winter 2022
A Reflection on the Shortest Prime
Ministerial Term in UK History by Amber
Turner-Brightman
“There’s So Much Beauty Out There That
Just Wants to Be Found”- An Interview
with Space Society
An ADHDer’s Guide to Fighting Winter
Blues by Rachel McDonagh
Artist Portfolio #1 by George Wilson
“We Remain United, and That’s Beautiful”-
An Interview with LGBT Society by Amber
Turner-Brightman
‘Nope’ - A Review by William Brooks
Artist Portfolio #2 by Cody Mason
Post Roe v Wade, There Has Never Been A
Better Time To Watch ‘Happening’ by
Kearin Green
Enough is Enough Portsmouth- A Powerful
Display of Working Class Solidarity by
Amber Turner-Brightman, Kearin Green &
Nushie Adhikari
How to Deal with Being Alone by Nushie
Adhikari
Artist Portfolio #3 and Interview: Immy
Goodman by Rachel McDonagh
A Reflection on the Shortest Pri
Written by Amber Turner-Bright
Last Thursday, Liz Truss delivered a short and sweet resignation speech
outside Downing Street. She reflected upon her 44-day premiership- the
shortest in the history of the United Kingdom, and the most unpopular on
record- admitting that she “could not deliver” on the mandate upon which she was elect-
ed. In an attempt to unpack what might be the biggest understatement in politics, let us
look at Truss’ most notable achievements of the last 44 days.
Truss is Elected with 57% of the Vote
In a twist which surprised many, Liz Truss beat her debatably more qualified counterpart
Rishi Sunak in the Conservative Party membership vote with a 7% majority- a figure
which represents 0.1% of the UK’s population. Ironically, she seemed to pride herself on
the pathetic mandate upon which she was chosen, promising to grow the economy
and cut taxes in an attempted return to Thatcherism.
Kwasi Kwarteng’s Mini-Budget Disaster
Several weeks into her premiership, Truss’ Chancellor of the Exchequer
Kwasi Kwarteng announced a “Growth Plan”
which involved, in summary: blanket tax cuts
which benefitted the rich disproportionately,
including the abolition of the 45% higher rate
of income tax and a lowering of corporation tax,
and a return to unlimited bankers’ bonuses. Perhaps the
only point with potential to ease the burden of the cost of
living crisis was a two-year freeze on energy bills, but refusal
to aim this solely at society’s most vulnerable resulted in
minute cuts for the poor, and reluctance to implement a
windfall tax made it unsustainable. The confidence placed in
the mini-budget by the PM and Tweedle-Dee was obviously
unfounded- the increase in borrowing required to fund it was
so negatively received that the pound dropped to a 37-year low
against the dollar, and the IMF stepped in to offer an
me Ministerial Term in UK History
man, Illustrated by Rachel McDonagh
unconventional warning. Whilst at first the pair were stubborn (read: stupid) enough
to stick with the plan, Kwarteng eventually announced his resignation halfway through
October, and his successor Jeremy Hunt reversed the majority of cuts announced.
The Lettuce Rises
After Kwarteng's resignation, the Daily Star began livestreaming a lettuce, pondering
whether it would outlast Truss' premiership.
Suella Braverman Resigns
Five days ago, Fareham’s own Suella Braverman-
famous for obsessing unhealthily over sending innocent
asylum seekers to Rwanda and publicly scolding those
who enjoy tofu- resigned from her position as Home
Secretary, citing an accidental breach of government se-
curity rules. In her resignation letter, Braverman ex-
pressed concern about Truss’ leadership, stressing that
“resignation is the right thing to do” when mistakes are
made by politicians.
The Fracking Fiasco
On the same day as Braverman’s resignation,
the Commons filled with Conversative MPs
preparing to vote against a Labour motion to
ban fracking. To offer some context, the Con-
servative’s 2019 manifesto- the one which
the general public actually voted for-
pledged a moratorium on fracking unless
new evidence arose on the risk of earth-
quakes from the practice. Shale gas, sourced
from fracking, is also the most unpopular
form of energy in the country, making it a
very strange proposal for the party to vote
against. But this was no ordinary vote- in
fact, earlier that morning Chief Whip Craig
Whittaker had told all MPs that the vote was
“not a motion on fracking”, rather “a
confidence motion in the government”.
Nonetheless, over forty Tories refused to back the government, in spite of alleged bullying,
shouting, and “physical manhandling” by ministers. There was outrage among some MPs,
with former Energy Minister Chris Skidmore stating that he was prepared to “face the
consequences of his decision”, and loyal backbencher Charles Walker telling the BBC he
had “had enough of talentless people putting their tick in the right box, not because it’s in
the national interest, but because it’s in their personal interest to achieve ministerial posi-
tion”. Whilst the motion was defeated, damage to Truss’ authority had been done.
Truss Resigns
This brings us to Thursday, upon which Truss delivered her brief resignation speech out-
side Number 10. The lettuce was declared victorious, and the country breathed a collective
sigh of relief. It was announced earlier today, after the withdrawals of Penny Mordaunt
and Boris Johnson from the leadership race, that Rishi Sunak would be taking her place as
Prime Minister.
This replacement should console no one. Truss was not just a bad apple- her arrogance
and disregard are characteristic of the rotting orchard which is the Conservative Party.
Sunak may not be as incompetent, but he is equally as incapable of representing working
people as any of his predecessors.
What the country wants and desperately needs is not only
an immediate general election, but complete system
overhaul. Sunak is soon to become our fifth prime
minister in the last six years, and the fourth to be
unelected. None of these elitists care about us,
which is why they’re leaving us to freeze and
starve in our homes this winter. It is
obvious that liberal capitalism functions
solely for the rich, and it is time
to say enough.
“There’s So Much Beauty Out There That
Just Wants to Be Found”- An Interview
with Space Society
Written by Amber Turner-Brightman Page Design by Annie Bethwaite
For this interview we met with Lauren and Kye, President and Vice President
of Space Society. We discussed their lifelong passion for space and making the
universe accessible to everyone.
What is Space Society?
Lauren: We aim to provide a welcoming space for people of all courses to
connect over the interest of space. Anyone of any experience can join.
Kye: It doesn’t matter how much knowledge you have about space. It’s for
everyone who has an interest or a curiosity towards the subject. It’s also a place
where you can learn and share your interest with everyone else.
What kind of events and activities do you run?
Kye: We aim to be more of a learning society, with events such as going to
observatories; we have a few team members who have astrophotography
equipment so we can do some of that; stargazing; some people from the ICG
[the university’s Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation] have offered us their
services so we can run lectures and discussions. We also want to have a lot of fun
over the year as well, so we’ve got ideas for a couple of nights out, a pub quiz,
build your own rocket, and a few other interesting things along the way.
The Orion Nebula. Photography by Lauren and Nikki Young.
Do new members need any equipment?
Kye: No, just bring yourselves and your curiosity. That’s all you need.
You mentioned astrophotography equipment- do you have much
equipment already?
