Independent stop-motion animator Adam Elliot will inspire Ballarat office professionals to pursue their dreams and work hard at their passions at a conference next month.
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The Melbourne-based Academy Award winner will speak at Ballarat's Connecting Conference on May 7.
The conference is an opportunity for personal and professional development for office professionals following the theme 'shoot for the stars'.
Speaking to The Courier, Mr Elliot said he would share stories from his film-making career that spans five films winning more than 100 awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated Film in 2004 for Harvie Krumpet.
"Certainly when I made the film I wasn't shooting for the stars, I was just trying to make a good film and all the rest that followed was icing on the cake," he said.
"It is all about good quality work. If you put in the long hours the rewards will come.
"If you do one thing and do it well then you have a good chance of success. I think these days we are saturated with so many things we can pursue in our careers and so many opportunities, I think if you keep it simple trying to perfect that one thing and block out other distractions, you will probably have a better chance of success.
If there is something you have always wanted to do no matter how strange or weird or what others say, you should try at the very least to pursue it
- Adam Elliot
"There is so much noise in our world today and so many distractions, simplicity is hard to achieve and focusing on one thing is difficult. When I first started making films there were less distractions - no social media and no internet - so it was easier to focus."
The first Connecting Conference was held in 2017 after the Connect Network identified a need for personal development opportunities for office professionals in Ballarat.
Committee for Ballarat's Gayle Adams said the conference supported the right of professionals to development and their responsibility to keep their skills up to date.
"The theme 'shoot for the stars' is to encourage people to look beyond their day to day work and realise if they put their mind to something they can achieve it," she said.
"It is about having the confidence to dream big - that is where Adam Elliot comes in. He achieved the greatest accolade he can in his profession because he dared to dream."
Mr Elliot's films have been voiced by some of the world's leading actors including Geoffrey Rush, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries, Toni Collette, Eric Bana and Molly Meldrum.
He is now a voting member for the annual Academy Awards in Hollywood.
"One of the messages in my presentation is a quote everyone has heard, 'life is not a dress rehearsal'," Mr Elliot said.
"It is one of my favourite quotes now particularly that I am in my late 40s heading toward 50 and time is running out. You really only get one go.
"I tell audiences if there is something they have always wanted to do no matter how strange or weird or what others say, you should try at the very least to pursue it. Even if it is something as simple as knitting or taking up a hobby, give it a go while you are in good health and have the energy.
"It is not about money. I am lucky I get paid to do what I love, but I will still be doing what I do after I retire.
"Don't waste time, life is not a dress rehearsal."
Tickets are available for the Connecting Conference on May 7 and 8.