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Saturday, March 22 (9am - 5pm PST)

Talent + Education Day at the BRIC Summit focuses on industry career education, educator resources, and acts as an outreach and recruiting day for companies and studios to connect with up-and-coming talent. We host portfolio reviews, career panels, creative academies, skills & software trainings, creator spotlights, and more.

The Industry Think Tank also continues virtually during Talent + Education Day with collaborative workshop sessions.

Talent + Education Day

BRIC Stage

Saturday, 9 AM PST

Opening Keynote: Carving Your Path Towards a Creative Future

Join us for Global Talent & Education Day at the 2025 BRIC Summit, as we kick off with an inspiring conversation on navigating the the twists and turns in pursuit of a creative career. Hear from BRIC Co-Founders Nicole Hendrix and Alison Mann, and Jacqueline Jones, Vice President - Creative, Magic: The Gathering at Wizards of the Coast, as they share their personal journeys and advice for rising creatives and teachers to help nurture and prepare the next generation of creatives.

Speakers

BRIC Stage

Saturday, 10 - 11 AM

Future of Creative Jobs

Hear from CVL Economics’ Adam Fowler on where creative jobs are headed and how we can target cross-sector opportunities for creative workers. He’ll be joined by Arts4LA’s Gustavo Herrera, who will share how the Creative Jobs Collective Impact Initiative is working to increase creative jobs in the region, and Allison Frenzel, California Department of Education’s AME CTE and Youth Apprenticeship lead, who will share insights from the Creative Economy Workgroup’s plan to develop new and additional pathways into California’s competitive creative fields.

Speakers

Partner

Industry

Saturday, 10 - 11 AM

Dreaming Big: Putting Your Best Foot Forward & Landing an Internship in Animation

Hear from the DreamWorks Early Career Programs team about how to best position yourself for that coveted internship.

Speakers

Partner

BRIC Stage

Saturday, 11 AM - 12:30 PM

Think Tank Workshop 1 (BREAK + CHANGE)

This workshop will build on the insights from the BREAK: The Dread and CHANGE: The Framing panels from the previous day. Come prepared having watched the panels in advance, and get ready to collaborate in this interactive workshop.

Speakers

Education

Saturday, 10 - 11 AM

Hands on Games

Roblox's Tom Smith will walk us through how to leverage educational games for fun and learning in the classroom

Speakers

Industry

Saturday, 11 AM - 12 PM

Insights to the Recruiting World of Sony Pictures Animation

Please join us for an informative chat with the Recruiters from Sony Pictures Animation team as they dive into what life at Sony Pictures Animation looks like, along with what they look for in portfolios and resumes and how to stand out when applying for roles!

Speakers

Partner

Entrepreneur

Saturday, 11 AM - 12 PM

Film Festival Strategies to Advance Your Career

Unlock the secrets of film festivals as a launching pad for your career. Join our expert panel to discover how you can stand out to festival programmers, leverage professional development opportunities offered, and utilize film festivals as a resource and pathway into the industry and into your creative development as a filmmaker.

Speakers

Industry

Saturday, 12 - 1 PM

Behind the Animation: Interns Who Turned Passion into Profession

Join a panel of former Nickterns who turned their internships into full-time careers at Nickelodeon. Hear their inspiring stories, learn about their career paths, and gain valuable insights on how to break into the industry and succeed.

Speakers

Partner

Entrepreneur

Saturday, 12 - 1 PM

Off the Beaten Path: The Trials + Thrills of Indie Animation

Hear from animators who dared to be different, embracing the freedom and challenges of indie animation. Our panelists will reveal their triumphs, setbacks, and lessons learned from their journeys outside traditional studio systems. 

Speakers

Education

Saturday, 12 - 1 PM

Digital Badging: Empowering Talent with Skills Certifications

Join us for an in-depth exploration of BRIC’s Digital Badging program, designed to be an inclusive and accessible way for creative talent to certify their skills. Learn how BRIC Digital Badges, developed in collaboration with industry professionals, can aid individuals seeking careers in animation, VFX and gaming, and discover the benefits of Pre-Apprenticeship Digital Badges for students and educators.

Speakers

Partner

Industry

Saturday, 1 - 2 PM

Disney Animation presents: Pathways, Portfolios, and Perspectives in Animation

Join Walt Disney Animation Studios’ artists, production professionals, and recruiters for a unique opportunity to learn more about their career journeys and our filmmaking process! In this session, we’ll discuss potential pathways for character designers, cg generalists, and production management while offering insights and advice on how to best prepare your portfolios and resumes for career opportunities in the animation industry.

