Model Makers produce the working models, props, and/or puppets for stop motion animation.
Stop Motion is animation that is created by moving models, puppets or any three-dimensional objects frame by frame in front of a camera to make it look like the inanimate objects are moving. Other terms used are Model or Puppet Animation, Table Top or 3D, although nowadays 3D usually applies to computer animation.
Model Makers need to be all-rounders, able to work in several craft areas. These include sculpting, mould making, casting, trimming and fettling, foaming, metal working, welding, painting, finishing and costume making. Their particular strengths are likely to be recognised and they might get the job for an appropriate job that fits there set of skills
.On larger productions, they are briefed by their Supervisors or Team Leaders. They may also be required to work with members of other departments such as Art Directors, Assistant Directors, Animators, etc. On smaller projects, they may be briefed by the Art Director and are more likely to handle the entire process from start to finish.
Some of the skills that are need to be a Model Maker are;
- Have a high level of different craft skills and artistic
ability
- Have good communication skills, so you can keep
supervisors or production managers informed about the progress or if there
is any problems
- To be able to guide junior members of the team
- To be able to take direction, supervised and
unsupervised and follow a brief
- Have good problem solving skills
- To be able to finished by the deadline, whilst working
calmly and good under pressure
To become a Model Maker, you will generally have to have a degree in animation, art or design, or training in a more technical discipline.
Alternatively, you may have had experience in other areas, like fine art, sculpture, graphic design, metalwork, costume design. Although Model Makers might have preferences of different crafts, specialization is not always a good thing because, especially on smaller projects, you need to be qualified in most crafts.
The quality of your work is the most important thing, no matter what your qualifications or background. A portfolio should include evidence of work in a range of crafts and styles, demonstrating your skills and assets that will sell you to the employee.
The quality of your work is the most important thing, no matter what your qualifications or background. A portfolio should include evidence of work in a range of crafts and styles, demonstrating your skills and assets that will sell you to the employee.
To reach this role, you will usually enter in a more junior role within the department, such as Junior Model Maker – working closely with professionals and gaining many craft skills that you’ll need.
Doing volenteering work and gaining experience is a great way to boost chances of getting a in this department, just like for any of the creative media sectors. Places to find available jobs are places like the Internet; because it can be accessed by everyone, it is now the most popular way employees advertise jobs. Also because Creative Media jobs are slightly more unusally than 'normal office jobs', you can find a wider range of job types.
Transferable Skills
When working in any job, not just a job in the Creative Media Industry, there are a certain set of skills that are needed, and each of them are needed for there own reason.
- Reliable
- You need to be reliable so that if someone depends on you to do something, you do to get the job done.
- Punctual
- You need to be punctual to make sure that you get everything done and so that everything stays on track
- Time management
- This is so that you organise time well, so that you meet deadlines are keep clients happy.
- Organisation
- Organisation is an important skill because it helps make any job easy if you keep on top of things.
- Functional Skills
- These are everyday skills that are used, they include maths, English and IT skills, everything that is needed to know in the 21 century.
- Working as part of a team
- Projects may need more than one person, so being able to work as a team, being able to communicate well with others is important.
- Working on your own initiative
- Sometimes employees or managers have other work to do, this means that you have to be good at working on your own, without the guidance of someone else.
- Commitment
- Once you have a job, you have made a commitment to do what has been asked of you in your contract. This means going to work on the days that you have agreed on, as well as on time, and to do the job that you have been ask to do.
- Motivation
- Motivation is a key skill, it shows enthusiasum and passon in what you are doing. This means that the final product/ outcome will be a good one if you work hard on it.
- Problem Solving
- Sometimes problems occur, which means that you have to be able to overcome them. You could be close to a deadline, so being able to solve them quickly is an important skill.
