Work Experience | Brown Bag Films - Date:11th - 15th of December
Work Experience - Brown Bag Films: Introduction: Brown Bag Films is one of the world’s most successful creative-led, original and exciting animation studios. Brown Bag Films has studios located in; Dublin, Ireland. Toronto, Canada. Manchester, England. Los Angeles, United States of America. Bag Films creates cutting-edge animation for everywhere around the world. It was founded in Dublin, Ireland in 1994 by Managing Director Cathal Gaffney and Creative Director Darragh O’Connell, and acquired by a 9 Story Media Group in 2015. Brown Bag Films are always creatively-driven with a focus on producing the highest quality, cross-platform animation with strong engaging stories and interesting characters. Brown Bag Films’ much-loved TV shows are viewed by millions of children worldwide, for example: Doc McStuffins Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Henry Hugglemonster Bing Peg + Cat Peter Rabbit Wild Kratts Olivia Noddy in Toyland The Magic School Bus: Rides Again Octonauts Vampirina Majority of Brown Bag Films’ TV shows are shown on Disney Junior. They have also earned numerous nominations and awards including fourteen Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations. Brown Bag Films is among the most technically-advanced studios in the world, with full animation, picture and audio post-production facilities in-house. Brown Bag Films’ motto is “We Love Animation” they've even trademarked it too!.
Work Experience Week: My work experience week started on the 11th of December and ended on the 15th of December.
First Day: Monday 11th Of December On my first day of work experience in Brown Bag Films, I got a lift off of my dad to the luas in the Red Cow. The studio was located in Smithfield, Dublin. I was on the luas for about 20 minutes before I reached my destination. The luas stop was right outside of the studio in Smithfield Square. When I arrived to the studio I was introduced to Richard Meaney (one of my dads friends - he was my guide throughout the whole experience in Brown Bag Films). I signed in at the reception and I had to sign a consent form. I also received a key pass to get into the studio every morning. Richard brought me up to studio and I was shown all the different stations/work areas for each television show, for example, ‘Henry hugglemonster’, ‘Vampirina’ and ‘Doc McStuffins’. After the main tour, Richard introduced me to Cliona (Cliona was working with me at the ‘Doc McStuffins’ station). Cliona directed me to my desk for the week and she gave me several supplies to draw with and I was told to draw the main characters from ‘Doc McStuffins’. They included: Doc Hally Chilly Lamby Stuffy I stayed at my desk for a couple of hours and I completed three of the characters, ‘Hally’, ‘Chilly’ and ‘Stuffy’
Second Day: Tuesday 12th Of December On my second day of work experience in Brown Bag Films, I arrived at the studio and I continued to draw the rest of the characters. I saw Richard again too. After a couple of hours I completed the rest of the drawings. Cliona then introduced me to the ‘Wacom’ tablet which I was to draw on. It was extremely difficult and I started off drawing circles to get used to the style of the tablet. During the middle of the day, Richard told me to go to a script meeting/reading for the TV show, ‘Bing’. It was very interesting because the main directors were on a Skype call with people from England and they were discussing a new upcoming episode for the TV Show. They were practising the roles and going through the script as well as the background designs for the episode.
Third Day: Wednesday 13th Of December On my third day of work experience in Brown Bag Films, I arrived at the studio and began to trace over ‘Lamby’ on the ‘Wacom’ tablet. This was so that I got used to drawing on the tablet quicker. After I finished tracing ‘Lamby’ I was to trace both ‘Doc’ and ‘Stuffy’. After I completed the tracing I was to practise drawing ‘Doc’ picking up a toy tracing over a drawing. That exercise was easy as I had to trace ‘Doc’ picking up a toy as well as draw on the ‘Wacom’ tablet. Later that day I had to attend another meeting but this time it was about character design for the ‘Doc McStuffins’ TV Show.
Fourth Day: Thursday 14th Of December On my fourth day of work experience at Brown Bag films, I arrived at the studio and began to draw ‘Doc’ picking up a toy in my own perspective. I drew this three times. Later that day I went to a meeting with the head of character design. His name was derek. Each worker had their own desks which were unique but Derek’s desk was insane. There was lights, ornaments and all kinds of decorations on it.
Fifth Day: Friday 15th of December On my fifth and final day of work experience, I arrived to the Brown Bag Films studio and finished my drawings - Doc picking up a toy. I began to sketch Doc hugging chilly. I did this three times. I later had a meeting with Morton. He is an Emmy award winner for drawing/producing the cartoon, ‘Vampirina’. Morton told me all about the different roles an animator can have. They can range from Story Board artists, background and character designers.
In conclusion I really enjoyed my week at Brown Bag Films. This is because I have never drawn on the drawing tablet and the whole week was very exciting and fun.