Sony Pictures' IPAX Offers Online Mentorship Program

The Digital Productions segment of Sony Pictures announced that it is offering online mentorships through its Imageworks Professional Academic Excellence (IPAX) education program. The three-month-long mentorship is available to selected students studying computer graphics and animation at 18 IPAX member schools. Sony's mentorship uses Animation Mentor's online training technology, and pools instructors from Sony Pictures Imageworks and Sony Pictures Animation. Mentored students will participate in live video conference question and answer sessions, watch video guest lectures featuring industry experts, and interact with mentors in Animation Mentor's eCritiques video commentary technology. Sony Pictures Imageworks animator Josh Beveridge and Sony Pictures Imageworks technical director Dan Sheerin currently mentor students in the program. Both believe that mentorship is a positive experience that helps to enrich the company's current and future workforce. "Mentoring is rewarding," said Beveridge, "and this program gave me the opportunity to give back to the tradition in a new and exciting way." "I can remember my early career aspirations and how challenging the work can be when you are just starting out," said Sheerin. "Hands-on guidance and honest direction about what will improve your work can really help."