Kye: So you don’t really need a lot of equipment. We’ve been offered a space
in the university’s TechnoPole building, where they have a smart screen and
projectors, so we can do presentations or watch documentaries. Lauren as well
as Thierry, our social media coordinator, both have astrophotography telescopes.
Lauren: I have a manual one which is just awesome. I’ve got too many
telescopes- one is manual and the other is slightly smaller and is computerised,
so you type in what you want to see, and it will take you there. It is so cool.
Kye: What we want to do over the year when using the telescopes, is go for the
days when the planets are aligned with each other. With these telescopes you can
see Jupiter, you can see Venus, you can see Mars… You can see all these planets,
and you might be able to see them in one night.
Jupiter and its four largest moons. Photography by Lauren Young
Is it challenging to stargaze in a city with so much
light pollution?
Lauren: I think it’s definitely a challenge. It was one of
the first things I noticed when moving from a rural area,
but I think that’s kind of what excites me most. When I
was talking to students, a lot of them come from cities and
Do new members need any equipment?
Kye: No, just bring yourselves and your curiosity. That’s all you need.
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lot of light pollution, but we
night, you’ll know you can
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the first time, being able to see the individual swarms… It was just so cool. It
wasn’t until I did A-Levels that I started getting involved in astrophysics and
astrophotography. I’ve been able to take photos of Jupiter and Saturn ever since
then, so for me it’s always been in the background of my life.
Kye: I personally haven’t had the opportunity to use telescopes, but my passion
started back in primary school I believe, when they were teaching us about the
planets and how they’re positioned. That was the starting point for me. I’d go
on to read articles and watch YouTube videos about all we’ve discovered about
space, which is very minute compared to what the universe has to offer. After
school I didn’t quite believe in myself or believe that I could do something like
this, so I went into Aerospace Engineering to see if I could get close to it at least.
I then decided that it was my passion and that it was what I wanted to do. So
here I am!
Do you have a favourite space hobby?
Lauren: It’s got to be astrophotography.
I can remember the first photo we took of
the Milky Way not through a telescope, just
through a DSLR camera, and it just looked
amazing. I managed to go down to Goonhilly
Satellite Earth Station in Cornwall with my
mum, and we were able to take a photo of
the antenna and the Milky Way in front of it.
It’s one of my favourite photos that I’ve ever
taken, I think.
Kye: The thing I’ve always liked doing is learning- just
learning about space. At the moment, myself and Lauren
are part of a team who are creating a satellite with the
university and the European Space Agency. I’m leading the
project and we’re close to finalising what our goals are and
our research, and from December onwards, we get to build
the satellite and send it into space.
The Milky Way. Photography by Lauren and Nikki Young.
What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned about space?
Lauren: For me, it’s that the first shark fossils are older than Saturn’s rings by
350 million years.
Kye: There’s nothing that I haven’t found interesting, but I think what intrigues
me the most is that for everything we’ve learned about space, which is so vast, we
actually only know about 5% of the universe. There’s so much more to discover.
I even read an article recently by one of our lecturers, whose theory on quasars is
actually world-renowned, and it’s a new discovery. It’s amazing.
Why would you encourage someone to join Space Soc?
Kye: Like we said, everyone has a curiosity about space. It’s one of those
wonders throughout your life which you always question. Why is Mars red, or
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An ADHDer’s Guide to Fighting Winter Blues
By Rachel McDonagh
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, psychiatrist or even a med student! I have an ADHD
diagnosis and I’m speaking only from my own experiences. If you happen to relate
to some or all these things, that doesn’t automatically mean you have ADHD too.
Furthermore, people with ADHD aren’t a monolith, so this is not meant to be a
pure representation of anyone who has it. This article has been written for educa-
tional purposes only and if you want help, please speak to an appropriate medical
professional.
Daylight Savings Time- something that seems fantastic around March and horren-
dous by October. Initially I had written about the history of Daylight Savings, as
some of it regarding the UK is rather fascinating! However, waffling about that in
this article is simply going to take up far too much of my time, which is a precious
commodity if you have ADHD. Instead, I shall recommend a few different videos if
you wish to do your own research.
The constant in my life currently is the ever-consuming darkness that fills our skies
as soon as lunch is over. Both the hours of daylight and my attention-span will con-
tinue to get shorter, dancing in almost perfect synchronicity to try and make me re-
gress into a sad little creature until next spring. While I can’t claim to have com-
pletely eradicated the effects of the early nights, I think I’ve found some ways to
combat them that I’m hoping will be beneficial to everyone.
Routine, Time, Scope.
These three words are enough to spark fear in most people with ADHD. I’m very
aware of the challenge in trying to follow a routine like that of a 9 to 5; over or
underestimating how long a task will take; or struggling to continuously perceive
an ongoing project. Having ADHD means that we often ‘feel’ time instead of
seeing it - time is connected to people, activities, and things. As the nights draw in,
this can confuse any habits or instincts we have, especially during term time where
we’re expected to have a substantial amount of self-discipline. This has become
even more apparent to me as I’ve started my postgraduate degree, which requires
a lot more ‘independent study’. During primary and secondary school- and even
my undergraduate to an extent- everything was timetabled for me, all I had to do
was show up! There is no ‘mental load’ required and any subsequent mental tasks
like homework, coursework, or revision would basically just sit on the backburner
until they were very urgent. Now I’m left to my own devices, and I’ve quickly
realised I’m going to have to be on top of both attending and doing things.
How I try to give my life more structure is a mixture of making sure things aren’t
just swimming around in my head getting lost, and thinking of my day as
something that can contain tasks with no set time in which they must happen. This
gives me a metaphorical basket that represents the amount of time I have during
the day, and there are tasks I can choose to place in it. The tasks vary in size, and I
can only fit so much, but there are several ways to do this and there is no specific
order in which they need to be placed.
Then once I think my head is starting to get a bit full again, I will simply write
everything down: any task or chore in no coherent order. This is just to get it out
and stop me from getting overwhelmed. In doing this I can then join some tasks
together, organise them into categories, or filter them out entirely. When I have a
solid list of things I need to do I can start thinking about where to slot them into my
day. This is the ‘tasks’ part of my aforementioned basket metaphor. I don’t always
work during ‘normal’ hours either, but I do try to keep a balance and not overwork
myself. This may sound conceptually vague to those of you who enjoy the rigid
structure of planning your time hour-by-hour and honestly, I’m envious of your
ability to do so.
I may not always get everything I want done in any given week, but this method
has been a huge improvement over how I used to work- which was basically not at
all. Despite feeling rather secure in how I now have to work, I also understand that
getting started on this can be the hardest part. This is where I would suggest
talking to friends, family, or lecturers! Lecturers or people on your course can offer
some specific insight that you may find really beneficial, whereas others around
you can help to ground you should you find things are getting to be a bit much.
It’s key to remember that whether you deal with a learning disability or not, those
around you are almost always in the same position that you are! You’re not alone
in the way you feel and anything that seems like a bit too much can always be bro-
ken down into something more manageable.
Eating and Sleeping
I struggled to decide what I was going to put in this section and the previous one,
especially as I’ve found there is a lot of overlap between the two. So, I’m using this
section as a way to build on things, but there may be a bit of crossover between
them too.
Eating is extremely important. Trying to eat healthy is something we should all
strive for, but making sure you eat enough is paramount, especially if you take
medication like I do. While people have their individual preferences, such as how
many hot meals you should have per day or whether to even eat breakfast at all– I
strongly believe consistency is key here. If that means cutting some corners, having
some ready meals or frozen pizzas when the idea of cooking gets a bit too much,
do so! There is no shame in simply feeding yourself, even if every meal you have
isn’t homemade.
Snacking is also beneficial, especially during longer days or when you know you’re
going to be out of the house for a little while. I’ve found protein bars to be
somewhat of a lifeline when I hyperfocus at the library- only realising the time is
getting on because it’s already dark outside- and can tide me over until I’m ready to
go home and make dinner.
It's almost the same with sleeping habits. While ideally we all get 8 hours of sleep a
night at the same time and wake up feeling refreshed, it doesn’t always work that
way. A mixture of hyperfocus and revenge bedtime procrastination often keeps me
up until I look at my phone in absolute horror at the time. At the risk of sounding
like a broken record, things like alarms or other external stimuli really do help to
snap you back to reality and give yourself a chance to take a break!
While it is often said that you should limit your screen time before bed (and I do not
disagree with this), having a reliance on dopamine does make this a bit difficult to
achieve. If, like me, you have to watch or listen to something to go to bed, some
adjustments can make it easier on your eyes. Putting your laptop on a side table or
away from your bed with a dimmed screen reduces strain, not to mention it stops
you from accidentally knocking it on the floor! Utilising a TV would be beneficial,
especially in training yourself to recognise that this means bedtime. Podcasts or
white noise also get rid of the need for a screen while still providing that external
sound.
If the advice I have been giving up until now sounds too conceptual, things like a
consistent sleep and meal schedule can act as anchors. For some of us, we can only
really commit to one or two aspects at a time and if you are one of these people, I
think getting enough sleep and enough food are great things to prioritise. You
really can’t do much else without them, after all!
Social Creatures
I am acutely aware of my position writing this article, and that it will not reflect
most people reading it. I am currently undertaking a Postgraduate degree and I
also studied in Portsmouth during my bachelor’s. I’m also a rather talkative,
outgoing individual, but I’ve certainly been in the position of not knowing anyone
in a room and wondering if I’m going to spend my time at university utterly alone.
This is simply not true! I genuinely believe the only way to not make a single
connection during your time studying is if you lock yourself in your room all the
time. While the expectation is to become friends with your flatmates, that doesn’t
always happen, and it didn’t happen with me! It doesn’t mean they’re not nice
people (although I know you can’t always get on with everyone) it just means
they’re not your people.
Whether your course is big or small, there will be chances to connect with others, or
maybe even a group! The University also has a huge range of societies where there
are opportunities to meet new faces. This has the added bonus of something you
can find you have in common with one another, or maybe it would be the oppo-
site! Furthermore, there’s a multitude of ways to keep in touch with others online.
Discord is my primary example and some of the newer features they’ve introduced,
such as in-server games and activities, have made reconnecting with friends from
my bachelor’s even more fun!
There are introverts and extroverts, both of whom can have ADHD – and some
people don’t! Regardless, having exposure to others around us and building
positive connections, no matter how strong, can be important to solidifying our
place in a new setting. Forging bonds gives us an anchor to ground ourselves with,
should the seas of anxiety try to pull us under.
Final Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to read this! I congratulate you for getting through
my ramblings and ultimately, I hope something from this has resonated with you.
Whether or not you have ADHD, I want to once again stress that you shouldn’t
feel any shame in not doing things the ‘right’ way. The winter months are not easy
to get through and while I find anchoring myself to certain things or people very
helpful, it might not be right for you.
Nevertheless, taking care of yourself doesn’t have to just be like the cute videos or
pictures people post on Instagram or TikTok. If making your life a bit easier in-
volves having a few ready meals in your freezer because cooking feels far too
overwhelming, or needing to reach out to a lecturer or support network just to
talk about everything swimming in your head – do so!
Resources
Listed below are some university-based resources with most being available to all
students, not just those with any disabilities. Links can be found on the online
version of this article.
• Health and Wellbeing Support details different wellbeing services the
university offers, including but not limited to the Student Wellbeing Service.
• Student Wellbeing Service offers a more direct resource, with access to
Informal advice and registering for one-to-one help.
• Additional Support & Disability Advice Centre (ASDAC) is the university’s
Disability Centre, which can offer advice or aid in applying for other grants
or benefits.
• Purple Lantern Society is a society aimed at creating an inclusive space for
neurodivergent students, founded by neurodivergent students.
• UOP Res Life’s Instagram
• International Student Enquiries offers contact details for international
students, with specialist staff for different regions.
• UOP Global’s Instagram
• A list of the societies currently running within the university.
I would like to think I’ve been an artist for my whole life, and
have always been creating something be it physical art, cosplays,
and my digital art. Art has been an important form of expression
for me as it’s how I’ve connected to a lot of my interests over
time.
The subject matter for my art admittedly tends to be fanart
of whatever my interests are at the time. However, I have
found that doing fanart, especially of anime and/or manga,
has actually improved my artwork by a great deal and helped
me to get better at proportions. Many aspects of my style are
simply those I have learned from other incredible artists- most
of my current style and character design taking heavy amounts
of inspiration from Hirohiko Araki (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)
and Takehiko Inoue (Vagabond), even making my own characters
in response to their works.
In these sets of images, I have a mix of older and newer work; some unfinished pieces; and in numerous
styles. Art is an ever-evolving form and being able to look back on what I've done and compare it to
what my style looks like now is one of my favourite things about it. It’s really interesting to see what I’ve
taken in from other media and I often find that when I get into another artist’s work, I learn from them,
and my own quality of work improves!
My goals as an artist are to eventually be
able to improve my art to the level where
I’m comfortable to take more
commissions, such as the Millennium Rod
tattoo design (centre on image number
1). To do Being able to showcase my work
with the magazine and on social media is
an unbelievably valuable part of being an
artist as it has the potential to draw in
people from all over :)
I have also been working on graphic
design pieces as it is the field I want to go
into after graduating. My favourite things
to come out of my practises are my JoJo
designs which I plan to experiment with
and put on different things (prints;
clothes; stickers etc).
Although I haven’t posted on
it for a while, you can find
some of this artwork and
some others on my
Instagram @vientrisi and my
Twitter @thongofachilles.
For most of the art shown, I
used an iPad Pro 10.5 and
1st gen Apple Pencil.
