Tommy Ting
Digital Futures (MA, MFA, MDes), 2019. Technical Production Manager at Framestore
There’s no right or wrong way to get started, it’s not a competition and there are no rules! You don’t have to be this or that by a certain age. Be patient and surround yourself with people and things that inspire you, the rest will come.
What program did you graduate from and when?
I graduated from the MFA Digital Futures program in spring 2019.
What is your current title or role? (ie. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)
I am currently the Technology Production Manager at Framestore, a BAFTA and Oscar-awarding winning visual effects studio in London, UK. We also have offices in Montreal, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Pune. Our work spans across film, tv, advertisement and immersive projects. I am also an art practitioner working primarily in video games.
Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?
The main draw for me to OCAD U was their Digital Futures program. After my undergraduate degree in fine art, I had my own art practice but was also working in the video games industry. When I finally decided to pursue another degree to further my credentials and network, I began researching different institutions across Canada. In fact, I was mostly considering a private film school instead of a university. When I found out about Digital Futures, it was pretty much a no-brainer for me. The program seemed really compelling and unique in its spirit and teaching. To find out for myself, I even flew out to Toronto to attend the DF Open Show exhibition. The incredible faculty was the final piece that really sold it for me, and Dr. Emma Westecott and Dr. Cindy Proemba ended up being my primary and secondary advisors!
Please briefly describe your current job/practice.
As a Technology Production Manager in Framestore’s Research and Development department, I am mainly responsible for the management of all of our current research projects as well as looking into and planning for any potential future research opportunities and partnerships.
As an independent game designer, I am mostly interested in games that blend genres of art and interactive story games.
How did you get started in your career?
Some people have a clear vision of their career from a young age and others wander around till they find something that sticks; I am definitely the latter. There’s no right or wrong way to get started, it’s not a competition and there are no rules! You don’t have to be this or that by a certain age. Be patient and surround yourself with people and things that inspire you, the rest will come.
What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work?
It depends on where you are in your career and what you want to do. For me personally, I applied/agreed to every opportunity that had the slightest relevance to my interests. While I was studying at OCAD U, I was a Research Assistant as well as a Teaching Assistant. Moreover, I worked at CEAD as a Student Ambassador, was invited to speak on panels and had an internship at a VR/AR/XR studio. After I graduated, I was brought back to be a sessional instructor for one semester to co-teach a third-year Atelier class in the DF undergraduate program.
What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work?
I get to work with some of the most talented, creative and smart people in the world. It is the most enjoyable aspect of my work but it can also be a challenge to manage my own expectations of myself.
What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently?
I left OCAD U with a much stronger sense of self because of the relationships I developed with my peers and professors. These relationships and people remain the most important and dearest thing I take away from my graduate school experience. Thesis is stressful but try to be kind to everyone, including yourself!
What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice?
My key responsibilities to maintain my practice are: networking, managing grants, and conducting research activities such as gathering visual material, reading and learning new tools/technology.
However, the most important thing is to take care of yourself and others around you. Be patient, learn to let go, be confident, ask questions, share your passion, listen to your intuition, know your worth, don’t be a jerk and keep dreaming!
What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years?
I have been short-listed for the Creation Accelerator grant from the Canada Arts Council so I am crossing my fingers. If awarded, the grant will allow me to develop and create a game with a group of passionate folks.
