MD6003 Week 20 - Cover Letter Exercise and CV

My letterhead image

As part of my exhibition and representation module, I was asked to write a cover letter for when I apply for a position I am interested in. I wrote the following:

Entry-Level Storyboard Assistant Position or Work Experience

Dear Aaron,

I am writing in interest of applying for the entry-level storyboard assistant position and work experience.

I am currently in my third year at the London Metropolitan University and studying for a BA (Hons) degree in animation. I have also applied for an MA in animation at the Royal College of Art.

My specialist skills include 2D animation in Adobe Flash, Toon Boom and Adobe After Effects, image manipulation and rotoscoping in Adobe Photoshop, strong storyboarding skills and strong organisation skills.

Once I have gained experience as a storyboard assistant, I hope to apply for another position such as a 2D computer animator. Your company appeals to me because when you visited my university to discuss pitching animation ideas, you mentioned that your company specialises in 2D animation and it is one of

my strongest techniques.

I have recently finished working on my final year major studio project, which is a public information film about Asperger syndrome awareness that uses a combination of 2D computer animation in the style of collage and rotoscoping as well as good storyboarding skills. I produced it with valuable constructive feedback from The National Autistic Society.

I think my experience with producing my film is relevant to your company because it uses similar techniques that you and your team would use for your projects and I could develop my skills further by studying for a master’s degree before applying for a position in your company.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

April Slocombe

PS Please find the following links to my CV as well as my home page that includes my showreel and storyboards for my major animation project on my website:

http://ads0445.wix.com/bahonsanimation1415#!minicvandskils/cihc

http://ads0445.wix.com/bahonsanimation1415

http://ads0445.wix.com/bahonsanimation1415#!MD6002-Week-14-Storyboards-for-major-studio-project-Updated-from-18114/c16ee/222D6212-18C6-4885-87DC-7C26163FEF17

Below is my CV

Name: April Slocombe

E-mail address: ADS0445@my.londonmet.ac.uk

Education

• 2012 – present: Currently studying for a degree in BA (Hons) Animation at the London Metropolitan University.

• 2011 – 2012: Studied for a Level 3 Access Course in Digital Media at the City and Islington College Centre for Business, Arts and Technology

• 2006 – 2007: Studied for a BTEC National Diploma Year 1 in Multimedia at Barnet College, Wood Street.

• 2004 – 2005: Studied for a BTEC First Diploma in Multimedia and Animation at Coleg Gwent City of Newport Campus.

• 1998 – 2003 – Attended St. Julian’s Comprehensive School in Newport, South Wales, where I undertook my GCSEs in 2003.

Modules Undertaken and Grades

BA (Hons) Animation

Level 6 (Grades pending)

• MD6001 – Project Development Workbook

• MD6002 - Major Studio Project

• MD6003 – Exhibition and Representation

• CP6010 – Critical and Contextual Studies 3 - Dissertation (Media)

Level 5

• CP5010 – Critical and Contextual Studies 2

• MD5001 – Creative Studio Practice 2

• MD5002 – Media Skills and Practice 2

• MD5005 – Advanced Animation

Level 4

• CP4010 – Critical and Contextual Studies 1

• MD4001 – Creative Studio Practice 1

• MD4002 – Media Skills and Practice 1

• MD4005 – Introduction to Animation and Lenscraft

Level 3 Access to Digital Media

• Essay Writing - Merit

• Geometry and Trigonometry – Level 2

• Digital Video Production – Pass for Research Project, Merit for Digital Video Documentary

• Illustration - Distinction

• Web Design - Merit

• 3D Computer Graphics and Animation - Pass

• Applications, Courses and Careers (Including UCAS applications) - Merit

• Storyboard Design - Distinction

• Image Manipulation Fundamentals - Merit

• Multimedia Animation - Pass

• Interactive Authoring - Pass

• Portfolio Development - Distinction

BTEC National Diploma Year 1 in Multimedia

• Historical and Contextual Studies - Merit

• Woodwork – Pass

• Metalwork – Pass

• Web Design – Merit

• Flash Animation – Pass

• 3D Graphics and Animation – Pass

• Drawing

• Photography – Pass

• Printmaking – Pass

BTEC First Diploma in Multimedia and Animation

• 3D Graphics and Animation – Pass

• 2D Computer Animation – Merit

• Character Design – Merit

• Web Design – Merit

• Graphic Design – Distinction

• Digital Video – Merit

• Narrative and Structure – Distinction

GCSE Subjects and Grades

• French Higher – A

• ICT Higher – A

• Welsh Second Language Higher – B

• English Language Higher – C

• English Literature Higher – C

• Mathematics Intermediate – C

• Technology Foundation (Graphics) – C

• Double Award Science Foundation – CC

Work Experience

• March 2002 – worked in the Multimedia and Animation Department at Coleg Gwent City of Newport Campus. Duties included how to use Adobe Photoshop, Premiere and After Effects and 3D Studio Max.

• October 2010 – worked in a Norwood charity shop. Duties included sorting out stock, tidying shelves and tagging clothing.

• November 2010 – worked in the canteen of a children’s centre in Hendon. Duties included making pastry, serving customers and cleaning the premises.

Voluntary Work and Employment

• Summer 2003 – volunteered in a PDSA charity shop in Newport, South Wales. Duties included sorting out stock and tagging clothes

• Spring 2005 – Autumn 2005 – volunteered at a youth club at Maes Ebbw School, Newport, South Wales for young people with autism, learning difficulties and other disabilities. Duties included making drinks, supervising the youths, counting money and washing up.

• Summer 2005 – volunteered at a summer leisure scheme at Malpas Court Primary School for young people with autism, learning difficulties and other disabilities. Duties included supervising a teenage girl and offering assistance on trips out.

• 2011 – present. Currently working part time as an Avon representative. Duties include ordering, sorting and delivering stock and serving customers.

Employment References

• Mark Collington – Course Leader of BA (Hons) Animation at London Metropolitan University

• Aaron Wood – animator, graphic designer and co-founder at Slurpy Animation Studios, London.

Interests

Computers, art and crafts, animation and drawing.

Skills and Knowledge

ICT literacy, 2D computer animation (Flash and After Effects), stop-motion animation, digital cut-out animation and drawing.

Five Year Career Plan

• One year’s time – continue studying for an MA in animation at the Royal College of Art.

• Two years’ time – continue with MA.

• Three years’ time – complete MA and look for jobs.

• Four year’s time – continue with entry level job or work my way upwards

• Five years’ time – continue with animation job.

For the modules undertaken in my college courses that were relevant to my animation course, I have only included those that I could remember.

#md6003