Siggraph is the world's largest computer graphics conference, and certainly the most relevant for someone looking to eventually work in animation or visual effects. The conference is run annually, and this year it's being held in L.A from August 5-9.
Acting as a venue where CG professionals can both celebrate the year past and show off the emerging tech of the future, Siggraph features hundreds of presentations, lectures, and exhibitions from virtually every studio, school, and publication in the industry.
Siggraph has a unique program that grants current students (or recent grads) full access passes to the conference (normally $900) in exchange for volunteering in various roles around the exhibition floor.
I volunteered two years ago in New Orleans, and it was honestly one of the most incredible weeks of my life. Since there are still two weeks left to put together an application, I wanted to take the opportunity to post up a few reasons why you should get yourself a ticket to L.A. this August!
1. The Networking Opportunities
Yeah, it's totally cliché to say so, but as a student volunteer at Siggraph, you have an insane opportunity to do some serious networking.
While it's very tempting to believe that finding work in the CG industry will ride solely on the strength of your portfolio, that isn't always the case. Your work is very, very important, but it's a lot easier to get your reel to the top of the slush-pile if you've got someone on the inside that can make a recommendation for you.
If you attend Siggraph, don't leave home without a stack of business cards and a few hard copies of your demo reel. Don't be shy, exchange cards with as many people as possible!
2. Career Guidance & Job Fair
If you're currently looking for a job in the industry, Siggraph has got quite a few resources available to student volunteers. There's a huge job fair with recruiters from dozens of studios conducting on-site interviews and portfolio reviews. In 2009 there was a pretty nice mix of employers ranging from boutique effects houses all the way up to some heavy hitters like ILM and Rhythm & Hues.
Even if you're not in the middle of a job hunt, as a volunteer you'll be treated to numerous presentations about how to break into the computer graphics industry, and valuable opportunities to have your portfolio looked at by professional artists and hiring supervisors.
When I volunteered, my favorite lecture was from a Dreamworks employee on how to make a successful demo reel, and I was fortunate enough to have my reel reviewed by a modeler at Disney! Even though my work was nowhere near a professional level at that point, he was kind and constructive and helped me identify some strengths and weaknesses I didn't know I had.
3. Listen to the Pros
Walking around the conference, it feels like there are a million interesting things to see, but hands-down my favorite thing at the conference was attending production spotlight presentations from VFX supervisors and their effects teams.
Listening to some of the most talented people in the industry talk about their experience on films like Transformers, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, and Star Trek literally gave me goosebumps, and the opportunity to take a behind the scenes look at what goes into top-tier effects work was mind-blowing.
4. Swag
What can I say—who doesn't like to get something for free? There are hundreds of booths on the exhibition floor, and since they're all vying for your attention, they're all giving something away.
Freebies obviously shouldn't be your primary reason for going to Siggraph, but I came away from the conference with a heaping pile of really cool stuff (think Pixar posters, flash drives, DVDs, art books, bags, etc.)
5. To Be Around Like Minded Peers
Maybe you're going to school for CG, and you're always around people who share your passion for 3D, but that isn't the case for everyone.
Trying to break into the computer graphics industry can often be a solitary pursuit. Especially if you're doing all your learning through online classes or self-paced tutorials, it can mean a lot of hours spent alone in front of a computer.
There are always opportunities to connect with people around forums like Threedy or CGTalk, but nothing beats honest to god interaction. I met some really cool people at Siggraph and had an absolute blast hanging out with people that share my passion for CG.
How to Apply:
Siggraph is an incredible place to make a few friends, learn, and be inspired by all the great work being done around the industry.
If you're interested in volunteering, there's a ton more info at the Siggraph website. The application deadline isn't until February 13th, but the application does include a few (short) essays, so don't put it off too long. They bring in a lot of volunteers, so I don't think it's insanely competitive. As long as you follow instructions and put some thought into the questions, you should have a great chance (everyone that applied from my school was accepted).
Here are a few links to send you in the right direction:
