Women in VFX: IWD Talk Highlights

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WOMEN IN VFX

On 8th March 2024 we celebrated women in VFX, but also highlighted key challenges facing women, both in and out of our industry. Partnering with women’s foundation, UpliftHER, we produced a series of talks that spanned across 10 hours, all held online via YouTube, for global inclusion. ‘Inspire Inclusion’ was the theme for this year’s International Women’s Day.

World VFX Day kicked off the talks which covered a varied range of topics, as below:

  • Moving into Senior Roles
  • Becoming an Executive Producer
  • Breaking into the Industry
  • IWD with VFX Pick
  • Finding and Becoming a Mentor
  • Becoming a VFX Supervisor
  • New to the VFX industry
  • IWD with Important Looking Pirates
  • Spotlight: Industry Founders
  • Spotlight: Charmaine Chan (ILM)
  • “The Boys Club”
  • LGBTQ+ and the industry

HIGHLIGHTS

We covered so many important and insightful topics so it’s hard to choose highlights, but here are some of my personal highlights and takeaways from our talks:

We All Experience Imposter Syndrome:

No matter how long we’ve worked in our field, it still creeps in. It was a regular theme across most of the talks. So how do we overcome this? Perhaps we’re not meant to, and it serves us to be mindful that we’ll never know everything. We need to continue to learn for ourselves and from others.

"I didn't see many other women in VFX Supervisor roles so didn't think I'd get there but I did and I love it and I kind of wish I'd pushed for it earlier as there was no reason for it, just my own self doubt"
Becky Graham
VFX Supervisor, DNEG/Freelance

Mentoring is Good for our Careers (and our Mental Health): 

Given most of us work remotely or hybrid now, it’s more important than ever to connect, establish new relationships and give something back. Most mentors were, or are, mentees and that 360 feedback loop is an important tool to help us develop ourselves and others.

"Mentorship is so important, to have someone who can open doors to knowledge, push you forward and help you see yourself in a better way than you do yourself sometimes."
Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
Founder, Chocolate Tribe

Putting Yourself First is not Selfish:

Our industry tends to include long hours, but this doesn’t tend to produce high quality work – take breaks and finish on time when you can as you’re most likely to create your best work on a good night’s sleep. 

Visualise your career goals and take steps to move towards it, don’t wait for anyone else to create the path for you.

"What I have seen in my personal journey is that you become unstoppable the day you stop looking for validation and recognition from somebody else. If you want to do something, go ahead and do it as this is when the focus shifts to your own journey and your career and growth goals."
Neha Hooda
Executive Producer, Pixstone Images

Step Up to Move Up:

Passion and dedication will be noticed, or at the very least, you will become better at what you do. 

You’ll always remember the first person who gave you that chance to move up and progress your career. Just don’t forget to pay it forward!

"During my first role as a runner I was being trained during lunch breaks and after hours and putting in a lot of extra work. My manager pushed for me to get a new role in bookings because of that. We've been colleagues, and friends, for years since."
Dionne Archibald
Executive Producer, Coffee & TV

Anyone Can Make a Difference:

You can support those around you by taking an interest and asking questions. Even if it’s something you know little about or the challenges don’t seem to affect you, you can learn about it, give your support and help make changes. 

On supporting the LGBTQ+ community, read this quote from our LGBTQ+ talk…

"There's a lot that we can do in our day-to-day that can really make a difference, it doesn't have to be a grand gesture like start a revolution or new law. It's all about the little things as the more people see that it's common the more people will see the normalcy to all of this."
Charmaine Chan
Associate VFX Supervisor, ILM

USEFUL LINKS

Here are some of the organisations, studies and more that were referenced during the talks:

  1. Invisible in Visual Effects, a USC Annenberg study on women in VFX
  2. AccessVFX
  3. Lost Boys School of VFX
  4. Siggraph Mentorship
  5. AVIJOZI
  6. Lesbians Who Tech
  7. Women in VFX

WATCH OUR TALK SERIES:

Thanks for reading and to everyone who supported, took part, watched or shared the event. If you’d like to get involved with future events, get in touch!

Hayley

Hayley Miller, Founder of World VFX Day

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