Orientation and First Weeks
The orientation surpassed my expectations in every aspect. EA went above and beyond by organizing a comprehensive one-week orientation during the summer, flying all Canada interns to Vancouver where the home of EA Canada headquarters is. The week kicked off with an impressive opening ceremony dinner, followed by engaging social events like group activities one-on-one coffee walks and an insightful studio tour.
There are also forums arranged for us, where we had the opportunity to engage in discussions with industry veterans, student leaders, high-ranking executives, and even the CEO himself. Everyone was very open to this discussion and it all felt natural and casual. This unique interaction provided invaluable insights into the industry's inner workings and offered a glimpse into the minds shaping its future.
The week concluded with a wrapping-up party and a treasure hunt across the expansive campus, designed to familiarize us with the studio’s layout and facilities.
Transitioning into the first actual work week, the focus was more on settling in rather than going straight into intensive tasks. It involved a few small assignments, getting to know and work with different team members, and learning the workflow, pipeline, atmosphere, paces and processes of the team. It was an excellent opportunity to get into the working mindset.
Day to Day
This role offers a hybrid schedule from 9 AM to 5 PM, with the flexibility of working three days from home and spending two days on-site. This schedule provides an excellent balance between remote work and in-person collaboration.
My responsibilities in this position included utilizing Maya and the Frostbite Engine. I've had the chance to engage with various aspects of our pipeline, gaining exposure to a wide array of tasks and skills. The team has allowed me to explore and participate in diverse aspects of assignments like facilitating animations, creating captivating shots and cameras, set dressing and environment design, previz design and assets cataloging, it was really a wide range of different roles I've explored during this coop term.
Our workweek typically involved meetings on three of the five days, to allow us to sync up with team members.
Learning and Adaptation
Being part of this team marked my first real-world experience in a comprehensive cinematic production pipeline at this level. The work of cinematography within video game engines and assets created a uniquely working pipeline and goals. Our team is composed of all kinds of different disciplines. Each member brings a distinct skill set to the team, and there is a lot to learn from each one of them.
Adaptability and the ability to change and flow between different tasks is a key skill to have on this team. The experience of navigating these varied roles within such a collaborative team was a great opportunity to improve my adaption skills and explore all possible career directions.
Accomplishments and Challenges
During my Co-op Terms, my team and I accomplished a significant milestone by delivering the EA Sports FC24 Gameplay Trailer.
Currently, we're deeply engaged in the development of an upcoming RPG title, in which I was participating in Priviz design, set dressing, shot creation and technical tasks within our pipelines.
Working within a real-time game engine, especially a proprietary one, naturally presented its technical challenges, yet the team has always been there to support and answer whenever questions or issues arise for me. This collaborative environment has been valuable for my growth within the team, allowing me to explore and learn across various disciplines within the production pipeline. Each challenge further enhanced my understanding of how to apply technical skills in a real production environment and pipeline.
The real treat and the moment that I felt my work's impact, such as the FC24 Gameplay Trailer being unveiled and viewed by millions worldwide, is very rewarding. It was proud to see your and your team's work being finally put out and being watched by tens of millions of people around the world.
Despite the challenges, each obstacle has proven to be a stepping stone, offering valuable learning opportunities that continuously improve my 3D-related skill sets.
