>> WELCOME TO THE
9th ANNUAL AUTISM
AWARENESS MONTH SPECIAL EVENT.
ANIMATING THE FUTURE FOR
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
HOSTED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF MENTAL HEALTH.
I'M DR. SUSAN DANIELS.
AND THE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE
OF AUTISM RESEARCH COORDINATION.
OUR OFFICE MANAGES THE
COORDINATING COMMITTEE CREATED
BY CONGRESS TO COORDINATE
FEDERAL AUTISM ACTIVITIES AND
PROVIDE ADVICE TO THE SECRETARY
ON ISSUES RELATED TO AUTISM.
FOR HOLDING THIS EVENT IN HONOR
OF AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH WHICH
IS A TIME WHEN WE RECOGNIZE AND
CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT
AUTISTIC PEOPLE MAKE TO OUR
SOCIETY AND RENEW OUR COMMITMENT
COMMITMENT.
WE LOOK FORWARD EACH YEAR TO
HIGHLIGHT THE WORK, SERVICE AND
PERSPECTIVES.
AND THIS YEAR WE'RE THRILLED TO
BE -- BRINGING TO OUR VIRTUAL
STAGE THE EXAMPLE EXAMPLE MINDS.
-- EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
AND NOW I'LL TURN IT OVER TO
SHARE A FEW OPENING REMARKS.
6 JOSH.
>> THANK YOU, SUSAN AND THANK
YOU EVERYONE FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
FOR WHAT I THINK IS GOING TO BE
A REALLY WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
IN MY TIME CHAIRING THE
INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING
COMMITTEE WE'VE OFTEN HEARD
ABOUT THE NEED FOR APPROPRIATE
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, JOB
TRAINING AND SUPPORT FOR YOUNG
ADULTS AND ADULTS ON THE AUTISM
SPECTRUM.
SO WE'RE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO
SHOWCASE IN THIS EVENT AN
ORGANIZATION THAT HAS BEEN
WORKING FOR 10 YEARS TO HELP
ADDRESS THOSE NEEDS IN OUR
COMMUNITY.
WE'RE ALSO DELIGHTED TO SEE SO
MANY PEOPLE SIGN UP AND TUNE
INTO THIS EVENT AND WE'RE
LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS
DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE
AFTERWARDS AND TO LEARNING MORE
FROM EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
I HOPE WE HAVE A -- AN --
EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAM AND I'M SURE
IT WILL BE AN ENJOYABLE ONE.
BACK TO SUSAN.
>> THANK YOU SO UP IN.
I LIKE TO BRIEFLY OUTLINE OUR
AGENDA.
WE WILL BE STARTING OFF WITH A
PRESENTATION FROM EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS AND THEN INTERVIEWING
EXAMPLE EXAMPLE MINDS AND THEIR
TEAM.
PLEASE USE THE LIVE FEEDBACK
LINK AND SUBMIT QUESTIONS ANY
TIME DURING THE COURSE OF THE
PRESENTATION.
AND DURING THE INTERVIEW.
A MEMBER FROM THE OARC TEAM WILL
READ YOUR QUESTIONS TO OUR GUEST
AT THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
WE MAY NOT GET TO EVERY QUESTION
BUT WE'LL TAKE AS MANY AS WE
CAN.
SO NOW, IT'S MY PLEASURE TO
EXTEND A WARM WELCOME TODAY TO
TODAY'S EXCEPTIONAL GUESTS.
THEY PREPARE YOUNG ADULTS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM FOR CAREERS IN
ANIMATION, THE DIGITAL ARTS AND
THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS PROVIDES
TRAINING TO HELP STUDENTS
ACHIEVE THEIR FUTURE THROUGH
ARTISTIC POTENTIAL.
TO START OUR PRESENTATION TODAY
WE'RE GOING TO BE SHOWING A
SHORT VIDEO AND THEN YOU'LL GET
TO MEET THE EXCEPTIONAL MINDS
TEAM.
>> AT EXCEPTIONAL MINDS WE'RE
AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE
TOO MANY YOUNG ADULTS WITH
AUTISM THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED.
THERE IS NOTHING THAT THESE
YOUNG ADULTS CANNOT DO AND THEY
KEEP PROVING IT TIME AND TIME
AGAIN.
>> I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GROW SO
MUCH.
SEE MORE CLARITY IN MY ART STYLE
>> THE ENVIRONMENT IS
ENCOURAGING THE CREATIVITY.
THE TALENT WITHIN US
>> THIS IS WHERE I WAS GOING TO
GET THE NECESSARY SKILLS
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND
ABOUT THE FINER POINTS OF
WORKING WITHIN AN OFFICE AND A
BUSINESS STRUCTURE.
>> I REALIZED MY CALLING -- TO
BE AN ANIMATED OR
>> OUR GOAL IS TO HELP STUDENTS
WORK IN THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY AND HAVE MEANINGFUL
CAREERS
>> THEY ARE FEELING GOOD ABOUT
WHAT THEY CAN DO AND IN THE
FUTURE
>> I LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
VISUAL EFFECTS AND NOW I DO IT
FULL-TIME.
>> IT HASHOAH AMAZING JUST
DISCOVERING WHAT I'M GOOD AT.
WE HAVE ANSWERS THAT WE DIDN'T
HAVE BEFORE.
FRIENDSHIPS THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE
BEFORE.
THE COMMUNITY IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE AN
OUTSIDER.
I FEEL SO MUCH LESS ALONE THAN I
USED TO.
>> THEY KNOW THAT THEY ARE
MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS AN
ACHIEVABLE GOAL NOT JUST A JOB
BUT A CAREER PATH.
>> SOME OF OUR GRADUATES HAVE
GONE ON TO WORK FOR NICKELODEON,
MARVEL
>> A JOB AT FOX AND SONY
>> CARTOON NETWORK
>> SESAME STREET WORKSHOP.
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE
AND DIRECT FOR THEM
>> SO WHILE PEOPLE WITH AUTISM
MIGHT LEARN DIFFERENTLY THEY
BRING INCREDIBLE SKILLS TO BEAR.
>> THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DO GET
IT AND PEOPLE WHO JUST DON'T GET
IT.
STICK WITH THE PEOPLE WHO DO GET
IT.
THEY WILL HELP YOU BE YOUR BEST
SELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAMING DAVID SIEGEL AND I
HAVE THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF
LEADING EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
THANK YOU TO DR. JOSHUA GORDON
AND ALL OF THE TEAM FOR THE WORK
YOU DO FOR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY
AND FOR INVITING US TODAY.
AUTISM AWARENESS HELPS US
CELEBRATE AND AMPLIFY THE
STORIES AND VOICES.
AND AS WE ALL CONTINUE TO LEARN
AND AS PART OF AN INCLUSIVE AND
DYNAMIC WORKFORCE DIVERSE VOICES
ELEVATE THE WORKPLACE IN
PROFOUND WAYS.
SO I'LL START WITH CONTEXT AND A
FEW STORIES ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND
THEN I'LL HANDLED OFF TO OUR
TEAM TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
OUR TEAM IS AWESOME AT TRAINING
AND HELPING TO GUIDE OUR ARTISTS
TOWARDS JOBS.
OUR STUDENTS, GRADUATES AND
FACULTY WILL BE SHARING MORE ON
THAT EXPERTISE.
WE'LL SPEND TIME ON THE SO 1 OF
SUCCESSFULLY WORKING WITH OUR
INCREDIBLE ARTISTS.
AFTER YOU HEAR FROM OUR TEAM WE
WILL CONCLUDE WITH A Q&A SO WE
CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS.
LET ME START WITH THIS.
ANOTHER QUICK VIDEO.
>> THE GRADUATES OF EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS GO ON TO WORK FOR MARVEL,
CARTOON NETWORK, NICKELODEON AND
WE HAVE ONE OF THEM WITH US.
MEET KATE.
>> HI, GUYS.
>> HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
THE PROGRAM?
>> AT THE TIME I WAS AT
COMMUNITY COLLEGE AFTER BARELY
MAKING IT THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
AFTER STRUGGLING WITH GRADES
WHEN MY MOM WAS LOOKING THROUGH
THE SUNDAY PAPER AND FOUND THIS
ARTICLE.
AND IT TALKS ABOUT THIS PLACE
CALLED EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
A SCHOOL FOR ADULTS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM.
SPECIFICALLY TO LEARN ABOUT THE
ANIMATION AND THE SPECIAL
EFFECTS INDUSTRY.
THAT IS THE THING ABOUT
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
THAT REALLY MADE A DIFFERENCE
WAS EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ALL
DIFFERENT AND ALL HAD DIFFERENT
STRUGGLES AND DIFFERENT
VICTORIES WE FOUND A SENSE OF
COMMUNITY.
SOME PLACE WHERE AUTISM WAS NOT
SHAMED.
IT WAS NOT THIS DIRTY WORD.
IT WAS CELEBRATED AND EMBRACED.
>> THESE ARE THE KIND OF STORIES
WE DREAMSTORE-- STORIES WE DREAM OF.
TO CLOSE THE LOOP ON KATE'S
STORY AFTER EXCELLED IN OUR
PROGRAM NICKELODEON RECRUITED
HER.
SHE IS NOW THE PRODUCTION
COORDINATOR ON A HIT SERIES.
RECENTLY HIRING ANOTHER EM BRAD
FULL-TIME TO JOIN HER AND THEN
LAST SUMMER THEY NEEDED ATTA AT --
ATTARRISTAT-- ANOTHER -- ARTISTS.
AND THEY BROUGHT ON ONE MORE
GRADUATE.
* WHAT DOES THIS LOOK LIKE AS WE
BEGIN OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
THIS YEAR?
OUR JOB PLACEMENT RATE IS OF
PARTICULAR INTEREST.
87%.
AS FOR TUITION ASSISTANCE NO
STUDENT SHOULD EVER BE TURNED
AWAY BECAUSE OF A FINANCIAL
NEED.
MY VISION FOR THE FUTURE NO ONE
SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TUITION AT
ALL.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL STORY FROM
LAST APRIL.
ONE OF OUR PARTNERS PROVIDED A
SCHOLARSHIP FOR A YOUNG PERSON
IN NEED.
HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE ALL FOUR OF
OUR SUMMER WORK SHOPS.
TODAY HE IS MAKING HIS OWN
ANIMATE STORIES.
