Young people around the world get paid to make pictures, shoot video, create music. Think you have the skills to be one of them? Find out…with feedback from professionals already working with the most important and powerful companies in the world.

Win PRIZES, be part of our SHOWCASE…CONNECT WITH THE PROS.   Submit your work.

LAST deadline is May 11.

We are excited to announce the Head of Original TV Programming for DISNEY, Jay Francis, as a judge for the Digital Media Arts Showcase.

Every teacher hopes to make a positive difference in their students’ lives.  The Digital Media Arts (DiMA) Showcase is a potential life-changer.  Our judges are working professionals (Disney, Sony, TimeWarner…) and every entry is guaranteed feedback from one or more.

We realize what teachers are paid, and how tricky reimbursement can be.  So we offer this guarantee: any unused 2015 entry fees can be applied to the 2016 DiMA Showcase.  Order by February 28.

Digital Artist brings her expertise to DiMA Showcase

Melissa Mullin, a Digital Artist who has worked on all the PIRATES films–as well as STAR TREK, RANGO, HARRY POTTER and many others–has joined the judging panel for the 2015 Digital Media Arts Showcase. Ms. Mullin works at Industrial Light & Magic, the premier video effects company in the world.

Next deadline for the DiMA Showcase is March 31.  Enter now to take advantage of advance pricing.

Jay Francis, Director of Original Series for DISNEY has lived the life of an independent artist/entrepreneur.  He’s built a career, bit by bit, outside of the studio system.  And he’s now in a position to bring great artists into the mainstream fold.  He brings a deep understanding, love and appreciation for the independent artist to a position of great power within the studio system.

Boston native, Jay Francis graduated from the distinguished Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

In 1991, Jay and three partners formed Lil’ Gangster Entertainment, a boutique animation studio with offices in Los Angeles and Paris. The company produced traditional animation, live action, graphics, and designs for prestigious clients such as Cartoon Network, Electronic Arts, Interplay Productions, Sega, Canal Plus, MTV, Universal Cartoon Studios, and Warner Bros. Animation. In 1994 Lil’ Gangster merged with Strategic Visions to create Vortex Media Arts, a software development company that generated over four million dollars in revenue worldwide. Vortex clients included Hasbro Interactive, Fox Interactive, and Creative Wonders. Prior to this, he spent six years at DIC Entertainment, supervising such animated series as Dennis the Menace, Heathcliff, Inspector Gadget, Madeline, and The Real Ghostbusters.

In January 1997, Jay brought his animation production expertise to Film Roman as the Director of Talent Recruiting. He was responsible for placing the artistic talent behind such well-known programs as The Simpsons, King of the Hill, Mission Hill, The Oblongs, and X-Men as well as hiring staff for the studio’s development and digital art departments. During that time, he also established the company’s successful Internship program. In 1999, Jay was promoted to Vice-President and General Manager for LEVEL13.NET, Film Roman’s internet subsidiary where he acquired hundreds of animated short films for development into television series, direct-to-video features, video games, and internet programming. A co-producer of the 2001 and 2002 DIRECTV – LEVEL13.NET ANIMATED FILM FESTIVALS, Jay worked closely with satellite television giant DIRECTV to create two compelling 90-minute televised presentations.

In 2002, Jay co-founded Phuuz Entertainment.  Phuuz focused on developing content for the internet, video/computer games, television, film, comic books, and other traditional and new media formats directed at a worldwide audience. phuuz also offered production supervision, consulting services, program distribution, artist management, and localization of Japanese content.  Their clients included Warner Bros. Animation, Warner Bros. Home Video, TV Asahi, Toei Animation, Banpresto, Seoul Movie, TMS Entertainment, MTV, DPS/Film Roman, C2 Pictures, Geneon Entertainment USA, Mutant Enemy Productions, 20th Century Fox Television, Paramount Home Entertainment, Kids WB, and Cartoon Network.

Then in 2007, after more than 20 years as a force of nature in the ‘independent’ world, Jay stepped into his current position smack dab in the center of the animation world…at DISNEY.  We’re proud and grateful to have Jay on board and sincerely hope that his perspective helps make this competition truly relevant to you and other content-creators.

Deadline Tuesday for 2015 Showcase

A fish will feed you today.  LEARNING to fish, you can eat every day.  The Digital Media Arts Showcase is about leveraging the skills you have taught your students, with the expertise of pros working with MARVEL, WORLD OF WARCRAFT, PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, DISNEY.  Yes, we have fish for the best entries (although we prefer to think of them as TOOLS).  More importantly, every category winner will receive free classes, one-on-one consultation, and/or studio time and resources.  And every entrant will get feedback from pros who already get paid to do the work your students want to do. Entry deadline is March 31.

Teachers are invited!

If your student takes home Best-of-Show, or if your students collectively win the Program Highlight prize (number of entrants X average judges’ score), you’ll get a GoPro camera plus a day at Comic-con.  More importantly, DiMA will produce a short video highlighting your program and your students, and post it online as a Model Program in Digital Media Arts.

SUBMIT TODAY: Videos, photography, animation, music, web & graphic design

How about providing an opportunity to get their work in front of top professionals from DISNEY and ILM (PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, STAR TREK, HARRY POTTER), guys who work with brands like MCDONALD’S, COKE, beats by DR. DRE….

DiMA is based on the student showcase launched for the Sweetwater school district in 2009, which has grown every year since.  The 2015 DiMA opens that design to all of San Diego County…and ups the ante in a big way with HUGE industry players as judges, PRIZES that include a summer SCHOLARSHIP to the Academy of Art University, PRO GEAR (like cameras) and a LIVE SHOWCASE that celebrates the best videos, animation, music, graphic design and web design of students from all over San Diego County.  Learn more at: www.dmashowcase.org