Massey students to learn from the best
An academic partnership between two heavy-hitting Wellington organisations has been given the green light, after several months of discussions.
Concept designers, keen to advance their skills in the film, television and gaming sectors will now be able to learn from industry leaders within Weta Workshop in a new venture with Massey University’s School of Design.
Head of school Professor Brian Lucid says the collaboration represents a unique opportunity to attract the best of the best to the capital – potentially for good.
‘‘Wellington right now is a really hot place in terms of both game design and film, so there’s a desire to have people come here and stay.
‘‘You’ve got all these amazing students around the world who are looking to make their way in the world and get the skills needed in some of these emerging industries,’’ he says.
Lucid says he foresees a couple of different groups of people taking up the new study option – existing concept designers looking to polish their skills; and other working professionals.
‘‘There’s an up-and-coming generation of concept designers and illustration students who are really keen to move into this space.’’
Operating within the existing Master of Design framework, the new academic offering will focus on entertainment design for film, television and gaming.
Under the guidance of the Weta Workshop artists who helped bring films like Avatar and The Hobbit to life, students will develop their skills in idea creation, storytelling and concept design towards a Master of Design.
Weta Workshop co-founder and Academy Award winner Sir Richard Taylor, who is a member of the College of Creative Arts Hall of Fame, says the course will help give students access to some of the ‘‘finest creative minds working in film, television and gaming’’.
‘‘It is with great pride that we now join forces with Massey University in this new venture to develop the world’s best budding concept designers into extraordinary storytellers for the world’s entertainment industries.’’
A week-long internship at Weta Workshop’s Miramar facility will also take place within the first six months of students starting.
The year-long programme will break with the tradition of starting in February, instead following the northern hemisphere style of beginning in September.
‘‘For us, it seemed to balance our academic year better in terms of making sure staff could be attentive to the students taking part, Lucid says.
Alongside supervisor Tanya Marriott, Weta Workshop art director Paul Tobin will work to help advance the students’ studies and experience of the industry.
Marriott, a former Weta Workshop employee, lectures in concept design, illustration, play, game and experience design while Tobin is an art director in Weta Workshop’s internationally recognised Design Studio, known for its recent work on science fiction blockbusters Blade Runner 2049 and Ghost in the Shell.
Tobin says while the university is keen to see the programme grow, the initial cohort will likely be quite small with a rigorous selection process planned once applications open in February.