Dan Grigsby - BA Animation 2009/2010

We have now reached the deadline, and everything is handed in. So now some time to reflect back on this year.

At the beginning of the first term I was unsure of what I wanted to do after I left university. I was always interested in working in some form within the film industry, but I could not identify what that was. I was initially asked to work on SPLAY and Polished Off to assist in the lighting and compositing aspects of the production, but these were areas that I was never entirely confident in doing. My contribution to these projects progressed throughout the year, so too had my confidence in my lighting skills.

It has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience working within the group, especially with such focussed and supportive individuals. Everyone has their niche, whether it be in animation or texturing or telling a good story. The directors have been determined to get the best they can out of their films, and their determination has given me the drive to do the best I possibly can. In addition, working on someone else's project, and not my own has prepared me slightly more for what's out there in the real world.

Lighting is my specialist area, yet I have also found a keen interest in creating textures and compositing.

I am very pleased with the way the films look. It was refreshing to finally see 8 months of work finally pieced together. It is only then you fully appreciate what it was all worth working for.

SPLAY, is as of yet, incomplete. Yes, we have created over two minutes of footage, but this is only a small section of the film. I am incredibly proud of the work that we have put into the film this term. Remember that in term 2, production on SPLAY was almost stagnant, so we have definitely turned this around, and pushed ourselves these past few weeks to get the sequence made.

It may be the end of the degree, but the show must go on. We will continue to work on the film after the degree, until it is complete. We may be way out of our depth, but nothing is worth working towards if it is going to be easy. I know we are more than capable of completing a potentially great film.