On August 5th through the 9th, companies in the 3D industry will be attending SIGGRAPH in San Diego, CA.

What is SIGGRAPH? From the official website, "SIGGRAPH's purpose is to foster a membership community whose core values help them to catalyze the innovation and application of computer graphics and interactive techniques."

DAVE Graduates as well go to attend the annual job fair held there and meet people in the industry. It is a great opportunity to meet the industry and make contacts for the future.

Related Links:
	Siggraph

Last month, Paradigm out of Memphis, Tennessee and Wolfhound Productions out of Orlando came to DAVE School to interview graduates for potential careers. Members of our job strategies lab as well as other graduates were given the opportunity to talk to the employers and discuss their demo reels and resumes.

The DAVE School extends an open invitation to companies to come and interview students at the school. Students of the job strategies lab are required to interview as practice and possible job positions. They learn how to handle themselves in interviews and learn what their strengths and weaknesses are in an interview. They are reviewed by the potential employers and critiqued. Then William Vaughan, the instructor of the job strategies lab, can go through the critiques with the graduate and help them work on any issues they may have while doing an interview. This prepares the student so they will be ready and professional in future interviews and present themselves the best way possible.

Related Links:
	Wolfhound
	Paradigm Productions

Prior to getting into 3D, I was heavily involved in traditional art in England where I had my high school education. I then followed my parents to Florida in 2002 where I enrolled in college and continued to pursue my education. I knew that if I wanted to transition into 3D, I'd probably find a school in America that could teach me. I'd always loved 2D animation, but after seeing my first Pixar movie the 3D world really caught my attention. I started looking for courses concentrating on this medium and was actually accepted into a 3D program at another institution. I grew increasingly unhappy with what I was being taught and I knew it was time to make a change. A friend of a friend's recommended the DAVE School and I thought it was just another institution where I'd pay a lot of money and come out with nothing, but I gave it the benefit of the doubt and decided to go on a tour. Probably one of the best decisions I've made in my life to date.

I consider myself a 3D generalist and will try my best at whatever I do, but I really love organic modeling. More specifically, character modeling. I also feel I have a good understanding of movement and I'd like to use that understanding and become a better animator. I'm always working to improve my skills as a whole. I do have a dream job working for a particular company, but if I can find a job that I love which utilizes my skills and allows me to grow as an artist, that would certainly be a dream come true!