STORIES LIKE THIS INSPIRE US TO
PROVIDE AS MANY PEOPLE ACCESS TO
OUR PROGRAMS AS POSSIBLE.
SO OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WITH
THE HELP OF DONORS AND STRATEGIC
PARTNERS EXCEPTIONAL MIND WILL
BE ABLE TO REACH AND SERVE TWICE
THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS CREATING
MORE OPPORTUNITY AND JOBS THAN
EVER.
ONE LAST STORY .
THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS
EXPERIENCE HELPED TO CHANGE HIS
LIFE.
HE HAD NEARLY EXHAUSTED HIS JOB
PROSPECTS BUT HE FOUND US AND
DESPITE COMMUTING OVER FOUR
HOURS A DAY FOR THREE YEARS HE
GRADUATED ON TIME AND WORKED IN
OUR STUDIO BEFORE BEING HIRED BY
MARVEL.
TODAY HE HAS BEEN THERE NEARLY
FOUR YEARS.
INCREDIBLE STORY.
ONE LAST UPDATE.
THIS SLIDE REPRESENTS JOBS AND
INTERNSHIPS OUR STUDENTS HAVE
SECURED IN JUST THE LAST COUPLE
OF MONTHS.
THIS IS BY ONE OF THE ARTISTS
GRADUATING IN JUNE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE THE KIND OF
STORIES WE DREAM OF.
WE HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO
RESHAPE THE AUTISM NARRATIVE.
BY HIRING OUR AMAZING GRADUATES
-- AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR FRESH NEW INNOVATIVE VOICES
AND TALENTS.
IT'S GOOD FOR OUR ARTISTS AND
IT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF
THAT NARRATIVE AND HELPING US
SHARE OUR VISION FOR A FAR MORE
INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE.
SO I'M EXCITED FOR TO YOU MEET
THE TEAM.
BEFORE I TURN IT OVER YOU WILL
SEE THE FIRST OF SEVERAL QUOTES
SUBMITTED BY OUR STUDENTS AND
ARTISTS THAT SHOW MORE OF THEIR
PERSPECTIVE.
WE'LL PAUSE SO YOU CAN READ EACH
ONE AND THEN WE'LL GO ON.
>> ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE KAT
CUTRIGHT.
>> THANK YOU.
I'M AN ACADEMY CONSULTANT.
I'VE BEEN WORKING AT EXCEPTIONAL
MIND FOR 8 AND A HALF YEARS AND
I WORKED IN THE POSITION OF
ACADEMIC DEAN FOR NEARLY FIVE
YEARS SO I'M IN A GOOD POSITION
TO GIVE YOU AN OVERVIEW OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFER HERE.
SO FOR OVER 10 YEARS WE HAVE
BEEN TEACHING CLASSES TO ARTISTS
ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM FOCUSING
ON THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND
SOFTWARE USED IN ANIMATION AND
VISUAL AFFECTS.
OUR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN BECAUSE
OF THE EFFORTS OF AN AMAZING
GROUP OF STUDENTS, ARTISTS,
TEACHERS, DEDICATED STAFF,
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AND
FAMILIES.
IN THE ACADEMY OUR CLASSES FOCUS
ON THE ARTISTIC AND TECHNICAL
AND CAREER BUILDING SKILLS FOR
THE ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS
AND 3-D AND MOTION GRAPHICS.
WE SERVE ABOUT 30-40 STUDENTS IN
OUR THREE-YEAR FULL-TIME
PROGRAM.
THE STUDENTS ARE 18 YEARS OR
OLDER AND THEY HAVE COMPLETED
HIGH SCHOOL OR SOMETIMES EVEN
COLLEGE AS WELL.
WE GRADUATE ABOUT 10-15 STUDENTS
A YEAR AND HAVE A 95% GRADUATION
RATE WHICH WE'RE REALLY PROUD
OF.
WE HAVE ANOTHER 200 PLUS
STUDENTS LEARNING IN OUR VIRTUAL
WORK SHOPS.
OUR SUMMER WORKSHOPS OR WEEKEND
CLASSES AND ONE-ON-ONE LESSONS.
THESE WORKSHOPS FOR STUDENTS AS
YOUNG AS 14 AND THERE IS NO
UPPER AGE LIMIT.
THE AVERAGE AGE IS WORTH
MENTIONING IS -- IT'S AROUND 24
YEARS OLD.
DURING THE PANDEMIC WE MOVED TO
VIRTUAL CLASSES AND WE WERE ABLE
TO EXPAND OUR REACH TO SERVE
STUDENTS ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES AND BEYOND.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER THESE
WORKSHOPS VIRTUALLY EVEN AS WE
HAVE RESUMED OUR ON-SITE CLASSES
AT OUR SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA
LOCATION.
AND AS DAVID MENTIONED BEFORE WE
ARE GROWING OUR PROGRAM TO SERVE
TWO TIMES AS MANY STUDENTS IN
THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WHAT DIFFERENTIATES OUR
PROGRAMS?
IS THAT OUR COURSES ARE DESIGNED
SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS ON THE
AUTISM SPECTRUM TAKING AN
INDIVIDUALIZED SKILL BUILDING
APPROACH TO SUPPORT THEIR
LEARNING.
OUR CLASSES FOCUS ON CREATING
PROJECTS.
WITH STUDENTS GETTING FEEDBACK
AS THEY WORK.
AND TEACHERS GETTING THE
OPPORTUNITY TO IDENTIFY WHERE
STUDENTS ARE IN THEIR ARTISTIC,
TECHNICAL AND COLLABORATIVE
DEVELOPMENT SO THAT THEY CAN
HELP FILL IN GAPS AND BUILD A
STRONG FOUNDATION.
ANOTHER THING THAT
DIFFERENTIATES US IS THE HIGH
LEVEL OF CAREER READINESS
TRAINING WE PROVIDE AS PART OF
OUR FULL-TIME PROGRAM.
OVER THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM 20%
OF THE CURRICULUM IS FOCUSED ON
TRAINING OUR STUDENTS WITH THE
SKILLS NEEDED TO SEEK AND APPLY
FOR AND MAINTAIN EMPLOYMENT.
WE FOCUS ON SOFT SKILLS LIKE
PROBLEM SOLVING AND CONFLICT
RESOLUTION ALONG WITH ACTUAL
PRODUCTS NEEDED TO APPLY FOR A
JOB SUCH AS RESUMÉ WRITING,
COVERLETTER WRITING.
WE ALSO FOCUS ON BUILDING A REAL
AND INTERVIEW PRACTICE.
SO WORKING AT EXCEPTIONAL MINDS
HAS HELPED ME AND REALLY TAUGHT
ME TO TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT THE
OUTCOMES PRODUCED BY SOME
TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO ART
AND EDUCATION.
BECAUSE MANY OUR STUDENTS HAVE
HAD A NEGATIVE EDUCATIONAL
EXPERIENCE IN THEIR PAST OR HAVE
FOUND SOME ASPECTS OF
TRADITIONAL EDUCATION DIFFICULT
TO OVERCOME WE KNEW WE WOULD
HAVE TO EXPLORE NEW APPROACHES
TO FINDING WHAT WOULD WORK FOR
OUR STUDENTS.
FOR MY OWN EDUCATIONAL
BACKGROUND OF WORK AT A SCENIC
ARTIST APPRENTICE AND THEN
GETTING MY MFA IN SCULPTURE I
EXPERIENCEDDED FIRSTHAND HOW IT
COULD BE SO BENEFICIAL IN
ESTABLISHING A CAREER AND THEN
HOW TRADITIONAL APPROACHES IN
EDUCATION TO CRITIQUE OR
CRITICISM AND UNSTRUCTURED
COMPETITION CAN DETER PEOPLE
FROM PROGRESSING OR FEELING A
PART OF THE COMMUNITY.
OUR STUDENTS ALREADY COME TO US
AT ALEXA MINDS WITH A PASSION
FOR ANIMATION, MOVIES *
STORYTELLING AND ART.
THEY ARE MOTIVATED TO LEARN AND
SUCCEED.
WE WANT TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TO MASTER
THE FOUNDATIONS AND HONE THEIR
CRAFT.
WHICH CAN TAKE A LONG TIME FOR
ANY ARTISTS.
BUT ALSO AND I THINK MOST
IMPORTANTLY A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
AND BELONGING SO THAT THEY CAN
GROW WITH AND RELY UPON THEIR
PEERS AND SO THAT THEY CAN BE
RESILIENT AND HAVE A HOME BASE
HERE WITH US AS THEY GO ON AND
LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK
IN A VERY COMPETITIVE FIELD.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE PROGRAMS
WE OFFER IN THE IN THE ACADEMY
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS ALSO HAS A
STUDIO WHICH WAS ESTABLISHED IN
2014.
OUR -- ACADEMY WAS GRADUATING SO
MANY CAPABLE ARTISTS THEY
REALIZED WE COULD CONTINUE TO
BUILD THEIR CRAFT WHILE EARNING
A WAGE.
THIS ALSO ALLOWS FOR STRUCTURE
AND ADDITIONAL TRAINING FOR OUR
GRADUATES AT THE FULL-TIME
PROGRAM.
TODMANY OF OUR GRADUATES WORK
FOR ALEXA MINDS STUDIO DOING
ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL GRAPHICS
FOR CLIENTS LIKE DISNEY,
NETFLIX, AMAZON AND SO MANY
OTHERS.
MOST RECENTLY FOR THE FIRST TIME
THE DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES HAS
JUSTIFIED PROMOTING THREE
GRADUATES TO FULL-TIME
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS EMPLOYEES.
AND WE FOR MORE HIRES AND MORE
CLIENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO FOR ALL OF THE PERSPECTIVE
EMPLOYERS OUT THERE I JUST WANT
TO YOU KNOW THAT IN MY TIME
WORKING WITH OUR STUDENTS I HAVE
FOUND THEM TO BE PASSIONATE
ABOUT THE SUBJECTS THAT WE TEACH
IN ANIMATION, VISUAL EFFECTS,
MOTION DESIGN AND 3-D AS THESE
AREAS ARE OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO
THEM THAT THEY'VE BEEN FOCUSING
ON FOR A LONG TIME.
I'VE FOUND THEM TO BE HARD
WORKING AND VERY DILIGENT.
