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Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD Launch Event

Meet Animation and Games Industry Pros at Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD Launch.

Meet industry pros during a series of talks and workshops Feb. 1 that mark the launch of new game and animation programs being offered through the newly-formed Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD, part of NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD). Featured panelists include James Cunningham, who has directed 11 award-winning short films and previously worked as technical director on The Lord of the Rings at Weta Digital Ltd.; Game Developer David March of Spidermonk Entertainment and acclaimed Concept Artist Justin Sweet, whose projects have included the Narnia films. A panel on “indie” games – featuring designers with ties to Juggernaut Games, Appy Entertainment and Women in Games International - and film presentations will round out the event.

The event, which is free and open to the public, marks the launch of new programs in animation, game art and game programming through Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD/NewSchool of Architecture and Design. Both March and Cunningham are instructors at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand, a leading school in animation and games with a pool of talent that has contributed to blockbuster films such as Avatar, King Kong and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The new programs offered at NSAD are the result of curriculum development collaborations with Media Design School.

In addition, an industry-only special event is planned for Jan. 31. Please contact Anna Cearley at acearley@newschoolarch.edu for more information.

When: Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014. 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Guests are invited to join throughout the day.

What: Launch of new programs in animation and games at Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD/NewSchool of Architecture and Design (NSAD).

Who: Meet and mingle with animation and game industry pros, and Linda Sellheim, Director of the Media Design School of Digital Arts at NSAD.

Where: San Diego’s downtown East Village neighborhood – a historic warehouse space known as the Wonderbread Building at 131 14th Street.

How: Free and open to the public. Registration required. Updated agenda information available at: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/media-design-school-at-nsad-event-launch-tic...

Highlights of the Feb. 1 program, include:

  • Exclusive VIP Preview: Celebrated filmmaker James Cunningham will show an exclusive VIP preview of his latest film, “Over the Moon,” and discuss how it was made with 15 students from the Media Design School. The film, which includes epic space battles and other remarkable visuals, tells the story of comic book heroine Connie Radar attempting to prevent the first moon landing. It is scheduled to be publicly released March 2014 at Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose California.
  • International Game Developers: Game developer/3D Artist/Animator David March, who is Art Manager at Spidermonk Entertainment, and a senior game art lecturer at Media Design School in New Zealand, will speak about opportunities and trends in the game industry. Over the past 15 years he has worked on many AAA titles across multiple platforms as an accomplished 3D Artist and Animator, and he has worked at global companies such as Crytek in Germany and 2K Games in Australia.
  • Launching an Indie Game: A panel discussion on what it takes to launch an “indie” game will feature a lineup of game developers who have developed or contributed to the dynamic local game scene from companies and organizations such as Juggernaut Games, Appy Entertainment and Women in Games International.
  • A Drawing Workshop: Acclaimed Concept Artist and Illustrator Justin Sweet worked with George Martin on his series, Game of Thrones, and also on the Narnia films, Green Lantern, and Magic: The Gathering. Among his recognitions include a Gold Winner for Concept Art in the Spectrum Fantastic Art 19, Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist (2005) and a Chelsey Award nomination in the category of Best Product Illustration for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
  • Autodesk Spacesuit Project: Learn how NSAD’s Digital Arts instructors and students applied creative ingenuity and 3D printing to develop a life-sized spacesuit for an Autodesk game character. Autodesk is one of the largest software companies in the world that creates software used to make CG films and games along with software for architecture and engineering.
Dates 
Saturday, February 1, 2014 - 10:00am to 7:30pm
Location 
Wonderbread Building
131 14th Street
San Diego, CA
United States
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