On July 10, ALICE partners met virtually with animation expert Jérôme Bétrancourt, thus completing the session of two webinars on education and training. The week before, school supervisor and producer in animation Serge Umé had addressed the challenges of creating programs embracing changing technology and hands-on learning. In this second part, discussions focussed on the details of the practical elements to be considered when training and recruiting talent, supported by concrete examples of efficient training schemes and program funding sources.
With 20 years of experience in the animation sector, Jérôme Bétrancourt has been passionately involved in production and education. As a production manager at Studio Redfrog, the animated studio based in Lille, France and Brussels, Belgium, which he co-founded in 2010, Jérôme has committed to telling great stories for kids across the world on a variety of digital platforms. He has worked with the biggest names in the industry including Disney, Fox, TF1, Canal+ and France Télévision. A newly appointed Manager of the Lille Campus of L’Institut des Medias Avancés, he has joined the leading network of audiovisual training centres in France and contributed to shaping the next generation of talent with a team of high-profile teaching professionals. Together, they develop programs of excellence that provide students a global vision of the challenges of the audiovisual market, promote internship programs, and help each student reach their full potential.
ALICE partners left the meeting with tangible elements on:
- a clear vision of the complete set of skills necessary to prepare workplace-ready students;
- a recruiters’ perspective on existing training programs, specialisations (2D, 3D, VFX, …) and related job opportunities;
- an in-depth presentation of different training formats and associated funding schemes that had proved effective, including short-term programs (up to 6 months) focused on specific needs (the learning of a software, for instance), as well as mid- and long-term training schemes (3 to 5 years);
- guidance to create tools supporting complex production pipelines, including a framework of reference to establish consistent descriptions and standards for job positions in 2D and 3D animation, as well as VFX;
- an example of a possible common framework based on the European Qualification Framework, which would facilitate the inter-territorial movement of talent.
The participants left the meeting with a new perspective and direction on how to train, develop and invest in talent to fit into the labor market. The key elements collected will inform upcoming debates, help identify good practices and make concrete proposals for enhanced public policies.