THEY CARE ABOUT THE WORK THAT
THEY ARE PRODUCING AND THE
DETAILS OF THEIR PROJECTS AND
THEY ARE WILLING TO PUT THE WORK
IN AND THE TIME IN TO GET IT
RIGHT.
AND OUR STUDENTS ARE VERY
RELIABLE FOR THE MOST PART AND
THRIVE IN THE STRUCTURED
ENVIRONMENT THAT WE PROVIDE
THEM.
THEY ARE AMAZING.
NOW I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO
ONE OF OUR STUDENTS -- WHO WILL
BE GRADUATING THIS JUNE AND WILL
BE SEARCHING FOR EMPLOYMENT TO
LAUNCH HER CAREER.
IT IS MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE
BECCA DAVID.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS BECCA DAVID AND I'M A
THIRD YEAR AT EXCEPTIONAL MINDS
IN THEIR ANIMATION TRACT.
SO MY -- INTEREST IN THIS
PROGRAM WELL PARTICULARLY IN
DESIGN AND MOTION GRAPHICS.
I HOWEVER HAVE DONE SOME
ANIMATION.
I KNEW I WANTED TO DO ANIMATION
WHICH WHICH IS WHY EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS HAVE BEEN SUCH A WATERSHED
FOR ME.
LIKE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS
GOING TO DO AFTER I GOT MY
ASSOCIATES.
THEN ONE OF MY -- I WAS WORKING
AS A TEACHER'S AID AND ONE OF
THE -- TEACHER'S ASSOCIATES
FOUND THIS ON A WEBSITE AND I
SAID YES.
THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO BE.
ONE OF THE THINGS I WORKED ON --
HERE WAS AN AWARD WINNING SHORT
CALLED MYTH LOGIC.
WE JUST WON AN AWARD BY THE WAY
AS YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREENS.
THE MARVELS OF THE INAUGURAL --
MARVEL OF MEDIA A WORD FOR
COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION.
THIS WAS BETWEEN A BUNCH OF
STUDENTS AND GRADUATES FROM THE
PROGRAM.
DEPICTING VARIOUS MYTH LOGICAL
CREATURES IN VARYING STYLES OF
ANIMATION.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO I PRESENT
TO YOU MYTH LOGIC.
*
>> THANK YOU FOREIGN JOYING
THAT.
-- *.
QUICK WORD.
BEFORE WE JUMP INTO OUR NEXT
ONE.
I PERSONALLY WANTED TO SAY --
THAT ANIMATION IS A
COLLABORATIVE PROCESS.
AND THROUGH THAT PROJECT I
LEARNED A LOT ABOUT
COLLABORATION.
AND AS MOSTLY BEING AN
INDEPENDENT WORKER.
IT WAS VITAL TO HAVE THOSE
SKILLS -- IN ORDER TO FOR ME TO
GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR IN THIS
INDUSTRY.
THIS LEADS ME TO MY NEXT POINT.
BEST PRACTICES FOR THOSE WHO ARE
LOOKING TO GET A JOB IN THE
INDUSTRY.
HERE WE HAVE A NICE LOVELY
LITTLE LIST -- OF ITEMS SO I'M
GOING TO GET STARTED HERE.
ONE, BE CLEAR ON THE JOB
DESCRIPTION.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK.
7 LOOK AT THE BUZZ WORDS AND SEE
WHAT EXACTLY THIS JOB
DESCRIPTION IS LOOKING FOR.
ARE THEY LOOKING FOR SOMEONE
WITH A CERTAIN LEVEL OF
EXPERTISE IN SOFTWARE LIKE PHOTO
SHOP OR GOOGLE DOCS.
THE GOOGLE SUITE.
ALL OF THOSE GOOD -- AND IF
YOU'RE NOT SURE ASK QUESTIONS.
2: SAY YOU NAMED THE
APPLICATION AND YOU'VE GOT A SET
INTERVIEW.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO
PREPARE.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.
POTENTIAL INTERVIEW QUESTIONS IN
ADVANCE.
THERE ARE PLENTY OF RESOURCES
THAT WILL HELP YOU NAIL THESE
QUESTIONS.
LIKE THE MOST COMMON INTERVIEW
QUESTIONS.
LIKE TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF OR
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF FIVE
YEARS IN THE FUTURE.
GREAT RESOURCES TO HELP YOU
FRAME AND CRAFT YOUR RESPONSES
WHICH WILL BEST SUIT WHAT YOU'RE
LOOKING FOR.
WHEN YOU'RE APPLYING.
3.
IF THIS INTERVIEW IS VIRTUAL DO
A RUN THROUGH WITH THE TECH AND
IN YOUR SPACE.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND.
IN A QUIET ROOM.
MAKE SURE THE CAT IS NOT WALKING
INTO THE FRAME.
AS CUTE AS THAT MAY BE.
BUT ALL IN ALL MAKE SURE YOU'RE
PREPARED.
BONUS -- IF YOUR BACKGROUND IS
SOME OF YOUR WORK OR IT SHOWS
OFF AN AS EXPECT OF YOUR
PERSONNEL THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
SHOWCASE TO THE INTERVIEWER.
4.
HAVE ALL RESUMÉS AND REAL
MATERIAL PREPARED BEFOREHAND.
MAKE SURE YOU HANDOUT YOUR
RESUMÉ TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF
THE INTERVIEW.
I ALMOST SAID REVIEW.
ANY WAY THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.
THEY NEED TO SEE YOUR BEST --
YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR BEST FOOT
FORWARD SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU
HAVE ALL OF THE THINGS THAT YOU
NEED, RESUMÉ, DEMO REEL ETC.,
ETC.
5: PREPARE QUESTIONS TO ASK THE
INTERESTED VIEWER.
THERE IS USUALLY THAT SPOT
BEFORE THE END OF THE INTERVIEW
WHERE THEY ASK YOU DO YOU HAVE
ANY QUESTIONS FOR US?
SO THE GOOD THING -- TO CONSIDER
IS TO HAVE SOME OF QUESTIONS
PREPARED.
FOR INSTANCE I USUALLY ASK HOW
DO YOU CULTIVATE A HEALTHY
WORKPLACE CULTURE?
THE ACTIVITIES AND
EXTRACURRICULARS SO TO SPEAK
THAT PEOPLE IN THE STUDIO DO TO
KEEP UP EMPLOYEE MORALE, CREATE
EXTENSIVE COMMUNITY.
THAT SORT OF THING.
THAT IS SOMETHING I'M VERY
INTERESTED IN.
SO I MAKE SURE -- SO MAKE SURE
THAT THESE QUESTIONS REALLY HELP
LET THE INTERVIEWER KNOW ABOUT
YOUR INTERESTS -- IN THE
POSITION AND MAYBE SHOW OFF SOME
KNOWLEDGE HERE AND THERE.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST LET THE
INTERVIEWER KNOW OF ANY
ACCOMMODATIONS YOU MAY NEED.
YOU HAVE AUTISM.
AND SOMETIMES THERE ARE THINGS
THAT YOU NEED -- THAT WILL HELP
IMPROVE YOUR PERFORMANCE.
QUIET SPACE.
COMMUNICATION -- BEING ABLE TO
COMMUNICATE.
SAYING HEY, I JUST NEED TO GET A
DRINK OF WATER SOMETIMES.
NOT TO SAY THAT -- OH, I NEED A
BREAK SOMETIMES BUT IT IS STILL
VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU LET
YOUR INTERVIEWER KNOW THAT
YOU'RE ON THE SPECTRUM.
UNLESS IT IS YOUR RIGHT -- IT'S
YOUR RIGHT IF YOU WANT TO
DISCLOSE THAT INFORMATION.
AND WITH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO
SHOW YOU THIS LOVELY QUOTE FOR
FIVE LOVELY SECONDS.
AND WITH THAT I'M GOING TO TURN
IT OVER TO DAVID MILES AND
ISAIAH STRUM FOR OUR TIPS AND
TRICKS FOR EMPLOYERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> HELLO.
I'M ISAIAH STRUM.
THE EFFECT ARTISTS IN THE
EXCEPTIONAL MIND STUDIO.
NOW WORKING THERE FULL-TIME.
>> HI, I'M DAVID MILES.
I'M A GRADUATE OF THE
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS PROGRAM AND I
HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING
BOTH THE VISUAL EFFECTS
SUPERVISOR AS WELL AS AN INTERN
AT PLACES LIKE CARTOON NETWORK
AND DISCOVERY NETWORK.
NOW I AM GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU A
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FROM OUR
LATEST PROJECT WITH SESAME
WORKSHOP.
>> HEY, JULIA.
REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME OUR
FAMILY WENT ON A CAMPING
ADVENTURE IN THE GARDEN OUT
BACK?
>> CAMPING!
OH, -- DARK.
>> THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT THIS
FLASHLIGHT.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WHAT WAS THAT?
>> HOLD ON.
>> IT'S JUST THE TRASH CAN LID
BLOWING IN THE WIND.
>> WHEW!!
>> YOU'RE RIGHT.
MAYBE IF YOU TAKE A MOMENT TO
DRAW WHAT IS SCARING YOU YOU
MIGHT FIND THAT IT'S NOT SO
SCARY.
>> HMMMM.
*
>> OSCAR!
OSCAR --
>> OSCAR IS NOT SCARY.
HE IS JUST LOUD.
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> OH, NO!!
HOLD STILL, JULIA.
IT'S A FIRE FLY.
IT'S GOT A FLASHLIGHT TOO.
>> OKAY YOU TWO.
TIME TO HIT THE SACK AND GET
SOME SLEEP.
>> SAMUEL DRAW.
DRAW ROSE.
>> ROSE!
OH, ROSE!
>> ROSE!
>> SEE JULIA.
YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO FEEL BETTER
BY DRAWING.
>> IT WAS CERTAINLY A PRIVILEGE
BEING PUT IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE
ON THIS ASSIGNMENT.
IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING EVEN IN
THE BEST OF TIMES BUT HAVING A
FANTASTIC TEAM UNDERNEATH ME
CERTAINLY LED TO ONE OF -- THE
SMOOTHEST PRODUCTIONS I'VE EVER
BEEN A PART OF.
NOW FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
A LEADERSHIP POSITION HERE ARE
SOME GOOD PRACTICES FOR HAVING A
SUCCESSFUL TEAM.
1: SET UP AN EMPLOYEE FOR
SUCCESS.
PRESUME CONFIDENCE IN EVERYONE.