Speakers

Partner

Entrepreneur

Saturday, 1 - 2 PM

Producing Independently with LXiA

Join independent filmmakers to talk about the process of pitching, funding & selling their independent projects in the US and international markets. 

Speakers

Partner

Education

Saturday, 1 - 2 PM

The Future of the Arts, Media, and Entertainment Workforce in LA County

Join us to to learn about Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity's investment in the Arts, Media, and Entertainment High Road Training Partnership (AME-HRTP) and the industry opportunities for prospective participants and employer partners.

Speakers

Partner

Industry

Saturday, 2 - 3 PM

Inside the Pitch: What the Other Side of the Table Wants You to Know

What actually makes a pitch stand out? How do you grab your audience before they even realize they’re hooked? And how do you step into that pitch meeting feeling like a total powerhouse, instead of a bundle of nerves? Join Asians in Animation for an insider look at the pitch process, straight from someone who's been on the other side of the table. Covering what decision-makers are actually thinking when you're pitching, this crash course will help you put your best foot forward and know what to expect in any room - or Zoom! Whether you're preparing for your first big pitch or tackling your next big showcase, take a peek behind the curtain with us so you can navigate the pitch process with confidence.

Speakers

Partner

Entrepreneur

Saturday, 2 - 3 PM

Indie Game Development 101

Hear from ED Tim Cullings at Seattle Indies on how you can take the first steps towards becoming an indie game developer and building a sustainable career with a thriving community.

Speakers

Partner

Education

Saturday, 2 - 3 PM

From Aspiring to Hired: Storyboard Portfolio Progression

Want to succeed as a storyboard artist? Join Skydance Feature Story Artist Shelby Nicholas for a behind-the-scenes look at her portfolio's evolution. Discover the key improvements she made along the way that helped her land the job and how you can build upon your own skills and portfolio.

Speakers

BRIC Stage

Saturday, 2:30 PM - 4 PM

Think Tank Workshop 2 (REINVENT + IMPACT)

This workshop will build on the insights from the REINVENT: The Creator Mindset and IMPACT: Sustainable Hiring panels from the previous day. Come prepared having watched the panels in advance, and get ready to collaborate in this interactive workshop.

Speakers

Industry

Saturday, 3 - 4 PM

Big Brain Energy: Neurodivergence in Media

Neurodiversity and neurodivergence may feel like buzz words that are thrown around, but what do they mean, and why does it matter? In this session, neurodivergent experts from Disability Belongs share their own perspectives on what it means to be neurodivergent. Neurodivergent creatives can learn how to advocate for themselves. Employers will learn how accommodations are simpler and less expensive than you might think while also maximizing productivity and employee retention. Together we can create an environment that is both inclusive and supportive of neurodiversity.

Speakers

Partner

Entrepreneur

Saturday, 3 - 4 PM

Start-Up and Manage a Creator-Owned Business

Ever dreamed about starting your own business with like-minded creators? A worker cooperative is a business that is owned and controlled by its workers. It is an underused model in the cultural  industry that channels the creative power and freedom of the workers to build a world grounded in solidarity.

Join Camila Tapia-Guilliams (Transverse Cooperative, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives),  Dominique Pearson (LA Coop Lab, US Federation of Worker Cooperatives),  Leslie Ezeh (Legends Animated), and Sruti Suryanarayanan (Art.coop) as they share their experiences as co-owners and co-op developers, and learn the ins and outs of how you can start a worker cooperative of your own! 

Speakers

Partner

Education

Saturday, 3 - 4 PM

AME Institute: An Industry-Aligned Animation and Gaming Curriculum

Preparing students for industry careers means having an industry-aligned curriculum. In this workshop you’ll work with the CA-AME Industry Recommendations document, collaborate with other teachers, and identify gaps in your current curriculum.

Download the Resources.

Speakers

Partner

BRIC Stage

Saturday, 4 - 5 PM

Industry AMA

Join industry pros Christina Wun, Fortunato Frattasio, and Mark Andrews for an interactive Q&A session to round out the BRIC Summit. Get answers to your burning questions about industry practices, trends, and tools. This is your chance to ask the experts and gain valuable insights across animation, visual effects, and gaming.

Speakers

Industry

Saturday, 4 - 5 PM

Presented by Wacom: Art Jam with 9B Collective

Grab your tablets and join the co-founders of 9B Collective, the first Black-owned concept art studio made up of primarily BIPOC artists, for an Art Jam session. Bring your creativity and get ready to learn, make new friends, and be inspired.

Speakers

Partner