Nearly finished my Ph.D..

[ace]

Hey Guys,

 

I have taken a slightly unusual path through my education, considering at heart what I really want to do is work in the theatre or film industry. I am approaching completion of my Ph.D in High Performance Visualization and Mixed reality and so I am looking for advice as to what steps I would need to follow my chosen career. I have many years of experience as a casual theatre technician, freelancer and have even worked in the warehouse of one of the bigger UK hire companies.

 

I am now looking for an opportunity to apply my knowledge of visualization and computer graphics to the field either by:

 

* Working for a company developing control software for lighting

* Working in visual effects for TV/Film researching tool development

* Working for a company that provides novel solutions to theatre using very specialized computer control etc.

 

I am just wondering if anyone can recommend to me what steps I may need to take to get to where I want to be!

 

Thanks for your thoughts,

 

Chris

[Just Some Bloke]

... my Ph.D in High Performance Visualization and Mixed reality ...

Now there's a concept I'm struggling with : mixed reality.

 

Care to help me out? :** laughs out loud **:

[AndyJones]

I'n this industry you can't get the perfect job with just a PHD, you need to get out there and show you can push cases and stuff, get in touch with all the local hire companies/theatres and get soem casual work with them, and start building up your reputation.

 

Good luck :** laughs out loud **:

[paulears]

In an industry where you traditonally start at the bottom, with no quick route upwards - I'm not sure that having Dr Chris..... on the CV is a plus point. It is a little scary to have somebody with a phd at the bottom, but great to have to bolster the status of a company. Looks good on the CV and business card, though. Rather like well known international Lighting Designers doing crewing duties on the casuals list - just slightly awkward for everyone until they get to know them properly. I think this may just be a British thing. Best of luck.

[ace]

Now there's a concept I'm struggling with : mixed reality.

 

:-) Yeah I spend my days in there.. It is a happy place! Mixed reality is kinda a cross between virtual reality and the real world. Instead of giving someone a headset and immersing them into a virtual environment you give them a headset that you can see through and then put virtual artifacts into the real world.

 

For example a good application of this would be to use it to implement a lighting visualization engine (similar to WYSIWYG) in my framework. Using the appropriate tracking equipment the user could then put on a lightweight see through headset and walk around in a real venue. provided the WYSIWYG style software was based on the same venue, you could then render the virtual fixtures and light beams into the users view in line with the real world. He/she could then walk around the venue and evaluate a lighting design or run it through with the director before it is even hung. I guess you could even use the technology as a rigging aid.. You could even extend the software allow the user to actually modify the design whilst walking around the stage looking at it..

 

That is what I would love to be working on right now, but the government only seem to want to fund me to work on Medical implementations... grrr..

 

It is a little scary to have somebody with a phd at the bottom,

 

Yeah this is what worries me.. Everyone that I have been approaching about work seems to be a little intimidated because they can't seem to offer me work at 'my level' and it takes quite a while to reassure them...

 

Thanks for your thoughts..

[Just Some Bloke]

Using the appropriate tracking equipment the user could then put on a lightweight see through headset and walk around in a real venue. provided the WYSIWYG style software was based on the same venue, you could then render the virtual fixtures and light beams into the users view in line with the real world. He/she could then walk around the venue and evaluate a lighting design or run it through with the director before it is even hung. I guess you could even use the technology as a rigging aid.. You could even extend the software allow the user to actually modify the design whilst walking around the stage looking at it..

Sorry, but I seem to have walked into an episode of Start Trek, here! :blink:

 

Blimey - the things they can do nowadays. In my day we had a biro and the back of a fag packet [...and still had enough change for chips on the way home]!

 

I hope all works out well for you. I have to say, I have a B.A.(Hons) which I hardly ever mention on my c.v. as it would undoubtedly stop me getting work in technical theatre. It only goes on if it's a management post I'm after.

 

Good luck ith the WYSI-specs too!

[ace]

WYSI-specs.. I like that.. I might have to steal that term!

 

Chris

[Jivemaster]

I have to say that my initial thought was that you may have to persuade theatre that you can add LOTS to their show to pay for the add on cost even though there may be completely new performance possibilities there.

 

Do you appreciate dance? the London contemp dance people at The Place in Euston may take to using you and your machine as part of contemp dance. Maybee not want to pay though.

[Nat_Keiller]

Have you approaced Cast Software (who manufacture WYSIWYG) and talked to them about possible career prospects?