OFFER MULTIPLE TRAINING METHODS.
EVERYONE LEARNS DIFFERENTLY.
BE OPEN, HONEST AND CONSISTENT
ESPECIALLY CONSISTENT IN YOUR
FEEDBACK.
AND FINALLY DO NOT ASSUME OR
MAKE ASSUMPTION ABOUT HOW WE'RE
FEELING IN THE MOMENT.
JUST BE DIRECT.
JUST ASK.
WE MIGHT NOT VISIBLY LOOK LIKE
WE'RE STRUGGLING BUT IT'S GOOD
TO CHECK-IN EVERY ONCE IN A
WHILE.
>> THE SAME GOOD MANAGEMENT
SKILLS APPLY TO ALL EMPLOYEES
NOT JUST INDIVIDUALS ON THE
SPECTRUM.
BUT HERE A FEW MORE ABOUT
COMMUNICATION.
NUMBER ONE, CONSISTENT
INFORMATION AND FEEDBACK ALLOWS
AN EMPLOYEE TO BE -- PRODUCTIVE
AND ASK IF THEY NEED IT.
WE ALL NEED POSITIVE SUPPORT TO
DO OUR BEST.
THREE, BE DIRECT WITH YOUR
EXPECTATIONS ON YOUR TEAM.
IF SOMEONE HAS TO GUESS WHAT YOU
WANT FROM THEM -- IT'S NOT GOING
TO TURN OUT LIKE HOW YOU WANT.
FOUR, AVOID OPEN ENDED DEADLINES
OR STATEMENTS LIKE GET IT TO ME
WHEN YOU HAVE TIME.
THOSE STATEMENTS ARE CONFUSING
AND MAKE US FOCUS OR AT LEAST
FOR ME MAKE ME FOCUS MORE ON OH,
I HAVE TIME -- I CAN DO THIS
SLOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHEN I NEED IT AND
THEN IT CAN CAUSE ME TO BE LATE
ON THE WORK OR HAVE IT BE NOT UP
TO STANDARD AT THE TIME THAT IT
IS NEEDED.
FIVE, ENSURE -- IF YOU'RE UNSURE
ABOUT WHAT WE NEED OR
COMMUNICATION THAT YOU'RE
TELLING US IS CLEAR JUST ASK US.
COMMUNICATION IS EXTRA IMPORTANT
TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR
BEST WORK.
HERE ARE SOME ADDITIONAL IDEAS
ON HOW AS AN EMPLOYER OR MANAGER
YOU CAN MAKE A TEAM MORE
PRODUCTIVE.
ONE, BEING OPEN TO A CHANGING
WORK ENVIRONMENT.
ALLOWING HEADPHONES AND
DESIGNATING A QUIET ONLY SPACE.
TWO, ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO PROCESS
AND REVIEW THEIR NOTES AND THEN
COME BACK WITH QUESTIONS WITHOUT
AFFECTING THE TIME LINE.
I KNOW FOR ME I DON'T ALWAYS
KNOW WHAT TO ASK IMMEDIATELY
UNTIL I'M LOOKING AT WHAT I NEED
TO DO.
OR I'VE PROCESSED MORE
INFORMATION.
AND IT'S ALWAYS HELPFUL TO BE --
TO HAVE MY SUPERVISOR OR MANAGER
AVAILABLE FOR QUESTIONS AND
THREE, BREAKS INDEPENDENT WORK
TIME AND MEETING SCHEDULES ALL
ALLOW EMPLOYEE TO MANAGE THEIR
TIME.
ESPECIALLY ON THE SPECTRUM IT
CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO GO
THROUGH RANDOM CHANGES SO HAVING
CONSISTENT BREAKS, HAVING
CONSISTENT WORK TIME AND
MEETINGS DEFINITELY HELPS.
AND LASTLY OUR EMPLOYEES AND
STUDENTS VOTED ON SOME
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS TO HELP
THEM WITH THEIR BEST WORK.
ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE FLEXIBLE
BREAK TIMES.
QUIET WORK SPACES AND INCREASED
TRAINING TIME HAVE BEEN THE MOST
HELPFUL FOR THE MEMBERS OF --
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
AND NOW I'LL HAND IT BACK OVER
TO DAVID SIEGEL
>> THANK YOU TO THE WHOLE TEAM
FOR SHARING THEIR STORIES AND
INSIGHTS.
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN OUR
PROGRAMS WE OFFER LOTS OF
WORKSHOPS AND OF COURSE OUR
FULL-TIME PROGRAM.
EVERYTHING IS ON OUR WEBSITE BUT
IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN UPCOMING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUMMER
WORKSHOPS FOUR OF THEM START
THIS JUNE AND RUN THROUGH AUGUST
AND THEY ARE TWO OF WEEKS EACH.
SUMMER PROGRAMS INCLUDE COURSES
IN VIDEO GAME CREATION, SUPER
HERO VISUAL EFFECTS.
2-D AND 3-D ANIMATION AND LOTS
OF OTHER CHOICES.
IF YOU WANT TO HELP VOLUNTEER
YOU CAN REACH OUT THROUGH THE
WEBSITE OR INVEST IN A STUDENT'S
FUTURE PUT DOLLARS TOWARD A
SCHOLARSHIP, HELP FUND OUR
GROWTH THERE IS LOTS OF
OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE AS WELL.
FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT OUR SITE.
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST.
LOVE TO GET YOU INVOLVED AND
KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE.
THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR
HAVING US.
NOW BACK TO DR. DANIELS FOR Q&A.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, DAVID TO
THE ENTIRE -- EXCEPTIONAL MINDS
TEAM.
I LOVED THE VIDEOS.
THOSE WERE FANTASTIC.
NOW WE HAVE TIME FOR A CHAT WITH
THE TEAM AND WE'LL HAVE TIME FOR
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM THE
AUDIENCE AS WELL LATER IN THE
PROGRAM.
SO YES, I KNOW EVERYONE IS
GETTING SET HERE SO GREAT.
WELL, A QUESTION THAT CAN BE FOR
ANYONE ON THE TEAM HERE.
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO JOIN
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
>> GO AHEAD, BECA.
>> WELL -- I'LL ELABORATE ON
THIS A LITTLE BIT.
I SAID SOMETHING EARLIER.
LIKE I SAID I WAS WORKING AS A
TEACHING AID.
MY MOM WAS A TEACHER SO SHE
HELPED GET ME THAT JOB.
SO -- I AM ALMOST DONE WITH MY
ASSOCIATES.
I WAS IN COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
SPENT ELEVEN YEARS DUE TO THE
WAY I LEARN.
I COULD ONLY DO ONE CLASS AT A
TIME.
BUT THAT IS BESIDE THE POINT.
A TEACHING ASSOCIATE SAID TAKE A
LOOK AT THIS AND WE SEE THE
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS WEBSITE AVENUE
I'M LOOKING AT THIS.
I'M SO ENAMORED.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT TO DO.
THIS IS WHERE I WANT TO GO.
AND I DID THE TOUR -- THAT
ALL-PRO EXPECTATIVE EM STUDENTS
DO.
AND IT WAS AMAZING.
I JUST FELT LIKE THIS IS WHERE I
BELONGED.
AND THREE YEARS LATER -- AND
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC I HAVE
LEARNED SO MUCH THROUGH THIS
PROGRAM.
AND I HOPE TO LEARN A LOT MORE
AND HOPEFULLY STILL BE INVOLVED
WITH EXCEPTIONAL MINDS AFTER I
GRADUATE.
>> WONDERFUL.
DOES ANYONE ELSE WANT TO SHARE
ON THAT QUESTION?
>> SO I HAVE A VERY SIMILAR
STORY TO KATE WHO WAS ON THE
VIDEO PREVIOUSLY.
I HAD STRUGGLED IMMENSELY
THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
I OFTEN FELT LIKE I HAD BEEN
SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS.
AND I WAS KIND OF AT A LOSS AS
TO WHAT I WANTED TO DO CAREER
WISE.
I KNEW I HAD A PASSION FOR
ANIMATION.
I HAD A PASSION FOR
STORYTELLING.
BUT EVERY SINGLE AVENUE TOWARDS
THAT PARTICULAR CAREER FELT LIKE
IT WAS CLOSED OFF.
FELT LIKE IT WAS BEHIND AN
INSURMOUNTABLE GATE AS IT WERE
AND THEN AS OFTEN HAPPENS IT'S
KIND OF A CLICHE IN MOVIES WHEN
A CHARACTER IS AT A LOSS OF WHAT
TO DO THERE IS A VENT STORY ON
TV THAT POINTS THEM IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION AND THAT LITERALLY
HAPPENED TO ME.
A LOCAL CBS AFFILIATE RAN A
STORY ON EXCEPTIONAL MINDS AND I
TOLD MY PARENTS AND THEY
CONTACTED THE SCHOOL AND I HAVE
BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROGRAM
EVER SINCE.
>> WONDERFUL.
ANYONE ELSE?
WANT TO SHARE ON THAT?
>> CAN I ASK A FOLLOW-UP NOW
THAT YOU'RE THERE.
TELL US WHAT YOU BRING TO THE
EQUATION.
WE HEARD WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT
THE CREATIVITY OF THE
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS STUDENTS.
BRAG ABOUT YOURSELF.
WHAT UNIQUE ASPECTS DO YOU BRING
TO THE ANIMATION OR THE
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS PROGRAM THAT
CAN HELP TELL US ABOUT
YOURSELVES.
>> ATTENTION TO DETAIL.
>> DRAFTSMAN SHIP.
>> AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
>> THERE IS ALSO A VERY HIGH
DESIRE TO LEARN.
WE USE A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SOFTWARE.
AND OUR WORK -- AND THERE IS
ALWAYS A BIT OF A LEARNING CURVE
FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE.
AND I FEEL LIKE ALL OF US HAVE
SUCH A DRIVE AND SUCH A PASSION
TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK THAT
LEARNING THESE DIFFICULT COMPLEX
PROGRAMS HAS BEEN -- ALWAYS ENDS
UP BEING A QUICK AND NOT EXACTLY
SIMPLE BUT ALWAYS LIKE A
REWARDING ENDEAVOUR.
>> FOR ME I'VE ALWAYS -- HAD
LIKE A KEEN EYE FOR
PICTURE-PERFECT DETAILS WHICH IS
EXCELLENT FOR VISUAL EFFECTS
BECAUSE THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT NEEDS TO BE PIXEL PERFECT.
