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BCFE Alumni News Release | Ballyfermot College of Further Education Collaborates with Trinity to make Animation Film
Ballyfermot College of Further Education Signs Partnership Agreement with Trinity College Dublin to Foster Creativity
Dublin, July 5th, 2011: Ballyfermot College of Further Education’s Irish School of Animation which has produced international award winning graduates in animation and the film industry, are joining forces with Trinity’s graphics and virtual world experts in an Animation Hub this summer to produce an animated short movie. Students and graduates of the Irish School of Animation (ISA) are to collaborate with Trinity College’s Graphics, Vision and Visualisation Group (GV2) on the project. Together, students, academics and the company, Giant Creative, a recent startup by BCFE graduates, will work on the initiative, which will be completed in August.
The animation project forms part of an overall partnership agreement between Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) and Trinity that was signed today in the university by the heads of both institutions, BCFE Principal, Maureen Conway and TCD’s Provost, Dr John Hegarty in the presence of students and staff involved in the animation project. The agreement will enable greater collaborative links in creative practice and teaching between both institutions.
The partnership is part of Trinity’s Creative Arts, Technologies and Culture Initiative, a major initiative launched by Provost, Dr John Hegarty last year to spearhead a dynamic new approach to innovation by promoting the generation of new ideas, creative practice, connections and programmes across the Arts and Sciences, and between the City and Trinity. (www.tcd.ie/catc)
Commenting on the significance of the partnership, BCFE Principal, Maureen Conway said:
“I see this as the beginning of a dynamic partnership between Trinity College and BCFE. This partnership has the potential to grow and develop affording a wonderful opportunity for the students involved to experience an unlimited creative event via the marrying of art and technology.”
The Animation Hub kicked off this week and will last over the summer, creating a thirty-second animation of high quality with creative and technical elements including motion capture. The production, which has received support from the Irish Film Board and Science Foundation Ireland, will take place in two locations – Trinity’s Graphics, Vision and Visualisation (GV2) department at the School of Computer Science and Statistics and Giant Creative’s studio.
Trinity's Professor of Visual Computing, Carol O'Sullivan, said:
"The result of this exciting collaboration will be a showcase of the best of both institutions in the area of Creative Technologies.”
Gareth Lee, Programme Leader of the BA (Hons) Animation at BCFE added:
“The Hub will not only expose the students to the practices involved in working on a professionally led project, but will also, through the collaboration, enhance their learning by encouraging them to engage with new, related areas of expertise.”
The team working on the project includes Trinity Producer/Project Manager: Professor of Visual Computing, Carol O’Sullivan; BCFE’s Irish School of Animation (ISA) Producer/Project Manager: Gareth Lee; BCFE Technical Advisor: Shane Whelan; Directors: Giant Creative (BCFE graduates, Alex Sherwood, Ben Harper and Sean Mullen); Production Team: Two BCFE ISA students in animation and modelling and two Trinity students in motion capture. Provost, Dr John Hegarty of Trinity College wished the team well in the exciting project:
“I look forward to viewing the animation on completion of the first project to emanate from this unique partnership between Trinity and Ballyfermot College. Both institutions are producing graduates of world class calibre in very different learning environments. Imagine the impact of having our students join forces in collaborations like this summer animation project. The experience will be invaluable and will spark all forms of new creative influences and dynamics.”
Ends
For media queries contact TCD Communications Office, Olivia Waters. Email: owaters@tcd.ie Tel: 8963983\ 0879958014.
For BCFE contact Gareth Lee, Programme Leader BA (Hons) Animation. Email: garethlee@campus.ie
Photographs from the signing will be sent to the Picture Desks from Paul Sharp Photography, Email: paul@sharppix.ie Tel: 086 6689087.
