What India has already created for the movie industry could also be replicated in the gaming industry

The Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) industry has been witnessing exponential growth in recent times. Several global players are looking to harness India’s talent pool for offshore delivery of services. PATRICE LEYMARIE, Founder, IAMAG Master Classes, a premium global masterclass platform for the world’s top digital artists, emphasises the need for skilling, reskilling and upskilling creative professionals for meeting the global demand.

1. Would it be correct to say that AR and VR is becoming indispensable for the media and entertainment industry?

AR and VR is becoming indispensable for a lot of industries – for example, prototyping for the automotive industry or sport training. The need for people knowing how to implement the mechanisms of what we can produce for a game or a movie, storyboarding, modelling, animation, VFX, etc., will be everywhere. The same tools used today in the entertainment industry are coming through VR and AR, and will be widely used for several innovative projects.

2. What are the challenges and opportunities for AVCG professionals?

Let me give you an example. With the power of CPU and GPU always growing, we’re really close to producing real-time animated movies. Even in the way of thinking how to create or produce a movie, there is a new revolution brewing with Unreal Engine 5. The fundamentals of learning how to create animation, VFX, remain the same, but there are new challenges for people in this industry when it comes to thinking about the whole pipeline and way of telling a story. And when there are such challenges, there are also tons of opportunities for the pioneers who’ll jump into it. The future artists will not only have to master tech, but also have to learn new ways of telling a story in the entertainment industry. If we think about movies, for example, first we had black and white movies, then movies with music, then came a revolution with the possibility of recording an actor’s voice, and then came colour. VFX has been continually evolving from traditional matte painting to the digital area. Now, a new revolution is on its way with real time and the power of computers.

3. How can educational institutions help in reducing the skill gap in the industry?

It’s easy today to find tons of resources for free on the internet, but nothing will ever replace a well-structured course, and moreover, the chance to have a direct relationship with experienced teachers and mentors. Schools provide these priceless resources for students, and the educational system is also a guarantee to work closely on projects and get direct feedback from industry leaders. Thanks to such an educational system, students are also ready to enter the market with a solid experience of the industry realities.

4. The AVGC sector is largely characterized with young, progressive individuals who quickly adapt to the changing trends in technologies. Your comments.

It’s true that it’s an industry which will always need to adapt, change and evolve, but it’s also an industry which is led by some veterans who’ve already experienced all these changes and know how to always find new creative solutions to entertain the world. The young generation is born with phones and computers and so they won’t have to break through the intimidating phase of technology. But it’s an alchemy and you’ve to be part of a team. You have to grow looking over the shoulders of experienced artists, learning from them and at the same time adding your own layer of perception of the world, to be a future successful artist in this industry.

5. What role do you see India playing in the global AVGC ecosystem?

From a western perspective, I would say that we’re aware of the rich cultural aspects of the Indian movie industry and the quality of their technical production. I truly believe that what India has already created for the movie industry could also be replicated in the game industry. With the right education system and leadership, India could also create AAA game studios and embrace the coming revolution. They can find new ways of telling stories in VR, produce games or implement new creative pipelines for movies.