( Photo Provided )
Four years ago, it was the best opportunity for students interested in a career in media arts.
Graphic design and computer programming, video game design and web development, 3D animation and 3D modeling — every skill required to become a successful multimedia professional would be taught in one program.
Students would graduate with both a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from Carleton University and a diploma in Interactive and Multimedia Design (IMD) from Algonquin College.
Now, as the graduating class of 2009 premiere the senior projects that took them 12 months to complete, they said they all still agree: It was everything it had promised to be.
Tuesday afternoon the Azrieli Pavilion played host to the IMD senior project fair that showcased three 3D computer-animated shorts, two 3D computer games, an animated trailer shot in stereoscopic animation and a science-fiction television pilot with computer-generated effects.
“It’s the most important event on the IMD calendar,” said Dr. Ali Arya, the co-ordinator of the IMD program. “It showcases the talents of our students, what they have achieved, and it kind of gives you a very nice idea and demonstration of what we train our students to do.”
“It’s a fantastic program,” said Warren Dunlop, the director of photography for the computer-animated 3D short, Midnight Rumble. “It has a great mix of hands-on and theory.”
“We also have very knowledgeable and experienced professors who have worked in the field,” said Dylan Depass, who did the rigging and texturing for Midnight Rumble.
Neil Grey, director of the television pilot, Transit, needed a lot of support in order to execute all of the 2D and 3D visual effects he wanted to incorporate.
“The use of green screens and all the camera equipment that was provided by our faculty just made things really easy to do,” he said.
Eric Painchaud, sound and music editor for the animated short Worm’s Turn, adds that the graduating class of less than 50 students also created a “really nice community” to work in.
“We all get to know each other really well and are able to really help each other,” he said. “You’ll probably see people from all different groups mentioned in other people’s projects saying thank you.”
Although there are more universities and colleges now offering degrees in media arts, the unique combination of technical and arts programs as well as the diversity of course content still sets Carleton apart.
“I really like the diversity of topics that the program covers,” said Shaila Kuchibhotla, who hopes to pursue 3D animation as a career. “The different industry-level software tools that we interact with, meeting with industry professionals . . . when I first started this program I really didn’t have an idea of where I wanted to go but now I have a very clear idea.”
“A lot of people I’ve talked to once they found this program have still kind of said, ‘This is my first choice,’ ” Dunlop said. “If they could get it they would definitely go into it.”
To students already enrolled in the IMD program who will eventually do a senior project, however, Depass advises, “Start now.”