Interactive Digital Media – The new frontier
Passionate about gaming? Ever wanted to learn how special effects are created in movies? Well, if you’ve always wanted to be an animator or visual effects artist, there’s never been a better time to do so in Singapore.
The Singapore government will be investing more than $590 million over the next decade to develop its interactive digital media (IDM) industry. The investment will be managed by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in two phases of five years each (starting from 2006). The IDM industry is also estimated to churn out a value-added output of $5.9 billion by 2018.
The funds will be used in four areas –
1. Engaging and bringing in foreign players such as Electronic Arts
2. Grooming local and regional talent by attracting reputable media specialty schools
3. Research and development
4. Start-up funds from local investors for local and overseas digital media projects
JobsDB Campus profiles one such reputable local school that teaches IDM -
Egg Story Digital Arts School
Founded in January 2007, Egg Story Digital Arts (ESDA) has a bright vision to hone and nurture tomorrow’s digital artists, content creators, and agents-of-change. ESDA builds upon the technology, digital content, and Hollywood affiliations from its parent company, Egg Story Creative Production (ESCP), which will be releasing its first CG animated feature film in 2010 – ‘Kung Fu Gecko’ (working title). The president of ESDA, Singapore-born Mr Nickson Fong, who is also the founder of ESCP, has a vast knowledge and experience of CG, having worked on Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘The Matrix Reloaded & Revolution’ and ‘Shrek’.
ESDA offers real-world, cutting-edge training in the fields of Digital Art, Animation, and Visual Effects. Its curriculum primes students to experience the rigors of professional studios, while developing their abilities to their fullest potential. Headed by a strong body of management, with academic and professional advisors from Hollywood, Egg Story Digital Arts is passionate about transforming the animation and training scene in Singapore and the region.
ESDA is committed to stimulating “ordinary” students to achieve extraordinary accomplishments, with a goal that is not to identify talent, but rather, to transform “ordinary” people into extraordinary and talented individuals.
ESDA is currently also a WDA CET centre. Being a CET centre, ESDA undergoes a rigorous accreditation and Continuous Improvement Review process to maintain the standards and quality of training delivery. Currently, Singaporean and Singapore Permanent Residents enjoy a S$12,000 grant to study in its Diploma Programme and S$400 for their Professional Short Course.
JobsDB Campus chats to Borko Milohanovic, senior lecturer, and Francis Leong, a final year student at Egg Story Digital Arts.
BORKO MILOHANOVIC
Senior lecturer, Visual Effects
Prior to joining ESDA, Borko worked at Blackmagic Design as Lead Visual Effects Technical Director on the movie "Dance of the Dragon", which starred local celebrity, Fann Wong. He also has a wealth of experience working as a CGI Supervisor in Europe, on TV commercials for big clients like Levis and Vaseline.
Borko, can you share more about Visual Effects?
"Visual Effects specialists are also known as ‘CGI (computer-generated imagery) generals’ as they are fully trained in all aspects of visual effects such as modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering and compositing. This gives them a keen understanding of the whole production process and also makes them highly employable as they are multi-skilled."
What do you think about the prospects for digital media in Singapore?
"This is the perfect moment to study digital media as the Singapore Government is fully supporting 3D animation, so it’s definitely a growing industry. There are great job prospects too as you can choose to work in TV stations, production houses, visual effects studios and even gaming software companies."
FRANCIS LEONG
Final Year student, Diploma in Visual Effects
"I’m currently working on my graduation project, which is a visual effects commercial that shows a car racing against a fighter jet. Special effects in movies have always captured my imagination, and it’s great that I can now follow my passion to pursue a Diploma in Visual Effects too!
I was actually studying Electronics at NTU before I decided to switch over to pursue my Diploma at ESDA. I have no regrets as I’ve really enjoyed my studies here. All the lecturers are very professional, supportive, and are always ready to share their knowledge and experience with us." 
Find out more at www.esdaa.com.sg
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