SO I WAS GLAD THAT I'M ABLE TO
DO THAT NOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING.
>> SO HOW DID YOU ALL WHO ARE IN
ANIMATION FIRST DISCOVER YOUR
INTEREST IN THIS AREA?
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE
THAT CAUGHT YOUR EYE AND MADE
YOU THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU
WANTED TO DO?
>> WELL FOR ME IT WAS PRIMARILY
THE FACT THAT I OBSESSIVELY
WATCHED CARTOONS BASICALLY MY
ENTIRE LIFE.
I NEVER HAD A PERIOD WHERE I
THOUGHT THIS STUFF IS FOR KIDS.
I DON'T NEED TO WATCH IT ANY
MORE.
NO.
I'VE ALWAYS ENJOYED ANIMATION.
AND I REMEMBER EVEN AT A YOUNG
AGE I WAS FASCINATED BY THE
PROCESS OF MAKING THIS
ANIMATION.
IT WASN'T UNTIL EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS CAME ALONG THAT I THOUGHT
OH, I CAN BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT MAKE ANIMATION.
IN THE EARLY 2,000 WHEN AMATEUR
ANIMATORS -- WERE MAKING NAMES
FOR THEMSELVES.
AND EVEN GOING ON TO BECOME
INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS.
*.
>> SO -- MY STORY -- BEGINS IN
THE '90s.
I WAS BORN IN -- THIS IS NOT MY
WHOLE LIFE STORY BUT THE STORY
OF HOW ANIMATION PLAYED AN
IMPORTANT ROLE IN MY LIFE.
I GREW UP WITH WHAT IS CALLED
THE DISNEY RENAISSANCE WHICH IS
BASICALLY THAT CHUNK IN THE
'90s AND LATE '80s WHERE ALL
THE DISNEY MOVIES WERE REALLY
SUCCESSFUL.
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.
THE LITTLE HER MANNED.
LION KING .
ALL OF THOSE MOVIES.
*.
I WATCHED A LOT OF NICKELODEON
BUT THE THING THAT GOT ME
STARTED -- START DRAWING, WELL I
ALWAYS DREW BUT THEN THERE WAS
THIS PROGRAM THAT CAME OUT
CALLED DISNEY MAGIC ARTISTS.
IT WAS PHOTO SHOP FOR KIDS.
NOT ONLY COULD YOU USE THE
SPECIAL EFFECTS BRUSHES THAT
THEY HAD AND DRAW -- WHATEVER
YOU WANTED, THEY ALSO SHOWED YOU
HOW TO DRAW THE CHARACTERS, AND
THAT ONLY STOKED THE FLAMES.
8 THEN CAME THE 2000s.
THAT ADDED A DIFFERENT LAYER TO
MY PERSONAL STYLE.
AND I THINK THE BIGGEST POINT OF
ALL IS THAT BEING ON THE
SPECTRUM SOMETIMES I DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO CONNECT TO THE OUTSIDE
WORLD.
ANIMATION HELPED ME DO THAT.
I KNEW I WAS STARTING TO GET
GOOD AT IT WHEN PEOPLE STARTED
LOOKING AT MY SKETCH ESSAYING
YOU'RE A VERY GOOD ARTISTS AND
SOME PEOPLE ARE DIFFERENT, FEEL
DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WAY PEOPLE
LOOK AT THEIR SKETCH BOOK BUT I
LIKE WHEN PEOPLE LOOK.
AND IT MADE ME THINK HEY MAYBE I
DO -- HAVE WHAT IT TAKES.
SO I -- IMPROVED MY CRAFT AND
IT'S LED ME HERE.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WHERE IT
WILL TAKE ME.
>> DAVID, CAN I JUMP IN WITH A
QUESTION FOR YOU.
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT WHAT
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS DOES THAT
ENABLES PEOPLE LIKE DAVID AND
BECCA AND ISAIAH SUCCEED WHERE
IT'S BEEN CHALLENGING IN OTHER
ENVIRONMENTS?
>> I THINK BECAUSE WE HAVE THIS
AMAZING TEACHER STUDENT RATIO
WHERE THERE IS SO MUCH FOCUS AND
ATTENTION ON INDIVIDUAL GIFTS.
AND BUILDING COHORTS.
THERE IS A LOT OF ROOM FOR
SUCCESS.
HAVING LOOKED SO CLOSELY AT THE
PROGRAM FROM A 3 WORK READINESS
PERSPECTIVE NEARLY 20% OF OUR
CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON WORK
READINESS * AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND I THINK WHETHER
YOU'RE NEURO TYPICAL OR
DIVERGENT WE ALL NEED THAT
DIFFERENTIATOR WHICH HELPS US
UNDERSTAND HOW TO WORK IN TEAMS.
AND AS BECCA WAS MENTIONING
EARLIER ART IS A COLLABORATIVE
MEDIUM AND I BELIEVE SO IS
AUTISM AND THE MORE WE'RE ABLE
TO COLLABORATE TO LIFT -- WITH
THE RISING TIED THE MORE
POSITIVE OUTCOMES WE SEE AND I'M
COMPLETELY BLOWN AWAY EVERY DAY
BY HOW MUCH ATTENTION IS SHOWN
TO THE ARTISTS AND HOW MUCH
LEARNING HAPPENS IN A WAY THAT
GETS THEM TO THEIR GOALS.
BECCA IS UP FOR AMAZING JOBS
RIGHT NOW.
DAVID MILES MAY HAVE AN
INCREDIBLE ANNOUNCEMENT ON AN
OPPORTUNITY THAT HE IS GOING TO
TALK ABOUT SOON.
ISAIAH IS ONE OF THREE ARTISTS
THAT WE WERE ABLE TO PROMOTE IN
OUR STUDIO THE LAST YEAR.
SO I THINK THERE IS SO MUCH TO
POINT TO THAT WORKS AND IS A
BEAUTIFUL MODEL.
I JUST HOPE THAT THIS MODEL CAN
SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS TO REPLICATE ON IT
AND WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE OUR
BEST PRACTICES.
WE HAVE THIS TEAM OF INCREDIBLE
INSTRUCTORS *.
THEY SEEM TO STILL SMILE AND I
KNOW HOW CHALLENGING ANY ROLE
IS.
LET ALONE AN INSTRUCTOR WHO
SPENDS SO MOOCH TIME TRYING TO
CULTIVATE TALENT AND HELP
SUPPORT THE DREAMS OF OUR
STUDENTS.
AND ARTISTS.
>> FOLLOW-UP ON THAT -- SO WHAT
HAS EXCEPTIONAL MINDS MADE IN
TERMS OF PROGRESS IN TERMS OF
WORKING WITH THE INDUSTRY AND
MAKING CHANGES THERE AND WHAT
KINDS OF CHANGES ARE STILL
NEEDED TO TRANSFORM THE INDUSTRY
TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE?
>> YEAH.
I THINK IT'S REALLY ABOUT
COMMUNICATION.
DOING PRESENTATIONS LIKE THIS.
THESE ARE THE KIND OF
PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'RE DOING
FOR OUR PARTNERS.
WE JUST MET WITH A LARGE GROUP
OF LEADERS AND MEMBERS OF THE
CREATIVE TEAMS AT SONY.
WE JUST WORKED WITH THE CREATIVE
TEAMS AND LEADERSHIP AT NBC
UNIVERSAL.
THE MORE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO
SHARE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WORK
WITH OUR GRADUATES THE MORE THE
STIGMA OR THE FEAR BECAUSE THERE
ARE FEAR IN NEW THINGS.
MORE OF THAT IS LIFTED.
AND IT GOES BACK TO WHAT DAVID
AND ISAIAH WERE TALKING ABOUT.
JUST ASK.
KEEP THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION
OPEN.
ALLOW FOR OPEN AND HONEST
CONVERSATIONS TO HAPPEN.
IT COMES DOWN TO THE
COMMUNICATION PIECE AND THE MORE
WE'RE ABLE TO HELP SHARE A
LITTLE BIT OF OUR WISDOM THE
MORE PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE IN
HIRING OUR ARTISTS AND THE
HIRING HAS GONE ON FOR A LONG
TIME AND IT'S JUST GETTING
BETTER.
MORE AND MORE ORGANIZATIONS ARE
OPENING UP TO THE PRO PROSPECTS.
WE HAD A 36 MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.
THAT OPENED UP A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITY AND IT'S THE FIRST
TIME THAT WE HAD 36 ARTISTS AND
STUDENTS MENTORED BY ONE
ORGANIZATION.
THEY TOOK A BIG LEAP AND WE TOOK
A BIG LEAP.
WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO CHANGE WHO
OUR ARTISTS ARE.
AND WE'RE NOT LOOKING TO CHANGE
HOW ANY OF OUR PARTNERS BEHAVIOR
ACT OR CREATE CULTURE.
WE'RE ASKING THAT THE CULTURE
AND THE ARTISTS COME TOGETHER
AND FIND A HAPPY MEDIUM IT'S NOT
OUR JOB TO CHANGE THEM.
AND IF WE CAN MEET IN THE MIDDLE
IT'S GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL
THICK.
THIS WORKS.
BECAUSE WE'RE SEEING OUR ARTISTS
-- RELY TAKEN THEIR JOBS AND GET
NEW JOBS.
BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK
AHEAD OF IT.
>> I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.
WHEN I WAS WORKING ON FOX AND
SONY EXCEPTIONAL MINDS ACTUALLY
A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN THE JOB
TRAINING JOB READINESS CAME WITH
ME AND MY OTHER COLLEAGUE TO DO
-- AN OVERVIEW OF WORK WITH
PEOPLE ON THE SPECTRUM.
AND I -- LIKE THAT IT REALLY
FELT GOOD TO HAVE THAT.
JUST SEEING HOW FAR THAT THEY
WILL GO TO HELP.
>> ISAIAH WHEN THAT HAPPENED
WERE YOU CONCERNED WHAT YOUR
FELLOW EMPLOYEES MIGHT THINK
ABOUT YOU OR TREAT YOU BECAUSE
YOU'RE ON THE SPECTRUM OR WERE
YOU MORE GLAD THAT THEY HAD THAT
KNOWLEDGE BEFOREHAND OR MAYBE
THERE IS A BIT OF BOTH.