Nope: a review b
Something is lurking in the clouds above the Agua Dulce d
The date is November 25th 2006, and Jordan Peele has just begun D
rhythmically massaging Keegan-Michael Key’s exposed belly while all
meowing the snake charmer song in an attempt to increase his
chances of winning at Deal or No Deal. Yes, the road to era-defining
visionary auteur is often paved with such tribulations, but alas, the
confines of MADtv could only shackle such brilliance for so long.
Nowadays of course, Peele is recognised as the preeminent
creator-mogul of acclaimed horror film and television.
You can find him on the covers of Vanity Fair
and GQ—often adorned in a sophisticated
black suit jacket and oversized glasses—
staring off into the distance
contemplatively. The words “subversive”
and “genius” now doggedly cling to him
like so many arse hair nuggets after an ill-advised dairy binge.
Happily, our newly anointed God has taken a break from desecrating
The Twilight Zone in order to helm his third feature film as writer/
director. This time he brings a wealth of talent along for the ride in order
to realise his most ambitious project to date. Hoyte van Hoytema’s
sumptuous 65mm photography relishes muted deserts below and
ominous churning skies above. Michael Abels’ score oscillates
seamlessly between sinister throbs and telling nods to classic western
themes. Ruth De Jong imprints her role as production designer with a
myriad of typically evocative sets. And then there’s the excellent cast.
The film reunites Peele with Daniel Kaluuya, who is joined by Keke Palmer as a chalk-and-
cheese sibling duo running Haywood’s Hollywood Horses following the mysterious death of
their father Otis Haywood Sr. (Keith David). While OJ (Kaluuya) adheres to a rocky stoicism
that makes Clint Eastwood seem like Jim Carrey; Em (Palmer) lives her days as one excitable
performance opportunity after another. In these roles both actors are perfect foils for one
another, with her endless energy delightfully ricocheting off his static and monosyllabic
persona. Also in the mix is Ricky “Jupe” Park—played with unnerving perfection by Steven
Yeun—a former child actor whose life is marked by a tragic and traumatic event from his past.
A tech-savvy conspiracy nut (Brandon Perea) and a veteran cinematographer with a voice like
E.T. gargling gravel (Michael Wincott) complete the ensemble.
by William Brooks
desert, and it’s so hungry it could eat a horse (or seven).
Despite their varying personalities, backgrounds and motivations, it’s surprisingly easy to unite
these characters under a single front, namely when an opportunity presents itself to catch “the
Oprah shot”, or concrete, irrefutable UFO footage that TV hosts and news outlets would pay
thousands for. This all ties in to the most prevalent thematic track of Nope: the element of
spectacle. Peele chooses to invoke it by including a biblical verse, Nahum 3:6,
as a preamble: “And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee
vile, and will set thee as a spectacle”.
Spectacle in this sense constitutes an all-encompassing
blanket of unreality which permeates every facet of our
screen-obsessed modern culture. Despite Nope’s blunt,
count-me-out title, spectacle culture is not something you
can opt out of in reality, and it will suck you in all the
same. When OJ and Emerald realise there’s some
kind of a flying saucer lurking in the clouds,
their first impulse is to capture it on film and
own their own representation of it. From there,
the ill-advised pursuit of fame and fortune through
commodification is a strong throughline that is only slightly un-
dercut by the film’s ultimate resolution.
Above all, Nope commands attention because it’s so conscious about itself being a
spectacle and it’s asking us to decide whether it works as more than just the fun time
which it absolutely is. Many have heralded Peele’s arrival into the realm of the Spielber-
gian, but in truth this genre mashup of comedy, science-fiction, modern western and
monster-based suspense brought to mind a sort of reverse Tremors (1990). What holds it
back in this regard is Peele’s continuing struggle with exposition scenes in general, and
the underwritten nature of his main characters. In other words, Nope got close, but it
wasn’t quite Perfection, NV.
Despite these thrills, Nope never compromises in its continuation of Peele’s reckoning-
with-racism theme following the excellent Get Out (2017) and unfocused Us (2019).
This time it is achieved specifically through the history of cinema and its intersection
with the experience of black Americans to create a backstory that permeates virtually
every frame of the film. It is a far grander and more elusive allegory this time round,
and will undoubtedly invite endless debate and interpretation among Peele’s
dedicated fanbase for years to come. For horror nerd internet discourse at least, Nope
springs eternal.
Written by Cody
Mason,
z
Edited by Amber
Turner-Brightman
Content warning: In this article Cody touches upon areas of trauma,
and there are some drawings you may find disturbing.
Hello readers! I’m Cody, a third year Computer Games Technology student
here at UoP, interested in pursuing a wide range of creative arts. In this article
I’ll focus solely on drawing, what it means to me and how it has helped me,
accompanied by some examples of drawings I’ve done in the past so you
don’t get too bored whilst I ramble.
STARTING DRAWING
I've been drawing for as long as I can
remember, doodling in my maths
books at school during class or in my
sketchbook at lunchtimes. For me,
drawing was more of a habit growing
up, something I just did if I had my
butt on a chair, a piece of paper in
front of me and a pen in my hand. It
wasn't until I was about 16 or 17 that I
started taking it more seriously as a
skill to be honed and started incorpo-
rating focused studies into my regular
art practice.
INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION
I've always looked up to artists ever since I was little.
Illustrators such as Yoshitaka Amano, Katsuya Terada,
and Jean Giraud (known more widely as Moebius)
have had a huge influence on my drawing style and
development. When I'm feeling uninspired, I can al-
ways find something in their work which breaks me
out of my current framing, and shows me a new way
to look at the world which amazes me and gets me ex-
cited to draw again!
z Page design
by George
Wilson
I love the dark, strange, and mystical. I will often be
drawn to representations of demons, dragons,
spirits, and other mythical and religious symbols
which I like to explore through my art.
DRAWING AS A TOOL FOR HEALING
Drawing has become a primary way of exploring and expressing my inner
thoughts and feelings. It's a way for me to sit down with myself and pay attention
to how my mind wanders, to give myself the space needed to untangle certain
difficult feelings I may have been avoiding, or to make interesting new connec-
tions between ideas that I may not have seen before.
I use drawing as a tool to help me think,
communicate, and understand myself bet-
ter. I think anyone else can do this (and
should give it a go, too). I like to think of the
phrase 'draw out' in the sense that we're
coaxing something out and unfolding it in
front of us, like a big map (or drawing) of
our inner emotional world. Everyone has
their own inner emotional experience,
whether they're very in tune with it or not,
and for a lot of us our inner worlds can be
very messy, unpredictable, and painful
places.
z
I feel that drawing in this meditative way- using art as a vehicle to explore and
unfold our inner emotional conflict- has done me a lot of good and has given me
tools to navigate and integrate my traumas properly. That's not to say that it's
an easy road to follow, but it's a road nonetheless, and recent scientific research
on using art practice as therapeutic intervention for conditions like PTSD leaves
me very hopeful about its ability to help us heal from our past trauma.
MOVING BEYOND TRAUMA
Drawing, of course, is not only about healing, but also about creative thriving.
