As part of continuing efforts to strengthen ties with the filmmaking industry, VFS has reached agreement with Lions Gate Entertainment, one of the world’s top independent film studios, for their studio executives to conduct regular pitch sessions at VFS.

Lions Gate representatives will provide expert analysis of story ideas to VFS students and staff, as well as review student reels and portfolios. In addition to offering students an insider’s perspective on the viability of their ideas, Lions Gate will retain the right to option content of its choice.

“Having representatives from a major studio listening to our students and staff express their ideas in a professional environment solidifies what we are doing at VFS,” says Paul Gertz, Director of Business Affairs at VFS. “We want our students to be industry-ready by the time they leave here, and you can’t do that without understanding commercial viability and the art of presenting your ideas to studios.

Read the rest of this story »

After creating and producing a video series on gourmet cooking, Jacqueline Forster felt that media production had lost all of its appeal. How, she wondered, could she start developing programs that allowed her to express herself more? With this question in mind, Jacqueline joined Vancouver Film School ’s Writing program in pursuit of her dream.

“It was exciting to be with a group of creative writers and passionate instructors,” Jacqueline said of her experience at VFS. “The instructors had a wealth of experience they were willing to share. We all need that kind of support.”

Confidence for an Elevator Pitch

This support encouraged Jacqueline to enter the film industry with newfound confidence. Once, when she ran into a producer named Paddy Moore, she even got up the nerve to do an “elevator pitch,” refusing to waste an opportunity to run her latest idea by an industry insider.

Read the rest of this story »

The annual South By Southwest Interactive Festival, held each year in Austin, Texas, brings together some of the most innovative filmmakers, musicians, and digital innovators to share ideas and chart the future of interactive media. In addition to the festival’s featured speakers and performances, an awards gala honours designers whose products have pushed the boundaries of online creativity over the last year.

At this year’s March festival, VFS Digital Design student Mark Miller received the award for best student work. In addition to the South By Southwest award, Miller also recently won Best Canadian Student from the prestigious Flash in the Can Awards. Read the rest of this story »

The cellular phone is fast becoming the medium of opportunity for young video game designers and animators.

Thirty-four student animators from Vancouver Film School have had their works accepted by In-Fusio, a California company that will make the animations, called CellToons, available to play on Sprint cellphones.

Meanwhile Vancouver mobile data company AirG selected two video games by students from Toronto ’s Seneca College as winners of AirG’s Seneca College Mobile Entertainment Development Competition. The winning games will be played on Bell Mobility cellphones.

AirG plans to announce a similar competition for B.C. students next month.

“It’s a good recruitment option,” said Frederick Ghahramani, AirG director, a former co-winner, with AirG partners Vincent Yen and Bryce Pasechnik, of the $50,000 New Ventures B.C. competition. “It’s a good way to attract like-minded kids and a good way to find some entrepreneurial talent.

Read the rest of this story »