>> IT'S A BIT OF BOTH BUT IT WAS
MOSTLY THAT I WAS GLAD THAT
THERE WAS A PREEMPTIVE THING.
SO IN CASE ANYTHING CAME UP IT
WAS NOT AWKWARD OR UNCOMFORTABLE
TO ASK ABOUT OR REALLY JUST
ANYTHING.
IT JUST FELT -- GOOD TO HAVE
MORE PEOPLE AWARE OF THE
DIFFERENCES BUT I PERSONALLY WAS
NOT TOO CONCERNED.
I KNOW THAT IT'S DEFINITELY NOT
THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.
>> KAT AND SCOTTY WE HAVE NOT
HEARD FROM YOU.
4 TELL US ABOUT WHAT LOVE ABOUT
YOUR JOB AND WHAT MAKES YOU VERY
EXCITED TO COME IN AND WORK
VIRTUALLY OR HOWEVER YOU'RE
WORKING EVERY DAY WITH THE
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS TEAM.
>> HI, SUSAN.
THANK YOU.
TWO PERFECT EXAMPLES ARE RIGHT
HERE WITH US.
DAVID AND ISAIAH.
THAT IS WHAT REALLY DRIVES ME TO
COME INTO WORK EVERY DAY.
THE ABILITY TO WORK WITH THESE
AWESOME INDIVIDUALS.
THESE TWO GUYS ARE GREAT EXAMPLE
OF THE STUDIO AND WHAT WE
REPRESENT.
AND INCLUSIVENESS AND DAVID SAID
IT'S LIKE WE WORK THIS OUT
TOGETHER.
WE ALL TALK REGULARLY.
DAVID WHO LIKE ISAIAH LIKES TO
COME IN THE OFFICE AND THEY
VOLUNTEER TO COME IN AND NOT
WORK REMOTELY.
WE HAVE ABOUT 12 OR SO THAT WORK
INTERNALLY IN THE STUDIO
FULL-TIME IN HOUSE.
7 AND THAT'S AMAZING.
WE WANT TO INCREASE THOSE
NUMBERS BUT I UNDERSTAND SOME
PEOPLE LIKE TO WORK REMOTELY.
COVID COMES INTO PLAY BUT THAT
DRIVES ME TO COME INTO WORK.
I GET TO SEE THESE AMAZING
PEOPLE EVERY DAY AND WE GET TO
WORK TOGETHER AND THAT IS WHY I
COME TO WORK EVERY DAY.
>> FOR ME IT'S THE SAME.
BEING AROUND THE PEOPLE AT
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS IS AMAZING.
AND THE STUDENTS AND THE ARTISTS
BRING SO MUCH TALENT AND
CREATIVITY AND THEN JUST ALSO
FUN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF FUN TOGETHER.
BUT IT'S ALSO BEEN REALLY
REWARDING TO CREATE SOMETHING
NEW AND WE NEED TO TAKE A
DIFFERENT APPROACH AND TO KEEP
OUR STUDENTS AND ARTISTS NEEDS
IN MIND AND THAT ALLOWS US TO
CREATE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND
UNIQUE AND BEING PART OF THAT IS
SPECIAL AND A PRIVILEGE AS WELL.
>> SO DURING THE PANDEMIC I
GUESS I HEARD YOU SAY EARLIER
THAT THERE ARE SOME NEW
OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND BECAUSE
OF THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT.
HOW HAS THAT OUTREACH BEEN AND
HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE YOU BEEN
ABLE TO BRING IN ACROSS THE
COUNTRY OR INTERNATIONALLY.
>> WELL, WE DO HAVE STUDENTS
FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES
AND INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AS
WELL.
WE'RE BASED ON THE WEST COAST SO
THE TIME DIFFERENCE IS THE ONLY
BARRIER.
ALTHOUGH I KNOW WE'VE HAD
STUDENTS IN GERMANY AND IN
ENGLAND AS WELL.
SO THEY ARE WAKING UP -- THEY
ARE STAYING UP LATE TO ATTEND
OUR CLASSES.
AND MOVING TO VIRTUAL REALLY DID
OPEN UP OUR PROGRAMMING TO SO
MANY MORE PEOPLE.
7 BEFORE -- PEOPLE HAD TO EITHER
TRAVEL TO L.A. WHICH COULD BE A
NICE VACATION OVER THE SUMMER
BUT NOW PEOPLE CAN ATTEND FROM
THE COMFORT OF THEIR HOME
OFFICE.
AND WHILE THERE IS SOME
CHALLENGES THERE TECHNOLOGICALLY
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROBLEM SOLVE
WITH THAT REALLY WELL AND
ULTIMATELY ALLOWED US TO REACH
MORE PEOPLE AND WE'RE STILL
BENEFITING FROM THAT.
AS WE OFFER MORE AND MORE
PROGRAMS.
THIS YEAR WE'VE OFFERED MORE
WORKSHOPS THAN WE EVER HAVE IN
THE PAST AND WE CONTINUE TO SEE
THE DEMAND NOR EDUCATION IN
THESE AREAS.
SO THE LOVE FOR ANIMATION AND
MOVIES IS OUT THERE.
AND WE HAVE WANT TO DEFINITELY
CAPTURE THAT PASSION THAT THE
STUDENTS HAVE TO HELP THEM LEARN
THE TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS IN
DEMAND AND THEN ALSO TRADITIONAL
AND CONTEMPORARY ART PROCESSES
SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN HOW TO
PROBLEM SOLVE INDEPENDENTLY AND
WORK AS A TEAM.
>> TERRIFIC.
WELL BECCA, DAVID AND -- ISAIAH
WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU'VE GOTTEN
OUT OF THE EXCEPTIONAL MINDS
PROGRAM THAT HAS OPENED DOORS
FOR YOU.
WHAT HAS THIS MEANT IN TERMS OF
YOUR FUTURE BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN
ABLE TO DO THIS?
>> FOR ME REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ANY
IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO AFTER
HIGH SCHOOL.
IT WAS LIKE I WAS GOING TO TAKE
A GAP YEAR -- I DIDN'T EVEN
APPLY TO COLLEGES BECAUSE I HAD
NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO.
AND THEN START APPLYING.
AND THEN MY HIGH SCHOOL VIDEO
TEACHER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS.
AND I ACTUALLY WAS GOING TO COME
HERE FOR ANIMATION.
AND ONE OF THE TEACHERS FOUND
THAT I HAD A TALENT FOR VISUAL
EFFECTS.
8 AND NOW I GET TO SEE MY NAME
-- IN BIG MOVIES BIG MARVEL
MOVIES.
I GOT MY NAME IN END GAME.
THAT IS CRAZY.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ABLE
TO DO THAT.
OR AT LEAST NEVER THIS QUICKLY.
>> IT'S GIVEN ME MORE OF A SENSE
OF PURPOSE THAN I HAD ALREADY.
LIKE I SAID I KNEW I WANTED TO
DO ANIMATION.
I WASN'T SURE HOW TO GO ABOUT
IT.
LIKE I'VE ALSO LEARNED A LOT OF
TECHNICAL STUFF.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN WORKING ON THE
TECHNICAL SIDE OF ART BUT IT WAS
A NICE REFRESHER TO HAVE THOSE
SKILLS AGAIN AND TO KEEP THEM
SHARP.
SO I HAVE MORE OF A CHANCE OF
HAVING -- OF IMPROVING AND
MAINTAINING THAT DRAFTSMAN SHIP
THAT I SO MUCH SO VERY MUCH
PRIZE.
EXCUSE ME IF I -- BUT -- I FEEL
LIKE I HAVE MORE OF A PATH TO
THE FUTURE NOW THAN I DID
BEFORE.
>> I THINK OPPORTUNITIES IS
PROBABLY THE KEY WORD HERE IN
TERMS OF LIKE WHAT I'VE GAINED
FROM BEING AT EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
SO THIS IS A VERY ANCILLARY --
AND VERY RISK AVERSE INDUSTRY SO
PEOPLE DON'T REALLY WANT TO TAKE
* A RISK ON IF YOU ARE CAPABLE
OF DOING SUCH AND SUCH TASKS OR
SKILL.
AND LUCKILY THERE ARE PLACES
LIKE EXCEPTIONAL MINDS THAT DO
TAKE THAT CHANCE ON YOU SO YOU
CAN PROVE YOURSELF SO YOU CAN GO
OUT THERE AND SHOW LIKE HEY THIS
IS A SKILL SET.
THIS IS A SKILL SET THAT I'VE
PROVEN IN THE ACTUAL LINE OF
FIRE AS IT WERE.
AND I THINK THAT REALLY IS
SOMETHING OF IMMEASURABLE VALUE
THAT I'VE GAINED FROM HERE.
>> SO ANOTHER QUESTION IS WHAT
IS YOUR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS AND WHAT KINDS
OF ENOUGH THINGS WOULD YOU LIKE
TO DO IN THE FUTURE?
>> I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US
PRODUCTION ORIGINAL CONTENT AND
THE SAME REGARD AS STUDIOS LIKE
-- THE OTHER ANIMATION STUDIOS
AND I WOULD LOVE IT TO GET TO
THE POINT WHERE WE ARE PRODUCING
AND DISTRIBUTING OUR OWN SHOWS
FOR CONSUMPTION.
.
>> DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
ADD, DAVID?
>> I LOVE THAT BECAUSE IF WE CAN
BECOME A SELF-FULFILLING
PROPHECY WE'RE ABLE TO PROVE OUT
FROM BEGINNING TO END THE GIFTS
OF OUR ARTISTS WOULDN'T THAT BE
MAGIC AND CREATED SOUP TO NUTS.
-- AND NOW WITH SOME OF THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING WITH WARNER
BROTHERS TO CREATE ORIGINAL
CONTENT.
THOSE ARE AMAZING GATE WEIGHTS
TO THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND ALSO
IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE
THIS HUGE OPPORTUNITY JUST IN
LOOKING AT THE MARKETPLACE.
THE CREATIVE MARKET IS ONLY
GROWING.
THE DEMAND FOR TALENT IS ONLY
GROWING AND THE APPETITE TO -- TO
DIVERSIFY IS ENORMOUS AND YES WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO HARN NASA
SOME OF THE TALENT TO CREATE THE
AMAZING WORK AND SHARE WITH A
CREATIVE INDUSTRY THAT IS TALK
ARE LOOKING FOR UNIQUE VOICES
AND THAT IS WHAT OUR ARTISTS
BRING TO THE TABLE AND UNLOCKING
THOSE OPPORTUNITIES IS A
WONDERFUL CHANCE FOR THE STUDIOS
TO GET ACCESS TO THE NEW TALENT.