Drawing has been a way for me to appreciate the simultaneous complexity and
simplicity of the world around us. You can look at someone's face and find it in
beautiful, simple harmony, and yet struggle somehow to translate it onto the
page. Let this encourage you to slow down and pay more attention to the minu-
tia and subtle shifts that occur. In paying more attention to something- not
feigning attention, but truly attending to something- we are saying "this is
worth my time".
When we pay attention to the things we know we should- when we pay atten-
tion to the good- the universe rewards us in kind. This is when we learn, when
we see how we were going wrong, and we are given the opportunity to correct
it. This is when things feel like they just fall into place and we go "Aha! I've got
it!". These 'Aha' moments don't need to be grandiose however, as we're often
lead to believe. Often, when we're paying attention correctly, we see how there
can be lots of little 'aha' moments. Each one of them amalgamating into the ex-
perience of joy.
z
Feeling joy in of itself is rewarding, but I'd ar-
gue that it also helps orient us towards our fo-
cus more clearly, helps us feel present and
positively connected in our bodies and minds
to the world around us, and deepens our lived
experience.
‘Joy is the present
tense, with the
whole emphasis on
the present’
- Kierkegaard
z CLOSING THOUGHTS
It is my hope that some of you reading this will have resonated with some of the
topics touched upon here, or that maybe you read something which you disa-
greed with and it made you consider how you feel about drawing at a deeper lev-
el.
Nothing would warm my heart more than to know that some of you walked
away from this article half-way through reading to go make something, so I
thank you dearly for taking the time to read this to its conclusion.
You can find me on: Instagram- @CODODRAWS, where I post personal drawings;
Artstation- @PIXELCOD, where I curate my more professional artwork; and
Twitter- @PIXELCOD, where I post my game development progress.
Post Roe v Wade, There Has Never Been
A Better Time To Watch Happening
By Kearin Green
The recent overturning of Roe v Wade in the US, in which the Supreme Court
voted to overturn a 1973 law which gave people access to safe and legal
reproductive healthcare, sent shockwaves through the world. Members of the
Supreme Court who voted in favour of this motion have been accused of using
their personal and extreme religious beliefs to justify a decision which affects an
entire nation of people with diverse religious and secular beliefs. Overall, this
change in law was officiated simply to control women.
The aftermath of this ruling is already showing devastating consequences, with
many in states where abortion has been prohibited being forced to have what is
now being branded ‘government-mandated pregnancies’. A recent, horrific
outcome of the post-Roe v Wade regime includes an abortion being denied to a
10-year-old rape victim, who ended up having to travel from Ohio to Indiana to
access abortion healthcare.
As a result of this catastrophic event, conversation regarding reproductive rights
has peaked across the globe; including in the UK where our favourite Tories are
now feeling the need to express their opinions. This includes Nadine Dorries,
who felt the need to express her interest in decreasing the UK’s legal abortion
term limit from 24 weeks to 20 weeks. Dorries was heavily criticised for this
comment, considering she chose not only to express this opinion at an
inappropriate time, but also for not taking into account that many people seeking
an abortion this late into pregnancy are often doing so in urgent and often
emotionally devastating circumstances. Dorries absurdly still considers herself
pro-choice in spite of her comments. In addition to these comments, the UK
government has also been lambasted for removing commitments to reproductive
and sexual health rights in an officiated statement on gender equality; just a
month after the overturning of Roe v Wade. People have become scared- and they
have every right to be.
In the aftermath of these events, I watched Aubrey’s Diwan’s brilliant Happening.
The film, based on French writer Annie Ernaux’s memoir, details the experience
of Anne, a French university student who finds herself pregnant in 1963 when
abortion was still illegal. Determined to carry on her studies and pass her final
exams, she takes matters into her own hands, even if it lands her in prison.
The film won the prestigious Golden Lion at last year’s Venice Film Festival and
has been added to streaming services in the UK at the best possible time. As well
as being extremely well-made, having a great score and an excellent leading
performance, it approaches a topic as delicate as abortion with grace and fierce
honesty.
Happening promises a raw and brutal telling of the impact of denied abortion;
specifically at a time when women all over the world really had limited and often
life-threatening options. Being part of a community of young female students
who consider becoming pregnant ‘the worst possible thing that could happen’,
Anne is rejected and tricked by doctors who don’t support her. She faces the
harsh reality that without an abortion, she will have to sacrifice her entire future
and ambitions to raise a child she is not yet ready to have.
As I watched this film, I didn’t consider Anne to be selfish, I didn’t perceive her
as a villain for the human desires which led to her pregnancy, nor her subsequent
plans for an abortion. I saw Anne as an ambitious and bright student who
deserves empowerment. She comes from a working-class family and having
grown up watching her parents, has realised she wants more to the life they’ve
had access to. In her society, contraceptives are not commonly known about and
are considered taboo by conservative doctors and people. She keeps her
pregnancy a secret from her closest friends until she is at her wits end, and
doesn’t even tell her loving parents what is happening to her- she is completely
on her own. She knows how limited her life has the potential to become if she
follows the path of being an unmarried young mother, and she would rather risk
her life than choose that path.
Anne states that she would like to have children one day to a doctor, just not
instead of a life. It is a simple yet pivotal moment in the film, but it is immensely
profound. The film is not about the anti-choice approach of ‘you’re killing a
baby’: it’s about Anne, her body, and her future, and how these things connect in
ways those who oppose abortion rights are too indulged in their own fog to see.
Happening coldly reminds us of a fact that has to be repeated thousands of times
and is obviously not always understood by all: you can ban, limit and deny
abortions, but they will carry on happening. When they are less accessible, those
undertaking them will simply suffer to take control of their health and their lives.
Happening is available to stream on MUBI UK and Ireland and is available to
rent or buy on multiple other platforms. Check out Justwatch to see where you can
access it from in the UK.
Enough is Enough Portsmouth- A Powerful
Display of Working Class Solidarity
Written and Designed by Amber Turner-Brightman,
Photography by Kearin Green, Interview Conducted by Nushie Adhikari
This Saturday, Guildhall Square came to life with the voices of hundreds, discontented with
the state of our government and our economy. The chant “cut back, fight back” echoed
through the streets in one of the largest demonstrations Portsmouth has seen in recent times,
a powerful display of working class solidarity.
The protest comes in the context of a hopeless new government- headed by the unsuitable
Liz Truss, who was voted in by 0.1% of the United Kingdom’s population- and a worsening
cost of living crisis, in which we have seen price hikes in food, energy, and rent. Last week
alone, Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget was so disastrous that it caused
inflation of food prices to surge and required intervention from the Bank of England.
Working people are no longer willing to be complacent in this elite incompetency, and
rightfully so.
Enough is Enough is a campaign founded by trade unions and community organisations,
demanding an end to the cost of living crisis. They have five demands: a real pay rise; a
slash of energy bills; an end to food poverty, decent homes for all; and taxation of the rich.
They argue that it is up to us to fight for these demands. Saturday saw over 40 protests of
this nature take place nationwide, including in Portsmouth, where strength was found in the
city’s unity.
