In early July The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, (for those that don't know this is the organization who awards the Oscars), invited 842 artists, filmmakers, and executives to join its organization. 

The 2019 list of people invited to join from the Short Films & Feature Animation and Visual Effects branches were recently listed in an article by Cartoon Brew. Pointedly they picked up on over 20% Of New Academy member Invites, going to the Animation and VFX Branches. 

Also highlighted among the 842 total organizational invites, there was a rise to the overall Academy membership in women, now at 32% (up from 25% in 2015). Unfortunately, The Animation, VFX legs still have a way to go to even itself out. (No new women were invited this year into the academy from these areas).

We are very proud to say that our own Co-Ceo Julie Lockhart is amongst the invitees and has been for a few years now. Julie, of course, is highly qualified for the list. Her credits include Producer on Shaun the Sheep Movie and The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists. ​

The two CEO's got together this month with Animation Magazine for their regular and very popular 10 questions piece. Sarah and Julie discussed how they have been growing the company over the past 5 years, they talked of the toughest aspect of producing a CG-animated feature in the U.K. right now, and they touched on Locksmiths slate including their first film out of the studio, 'Ron's Gone Wrong'.  Other questions included the best tools the studio uses such as their use of VR software, like Gravity Sketch, for some of their early production design work.

Also, this month Locksmith went to Annecy Animation Festival where the team revealed a little more about 'Ron's Gone Wrong' in their Studio Focus Session. The focus was met with an overwhelming reaction in the room and at Annecy overall.
​A great month for Locksmith!

Animation Magazine: Since the studio turns five this year, can you tell us a little about the beginnings and how it all came together? 

​Sarah & Julie: The company was born out of our joint desire to start a high-end CG feature studio here in the U.K., given all the U.K. had to offer — great original IP, a world-class vfx industry, a vibrant, exciting city on the doorstep of Europe and, of course, a generous tax credit.
Sarah: I had just finished Arthur Christmas at Sony in Los Angeles, and coming back to London — a city whose film industry is globally pre-eminent, and whose creative community I love — it really struck me: Why have we never had a major dedicated CG feature animation studio here?
Julie: I had known Sarah from our days at Aardman, and she came back from Los Angeles with this crazy idea of setting up a studio. It felt like a huge step, but I always like a challenge and felt that if there was anyone that could do it here in the U.K., it would be Sarah. We set about finding partners to work with both from a funding and production perspective.
Sarah:  It was basically an impossible dream until we had the amazing good fortune to meet the visionary Liz Murdoch and Matt Holben and Alex Hope at Double Negative, that extraordinary success story of the British film Industry.

Annecy International Festival is a few days away from opening its doors, and the Locksmith crew are packing their bags in readiness for this great event. Set in the beautiful French town of Annecy this yearly festival is once again jam-packed full of events, films, masterclasses and animation talent. ​

The studio will be joining with their partners from the Feature Animation division of VFX powerhouse Double Negative.
In addition to the full programme of events Locksmith and Dneg will be partnering up to meet and recruit new talent for Locksmith's first film 'Ron's Gone Wrong' at the DNEG Booth in the MIFA recruitment area (5.009)

Open to Students, Meetings and MIFA badge holders, without reservation, first come, first seated.
•    Thursday 13 June
•     09:00 → 10:15
•     Impérial Palace Salle de l'Europe
 
How do screenwriters, graphic writers, animators and directors go about making us love the ones we should hate? Major talents from animation film reveal their secrets of creating characters that made Hitchcock say: "The better the villain, the better the picture"

Our Studio Focus session will be open to Students, Meetings and Mifa badgeholders, by reservation. Ticketing is on the Annecy website.
•    Thursday 13 June
•     18:00 → 19:15
•     Impérial Palace Salle de l'Europe
​
For the first time, the founders and key creatives of the UK's new high-end feature animation studio reveal their vision and how they're putting it on screen.

•    Thursday 13 June
•     Booth 5.009
•     MIFA Recruitment Area

Our production partner DNEG will be at their MIFA booth No 5.009 from 11th June - 14th June meeting and recruiting for 'Ron's Gone Wrong'.
Locksmith crew will join them on the booth on Thursday 13th June.  Expect to meet Directors, JP Vine and Octavio Rodriguez, Animation Director, Eric Leighton, Production Designer, Aurelien Predal, Senior Story Artist, Ash Boddy, Line Producer, David Park and Front-End Production Manager Kev Harwood.
We will be posting on our social channels nearer the day to let you know their schedule, so don't miss an opportunity to gain experienced insight and advice on working for this high-end CG feature animation studio.