The Access:VFX Podcast

At 16, most of us thought everyone else had a plan.

Pick the right subjects. Make the right choices. Don’t fall behind.

Except… that’s not really how creative careers work.

In this episode, Simon Devereux and co-host Nene Parsotam bring together artists, leaders and emerging talent from across VFX and animation to answer one question: What do you wish someone had told you when you were 16?

The answers are honest, surprising, occasionally brutal… and probably not what you’d expect.

This isn’t an episode about becoming successful by 21 or building the perfect portfolio. It’s about the things nobody tells you early enough: that careers rarely move in straight lines, that changing direction isn’t failure, that software matters less than you think, and that some of the skills that take you furthest aren’t taught in classrooms at all.

From early career panic to sideways moves, from advice that changed everything to advice that turned out to be nonsense, the panel reflects on the pressure young people put on themselves, and what actually mattered in hindsight.

If you’re 16, know someone who is, or occasionally wish you could send your younger self a voice note…

This one’s for you.

Guests:

Joe Raasch - Head of Training, Pixomondo
Will Noon - 3D Character & Creature Animator & Previs Artist, Framestore
Alex Davy - Storyboard Artist, previously at Blue Zoo Animation
Oktawia Sokalska - Junior Compositor, Viridian FX
Zain Harris - Colourist, DISAUTHORITY
Kara Orapallo - VP Crew Development, DNEG Animation

Listen now! ...and maybe send it to someone who thinks they need their whole future figured out already.

What happens when young people spend hours gaming, editing videos, scrolling TikTok or watching YouTube?

Are they wasting time… or developing skills adults don’t always recognise?

In this thoughtful and refreshingly balanced conversation, we explore the growing gap between how young people engage with digital platforms and how parents often interpret that behaviour.

Bringing together voices from games, animation, education and production, the panel looks beyond the headlines and asks whether gaming, content creation and online communities are building creativity, resilience and transferable skills in ways we don’t always acknowledge.

Across the episode, the conversation explores what parents are really worried about when they think about screen time, the difference between passive consumption and active creation, and why ideas like 'games literacy' may become increasingly important in the future. This roundtable discusses how gaming can develop problem-solving, decision-making and learning through failure, while also unpacking the surprising links between video editing, storytelling, short-form content and modern creative careers.

The discussion also examines how studios are adapting to changing audience behaviours, what creative employers are noticing in the next generation of talent, and whether visual and motion literacy are becoming just as important as traditional forms of communication.

Importantly, the episode doesn’t ignore the challenges. The panel talks honestly about healthy boundaries, digital wellbeing and the moments when parents should step in, while offering practical advice for supporting curiosity without turning every hobby into a career plan.

No judgement. No panic. Just an honest conversation about creativity, technology, learning and whether young people might already be developing skills for a world that adults are still catching up to.

Guests:

Del Walker - Lead Character Artist at Absurd Ventures, Professor of Arts at Norwich University and BAFTA committee member
Marcia Deakin - Co-Founder, NextGen Skills Academy
Grace Lane - Senior Communications Manager at Blue Zoo Animation Studio
Lauren Middleton - Senior Games Production Coordinator at Framestore, Limit Break Mentor and Women in Games Ambassador

What happens when the pressure of working in VFX and animation stops feeling motivating… and starts becoming overwhelming?

In one of the most open and honest conversations we’ve had on The ACCESS: VFX Podcast, this episode explores the realities of stress, burnout, anxiety, self-worth, imposter syndrome and emotional exhaustion across the creative industries... and why we need to start talking about these things earlier.

Featuring artists, producers, schedulers, support specialists and industry leaders from across VFX and animation, the roundtable discusses the hidden pressures many people experience behind the scenes: long hours, instability, perfectionism, fear of speaking up, financial stress, comparison culture, and the difficulty of separating personal identity from creative work. But this episode is also about support, recovery, perspective and community.

Featuring:

Kate Lander - Director, Career Expert & ACCESS:VFX Board Member
Kali Dronsfield - VFX Scheduling Manager at Electric Theatre Collective
Dan Glass - Animator at Framestore
Manie Moolman - Service Delivery Manager at The Film & Television Charity
Alannah Belanger - VFX Executive Producer at Untold Studios
Karina Bhojwani - Production Assistant at Vine FX

This isn’t a conversation about having perfect solutions.
It’s a conversation about making sure people don’t suffer in silence while trying to build creative careers.

Support from The Film & TV Charity:

The Whole Picture Toolkit: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/get-support/support-for-organisations/the-whole-picture-toolkit/

Principles for Mentally Healthy Productions: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/stories-events/news/principles-for-mentally-healthy-productions-launched/

1-2-1 services including mental health: https://filmtvcharity.org.uk/get-support/

What Studios Look for in Emerging Talent… And What They Don’t!

What actually matters when you’re trying to break into VFX and animation between 16–21?

In this honest, myth-busting roundtable, recruiters, animation leaders and educators unpack what studios are really looking for in emerging talent, beyond perfect portfolios, grades and buzzwords.

The panel explores the difference between raw talent and potential, why curiosity and resilience matter more than perfection, and the common mistakes juniors make in applications, reels and interviews.

Topics include:

Why 'passion alone' isn’t enough
What recruiters notice in the first few minutes
Why grades matter less than many think
How to stand out without trying to look 'industry ready'
The importance of storytelling, process and collaboration
Burnout, resilience and protecting your creativity
Why there’s no such thing as being 'behind'

There’s also practical advice on improving showreels, taking feedback, networking authentically, learning how you learn best, and embracing experimentation.

Guests include:

Pheya Tribelsky - Talent Manager at Electric Theatre Collective
Eamonn Butler - Head of Animation Division at Cinesite
Ross Burgess - Head of Animation & Animation Director at Untold Studios
Julia Marrone - Head of Recruitment, Canada at Framestore
Oliver Gingrich - Animation Programme Leader at Greenwich University

Hosted by Simon Devereux and Nene Parsotam.

A hugely reassuring, practical and refreshingly honest conversation for anyone wondering whether they’re 'good enough' yet, and a reminder that creative careers are rarely linear, and never one-size-fits-all.

If someone asked you today, 'Is VFX a safe career?' - what are they really asking?

Job security? Stable income? Long-term sustainability? Or just reassurance that it’s a 'sensible' choice?

In this episode of The ACCESS: VFX Podcast, Simon Devereux and Nene Parsotam bring together artists, leaders and coaches from across the industry to unpack the reality behind the question.

From Fraser Murdoch and Cat Gonçalves sharing the day-to-day realities of studio life, to Tom Box offering a studio founder’s perspective, this is a grounded look at how 'stability' actually plays out.

We also hear from Isobel Hine, Courtney Pryce and Brooke McGowan on freelance vs staff realities, money myths, burnout, and what keeps people employable long-term.

The big takeaway?

There’s no single version of 'safe' - just different types of risk, at different stages of your career.

The episode closes with honest advice for anyone considering VFX: who it’s a great fit for, who might want to think twice, and what actually makes a career sustainable over time.