>> THAT IS TERRIFIC.
SO, ITS WONDERFUL HEARING ABOUT
ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT ASPECTS
OF YOUR WORK AND I'D LIKE TO NOW
TURN IT OVER TO STEVEN ISAKSON
TO SHARE WITH US SOME OF THE
QUESTIONS THE AUDIENCE MIGHT
HAVE FOR YOU.
SO STEVEN.
I'LL HAND IT OVER TO YOU
>> HI, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU DR. DANIELS.
WE RECEIVED SEVERAL COMMENTS
FROM THE AUDIENCE AND QUESTIONS.
FIRST QUESTION -- IS CAN YOU
TALK ABOUT THE INTAKE PROCESS?
>> SURE.
SO WE HAVE OUR WORKSHOPS AS WE
TONGE-- TALKED ABOUT TO AGES 14 AND
UP.
THE AVERAGE AGE IS AROUND 24.
AND THE INTAKE PROCESS FOR THAT
INVOLVES A TOUR WHICH I WHERE I
MET BECCA BY THE WAY AND THEN
ALSO TO FILL OUT A GENERAL
APPLICATION.
WE DO NEED TO VERIFY A DIAGNOSIS
OF AUTISM BUT OTHERWISE AS LONG
AS THE STUDENT IS ABLE TO LEARN
IN A GROUP ENVIRONMENT AND HAS
AN INTEREST IN ANIMATION OR
MOVIES THEY ARE WELCOME TO JOIN
OUR CLASSES.
ALL OF OUR CLASSES DO INVOLVE
VERBAL INSTRUCTION.
SO, THAT IS AN IMPORTANT
CRITERIA AS WELL.
THAT THE STUDENTS CAN UNDERSTAND
VERBAL INSTRUCTION AND ASK
QUESTIONS.
SO, ITS NONCOMPETITIVE THERE.
BUT OUR FULL-TIME PROGRAM IS
COMPETITIVE AND IT'S ONLY OPEN
TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE GRADUATED
HIGH SCHOOL AND ARE OVER THE AGE
OF 18 AND INVOLVES A PORTFOLIO
REVIEW AND AN ASSESSMENT A
FORMAL ASSESSMENT WITH AN
INTERVIEW AND A TECHNICAL TEST.
IT'S A COMPETITIVE PROGRAM AND
WE ONLY ACCEPT 15 PEOPLE THIS
YEAR.
SO, ITS A SMALL PROGRAM AS WELL.
BUT MAIN REASON FOR THAT INTAKE
PROCESS FOR THE FULL-TIME
STUDENT IS TO ESTABLISH A
BASELINE FOR STUDENT TO LEARN
AND GROW AS A GROUP THROUGHOUT
THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM AND A LOT
OF THE STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE
IN OUR WORKSHOPS AND OTHER
PROGRAMS IN ORDER TO GET READY
TO APPLY FOR THE FULL-TIME
PROGRAM AS WELL.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT.
TO THE STUDENTS -- AND FOLKS IN
THE STUDIO WE HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE
CAREER GOAL?
>> OKAY.
-- I HOPE TO PARLAY THIS INTO --
WHAT I'VE LEARNED INTO AN
INTERNSHIP SO I CAN GAIN MORE
EXPERIENCE.
ULTIMATELY I WOULD LIKE TO DO
SOMETHING IN VISUAL DEVELOPMENT.
BECAUSE I LOVE DESIGNING
CHARACTERRERS, COSTUMES.
7 AND ALL OF THAT.
AND I'M TRYING TO BRANCH OFF
INTO PROP AND ENVIRONMENTAL
DESIGN AS WELL AND SHARPENING
THOSE SKILLS.
A FRIEND OF MINE RECRUITED ME TO
DESIGN BACKGROUNDS AND PROPS FOR
A SHORT FILM SHE IS DOING FOR
THE EASTERSEALS DISABILITY
CHALLENGE.
SO THAT WAS AN INTERESTING
EXPERIENCE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO
VISUAL DEVELOPMENT DEVELOP.
-- -- DEFINITELY.
>> *.
>> I'D LIKE TO HAVE MY OWN TEAM
VISUAL AFFECTS ARTISTS.
BE A LEADER IN THIS FIELD.
YEAH.
>> SO IN THE NEAR TERM I'M
ACTUALLY CURRENTLY IN THE
INTERVIEWING PROCESS WITH NBC TO
BECOME A PRODUCTION ASSISTANT --
FOR A SPECIFIC SHOW.
I CANNOT ELABORATE MUCH MORE.
SO I'M TWO INTERVIEWS IN.
HOPEFULLY GOING TO HAVE THE
THIRD AND FINAL ONE ON MONDAY SO
FINGERS CROSSED.
SO -- ULTIMATELY IN TERMS OF
CAREER GOALS, I WANT TO BECOME A
PROFESSIONAL STORYTELLER.
WHETHER THAT IS WRITING OR
DIRECTING I WANT TO BE A PERSON
WHO TELLS STORIES TO PEOPLE
WHETHER THEY ARE MY OWN OR
SOMEONE ELSE'S AND SOMEONE WHO
HAS THEIR OWN CREATIVE VISION
OUT THERE IN THE WORLD.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR THOSE
ANSWERS AND CONGRATULATIONS ON
THE INTERVIEWS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT
VIDEO GAMES.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT MOVIES
AND FILM.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY PLACEMENTS
AT VIDEO GAME COMPANIES SUCH AS
SEGA OR NINTENDO?
>> WHEN I WAS WORKING AT SONY I
WAS DOING MOTION CAPTURE FOR
VIDEO GAMES.
AND THEN I GOT TO WORK ON --
LIKE THE LAST OF US -- THE MOST
RECENT -- BUT -- IT'S A CROSS
INDUSTRY FIELD -- VISUAL EFFECTS
AT LEAST I KNOW -- IN VISUAL
EFFECTS IT GOES INTO VIDEO GAMES
AS WELL.
ALTHOUGH NOT AS DIRECTLY BUT
THERE IS -- STILL THE
OPPORTUNITY AND THERE IS PLENTY
OF ROOM IN ANIMATION IN THE
VIDEO GAME INDUSTRY.
>> THANK YOU, ISAIAH.
WE HAVE A RELATIVELY NEW
3-D/GAMING DEPARTMENT THAT HAS
BEEN AROUND FOR ABOUT A YEAR
NOW.
WE HAVE THREE GRADUATES IN THERE
LEARNING TO BUILD GAMES.
AND THEY ARE DOING AMAZING WORK.
WE HOPE TO HAVE A VIDEO DEMO
AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS
THAT DAVID CAN SHARE WITH
EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY AND
ALL OF THE STUDIOS.
SO YEAH.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
GRADUATES TO COME UP TO US AND
LEARN MORE 3-D AT AN EXTENSIVE
RATE AND A VIDEO GAME ENGINE
THAT DOES MORE THAN JUST BUILD
GAMES.
IT'S USED IN HOLLYWOOD.
SO, ITS AN IMPORTANT FACET OF
WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD HERE
IN THE STUDIO AS WELL.
>> CAN I INTERJECT AND SAY HOW
AMAZING VR IS.
THE NEW FRONTIER.
I'VE WATCHED A LOT OF SHORTS --
IN VIRTUAL REALITY AND IT'S JUST
MIND BLOWING.
>> BECCA, HOW DIFFICULT OR
DIFFERENT IS IT TO DESIGN THOSE
ENVIRONMENTS?
DO YOU GET A HAND IN THAT?
>> VIRTUAL REALITY?
I DON'T HAVE A HAND IN THAT
CURRENTLY BUT IT WOULD BE
INTERESTING TO REVERSE ENGINEER
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND SEE HOW
ALL OF IT FITS TOGETHER.
>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION --
ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR
GENERATION -- WITH THE RISE OF
DOLE AND SOME OF THE PROGRAMS.
HOW DOES EXCEPTIONAL MINDS SEE
ITSELF WORKING WITH THE FUTURE
OF OUR GENERATION?
>> DID YOU SAY -- WHAT WAS THE
INITIAL PART OF THE QUESTION.
WITH THE RISE OF --
>> THE QUESTION WAS ABOUT
DALL-E.
IS ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THAT
PROGRAM?
>> LOOKS LIKE IT'S AN AI IMAGE
CREATINGS DEVICE OR PROGRAM.
>> NOW THAT I'VE MENTIONED IT I
HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT
HOW IT CAN TAKE TEXT
DESCRIPTIONS AND PRODUCE
BASICALLY FULLY RENDERED IMAGES
IN ANY SORT OF ART STYLE THAT
YOU CHOOSE.
AND I MEAN LIKE AI IS DEFINITELY
APPROACHING A POINT WHERE IT IS
BECOMING AN ALMOST LIKE
MIRACULOUS SORT OF THING BUT I
DON'T THINK THAT IN ANY POINT IN
THE NEAR FUTURE WILL IT
COMPLETELY REPLACE THE ARTISTS.
I SEE IT MORE AS BEING SOMETHING
THAT ARTISTS CAN USE AS A TOOL
IN ORDER TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR OWN
WORKS.
>> YEAH.
IN VISUAL EFFECTS THERE IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE THAT ALSO BIT
OF HUMAN TOUCH THE ARTISTS TOUCH
THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS LIKE --
IT'S NOT APPARENT FOR THINGS
LIKE VISUAL EFFECTS WHERE EVERY
IS SUPPOSED TO BE REAL AND LOOK
EXACTLY LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO.
BUT SOMETIMES IT'S NOT.
AND WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE IT LOOK
LIKE HOW WE WANT IT TO.
LIKE -- A CLOUD IN THE
BACKGROUND.
IF WE'RE REPLACING SOMETHING IN
THE BACKGROUND -- WE'RE MAKING
UP A CLOUD.
BASICALLY PAINTING A CLOUD.
AND THERE IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE
THAT HUMAN TOUCH TO MAKE IT LOOK
RIGHT.
AND NOT -- NECESSARILY REAL.
7
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THOSE
ANSWERS.
WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT
THE MENTORSHIP PROCESS.
