Part 1A) Identify at least 1 currently working person whose work is relevant to yours that you find inspiring. Try to understand how they got to where they are.
Chris Milk-Music Video, VR/AR
- Read their bios on their personal website, company website, linkedin, wikipedia, etc. Yes
- Can you find their resume/CV? Yes
- Can you find their portfolio? Yes
- Where have they worked and what were their jobs? Did they have a ton of crappy jobs when they were starting out or were they successful early on?
:Music Videos and Photography. He is working on VR/AR, Interactive, Installation, Moving Image, Still Image etc.
Chris Milk began his journey working on smaller-scale film and photography projects, which were not always glamorous. While specific details about “crappy jobs” in his early career aren’t widely documented, it’s common for emerging directors to take on various roles in the film and creative industries that may not directly align with their ambitions such as assistant positions, freelance gigs, and taking on smaller, lower-budget projects to get a foot in the door.
- What awards/ grants/ residencies/ etc. have they been awarded?
- Who else has been awarded or participated in those things?
: Milk’s work has been exhibited in museums worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, the Barbican Centre in London, Cent Quatre in Paris, and the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Beijing. Milk has been honored twice with the Grand Prix Cannes Lions, the D&AD Black Pencil, the Grand Clio, and SXSW’s ‘Best of Show’ alongside multiple Grammy nominations, MTV Moon Men, and the UK MVA Innovation Award.
Milk was named one of WIRED’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016, one of The Hollywood Reporter’s L.A.’s 25 Most Powerful Digital Players[6] in 2016, Adweek’s Creative 100 list in 2015, as one of the 50 Most Creative People by Advertising Age in 2011 and 2015, and one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company in 2012. Milk presented at TED in 2015 on the power of virtual reality as a medium to advance humanity, and again in 2016 on the birth of virtual reality as a new art form.
<Collaborations and Participants in Similar Projects>
Gabo Arora – Co-director of Clouds Over Sidra and a key collaborator with the United Nations on VR projects for humanitarian causes.
Nonny de la Peña – Often referred to as the “godmother of virtual reality,” she is a pioneer in immersive journalism. Like Milk, her work blends technology and empathy-driven narratives.
- Have they written academic papers/ journalism/ opinion pieces/ etc.?
- If so, where have they published?
: Yes. Chris Milk is an artist more than a journalist. However, he has expressed his thoughts on art and technology in various interviews, talks, and public forums.
TED Talk (2015) – Milk had a TED Talk titled “How Virtual Reality Can Create the Ultimate Empathy Machine,” where he discusses the potential of VR to foster empathy by immersing people in the experiences of others.
Interviews with Major Media Outlets such as The Guardian, Fast Company, The New York Times Milk’s thoughts on VR and immersive storytelling have appeared in major publications.
- Who is in their network? Who are their collaborators, friends, family, etc.?
Chris Milk’s network is composed of a mix of artists, technologists, filmmakers, and humanitarian figures. His collaborators like Aaron Koblin, Gabo Arora, and organizations like the United Nations, as well as music artists such as Kanye West and Arcade Fire, illustrate his interdisciplinary reach. His career brings him into contact with fellow VR pioneers like Nonny de la Peña and industry leaders showcased at festivals like Sundance and Tribeca. Milk’s professional network reflects his passion for blending technology, empathy, and storytelling.
- Have they gotten press? What publications and writers wrote about them?
Yes! Some of Presses made some publications for him.
: WIRED
WIRED has written extensively about Chris Milk’s work, especially in the context of his VR projects and the potential of immersive storytelling. They have covered his vision of VR as an “empathy machine” and his efforts to merge technology with emotional and humanitarian storytelling.
The New York Times
The New York Times has featured Chris Milk’s work on multiple occasions, often highlighting his innovations in VR and his collaborations with the United Nations on humanitarian storytelling. His work with Clouds Over Sidra and other projects has been showcased in their technology and arts sections.
And there are some more publications such as The Guardian, Forbes, and etc.
- It can be important to understand the economics that enabled them to succeed. What was the average rental price for a two bedroom apartment in the city they were in when they were starting out? Do you think it impacted their development as an artist or determined what type of products they designed?
: In the early 2000s in LA where Chirs Milk started out, the average rental price for a two-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles was approximately $1,200 to $1,500 per month, depending on the neighborhood.
Also, Yes! I think living in a city with high rental costs like Los Angeles and New York likely contributed to the hustle and necessity for steady income streams, which is a common story for many artists and filmmakers starting out. In addition, the need he has to afford rent in an expensive city may have influenced his early decisions to take on commercial projects, like high-profile music videos for Kanye West, Arcade Fire, and U2, which provided both visibility and financial security early in his career.
Part 1B) Cold Call
What you contact them about is up to you and will depend on who the person is and why you chose them. Some possible things to ask them about:
- for career advice
- about a past project of theirs
- to have coffee
- for a job
- for feedback on your project
Part 2) Opportunities
Identify at least 3 companies or opportunities (grants, residencies, competitions, etc.) you’d like to pursue post graduation. These do not need to be things you discovered in the previous part of this assignment.
- If it’s a company, what is the specific position(s) you’d like to apply for?
- If it’s an art opportunity, how does your work relate to the opportunity?
- What do you need to do before applying?
1. Warner Bros. Entertainment
Position
: Visual Director, Video Producer, or Creative Producer
How Your Work Relates
: Warner Bros. produces a wide range of media content from films to TV series, making it a great fit for my skills as a visual director and video producer. Therefore, my background in producing creative and immersive content could be valuable in their producing behind-the-scenes and promotional content for new projects.
What to Do Before Applying
: Build a portfolio showcasing high-quality video productions, especially any large-scale or innovative projects.
: Network with professionals in the media industry, attend events, and engage with Warner Bros.’ creative team on social media platforms like LinkedIn.
: Look for internships for Warner Bros. to gain an inside track on job openings.
2. Universal Pictures
Position
: Creative Video Producer, Content Creator, or Media Director
How Your Work Relates
: Universal Pictures is also dealing with from movies to TV series especially known for its blockbuster movies, and its digital marketing and content creation departments often seek creative producers to create engaging video content for their promotional materials. My skills in creating immersive, visual content could be applied to making these projects
What to Do Before Applying
: Build a portfolio showcasing high-quality video productions, especially any large-scale or innovative projects.
: Network with professionals in the media industry, attend events, and engage with Universal Pictures media team on social media platforms like LinkedIn.
: Look for internships for Universal Pictures to gain an inside track on job openings.
3. Publicis Media
Position
: Content Strategist, Creative Producer, or Media Director.
How Your Work Relates
: Publicis Media focuses on creating impactful marketing campaigns across multiple platforms. My background in visual storytelling and video production would be a great fit for developing branded content, ad campaigns, and digital strategies for their clients.
What to Do Before Applying
: Build a portfolio and resume with media work that demonstrates my ability to deliver strategic and creative content.
: Study on advertising trends and learn more about Publicis’ clients to align my approach with their needs.
: Research opportunities in their graduate training programs or creative residencies and apply to entry-level content or strategy positions.
