Vancouver Film School is excited to announce a groundbreaking new collaboration with General Motors (GM Global Design) to provide students of VFS’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program with hands-on industry experience working within the creative pipeline of one of the world’s largest auto brands. This collaboration introduces VFS animators to the creative workflows of a global automotive leader, offering them a unique opportunity to design professional-grade marketing materials for the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV and Silverado EV.
Talks began back in September 2023, and over the following eight months as their final project, VFS students used GM assets and branding to conceive of, develop and produce an original "excitement reveal" ad for either the 2024 Chevrolet Equinox EV or 2024 Chevrolet Silverado EV. With support and feedback from GM Global Design's Creative Visualization (GCV) team, these students learned how to work from a professional creative brief to create a 15–30 second advertisement that established an emotional connection with GM's audience.
"This collaboration with GM gives our students the chance to develop the critical skills that artists use every day in the 3D Animation and VFX industry," commented Colin Giles, Head of VFS's School of Animation. "From box office hits to AAA games or evocative marketing materials that connect companies to their customers, the skills fostered through this opportunity are universal within the creative industry and will give our students a leg up as they start their careers."
The GM GCV team produces digital renderings, images, and video footage of vehicles for GM's four brands – GMC, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and Buick – as well as for the company's non-brand studios and other general asset production needs within GM Design. The team's work is often the first point of interaction for many consumers, inviting them behind the wheel of GM's products.
School of Animation Head, Colin Giles, showcases student work (concept art and animation tests) to GM's Stephen Gray."The VFS program is a great fit for our GCV team," said Stephen Gray, Senior Global Manager, GM Design. "These students deliver high-quality creative and photorealistic executions, with a focus on working in small, collaborative cross-functional teams. This closely reflects the way our team works. I am excited to see what fresh ideas the students can produce on screen."
This automotive animation project for our students is just one of many examples of global organizations making use of VFS’s talented network of students, alumni, and faculty to solve their creative problems and challenges. VFS's creative community can step up to the plate from a multitude of creative disciplines to deliver a professional product, embedded right into the curriculum as a teaching method. This community has created everything from virtual training programs for Tesla through VFS’s VR/AR Design & Development program, to video advertisements for web and television through the Digital Design program at VFS.
These VFX industry partnerships offer students direct exposure to the GM creative pipeline. Students develop their abilities to work within a team to complete a high-quality project, respond to and apply industry critique, and follow workflow methodologies. Projects will also have the potential to make use of the full spectrum of Virtual Production, Motion Capture, and VFX techniques that a 3D animation education at VFS offers, as well as using assets from the Digital Design program to create a professional level presentation of their work.
One of the many advantages of being a Vancouver Film School animation student is the ability to collaborate directly with industry leaders like General Motors.VFS graduates have worked on some of the world's most recognizable brands, creating emotionally engaging content for companies like Google, Microsoft, and Marvel. VFS 3D Animation & Visual Effects students often have opportunities to collaborate with industry professionals in the classroom during their studies and even before they graduate, allowing them to join the industry AT SCHOOL. This dynamic collaboration gives students a huge opportunity to work with a company as prominent and wide-reaching as GM.
The BLOG will continue to follow and share the progress of our student's work with GM. Check back here for updates, insights, and more! Want to learn how to start a career in 3D animation and visual effects so you can create exciting content for global leaders? Explore VFS’s 3D Animation & Visual Effects program and apply today!