The benefits of receiving industry feedback as a student

Hi, I am Mahak, a third-year VFX student at Escape Studios. Over the course of our final year, we have worked on two group projects, one in collaboration with the animation students.  

As a VFX student, it’s easy to get caught up in coursework, software and technical skills. One of the most critical parts in my journey so far has been getting feedback directly from industry professionals. Whether you’re just starting out or already deep into a project, industry feedback can shift your mindset, sharpen your eye and bring your work much closer to professional standards.  

In this blog, I share why industry feedback is so important and how experiences like getting feedback by artists from Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and regular reviews by tutors at Escape Studios helped me grow as a VFX artist. 

BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN CLASSROOM AND INDUSTRY 

While our classes and assignments build a strong foundation, they don’t always reflect the fast-paced detail-driven environment of a real VFX studio. Feedback from industry professionals helps bridge this gap, showing us how our work measures up to what’s expected in a production pipeline.  

During our third-year group project, we had the incredible opportunity to receive feedback from artists at ILM. They pushed us to think like professionals, not students. They are examining our short films frame by frame and pointing out things that we could have completely overlooked. 

SPOTTING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES EARLY 

When you’re deep into your own project, it’s hard to be objective. Professionals, however, see things from a different perspective. They can immediately identify areas where you excel, and where you need improvement. 

ILM’s feedback helped us to realise how important it is to look at the tiny details. Whether it’s matching lighting, refining a roto, or correcting a render pass, those subtle adjustments can make the difference between student work and studio-level quality. 

ACCELERATING SKILL DEVELOPMENT 

Industry feedback helps you improve faster than working in isolation. You don’t waste time guessing what’s wrong or second-guessing your choices. The feedback is clear, targeted and actionable. 

At Escape Studios, during our 12-week module, we get four to five detailed review sessions with industry professionals. These sessions are intense but invaluable. The professionals don’t just critique your work; they also give you tips and trick to improve it. From workflow suggestions to creative techniques, the feedback you receive won’t be anything like a standard tutorial.  

LEARNING TOOLS, WORKFLOWS AND STANDARDS 

VFX studios often have specific pipelines and preferred tools. Industry artists are generous in sharing how things are done in the workplace. This includes naming conventions, node organisation, colour management and even soft skills like presenting your work.  

During one of our feedback sessions, we were told that making your Nuke script readable is as important as getting the comp right, simply because someone else may need to pick it up and understand it immediately. That’s the kind of insight only a working artist would know to give. 

BUILDING A PORTFOLIO THAT GETS NOTICED 

Professionals have seen hundreds of demo reels and can quickly tell what will get a recruiter’s attention. Their input helps you select the right shots, cut unnecessary fluff and add polish to make your portfolio stand out.  

Thanks to feedback sessions, I’ve already made significant changes to my reel, focusing more on storytelling pacing and clarity.  

CREATING NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES 

These feedback sessions aren’t just critiques, they’re conversations. Each one is a chance to connect with people already in the industry. Many students have landed internships or mentorships simply by showing consistent improvement and curiosity during these sessions.  

DEVELOPING A CRITICAL EYE 

The more feedback you get, the more you start thinking like a professional. You begin to critique your own work more effectively. You notice things like matte lines, inconsistent shadows, or janky camera tracks, because that’s exactly what the pros would call out.  

STAYING UPDATED WITH INDUSTRY TRENDS 

The VFX industry evolves quickly, and professionals are always experimenting with new tools and workflows. Getting their input keeps you in touch with current standards and future trends, whether that’s using machine learning in roto, adopting new render engines or understanding cloud workflows.  

They also help you understand the importance or every roe like a 2D lead, 3D lead and VFX producer. You can also get tips on how to manage a project as a producer or a director.  

LEARNING THE VALUE OF DAILIES 

One of the most valuable lessons ILM taught us was about the importance of dailies, the daily review process where artists show their work-in-progress to supervisors and the team. 

We learned that you don’t have to wait until a shot is finished to show it. Sharing even rough work is vital, because fresh eyes can spot problems you might have missed. This iterative process is core to how studios maintain high quality and it’s something we’ve now started implementing in our student projects.  

Learning how dailies function in the industry was a key part of our growth as VFX students. We were taught to prepare all shots in SyncSketch ahead of time, include single-frame renders if full assets weren’t ready and clearly communicate our shot’s status during the review. Each comp artist had to briefly introduce themselves and mention what was completed and what was pending, reinforcing the importance of concise professional communication. We also learned that feedback in dailies is never personal, it’s a vital part of improving work-in-progress shots. Submitting team questions in advance further highlighted the need for preparation and collaboration. These practices gave us a real-world understanding of how studios like ILM run daily reviews and helped us develop habits that align with industry standards.  

SHOWING COMMITMENT TO GROWTH 

By actively seeking feedback, you show that you’re serious about improving. You’re not just trying to pass a module, you’re aiming to become a better artist, and that attitude resonates with industry professionals.  

Every time I walk into a review session, whether it’s with a guest speaker or a recruiter, I remind myself: this is not a judgment, it’s a gift. These artists are taking time out of their busy schedules to help us level up. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Getting feedback from industry professionals has been one of the most transformative aspects of my VFX education. Whether it’s from ILM during our group project or through regular sessions at Escape Studios, the insights encouragement, and constructive criticism have helped me grow in ways that coursework alone never could.  

If you’re a VFX student, I can’t stress this enough: show your work. Ask questions. Get Feedback. Repeat.  

Your future self and your future employer will thank you for it.