Weta takes interest in SIT

Author: LeeAna Tamati - Southland Express
Date posted: 24/06/12

"GOOD THINGS" are being produced by Southern Institute of Technology digital media and arts students, Weta Digital visual effects supervisor Matt Aitken said when he spoke to the students last week.

Mr Aitken was in town to speak to visual arts, animation, and film students about recruitment processes after graduation, and told the Southland Express he had seen the work of some of the graduates.

"Good things are going on here. I like what I see."

Mr Aitken said Weta had employed five or six SIT graduates in the past five years, which was why he wanted to speak with the students about how Weta worked and how to apply for jobs.

"We were doing some analysis on schools we’ve hired recent graduates from, and we have had several from SIT in the last couple of years. We were looking at the tertiary institutions which were more likely to produce graduates and SIT is a recent addition to my group." Mr Aitken said the company was looking for people who were enthusiastic and interested in the visual effects industry.

"Generally we are looking for talent. What we find is that people who like working with visual arts are creative and have enough of a mastery of technology, and that enables great work to happen in the industry."

SIT design and visual arts programme manager Kathryn Mitchell said it was great to have a relationship with Weta, and it would prove valuable for the students.

Academy Award-winning Weta Digital, is one of the leading animation companies in the world, with recent movie projects including Avatar, Tintin, and Rise of the Planet of the Apes.