Invitation to tender for LightPool Festival

We are looking for experienced digital animators to join a wonderfully ambitious project celebrating the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations and to launch the Lightpool Festival 2018.

Fee: £4000 fixed project fee.
Travel and accommodation expenses to/from Blackpool will be covered as necessary.

Context: On 18 October 2018, we want to create a fantastic experience in Blackpool - Light Odyssey - to push the boundaries of light, space, and sound. The Lightpool Festival is teaming up with BBC Philharmonic to create a fully immersive indoor spectacular in the world-famous Empress Ballroom in Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.

We want to bring the Ballroom to life in 2D and 3D light animation. Live performances of Copland, Britten and Saint-Saëns will fill the air with music that invokes the sea and a sense of place, experienced anew with light, and in conversation with the Ballroom’s unparalleled grandeur. We are seeking to create a new cultural event that’s intensely live, cinematic and of the highest quality.

Content: We are looking for up to 5 digital animators from across the UK to each create 7-minute chapters that show off the best of 3D animation. Under the steer of the Creative Director, you will bring the Ballroom to life in a way that has not been experienced before: an orchestra of animators to meet the orchestra of musicians.

The current musical programme stands as follows and is subject to change: 04’ Copland – Fanfare for the Common Man 08’ Saint-Saëns – Danse macabre 16’ Britten – Four Sea Interludes 08’ Barber – Adagio for Strings 09’ Bernstein – ‘Somewhere’, ‘Scherzo’ and ‘Mambo’ from West Side Story (mvts II – IV)

Skills Development
Skills development is central to this project, and Lightpool is partnering with design schools in London and Blackpool to make the most of this opportunity. Student apprentices will benefit from a structured and supported learning programme – details TBD. While your participation in this programme is not a pre-requisite to a successful application, there will be an opportunity to be involved in developing the next generation of animators.

Timeline: The completed work needs to be delivered by Thursday 20 September, 2018.

About you:

• Significant track-record in delivering high-quality animated works in a number of environments - expert knowledge of a variety of 3D and 4D animation software, including Cinema 4D
• Excellent interpersonal, written and visual communication skills and a collaborative approach as part of a muiti-disciplinary and possibly international team - share our excitement for the culture and heritage of Blackpool
• Capacity to meet the timeline needs of the project and to be present in Blackpool as required (we anticipate two visits)

About Blackpool Illuminations: Blackpool Illuminations is an annual lights festival, founded in 1879 and running annually since 1912. Running for 66 days, it welcomes in excess of 3.5million annual visitors, illuminating 7km of coastline and using more than 1million lamps. The Illuminations were the world’s first spectacular electric light show, and they occupy a unique place in the UK’s cultural landscape and heritage. The Illuminations are principally funded by Blackpool Borough Council and by public donations, and delivered by the Lightworks production team.

About the Lightpool Festival: The Lightpool festival began in 2016, to celebrate the Illuminations by bringing contemporary light and fire artists to Blackpool to be inspired by the town’s unique relationship with light. The festival won the Large Tourism Event at the Lancashire Tourism awards in 2017.

About the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens: The Winter Gardens in Blackpool is celebrating its 140th anniversary in 2018. Its Empress Ballroom – one of the world’s finest dance venues - was added in 1896, and designed by brothers John and William Henry Littlewood. It has played host to famous acts such as The Rolling Stones, The Stone Roses, Oasis and The Prodigy, and has a 3,500 capacity.
http://www.wintergardensblackpool.co.uk/venue/the-empress-ballroom/ 

Application process:

We welcome applications from individuals, creative production houses and creative companies, in the UK and internationally. There is no cost to apply.

Step 1 – Expression on Interest – deadline Monday 25th June 2018, 12pm
A concise portfolio and CV, with links to at least 3 previous digital works.
Please send files no bigger than 10MB. Links to vimeo/youtube etc. accepted

Step 2 – Call to Interview – 2-4 July 2018

All shortlisted entrants will be invited to meet in person or on Skype. Successful applicants will be notified by 6 July 2018, subject to completion of due diligence.

For more information or an informal chat please call Philip Holmes, Lightpool Festival Production Manager on 0771 355 4905.

Please direct applications to Gerri Rowberry with the subject line LIGHT ODYSSEY.

No late applications will be considered.