CAN YOU SPEAK MORE ABOUT FROM
THE STUDENT OR STAFF PERSPECTIVE
WHAT IS MENTORSHIP IN THIS
PROGRAM LOOK LIKE OVER THE PAST
10 YEARS.
7
>> I CAN SPEAK TO WHAT IT'S
LOOKED LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF
YEARS.
I THINK MENTORSHIP WHETHER
INTERNAL OR ADVOCATE OR CHAMPION
OR TEACHER OR SUPERVISOR HELPING
TO MENTOR STUDENTS HERE OR AS WE
WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER OUR
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM WITH NETFLIX
OR CARTOON NETWORK.
MENTORSHIPS PROVIDE AN AMAZING
THROUGH LINE TO A JOB.
SO WE'RE BIG ON CREATING
MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE
IN SUCCESS THOSE LEVEL UP INTO
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES.
DAVID HAS HAD GREAT INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES AS HE HAS TALKED
ABOUT AND AGAIN IN GREATER
SUCCESS THOSE INTERNSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES LEVEL UP TO
FULL-TIME JOBS.
SO I THINK THE THROUGH LINE IS
ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT AND
THE PATH TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT
IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT
BUT WE CONSIDER MENTORSHIP AN
INCREDIBLE WIN.
AN EXAMPLE IS SOMEONE WHO WENT
THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND NOW THEY
ARE AT CARTOON NETWORK AS A
FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE.
WE TALKED ABOUT KATE EARLIER.
AND SHE STARTED OUT AS AN INTERN
AND NOW A FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE OF
NICKELODEON.
THERE IS A GREAT PATHWAY BUT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE A DIFFERENT
COURSE DEPENDING ON THE
INDIVIDUAL.
BUT RECENTLY FOR EXAMPLE WITH
THE NETFLIX OPPORTUNITY WOULDN'T
IT BE AMAZING IF A JOB CAME UP
THAT WAS RIGHT FOR ONE OF THE
MENTEES AND THEY WERE ABLE TO
REACH OUT TO THEIR MENTOR AND
SAY I SEE THERE IS A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY AT NETFLIX.
CAN YOU PUT ME UP FOR IT.
NOW IT CAN BE UTILIZED AS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO GET THAT STUDENT
OR ARTISTS A JOB.
7 SO WE PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO
THE MENTORSHIP PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A TEAM DEDICATED HERE.
SOMEONE ON THE INITIATIVES TEAMS
WHO WORKS REALLY HARD WITH AS
MANY COMPANIES AS SHE CAN TO
OPEN UP THOSE PATHWAYS TO THOSE
OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE THEY
REALLY DO CONVERT INTO GREAT
OPPORTUNITY AND HOPEFULLY TO
JOBS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THE LAST QUESTION I HAVE FOR
YOU ALL IS ACTUALLY FOR THE
STUDENTS, BECCA, DAVID AND
ISAIAH.
WHAT ADVISE WOULD YOU GIVE FOR
OTHER YOUTH AND ADULTS THINKING
ABOUT GETTING INTO THIS FIELD?
>> WELL, IF YOU WANT TO GET INTO
ANIMATION DRAW OFTEN AS MUCH AS
YOU CAN.
WITHIN REASON.
YOU'LL NEED TO KNOW THE
FUNDAMENTALS OF ANATOMY.
THAT IS A BIG STAPLE
PARTICULARLY IN CHARACTER
DESIGN.
I LEARNED THAT BOTH THE EASY AND
THE HARD WAY IF THAT MAKES
SENSE.
ALSO DO YOUR BEST TO KNOW YOUR
ONIONS.
7 WHAT I MEAN BY THAT -- IS KNOW
EXACTLY WHICH SPECIFIC FIELD YOU
WANT TO GO INTO AND WHAT USUALLY
WHAT SKILL SET IS USUALLY
REQUIRED FOR THAT FOR SAID
FIELD.
LIKE DID THEY USE PHOTO SHOP.
BLENDER.
Z BRUSH.
ILLUSTRATOR.
AFTER EFFECTS.
STORY BOARD PRO.
THERE ARE SO MANY MORE THAT ARE
OUT THERE THAT I DON'T EVEN KNOW
ABOUT.
BUT MY POINT IS JUST MAKE SURE
YOU HAVE THE APPROPRIATE -- NOT
SO MUCH APPROPRIATE BUT THE
FRAME OF MIND THAT YOU NEED TO
GO FOR WHAT WANT TO GO FOR.
AND DON'T GIVE UP.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO SAY JUST FOR
VISUAL EFFECTS LOOK UP SOME
TUTORIALS.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AT
FIRST.
JUST WATCH THEM AND LEARN SOME
OF THE CONTROLS FOR THINGS LIKE
NUKE OR AFTER EFFECTS.
AND LEARN EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE
GETTING INTO.
BECAUSE AS MUCH AS I LOVE VISUAL
EFFECTS IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE.
IT CAN BE TEDIOUS.
YOU COULD BE LOOKING AT A SHOT
FOR A WEEK.
AND YOU'RE JUST LOOKING AT TINY
PIXELS FOR A WHOLE WEEK.
AND YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR
THINGS LIKE.
7 SO SOME PATIENCE AND LOOKING
INTO WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO DO.
>> NEVER STOP LEARNING.
THERE IS NOBODY WHO KNOWS
EVERYTHING ABOUT ANY ONE SUBJECT
AND THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM TO
IMPROVE AND BETTER YOURSELF.
AND ALSO DON'T BE AFRAID TO TRY
SOMETHING THAT YOU DON'T 100%
KNOW IF YOU ARE THE RIGHT PERSON
FOR.
LIKE -- THE WORSE THAT CAN
HAPPEN IS YOU FIND OUT YOU'RE
NOT THE RIGHT FIT.
AND THEN YOU CAN GO BACK AND DO
SOMETHING ELSE.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO APPLY FOR
THAT JOB.
THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IS
THEY COULD SAY NO.
NOBODY LIKES REJECTION BUT IT'S
SOMETHING THAT WILL PASS.
>> OKAY.
THANK YOU EVERYBODY.
I'LL TURN IT BACK OVER TO
DR. GORDON.
>> THANKS, STEVEN AND THANK YOU
SUSAN FOR ALL OF THE QUESTIONS.
AND THANKS TO THE AUDIENCE
MEMBERS FOR SENDING IN
QUESTIONS.
IT'S BEEN A REALLY WONDERFUL
CONSIDERATIO--CONVERSATION.
I ESPECIALLY APPRECIATED HEARING
FROM EVERYONE INVOLVED.
THE STUDENTS AND ARTISTS AND THE
STUDENT ARTISTS REPRESENTED HERE
TODAY.
TALKING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES
AND DAVID AND THE CREW FROM
EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
I WILL REITERATE WHAT I SAID
BEFORE.
EMPLOYMENT AND ADVANCING
EDUCATION, THESE ARE ISSUES THAT
ARE REALLY CHALLENGING FOR MANY
INDIVIDUALS ON THE SPECTRUM.
HEARING ABOUT OPTIONS LIKE THIS
THEY ARE NOT JUST REINFORCING TO
THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE THE DREAM
OF BEING IN ANIMATION OR IN
VISUAL EFFECTS BUT THEY
UNDERSCORE THE POSSIBILITIES
CROSS A BROAD RANGE OF
EDUCATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND
OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY
DEMONSTRATE THAT WITH A
CONCERTED EFFORT AND A
THOUGHTFUL EFFORT YOU CAN CREATE
ENVIRONMENTS FOR LEARNING,
ENVIRONMENTS FOR ADVANCEMENT FOR
INDIVIDUALS ON THE SPECTRUM THAT
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR UNIQUE
SKILLS AND PROVIDE ADVANTAGES TO
ALL OF US TO THE GREATER SOCIETY
BY MAKING SURE THAT THESE SKILLS
ARE PUT TO GOOD USE.
SO THESE ARE WIN-WIN
OPPORTUNITIES AND WE APPRECIATE
DAVID YOU AND YOUR CREW AND THE
STUDENTS AND ARTISTS COMING
FORWARD TO TALK ABOUT THEM.
THANKS.
BACK OVER TO SUSAN.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT
INSPIRING PRESENTATION AND FOR
SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND THE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SO WE CAN
LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE
BEEN DOING AND THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING TO CREATE
MORE INCLUSION IN THE INDUSTRY
AND HELP MENTOR YOUNG
INDIVIDUALS WHO WANT TO JOIN
THIS FIELD.
SO MY HAT IS OFF TO YOU AND WHAT
DO YOU HAVE IN TERMS OF PLANS
FOR YOUR TENTH ANNIVERSARY?
A SPECIAL CELEBRATION?
>> WELL WE HOPE TO HAVE YOU OUT.
BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE IN
SEPTEMBER.
IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIAL.
THROUGH THE EYES OF OUR ARTs.
COME AND EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO ANIMATE SOMETHING.
AND TAKE A PICTURE IN FRONT OF A
VOLUME STAGE WITH ARTWORK FROM
OUR ARTISTS BEHIND YOU.
GET A CHARACTER OF YOURSELF.
WE WANT TO PUT THE MAGIC TO WORK
AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT IS THAT
THIS INCREDIBLE GROUP OF ARTISTS
DO AND WHAT THE TEAM THAT FUELS
THEM WORKS TOWARD EVERY DAY
>> THAT IS FANTASTIC.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING
ABOUT THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS
THAT YOU OFFER YOUR STUDENTS AND
WE WOULD ENCOURAGE ANYONE IN THE
LISTENING AUDIENCE WHO WANT TO
LEARN MORE ABOUT EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS OR GET INVOLVED IN THE
PROGRAMS TO CHECK OUT THE
WEBSITE WHICH IS
EXCEPTIONAL-MINDS.ORG.
AND THANK YOU ALSO TO JOSH AND
STEVEN AND TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR
BEING HERE WITH US ON THIS VIDEO
CAST AND GETTING TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT EXCEPTIONAL MINDS.
WE WILL BE POSTING THE VIDEO
WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS SO LOOK
BACK AT OUR WEBSITE.
AND YOU CAN ALSO LEARN THERE
MORE ABOUT THE WORK AT THE IACC.
FEEL FREE TO SHARE THIS EVENT
WITH OTHERS.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN EXCEPTIONAL
MINDS FOR BEING HERE.
THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL
AFTERNOON.
THANK YOU.