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The Daily OrangeComputer artists to speak at ECAROcon symposium
By Kristen Wasik
Posted: 4/17/08, 10:29 PM EST Section: News
Top special effects and video game artists from across the country will speak to students interested in finding their own career in computer arts Saturday.
ECAROcon, a symposium scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, will bring to campus four experienced leaders in fields that combine technology and art to tell students about their experience in the industry, said Andrew Blackmore, the symposium's director and co-founder of Extracurricular Computer Art Organization (ECARO).
The symposium is hosted by ECARO, a group that focuses on educating and fostering interest in computer art among students.
"There's a stigma over the fields of film and video games and animation, especially with kids within these programs, that it's very difficult to get a job," Blackmore said. "We'd like to talk to these people, find out that hopefully it's not as hard as it seems or there are correct ways of going about things."
The event's speakers have already proved it's not impossible to break into these industries. Many of the event's speakers are young and successful.
One speaker, Cory Barlog is 33 years old, and he's done all kinds of incredible things, Blackmore said.
Barlog's career has included work on Disney movies Mighty Joe Young, Flubber and Inspector Gadget as well as work in the video game world on God of War and God of War II.
Barlog plans to tell students about his experience entering the world of computer art and working with a team to create the God of War series, Blackmore said.
Alyson Markell, another speaker at the event, will speak about her experience working with Industrial Light and Magic, a special effects company, Blackmore said.
Markell worked for 10 years creating creature models including Dobby from Harry Potter and the horse from Van Helsing. Markell graduated from the College of Visual and Performing Arts painting program in 1983.
The symposium aims to interest other students who aren't in technological majors to consider a career in computer arts, he said.
ECAROcon, a symposium scheduled to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, will bring to campus four experienced leaders in fields that combine technology and art to tell students about their experience in the industry, said Andrew Blackmore, the symposium's director and co-founder of Extracurricular Computer Art Organization (ECARO).
The symposium is hosted by ECARO, a group that focuses on educating and fostering interest in computer art among students.
"There's a stigma over the fields of film and video games and animation, especially with kids within these programs, that it's very difficult to get a job," Blackmore said. "We'd like to talk to these people, find out that hopefully it's not as hard as it seems or there are correct ways of going about things."
The event's speakers have already proved it's not impossible to break into these industries. Many of the event's speakers are young and successful.
One speaker, Cory Barlog is 33 years old, and he's done all kinds of incredible things, Blackmore said.
Barlog's career has included work on Disney movies Mighty Joe Young, Flubber and Inspector Gadget as well as work in the video game world on God of War and God of War II.
Barlog plans to tell students about his experience entering the world of computer art and working with a team to create the God of War series, Blackmore said.
Alyson Markell, another speaker at the event, will speak about her experience working with Industrial Light and Magic, a special effects company, Blackmore said.
Markell worked for 10 years creating creature models including Dobby from Harry Potter and the horse from Van Helsing. Markell graduated from the College of Visual and Performing Arts painting program in 1983.
The symposium aims to interest other students who aren't in technological majors to consider a career in computer arts, he said.
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