ASIFA-Hollywood Animation Educators` Forum

Core Skill Set:
Even the accreditation bodies that are judging animation programs do not have a list of skills that should be taught to animation students. Programs going through accreditation have to prove their case by matching skill sets from a mixture of other semi-related programs. It would be of great service to compile a list of what is being taught at all of the animation programs in the area and have that available to all.

Syllabus and Teaching Outcomes:
A data base with lists of student teaching outcome statements could serve as building blocks for writing syllabi.

Teacher Data Base:
It would be a great service to animation teachers and animation programs alike to have an online listing of animation teachers profiles.

Student Animation Film Festival:
Almost all programs demand that students create a short animation as a requirement for graduation. The timing is such that very few of the deadlines for established animation festivals match up. ASIFA has long talked about recognizing student films but have always been stopped by the cost of putting on such a festival. A student animation festival under the umbrella of ASIFA-Hollywood taking place on college campuses would give an affordable venue and could be the precursor to a possible Student Annie Award.

Rotating Training Seminar Program:
Set up a lecture series by the teachers for the teachers that would be held on different campuses throughout the year.

Rotating Lecture Series:
Every school already tries to get industry professionals to come to campus and speak about their career and show their work. If we could open up attendance between the programs we could increase the industry exposure for the students in all the different programs. At the same time we would be increasing the networking between students from the different programs. Since most jobs in animation are word of mouth we would be doing a service to all of the students in all of the participating programs.

Acting for Animators:
Lists of improv games and ways to apply them to creation animation performance. Lists of resources and contacts in the acting community to help with the development of this important animation program element.

Copyright and Trademark:
Resources for the training of this most important business knowledge base which is often overlooked in art programs.

Production:
The actuarial process of creating animation needs to be taught. Students are coming out of school without a clue as to how to create an animation. They need to be taught the nuts and bolts of the production process. Students need to know how to prepare a production schedule and a budget.