Jon Woods, the leader of Portsmouth Trades Council and a spokesperson at the protest, said
that he felt that this outcry was a long time coming- but he believed things were starting to
move very quickly. He said he felt hopeful after seeing the high turnout and shared his am-
bitions for future action, citing the value of “grassroots rebellion and revolt from below”.
An example of this revolution can be found in the strike action which coincided with the
October 1st demonstrations. Over 170,000 workers walked out on Saturday in the largest
wave of industrial action so far, with postal workers in the PO area code making up 13,000
of this figure. In support of these strikes, Woods stated that “instead of being passive
victims, people are starting to take action themselves”. This mobilisation is vital in the
advancement of the Enough is Enough cause. We must stand together to demand change.
Content Warning: This article deals with themes of loneliness.
The festive season is getting closer and closer. Now more than ever, it is
easy to fall into the void of loneliness.
You see couples dancing in the gleaming illumination of the Christmas
lights, making plans for how they will spend the holidays together:
wrapped up warm, sharing a blissful silence.
You look at them, then look at the vacant spot next to you on your own
bed and wonder if that’s all it will ever be. Just a gap collecting dust, a gap
that makes your bed seem colder and bigger than it is.
You don’t take up that much space and your bed feels empty even with
you in it.
It makes you hate the holidays. Why is it that as soon as the Christmas
lights go up, the world-eating void in your chest grows bigger and bigger,
hungrier and hungrier?
Maybe you are just being miserable. Maybe you are resentful. Maybe you
are jealous that those around you have a hand to hold to keep them warm
when the days get colder and the night comes sooner.
The clouds constantly pouring with rain don’t make it better. You feel too
enclosed and suffocated, when all you want is the open sky and the
sunlight to bask yourself in.
Maybe that's the issue. The weather is terrible. The sun is absent and each
day, you yearn for that warmth, or any warmth. On dark cold days you
used to have the embrace of your parents, or even old high school friends
to protect you from the dark days of winter, but now here you are. Alone.
Alone in a new city that is foreign, almost alien, but resembles a place that
could exist. You are now stuck here for three more years. The thought of
that makes you hate the city more and more.
You hate this city.
You are miserable.
You are alone.
You are lonely.
Everything is terrible.
This city is to blame for it.
Then you go for a walk by yourself to the beach. You stare at the
oscillating waves crashing against the stony beach. It's uncomfortable to sit
there, but you can’t help but be hypnotised by the rhythmic tides going
back and forth, almost as if it has a heartbeat. So you continue to sit.
You think about all the people who were maybe once as melancholy as
you are, who sat in the same spot as you, looking at the same glistening
water.
You wonder where they might be. You wonder if they know that someone
somewhere is thinking about them, even though they have never met
them. You know you will never meet them, you will never know what they
will look like… yet here you are thinking about them.
You think maybe in the future another lonely person will sit where you
have sat, look out into the deep blue sea and think about you. There's a
slight comfort in that.
You look at the endless sea and wonder why you feel so trapped in this
city when you know there is so much out there. You are treating it as if it is
permanent, as if it is the end and you are stuck. You have tried so hard to
get here, to get where you want to be, and you know that if need be, you
can try just as hard to get out of here.
You also realise you aren’t the only one in this city who is alone right now.
So many of the people you see on the street- the ones sat in front of you in
the library, those nursing a coffee alone in a café which is slightly over
your budget- they were all lonely once. Even couples holding hands and
smiling from ear to ear were alone once.
Your thoughts are endless now.
TYhoius cwiteyriesnt’ot ablwamayesfolornite.ly and maybe you aren’t alone. There are so
many people in this city, waiting to make more friends, who love the
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gosivceillathteinmg cwreadvietsfocr.ashing against the stony beach. It's uncomfortable to sit
there, but you can’t help but be hypnotised by the rhythmic tides going
bYaocukloaonkd afot rtthhe, aplemoopslet asas tifwitithhatshaeihr eloavretbdeoant.eSsobyyotuhecobnetaincuheatnodstith.ink,
they might not have known each other a few years ago, yet here they are
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ythoeuyamree,twthhrousgaht ipnutrheecsoaimnceidsepnocteaasnydonuo, wloohkeirnegtahteythaersea, menejogyliisntgeneinagch
wotahteerr’.s company.
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sboembeawckhehreereisatghainink,inagndabmoauyt btheeimt w, eilvl eranitnhorugmhatyhbeeyiht awviell nbevseurnmnye,tbut
tyhoeumw. Yoonu’t kcanorew. Yyoouuwwilillbneevfienre.mYeoeut mthiegmht, yshoaurwe tilhlantemveormkennotwwwithhat they
wsoimll elooonkeleiklsee…oyr emtahyebre you awrielltbheinhkeinreg agbaoiunt bthyeymo.urself. Either way,
you will be back and you will be okay, because you know that people are
Youotutthheirnekwmaaiytibneg ifnorthyeofuutourfeinadntohtehmer. Sloonmeleytipmeerssoynouwhilal vsiet wtohbeerethyeooune
htoavmeaskaet,thloeofkirostumt ionvtoe.thIfeydoeuenpebvleuresstepa faonrdwtahridnkoantbootuhteypoaut.hT,hyeoreu'swaill
snleigvhetrckonmofworwt ihnetrheath. e path might lead.
YJuosut liokoekaawt tahveeegnodilnegssbsaecakaintdowthoenvdaesrtwnehsys oyfotuhfeeseel aso, ntorathpipnegdisin this
cpietyrmwahneennty,oeuveknnothwistshienrkeinigs sfoeemlinugchthoautt'sthheeraev. yYooun ayroeutrrehaetainrtg. Tiht easwifiniteisr
pweilrlmpaanssenatn, dassliof wit liys tthhee etrnedesanwdilyl coouloaurretshteumcks.eYlvoeushwaviteh thruieeds.sIon hthaerdbltionk
gofetahneeryee, t,owginettewr wheilrlebyeoguownea.nt to be, and you know that if need be, you
can try just as hard to get out of here.
You get up from the cold floor of the beach and you think to yourself: you
wYoilul baelsokraeya.liTsheeyroeu’sasroemne’totnhee wonaliytinognetoinhtehaisr yciotyurwvhooicies aflotenresoriglohnt gn.ow.
MSoamybaenyoouf’tlhl ecaplletohpelme .you see on the street- the ones sat in front of you in
the library, those nursing a coffee alone in a café which is slightly over
your budget- they were all lonely once. Even couples holding hands and
You will be okay.smiling from ear to ear were alone once.
Written by Nushie Adhikari
Page Design by George Wilson
WRITTEN BY RACHEL MCDONAGH ☺ EDITED BY AMBER-TURNER
BRIGHTMAN ☺ PAGE DESIGN BY GEORGE WILSON
For November’s Artist Portfolio, we're taking a slightly different approach in the
form of an interview! I spoke with Immy Goodman, a 3D Animator, Artist, and
friend of mine. Immy graduated from Portsmouth University in 2021 with a first-
class degree in Animation. We spoke about her journey as an animator, what she
has accomplished since graduating, and where the road may take her next.
