameworks without the pressure of a client, and they offer an accessible way to ask for feedback and learn to give feedback to your fellow students. Additionally, throughout the semester, a selection of workshops will be available for you to participate in. These workshops are designed to help you build your skills in a fun and approachable way. The skills you gain can be applied to both "commissioned" and "non-commissioned" work.

Would you like to practice something, but the program doesn't provide for it? Then consult with your teachers. They probably have something in store that you can work on.

✊ 3. Multidsciplinary project a.k.a Commissioned work

The bigger multidisciplinary project is something everybody works on - a more practice-focused environment where you work on a realistic project with a client and where your team members can have a different skillset.