JOB CALL: Animators and Graphic Designer for Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute animated film

The Tsuut’ina Gunaha Institute program has partnered with the Quickdraw Animation Society to create a short animated film that will be narrated entirely in the Tsuut’ina language. Over the last 12 weeks artists from the Tsuut’ina Gunaha Institute have been hard at work in the QAS classroom learning the medium of animation so that this project can be used to preserve the Tsuut’ina language through the telling of traditional stories.

The pre-production, storyboards, and animatic for this project are now complete, and so the Gunaha Institute is looking for 2 animators to help in transforming the storyboards into animated performance! The 2 animators will work with the art assets already created by the and then use Dragonframe Stop Motion software to create cut-paper animation.

$6000 for each animator. Payments will be made half upon signing the contract and half upon completing the project.

Call opens March 30th

Application Deadline: April 11, 2023

Interviews between April 11 and April 13.

Start of the contract will be April 19th

End of the contract will be August 11th.

Artists are expected to work a minimum of 16 hours a week. Preferably Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday during the day at the Quickdraw Animation Society alongside the Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute Artists.

Expectation is that the animators will work with the Tsuut’ina Gunaha Institute Artists to determine the best workflow for design, layout, and compositing based on the art assets and storyboards created.

At the end of the contract the film will be completed.

The successful candidate will have experience in creating an animated project. Experience with the Adobe Creative suite, cut paper animation, and Dragonframe Stop Motion will be given higher priority.

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact programming@quickdrawanimation.ca

Please send the require documents to programming@quickdrawanimation.ca in a .zipped folder with the subject line “TsuutinaGunaha_Firstname Lastname”

• 200 words on why you want to be a part of this project.
• 1 - 3 animation examples that exhibit your understanding of animation.
• A portfolio and/or a demo reel

Those demonstrate an understanding of Dragonframe Stop Motion and/or cut-paper animation techniques will be seen as an asset.

We welcome applications from all qualified parties, and especially encourage applications from members of diverse communities, BIPOC artists, and artists from D/deaf and disability communities. If you have any concerns or hesitations about this posting, please don't hesitate to reach out to the email address above.

Apply by July 3, 2023

Start mid-July Finish mid-August just after the film is completed.

This is a 4.5 week contract at 35 hours per week, startign on or around July 17. Total compensation for this contract is $3000 and duties will take place remotely.

The Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute was established in 2008 by a group of concerned individuals and led by longtime Tsuut'ina language and culture advocate Bruce Starlight. Since its inception, the Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute had obtained significant strides in the Tsuut'ina Nation School Language Programming, Resource Development, Elders Speakers Socials, Language and Culture Curriculum Development, Community Engagement, Tsuut'ina Language and Culture Committee, Mentor-Apprentice Program, Tsuut'ina Language Teacher Training, Fluency Development, and networking with the Tsuut'ina Language Commissioner. The Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute continues to preserve and revitalize a strategy to improve the overall health of the Tsuut'ina Language. The Tsuut'ina Gunaha Institute has also played an essential role in uniting various Dene Nations across Turtle Island to safeguard our identity as Dene People and continue to assist one another in language revitalization efforts.

The Graphic Designer will be responsible for creating a book that coincides with a short animated film currently in production. Duties include layout, font design and file prep for print.

• Excellent communications skills, the ability to work independently, demonstrated good judgment and initiative are all essential
• We provide a welcoming environment for members from diverse backgrounds; must be open-minded, with strong interpersonal skills
• Organizational and time-management skills are a must
• Excellent design skills (including layout, typography, and illustration) are essential, as is knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
• Familiarity with the fundamentals of animation (in any medium) is a major asset. Knowledge of animation software such as Toon Boom, Flash, AfterEffects, Dragonframe etc.
• Candidates who are interested in animation as an art form and who are pursuing a career in animation or media arts will be given preference.

Applications must include a cover letter outlining your interest and suitability and a current resumé or CV, as well as a portfolio of your work.

Please send your application including resume and cover letter before 5pm on Monday, July 3, 2023 to programming@quickdrawanimation.ca with the subject line “TsuutinaGunaha_Graphic Designer_Firstname Last Name”.

We welcome applications from all qualified parties, and especially encourage applications from members of diverse communities, BIPOC artists, and artists from D/deaf and disability communities. If you have any concerns or hesitations about this posting, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the email address above.