PHOTO BY @DAISY.POPPLE ON INSTAGRAM
HOW DID YOU FIND NAVIGATING THE INDUSTRY
AFTER YOU GRADUATED?
Honestly the first word that comes to mind is ‘tricky’. Yeah, it was. I think no
matter how much someone tries to prepare you, it’s different when you actually
do it. With every application I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of
getting something. I would get so invested in it, to a point where I would
convince myself that whatever I was applying for was my dream job. Most of
the time it was, but as soon as I’d hit ‘send’ on something I’d have to try and
pretend it didn’t exist - because rejections or simply not hearing back was
difficult to handle. I wasn’t just sending things out with no thought, though. I
tried to give myself a time frame in which to just work on my portfolio and my
showreel before I looked for any old job.
I think stuff like that is really useful because it grounds you, stops you staying in
a limbo for too long. That will be different for everyone, it depends on how
much you can tolerate.
However, one thing I wish I'd taken on board sooner and stopped hesitating
about is reaching out to people? With networking, which I know isn't a fun
word. No one really likes doing it I don't think, but once you reframe it, I feel
like it becomes a lot more than that. You're not just networking, you're
connecting with people? Meeting people with similar interests and positions
who you can learn from. Obviously, you need to be respectful of people's time,
you know. If someone gives you feedback about something you have to be open
to it, take it on board. Don't try to just get things or only advice from people, it's
about making genuine connections, especially since people in animation from
the interactions I've had are very friendly.
There's a load of ways to do this, too. Lots of online and in-person events, even
if you're just going to see what things are like, because opportunities have an
odd way of finding you. You need to be ready for them, but you won't get any if
you're not doing at least a little bit of searching. LinkedIn or just general
'networking' really doesn't have to be your enemy. If you do it in an authentic
way and you take everything as best you can, it makes navigating a whole lot
easier.
BECAUSE THEN PEOPLE WILL REMEMBER YOU?
Exactly. I used to think of
LinkedIn, for example, as
something that wasn’t for
people in our industry. I
thought it was more
business-y than anything
else. In reality it’s a really
useful tool.
Engaging casts a wider net
out to other people seeing
you and what you’re all
about. It doesn’t always
have to be about jobs, just
being yourself is great.
Sending someone a
message to say you enjoyed
a talk they gave or that you
saw their work somewhere A STILL FROM ‘NOTHING SPECIAL’
means a lot, especially
when you remember all this
stuff adds up.
Don’t worry if you think it’s too late to start or that it won’t count because you
might not know what kind of career you want. You don’t have to feel like you
know everything right now but you lose nothing by keeping yourself open like
that.
YOU WERE A PART OF THE FIRST COHORT FOR THE
SCREENSKILLS ANIMATION TRAINEE PROGRAMME,
HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?
This is actually relevant to what I was saying about connections, because I
didn’t find out about it on my own. In the Discord server we used during our
final year someone had posted a link to the ScreenSkills website - and they said
they’d heard about it from their friend! I’m very grateful for it, it’s a good
example of smaller interactions blossoming into something bigger.
I just applied, got an interview and was lucky enough to get in! When you’re in
you still have to apply to the placements like anyone else, but the pool of
applicants is a lot smaller. It’s also not a permanent job since it’s a part of the
scheme, but it’s with real companies working in the industry, and is pretty
much the same as if you were going straight into a job but with slightly different
expectations. I do believe some people accepted jobs from the studios they
worked at after the placement, too, so it’s not just a one and done thing.
The programme itself is mainly about improvement and opportunities. There
was a mixture of people who were graduates, like us, or those who wanted a
career change. Everyone had a different background, which I also thought was
really cool. We were given a lot of good advice through some sessions about the
industry itself. Learning about different job roles throughout different
pipelines; freelancing as an alternative or navigating festival circuits and seeing
where some
gaps in your abilities might be and trying to fill them in.
I also got a mentor, which was so valuable. I know people say there’s ‘no such
thing as a silly question’ but I really think I pushed that! My mentor really went
above and beyond and it’s amazing how much my confidence increased from
their input. Not everyone in the scheme knew what they wanted to do, either.
Having that mix also felt pretty reassuring because I know everyone starts to
feel the pressure, especially after graduating, that you need to know exactly
what you want to do. Seeing that flexibility in a way that was directly tied to the
industry was comforting.
AND THROUGH THE PROGRAMME YOU GOT A
PLACEMENT?
Yeah! I worked at Aardman Animation for almost five months as a Trainee
Layout Artist.
WHAT WAS YOUR JOB ROLE LIKE?
So the show that I worked on, Lloyd of the Flies, is a mixture of 2D and 3D. So
the characters, props, general assets are all 3D - but the backgrounds are 2D.
I’d work with the storyboards given to us to make sure each short looked
correct, in terms of the camera and general cinematography but also blocking
out some simple poses too. All of these parts- framing, poses- all had to be
approved independently so I got to work with a lot of really talented people. It
was really interesting to see how I fit into that, especially in terms of
collaborating with others. We missed out on some of that during university
because of the pandemic but I think even then seeing how it works first hand
provides you with so much more.
Despite using Maya for my job, which is something I was familiar with, I was
kinda surprised at how differently it was used during production. Actually using
it was pretty much the same, but files and organisation was utilised totally
differently. I got to pick up software that I hadn’t used before, like ShotGrid or
AnimBot, and it was a nice mixture of learning new things and relearning stuff I
was rusty on.
Not only that, but having ‘Trainee’ in my job title made me feel so much better
about asking my colleagues loads of questions! I know they wouldn’t mind
anyway, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel more secure because everyone
knew I was a trainee. But I really didn’t feel like I was being treated any
differently. Like if someone else knew they wouldn’t be able to finish all their
shots, it would be distributed amongst everyone else. I was worried about this
at first because I just didn’t want to let anyone down, but after a while you
realise that it’s all just a team effort. One week you might need an extra hand
but the following week someone else does! It’s just the way things happen
sometimes.
A STILL FROM ‘NOTHING SPECIAL’
WHAT DID A TYPICAL WORK WEEK LOOK LIKE FOR
YOU, AND HOW DID IT FEEL WORKING FROM HOME?
On Monday mornings we would have a weekly catch-up, which wasn’t
compulsory but recommended. The heads of each department would talk
mostly about progress, what was achieved the week prior and tasks for the week
ahead. Even though individually, you’re just doing one job or supervising a
small group of people, being reminded what you’re working on is a
collaborative effort really helps put things in perspective.
We used a piece of software called ‘ShotGrid’, which is owned by Autodesk, the
same company who owns Maya. It’s a useful piece of production software and
I’m glad I got a chance to use it. However, I did have my own spreadsheets for
my work, which I’d organise by task and whether I’d submitted them, whether
they’d been approved, etc. This was mostly to keep track of myself, as there
were times where something that had been previously approved on ShotGrid
might come back with a change needed. Sometimes I would’ve completed a lot
more work since that previous approval, as would others on my team, so taking
the time initially to put my own stuff together was really beneficial.
