Autodesk Maya Software Helps Student Create Compelling Film about the
Environment

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., April 6, 2010 - In an effort to inspire and equip
students to create film projects that exceed their goals, Autodesk, Inc.
(NASDAQ: ADSK), a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and
entertainment software, sponsored the Visual Effects Society (VES) Second
annual award for "Outstanding Visual Effects in a Student Project".
Autodesk sponsored the annual competition to provide students with
experience and software to help succeed in their careers. 

The winning project was a film by Thilo Ewers entitled "They Will Come to
Town," which received the honor at the 8th Annual VES Awards held recently
in Los Angeles. Other award recipients included Academy Award® winners
James Cameron with the VES Lifetime Achievement Award and Dr. Ed Catmull,
President, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios, with the George Méliès
Award for Pioneering.

Ewers began his winning project, which was inspired by a photo of the
Brooklyn Bridge, by adding in some shadows to add depth, but he felt there
was a deeper message to share. Utilizing Autodesk Maya 3D modeling,
animation, visual effects and compositing software, Ewers set to work
creating a project that had deeper meaning about the environment and global
warming. With the help of a colleague, Ewers learned how to use Maya while
he was creating the project. Ewers studied at the Filmakademie in
Ludwigsburg, Baden-Württemberg Germany, and now works at Pixomondo in Santa
Monica, California.

"Winning this award is such an honor," Ewers said. "Creating this piece
allowed me to expand my skill set and learn how to use valuable new
technology, while gaining first-hand insight into film production. As I
grow in my career I am committed to making films that not only push the
technology boundaries, but that also have meaning. I want the films I work
on to have an impact on the viewer so they walk away inspired."

Autodesk provides students and educators with the tools and resources
necessary to help students to be equipped and trained in their careers.
Autodesk's online Education Community, which has more than one million
members, provides students and professors with free copies of software,
Autodesk MasterClasses and resources, in addition to its student licensing
program, which is how Ewers obtained his copy of Maya. 

"Seeing students create inspirational, meaningful projects such as Thilo's
is encouraging and further validates our support for this program," Joe
Astroth, PhD, Autodesk Chief Education Officer said. "We are thrilled to
learn that Thilo became proficient in Maya at the same time he was
developing his project. Seeing his piece demonstrates the important role
films play in our lives, and how the generation of students today will
create work that impacts and inspires filmmaking in the future."


About the Visual Effects Society

The Visual Effects Society is a professional, honorary group, dedicated to
advancing the arts, sciences, and applications of visual effects and to
upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual
effects profession. The VES is the entertainment industry's only official
organization representing the extended community of visual effects
practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology
developers, educators and studio executives.


Autodesk Education Initiatives

Autodesk supports students and educators by providing design software,
innovative programs and other resources designed to inspire the next
generation of professionals. By supporting educators to advance design
education and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills,
Autodesk is helping prepare students for future academic and career
success. Autodesk supports schools and institutions of higher learning
worldwide through substantial discounts, subscriptions, grant programs,
training, curriculum development and community resources. For more
information about Autodesk education programs and solutions, visit

http://www.autodesk.com/pr-education.  

About Autodesk

Autodesk, Inc., is a world leader in 2D and 3D design, engineering and
entertainment software for the manufacturing, building and construction,
and media and entertainment markets. Since its introduction of AutoCAD
software in 1982, Autodesk continues to develop the broadest portfolio of
state-of-the-art software to help customers experience their ideas
digitally before they are built. Fortune 100 companies - as well as the
last 15 Academy Award winners for Best Visual Effects - use Autodesk
software tools to design, visualize and simulate their ideas to save time
and money, enhance quality and foster innovation for competitive advantage.
For additional information about Autodesk, visit 
www.autodesk.com.

Autodesk, AutoCAD and Maya are registered trademarks or trademarks of
Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or
other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names or
trademarks belong to their respective holders. Autodesk reserves the right
to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at
any time without notice, and is not responsible for typographical or
graphical errors that may appear in this document. 

© 2010 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.

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