Could someone point me in the right direction to seeking employment with entertainment robotics? How is Animatronics fairing-up to Computer graphics these days?
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ashley Clarke
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In the movie biz CG continues to take a huge bite out of physical effects, but there are still applications for functional robotic props. In any other biz -- like showbots -- I'm not sure how much CG matters. So I'll wait until you clarify the term "entertainment robotics."
If you're meaning to get a job in the movie industry, obviously you have to move to California, if you're not already there. (There are some jobs elsewhere, like in New York, but not many.) The biggest is Industrial Light and Magic, which is in Northern California. Their Web site has job postings and you can apply online. Don't be surprised that there aren't many listings for mechanical effects! There are smaller shops (M5, of Mythbusters fame, for example), Stan Winston, and others, all up and down the coast.
All are companies where a physical demonstration of your skills comes in handy, be it an art portfolio if you're a designer, example of cool code in a working robot if you're a programmer, or a working robot if you're an engineer.
If you mean jobs outside the movie industry, such as Disney animatronics, the Disney site lists jobs in their Imagineering group. These are typically in Glendale (part of LA) or Florida. Do note that Disney is still outsourcing work, so it pays to research a bunch and find out who these outfits are. The new management of Disney (Iger, Jobs) may not depend so much on outsourcing as their predecessors did.
-- Gordon
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