Animatronics, moulding and 3D printing: designers internship at Wētā Workshop

In March, award-winning WOW designers, Sun Ye and Yuan Jue from China were finally able to travel back to New Zealand for a a two-week intensive internship with Sir Richard Taylor and the Wētā Workshop team!

The Wētā Workshop Emerging Designer Award winner is chosen by Richard Taylor, Creative Director and CEO of Wētā Workshop, from across all competition categories.

As winners, they had the unique opportunity to spend time behind the scenes at Wētā Workshop and flights from anywhere in the world plus accommodation in Wellington for up to four weeks.

The two designers won the 2019 Wētā Workshop Emerging Designer Award for their work of art Huaxia Totem by the design team Sun Ye, Miao Yuxin & Yuan Jue from Donghua University, China.

Credit: Huaxia Totem, Sun Ye, Miao Yuxin & Yuan Jue, Donghua University, China

Yuan Jue talks about her internship:

“Thank you so much to WOW and Wētā Workshop for giving us such a great internship.  

As I am not only a designer but also the founder of a jewellery company, what I learned from my internship at Wētā Workshop was not only about design but also about operating a business.

Wētā Workshop is diligent in their work no matter how big or small the project is. 

For example, we were lucky enough to see some of the props & costumes from various films they have worked on. In order to achieve the most realistic effect, the crew made each prop extremely detailed and exquisite. Every prop is a work of art. 

During our internship, we participated in the shooting of a small loop in the production of a game. Although it was a relatively small project compared with Avatar, the person in charge emphasized speed and controlled every link until he was satisfied. 

The management mechanism of Wētā Workshop is also worth learning from Richard, who is the founder of the company. He is as responsible, friendly and patient with his employees as he is to his work. It is the leader’s passion to the cause and goodwill to employees that will make people happy to follow him and create exceptional pieces.

The process of 3D printing had the greatest influence on me and is also the most difficult and worthy of learning. Although this technology is very popular now, not many companies can use it well. 3D printing has been used in our production for a long time, but some problems were not handled well. Wētā Workshop provided us with good solutions. 

I suggest that designers who have the opportunity to intern in the future, plan ahead and have in mind what they want to gain from the experience. After coming to Wētā Workshop you will understand the general operation process and department of the company, and then you can ask questions about it. 

All in all, please cherish the rare opportunity and good luck!”

Sun Ye talks about her internship:

Please allow me to introduce this internship experience in Chinese first.

“这是一次非常难得又美好的经历，虽然时间不长，但是我还是学到很多的东西。

。它们是在拍摄中需要远程机械操控的连接机关，需要安静和更多的耐心。在实际工作中总结制作经验，熟能生巧。所有的人都很友善，当你遇到问题的时候，他们会耐心的讲解并且帮助你去解决。

随后，进入倒模组之后，我们了解了倒模过程，让我学到很多关于如何实现想要的模型效果的方式。例如，树脂，橡胶，玻璃纤维等不同材料可以根据不同的模型需要去体现材料的价值。激发了我对于材料使用上面的思考。包括后期的喷涂和绘制，也是我们探索最终设计实现的很有效的方式。

在3D组实习的期间，除了交流常用软件和3D打印方式外，我们还感受到了大家对于工作的认真和态度。和谐的工作环境让我盼望一直在这里工作，不仅可以提升自己的技能，还可以通过自己的设计实现想法。在这次实习中我认为最棒的部分就是让我了解到，软件的熟练和深入运用，多个方式与手段去完成同一个设计或作品是我们激发设计创造性的有效工具。

一个概念的实现往往可以通过多个方式去实现，我认为最难的是你脑子里面想的，一个具体设计的逻辑和思考。

最后，给设计师们的建议是好好享受比赛的同时，拓宽视野，多体验多实践，不仅可以激发我们的创造性，同时还可以让我了解到不同实现方式呈现出不同的效果。如果有机会在 Wētā 经历这一切的话，这是最幸运最完美的了。

这是一次非常难得又美好的经历，虽然时间不长，但是我还是学到很多的东西。

它们是在拍摄中需要远程机械操控的连接机关，需要安静和更多的耐心。在实际工作中总结制作经验，熟能生巧。所有的人都很友善，当你遇到问题的时候，他们会耐心的讲解并且帮助你去解决。

一个概念的实现往往可以通过多个方式去实现，我认为最难的是你脑子里面想的，一个具体设计的逻辑和思考。

It was a very rare and wonderful experience. Although it didn’t last long, I learned a lot. 

First, I participated in the animatronics department, fitting connections to props that require remote mechanical control during filming, which requires silence and patience. To summarize the production experience, practice makes perfect. All the people are friendly when you face problems, they explain patiently and help you solve them. 

Then it was off to moulding, where we learned about the process and how to achieve the desired model effect. For example, resin, rubber, glass fibre and other different materials can reflect the value of materials according to different model needs. It inspired me to think about the use of materials, including later painting which is a very effective way for us to explore the realization of the final design. 

During the internship in the 3D department, we not only exchanged common software and 3D printing methods, but we also felt everyone’s thoughtful attitude towards their work. The harmonious environment makes me look forward to working here all the time, not only to improve my skills, but to realize my ideas through my design. In this internship, I think the best part is that I learned that the skilled and in-depth application of software and multiple ways and means to complete the same design or work are effective tools for us to stimulate design creativity. 

The realization of a concept can often happen in many ways. I think the most difficult thing is the logic and thinking of a specific design in your mind. 

Finally, my advice to designers is to enjoy the WOW competition, broaden your horizons, experience more and practice more, which not only stimulates creativity but also helps you discover that different implementation methods produce different effects. If you have the opportunity to experience this at Wētā Workshop, you are the most fortunate.

To my great surprise, Richard let us participate in a day of make-up where we applied special effects to actor, Jed Brophy (The Lord of the Rings trilogy). It was very interesting and made me very excited, because my father is a fan of The Lord of the Rings. I could see the stars in the movie made up in strange makeup, and meet special effects master Richard, who has won five golden Oscars. I guess I helped my dad catch the stars. 