In the layout team, we would have weekly meetings with our CG Supervisor and
Junior Production Manager. Again, this was to check in with everyone
specifically on our team and make sure everyone was on the same page with any
changes or just the general workflow. We would also have an ‘Episode Launch’
where we’d all watch through the animatic for the next episode we were
working on. This helped with continuity amongst us when it came to what
props or assets would be used for certain scenes, saving a lot of time down the
road.
Working from home was a bit odd, but it was nice. The one thing I had to get
over was the feeling that because I was working remotely, I had to solve my
problems all by myself. Like if I was frowning at my computer for a half hour or
so because of something I couldn’t do, in an office environment that would
probably get noticed. Or if I start pacing, or I could actually just go and ask
someone directly! It took a bit of time for me to remember I should message a
colleague or supervisor for help if I needed it.
Something that made this click for me was the realisation that it’s much more
painful for everyone if you struggle quietly, much more painful. Like ultimately
I wanted to do my job, do it well, and at the very least not make other people’s
lives harder. So there was one time I’d heard a colleague mention something to
avoid when completing a specific task. I quickly realised I’d done that exact
thing a little while before, but thought it was fine. When I heard it mentioned
again I then thought ‘maybe I should ask someone about this?’. So I did! I sent
a message to everyone asking why we shouldn’t do it, and it was because it
would cause a problem further down the line of production. I then immediately
said I think I’d done that a little while ago, but it was fine! The work hadn’t been
passed along yet, luckily there were no problems, and it was easy for me to
tweak.
It just shows that if you try to keep quiet about something, you might just make
it more difficult for others. Obviously you make mistakes you didn’t even know
about, that’s to be expected! But it’s so much nicer using these things as
learning experiences, and understanding more about what you’re making helps
you to avoid making those mistakes in the future. I know this was just one
production but everyone was just so supportive and friendly that it wasn’t long
before I felt comfortable enough with others, even those not in my department,
and in myself.
And look after your back! Take care of yourself! Being able to work is
important, obviously, but making sure you have a good set-up for your own
health is even more important.
A STILL FROM ‘NOTHING SPECIAL’
HAVING NOW SPENT YOUR TIME ON A PRODUCTION,
AS WELL AS GOING THROUGH YOUR DEGREE, WHAT
DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT ANIMATION?
I like details. I’ve always liked details, I think I’m pretty observant and enjoy
being analytical. With animation this has manifested itself in breaking down
movements, and studying other people’s work. Being able to apply the
principles I know but also see how creative someone can be when I’m watching
something animated. I feel like it’s allowed me to appreciate the craft a lot
more, especially now I have more first-hand experience as to what goes into
making things people love so much. I just think it’s allowed me to see the world
in a different way- even if I’m now a lot more aware of the way my family walks
or talks or the way my dog runs when we’re outside, it’s still fun.
I know throughout my career, especially with the expectation that you’ll be
moving around a lot, I’ll be faced with constant challenges. I think that’s quite
exciting, and opens a door to continuous learning. I don’t think I’m ever going
to stagnate or get bored and that feels reassuring.
NOW THAT YOU’VE FINISHED UP AT AARDMAN,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEXT?
First of all, if I ever got the opportunity to go and work for Aardman again, I
would! But for now I’m back to doing what I was doing after I graduated. Not so
much back to basics, but once again solidifying my skills and maintaining my
showreel. I’ve been looking at some online 3D animation courses too, just to
have something to keep myself occupied with before I decide I’m ready to put
myself back out there!
A lot of online stuff you do have to pay for, but I’m grateful I live in a time
where there’s an abundance of free resources at my disposal. I have no excuse
to not keep doing something, even if it’s a bit different. I think it’s time to hone
in on what I don’t know. It’s easy to have that stuff pointed out to you,
especially if you have the chance to work on a production like I did. However
that’s only half the battle, you then have to apply yourself to improving, which I
want to do now I have the time. I know I said I like animation because it’s a
continuous learning process, but I still want to feel confident wherever I end up
next.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADD,
OR ANY ADVICE YOU MIGHT LIKE TO GIVE?
You need to learn to make mistakes and be okay with it. Even if you don’t
realise and in the moment it feels like a total disaster, it very rarely is. Mistakes
throughout your career are inevitable, especially when you start out. If you do
think you’ve made a mistake, tell someone! It makes everyone’s lives so much
easier in the long run.
If you’re someone who lacks self confidence, please don’t dismiss others when
they give you praise and have faith in those around you. When I started, I
would really beat myself up for being slow or not understanding things as
quickly as I thought I should. If I caught myself thinking I wasn’t good enough,
I’d remind myself that I was hired by someone, chosen by someone- do I think
they’re wrong? No! I would never doubt my supervisor, or think they don’t
know what they're doing. I wouldn’t doubt the people who looked at my work
and decided I was a good fit. Putting that in other people’s hands helps you not
be so biassed towards your own insecurities.
For students, just replace ‘supervisor’ with ‘lecturer’, if you’re doing okay and
getting good feedback and praise, you’re doing fine. There’s always room for
improvement but trust that other people around you know good work when
they see it. If you worry about not having the right skills, don’t. Everyone has to
start somewhere, but when you do find that somewhere, build off your friends
and colleagues. It’s more beneficial than you might realise! You’ll never be
completely on your own, but you have to keep those relationships going and
said relationships will always matter outside of how they fit in with your job.
If I had to summarise I’d say that yes, having certain skills for certain jobs is
important, but you don’t ever really stop being a student. Embracing that and
letting go of any ego you might have will make for a much more fulfilling career.
Enjoy creating things with other people and getting to know them on a personal
level, because one day you might be supervising someone who comes to you
with the same worries and fears you had.
Immy can be found via her LinkedIn profile or her website. Her graduate film,
‘Nothing Special’ can be watched on Vimeo. Lloyd of the Flies can be watched
on ITVX (formerly ITVHub).
IMMY’S FAVOURITE RESOURCES
• https://www.animatedwomenuk.com/ - AWUK exists to positively
support, represent, celebrate and encourage women in the animation and
VFX industries in the UK
• https://womeninanimation.org/ - Gender equity and representation in the
workplacea
• https://agora.community/ - More talks and resources
• https://www.screenskills.com/ - Information about ScreenSkills
• https://www.screenskills.com/job-profiles/ - Specifics about job roles
within the schemes
• https://www.riseupanimation.org/ - Free industry advice and feedback for
BIPOC
• https://www.animationhappyhour.com/ - Insightful podcast including
guests from across the pipeline
• https://gradsingames.com/ - Games industry specific info (aimed at
graduates but still useful whatever stage)
• https://www.therookies.co/ - More resources aimed mostly at graduates
• https://london.siggraph.org/ - Frequent events in London providing
feedback on work as well as a chance to chat with people in the industry