Gearbox Software and the Academy of Art University have both announced a new partnership called ‘Borderlands Cooperative’.
The two companies will provide students of the university with an amazing career development opportunity. In conjunction with Academy of Art professors, while using the resources offered from 2K and Gearbox, students will create a short film set in the popular Borderlands universe. The animated short is expected to release sometime in 2013.
At a panel this morning featuring 2K’s Scott Pytlik and Kelly Miller, who are seen above with Gearbox’s Anthony Burch and Adam Fletcher, the team talked about ‘Borderlands Cooperative’
“Academy of Art’s mission is to prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century and this project with industry leaders at 2K and Gearbox is exactly the kind of real-world experience we strive to provide,” said Chris Armstrong, Director of School of Animation & VFX at Academy of Art University. “These students are aspiring game designers, programmers, writers and animators who will now graduate with hands-on experience and a product of work they can share with prospective employers, making them well-positioned to compete for and win the jobs of today’s global economy.”
Students involved in the film, will then start an internship at 2K for the spring semester. 2K stated that “any student, regardless of their discipline, can form a team and submit an original storyboard for consideration”. After submissions are handed in, a panel of Academy of Art University, 2K and Gearbox judges will “select one story to become part of the Borderlands mythos”, and the team behind that story “will have the opportunity to interview for the internship” according to the press-release sent out today.
“We are so proud and excited at 2K to have the opportunity to give back to our local San Francisco community and help enable students to achieve their dreams of breaking into the entertainment industry,” said Sarah Anderson, SVP of Marketing at 2K. “The Borderlands universe is vast and there are many stories left to tell, we can’t wait to see what imaginative scenario is realized in the finished animated short film later this year.”
“We are thrilled that our Borderlands universe has inspired so much creativity,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “We are happy to offer the Academy of Art University access to our digital assets so that its students’ creativity can be harnessed into positive career development efforts and, if we’re lucky, the creation of some great content that every Borderlands fan can enjoy.”
