From this day forward, you are part of a broader community of filmmakers and animators who ensure that the visual world tells stories that resonate with and work for everyone. That’s why it’s essential that you share this responsibility with us.

To make this responsibility more practical we’ve set up a few principles:

1. You create stories that try to connect to an audience. Films and animations matter most if they resonate with an audience. That’s why you have to keep the audience in mind throughout your creative process, understanding how your choices impacts them.
2. You prioritize meaning over spectacle. While stunning visuals can capture attention, the true measure of your work lies in its ability to inspire, educate, or evoke emotions. You assess your success by the depth of the story’s impact rather than just its surface appeal.
3. You dare to ‘fail’. Whether you work within the framework of a project (commissioned work), or are working on your own non-commissioned work, you aren’t afraid to push your creative boundaries by embracing experimentation and a change to ‘fail’ as a tool for discovery.
4. You reflect on your craft and its impact. Every frame you produce contributes to the visual culture. You critically evaluate your storytelling, techniques, and their effects on others, continuously seeking ways to improve your art and its influence.
5. You are part of an inclusive community. You are part of a professional, open community that welcomes everyone. At the same time, your actions also reflect on this community - so you are aware that your personal choices can also have an impact on this community.

Tips for a succesful experience

<aside> <img src="/icons/pencil_gray.svg" alt="/icons/pencil_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Document everything.

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Feedback? Take notes! Read a good book? Take notes! Did a workshop? Take notes! Had a project breakthrough? Write it down! Documenting everything is the first step in actually learning from an experience so find a quick and easy way to document everything so you can use it at a later date.

<aside> <img src="/icons/graduate_gray.svg" alt="/icons/graduate_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Find a practical way to incorporate (design) theory.

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The creative process in film and animation often starts intuitively—we’re huge fans of "learning by doing." However, relying solely on intuition carries the risk that you won't know if your work has an effect on your audience.

True growth happens when you start integrating theory into your creative process. This doesn’t mean you need to read Story by Robert McKee and/or A History of Narrative Film by David A. Cook five times or watch hours of documentaries on film theory before you can film or animate something, but understanding the psychological principles behind your decisions can give you a solid foundation. Because it’s nearly impossible to create compelling stories or visuals without understanding how people perceive and process them. So, break theory down into digestible pieces (maybe keep some notes handy) and experiment by applying small elements of it to your work.before you can start creating, but it does help to understand the principles behind the choices you make.

<aside> <img src="/icons/movie-clapboard-play_gray.svg" alt="/icons/movie-clapboard-play_gray.svg" width="40px" /> Good filmmaking <3 Viewings

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