During the designated time, I was able to have a few very interesting conversations. Out of the professions I learned about, two stood out to me. Jackson Yeoh, a Senior Animator at Sony Pictures, gave a very intriguing description of his career. In addition, Kevin MacLeod left me wanting to learn more about Technical Directors at the Vancouver Opera.

Yeoh described animation as  fascinating, innovative and creative process. While I personally never considered this as a career, the technical side was very inspiring to me. After hearing about the flexible and comfortable work environment, I might consider learning more about this field.

This job requires creativity, initiative, and collaboration. When assigned a task, an animator must complete the requirements, but also add a creative flair and a “wow” factor. Yeoh has to constantly overcome artist’s block; he talks to friends and other creators to find ideas.

The animation process involves a variety of software, ranging from Adobe Animate, Flash, After Effects, and more, depending on the project. Personally, I’ve only tried a handful of Adobe products, but from what I’ve done, I find that once the learning curve is over, they are very useful and fun to use. The best way to learn and improve is to simply make projects and solve problems. If you can’t find a way to do something, play around with the settings and find a way.

Kevin MacLoyd gave a very intriguing description of his career. As a Building Manager and Assistant Technical Director, his main focus is solving problems and taking stress away from performers. Personally, I love the feeling of many projects fitting together and seeing the final result, which is exactly how MacLoyd feels.

As with the majority of careers, I had never heard of this position, but it definitely inspire me to explore more. This career is all about problem solving and finding how different pieces fit together.This involves communication, problem solving, and critical thinking. Organizing musicians, singers, performers, etc. can get stressful, but handling that stress is a big part of the job.

A general understanding of technology is essential, but on-the-job training is how MacLoyd learned. Because the job changes day-to-day, adapting to circumstances is very important. Personally, I feel I may get overwhelmed with handing so much, but with practice, I would find the flow of things. Handling stress is definitely a skill I can improve, so if I decided to go into a similar style of career, this is something I would try to work on.

I strongly believe that this opportunity was very important and I’m glad I got the courage to talk to all the guests. It was eye-opening to see the variety of careers available and how different personalities fit in each. I do wish the atmosphere was a little more comfortable, as I was very anxious to make conversation. However, it was a good experience overall.