His second response, 15 minutes later:

You need to understand you are a LIAR!!
IM going to animate your dirty nasty ass lol

Prop 8 Rocks!

Can you imagine what a nightmare it would have been to hire someone like this? Granted, no one will hire this person based on the sample he sent me, but even if his demo was great, he wouldn't be worth hiring because of his attitude.

I love how he jumps into name calling and pulls out his support for Prop 8 and his stance against gay marriage. (Note: I am completely for the rights of gays.)

The biggest threat? He's going to animate my nasty ass. In what way is that supposed to scare me.

I also love how he calls me a liar. Obviously my note hit a nerve. Dude, you've got to have a thicker skin, especially if you send out such terrible work.

Here's something else to remember. I share this info with my studio friends. They share these stories with me too. When artists have this attitude, it gets around quick.

By hiring people we know, we avoid having this type of unexpected temper flare up in the middle of a production.

Tony Grillo, owner of Flinch Animation, explains this well. "I have a very talented man today, but his skills were not always so sharp. Many was the time I had to get on the phone or email and really push him to do better. His attitude was -- and still is -- positive and receptive, 100% of the time. Through his actions (not just his words), he always made it clear that he wanted to learn, to improve, to excel. Even to this day, though I know there may be stronger designers out there -- but he's always on my short list, and he remains busy to this day because I can count on him."

Even the mighty Pixar is not immune to the irrational slings and arrows of e-communication. On the Pixar Canada job posting page, found online at http://www.canadiananimationresources.ca/?p=1707, a person who obviously did not get the listed job, didn't agree with Pixar's decision.

 I am going to come right out and say it.

This is BULLSHIT.

Yes, Pixar Canada. You're full of shit.

The reason I say that is because I just saw (and applied for) the same position last month, and another similar one in April. I have an MSc in computer science, I'm very well qualified to work there, and I've got a wealth of relevant professional experience. I didn't even get a call back.

Now, they're looking for TD's, and they're insisting on 3 years of industry experience. They've raised their requirements. Why?

Speaking as someone who is more than capable of working as a lighting TD, but who has not yet been employed in the visual effects industry, I think this is ridiculous. They're handicapping themselves by adding this restriction. After all, in order to get someone with three years of experience, it means they either have to steal someone from another company, or they have to get someone who was canned. That means they're hiring someone who is either disloyal or incompetent.

Now, I admit I'm not perfect. I'm quite terrible with interviews. I tend to come across like a schmuck. I'm a bit of an absent-minded professor type, but I also look ten years younger than I am, so people just assume that I'm a brainless kid with no skill at all. None of that is true, though. I'm very good at what I do, and I'm a very effective communicator on the job. I just hate answering questions about myself. What do they expect, though? A place like Pixar should know that brilliant people come in every shape, size, and personality. So what gives?

In this case, though, I haven't even gotten as far as an interview. I didn't even get a call back. I don't live in BC, so maybe that's the problem… but again, why are they being so picky? I would move in a heartbeat. What's the difference? Do they want good people or not?

Whatever their reasons, they should know they're neglecting someone who meets all of these qualities:

Not only do I "meet" these requirements, but for some of them, I would be "da man." Some of them come with time, and some of them arguably can't be taught at all. So, by insisting on industry experience, Pixar Canada, I think you're shooting yourselves in the foot.

Way NOT to go.