Creative Skillset have joined up with us to run our Animation Industry Event and we’ve got all manner of topics being covered, by special guests from a wide range of very different areas. Each of them are ready to impart their knowledge and answer your questions in four carefully chosen panel sessions. For anyone working in the industry, thinking of working in the industry or just plain curious these four sessions are indispensable.
Government Tax breaks are heralded making the UK a different place to do animation business. Aardman themselves proclaimed the tax credit would be “transformational” for the industry. So what are the implications for animation companies, freelancers and educators alike. Are we prepared? Will there be a trickle down effect, or will big business be the only ones to gain? Are we just talking about well known brands returning to these shores (Thomas the Tank Engine from Canada, Bob the builder from the US, Noddy from Ireland) or are we looking at a new renaissance of animation innovation, exploiting new technologies and intellectual property to create the next peppa pig or harry potter.
We assemble together a group of campaigners, studio heads and educators to paint a picture of the industry in five years time.
Chaired by Saint John Walker, Creative Skillset
Other LIAF Animation Industry Events include: ‘Moving Documentaries: animation, truth and lies’; ‘In a world….: the art of animated film titles‘ and ‘Sound in the Frame‘
Speakers
Miles Bullough, Independent Media Consultant, ex Head of Broadcast, Aardman Animations
Miles Bullough has been an executive producer in the kids and entertainment industries for 20 years. Until recently he was Head of Broadcast at Aardman Animations where he executive produced ‘Wallace and Gromit’, ‘Shaun The Sheep’, ‘Creature Comforts’, ‘Timmy Time’ and many other multi-award winning shows. Prior to Aardman, Miles was MD of Absolutely Productions where he executive produced ‘Trigger Happy Television’, C4’s ‘Armstrong & Miller’, ‘The Jack Docherty Show’, ‘Stressed Eric’ and many other highly regarded comedy shows. Before that Miles worked for management company IPH Westhall Ltd for whom he line-produced, most notably, series one of ‘The Word’ for Charlie Parsons, ‘As Time Goes By’ for DL Taffner and several other entertainment, kids and factual series. Miles is married and has a 16 year old daughter, lives in Bristol with his family and is currently acting as an Independent Media Consultant while fundraising for a new, Bristol-based venture in comedy and new media. When not at his laptop Miles might be found stalking the jazz clubs of Bristol or cycling round North Somerset.
Marion Edwards, VP Production at HIT Entertainment
Marion Edwards is a veteran of the UK animation industry with over 15 years experience. In 2008 she joined HiT Entertainment where she is currently Group Director, Production a role that has involved overseeing the move to CGI for such iconic brands as ‘Thomas & Friends’, ‘Bob the Builder’ and Fireman Sam. She is also Executive Producer of the upcoming CGI series ‘Mike the Knight’ which will debut in Autumn 2011. Prior to joining HiT Entertainment, Marion ran her own production and consultancy company, Red & Blue Productions. During this period she co-produced the award-winning pre-school series ‘Fun with Claude’ with the UK’s Dot To Dot Productions. The series is currently airing on Playhouse Disney in the UK and ZDF in Germany. Before setting up Red & Blue, Marion was Managing Director of Telemagination, one of Europe’s largest 2-D animation studios. During this period she executive produced shows such as ‘The Cramp Twins’, ‘Metalheads’ and ‘Pongwiffy’ and received two BAFTA nominations.
Ken Anderson, Creative Director and Executive Director at August Media Holdings, CEO Red Kite
A BAFTA award winning producer with over 20 years’ experience in the animation industry; Ken Anderson oversees all development and production for Singapore based August Media, now parent to Red Kite Animations. Ken co-founded Red Kite in Edinburgh, in 1997, and has since led the company to become one of the foremost children’s and animation production companies in the UK, responsible for hit series such as ‘Dennis and Gnasher’, ‘The Imp’ and ‘The Secret World of Benjamin Bear’.
Gary Thomas Associate Director, Animate Projects; Film Adviser, British Council
Gary Thomas is a Film Adviser at the British Council, the UK’s cultural relations agency that works promote British film internationally, where he leads on animation and also oversees the British Council’s work in film in the UK, East Asia and China. He also works as Associate Director at Animate Projects, an arts charity that champions experiment in animation (www.animateprojects.org). He was previously Head of Moving Image at Arts Council England. He initiated and coordinates Animation Alliance UK, advocating for the support of independent animation, and lobbying for investment in production, training and archive