Behind the scenes: Durham College students learn from film industry art director

Durham College’s (DC) Animation – Digital Production and Game Art programs hosted veteran art director Lauren Abiouness in October for an industry-driven session for students. Abiouness has many blockbuster credits including Iron Man 2, Interstellar and Avengers: Infinity War, and has worked with directors such as James Gunn and Quentin Tarantino. She shared an inside look at major film production processes including concept art, 3D modelling, lighting passes, pre-visualization and VFX. Students gained insight into how creative teams collaborate and which skills employers value most. The visit provided a meaningful learning opportunity, connecting classroom theory with real-world film practice.