World VFX Day and UpliftHER are teaming up on an online event that examines women’s issues and developments within and beyond the visual effects industry; a diverse lineup of industry speakers will join the March 8 presentation on the World VFX Day YouTube channel.
World VFX Day and women’s foundation UpliftHER have teamed up to mark International Women’s Day with a series of online talks highlighting women’s issues and developments, including those within the VFX industry. For over a century, International Women's Day has taken place annually with the core mission of achieving global gender equality.
Speakers will touch on subjects, addressing topics such as why there are so few women in senior roles, juggling parenthood and a career, LGBTQ+ representation and inclusion, financial literacy, mentoring, and building a career network.
“Visual effects can offer a fantastic career path for those interested in art and technology, yet a study in 2021 showed that less than 10% of women are in supervisor roles,” said World VFX Day founder Hayley Miller. “Representation really matters, and that’s why I’m so excited to share these talks with the world, not only to help empower women but as part of World VFX Day’s mission to shine a spotlight on visual effects.”
The online event, taking place over several hours, boasts a diverse range of international speakers and support from VFX studios, including Framestore; ILM; Cinesite; BlueBolt VFX; Important Looking Pirates; Jellyfish Pictures; Access VFX; Coffee & TV; Pixstone Images; Lightrunner Studio; Chocolate Tribe; Ingenuity Studios; Alpha Studios; PXL Talent; and Lost Boys School of VFX.
Speakers include Charmaine Chan (ILM); Tara DeMarco (Marvel Studios); Christina Graham (Lightrunner Studio); Kaitlyn Yang (Alpha Studios); Clare Cheetham (Coffee & TV); and Donia Youssef (Monzda TV).
“It is an uncomfortable truth, but men and women typically experience their careers differently,” said UpliftHER co-founder Amy Mercer. “They are a product molded by the societies we live in and the cultures we work in, and that’s why these talks are important.”
The online event starts at 9 am (GMT) on Friday, March 8, on the World VFX Day YouTube channel.
Source: World VFX Day
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
