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...So, how'd you get started, anyway?

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...So, how'd you get started, anyway?

...Well... how? Cuz I must be goin' about it the wrong way.

(...feels like I'm banging my head against a brick wall, sometimes...) :(

Aleph66's picture
"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental." --Julian Schnabel

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

I'd agree. It's really about pushing every button you can. Sometimes you get lucky and just fall into it. Sometimes, a friend hooks you up. Sometimes, you have to work and work for it. But I'd just chase down every lead you can. A lot of them may be dead ends or end up being crap, but you just never know. You never know who you'll meet, and sometimes, when you're talking to someone who think can do nothing for you, you end up being surprised.

Also, be patient; things don't always happen overnight. Just because someone can't help you immediately or doesn't offer exactly what you want, it doesn't mean they can't help you down the line, so keep up your network. If you're looking to have your own studio or one-man operation, networking is vital. Believe, it really is about who you know. Join creative or business organizations. Go to their meetings or to industry events. This stuff all helps - tremendously.

Also, it is important to have a website. It doesn't need to be perfectly designed, but it should look professional and showcase your best work. As someone who's had to hire people in the past, I can tell you that, in the course of busy day, you don't have time to screw around and track down someone's work and fiddle with a website that doesn't function properly. Sometimes, you may have only a few minutes to look at something. That few minutes is your window. What are you going to do with it?

Hope this helps,

Pete

www.pdcreative.com

...well, since you asked...

...I'll spare you the heart-rending backstory and get down to cases (first time I've ever used that expression...hmph). At present I'm assembling a website that'll have my work to date. Animations included, natch.

And...I'm sifting my way thru AIDB, gathering a List of Probable victims- er, I mean prospects- on whom to inflic- show my work (there's a lotta [expletive deleted] companies out there). And, of course there's always Monster. You know, the job-search-engine-site that has the nifty ads on the TV. Got quite a few leads from there. No offers, though; but it's a long list.

As for networking...(sigh). I have this annoying habit of letting my bridges crumble (I'm simply not a big one for keeping in touch). Comes from being too much of a loner, I guess ("Rugged Individualism..." You can have it). And there's building my Perfect Beast, as perfect as I can afford, anyway.

A consequence of this- and the student loan repayments and food and utilities and etcetera, I've had to get a...(shudder)...real job. One that doesn't involve sitting at a drawing table or a computer. Getting any gig like that where I live now would be like pulling eyeteeth (again with the hoary expressions!).

...
So ya do what ya gotta do.

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

...I suppose the greatest fear/frustration is that what I've put my [expletive deleted] in hock for for the last three years (this is just the animation part; the BFA was a whole 'nother animal) will be relegated to the status of "Expensive Hobby," and that the proceeds from my...(shudder) real job will just end up paying for it...

...and I'll end up being stuck. With a capital "F."

Just a little Something I call "Nightmare Scenario #15."

Anybody else ever have this 600-lb. Gorilla on their backs...?

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

Only everyone who's ever aspired to anything. Instead of worrying about what might go wrong, think about what might go right.

I'm a guy who had no right to expect a career in animation. Second-tier school, no contacts in the industry, etc etc. But with preparation, some luck, and lots of determination, I've been earning my living making goofy junk move for the last 10+ years. Today I'm busier than I've ever been, and my skills improve every day. Heck, my mom has even stopped worrying about this crazy "art" career of mine.

If you want it, go and get it. No, it's not easy - but that's what makes it great.

No, it's not easy - but that's what makes it great.

That right there is a principle of life. When given a choice between the easy accessible way and the way that does provide richer rewards, but also is virtually impossible in its difficulty...choose that harder route if yours is to be a life truly lived. I'm pretty sure that's what Frost meant by "the road less traveled by."

Grandma Moses...really?

I always pictured myself more as a Henry Darger type: holding down a string of dull, menial jobs, then dying alone and broke, survived only by a legacy of very rich and very strange artwork that's bought up by a couple of total strangers who end up making mad loot off the stuff.
Which also happens to be dissected in many reputable art-history journals and magazines...

...Well, a man can dream can't he?

(here's a link: http://www.realmsoftheunreal.com)

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

Well she gave birth to ten children, only five who lived to maturity, plus she had to help her husband with the farm. Guess she never had the time to paint until she was in her seventies. Almost as bad as holding down a string of menial jobs. After all back then women were considered second class citizens and couldn't eat meals until everyone else had eaten. And lot's of folks made big bucks off her work. I personnally like it, it makes me smile. So Aleph there is hope your dream will come true.

Here's a bio:

http://ar.essortment.com/grandmamosespr_rslt.htm

Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.

...So, how'd you get started, anyway?

flipbooks in middle school

..."easy...?"

...I wasn't expecting easy. Or even difficult. I expected capital-H Hard. Hard enough to cut glass. Hard enough to consider more pragmatic career paths. I expected unbelievable, soul-freezing amounts of crap/disappointment/patronizing. And, Hallelujah, I got my wish.

Doesn't mean that I can't [expletive deleted] about it.

There is a very real, very scary possibility (even probability) that however much I persist, persevere, endure (pick your verb), all my efforts could come up snake-eyes.

This is the entertainment industry. And it is a crap-shoot.

I could also roll e-o-leven (goes to heaven) and all the "soul-freezing amounts...blah, blah, blah" will be worth it, after all.

Thing is, I can't know.

So. I work. I draw. I scrimp-and-save. I scan the ads and I submit.

And if I do this enough, it's possible that Gorilla might lose a little weight. Maybe even get bored and climb onto the next neurotic twit...

...and then he can start his own thread... ;)

Thanks for the encouragement. Just needed to vent, I guess.

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

Honestly man...alot of it is also your perception and attitude and outlook. It could be as simple as honestly looking at other high end work and fully understanding where you stand to it and what you need to improve...yet at the same time work for that improvement.

Its a tough industry...especially to get into it. Some get swept up out of school, some fall into it by accident, while others work their asses off as sounds in your case striving to do whatever it takes.

Be positive in yourself and be completley honest with your skillset by fully understanding what you know and what you dont know. Then set a goal and do whatever it takes to reach that by beliving in yourself. Personal outlook has helped me tremendously and I would not be getting paid for what I love to do now if I didnt always belive in myself and furthermore know at what level I needed to be at to get that job.

Just remember you will not be a top notch pixar guru entering this industry...(that is very rare) your skillset will ALWAYS improve. Set your sights high and go get em. Keep on it...it will turn around for you eventually if you have the passion and proper mentality.

I always pictured myself more as a Henry Darger type: holding down a string of dull, menial jobs, then dying alone and broke, survived only by a legacy of very rich and very strange artwork that's bought up by a couple of total strangers who end up making mad loot off the stuff.
Which also happens to be dissected in many reputable art-history journals and magazines...

...Well, a man can dream can't he?

(here's a link: http://www.realmsoftheunreal.com)

There is a retired postal worker who is super rich. He and his wife spent their whole life supporting starving artist and in return they gave them their best piece. They have hundred of pieces by people who are famous now.

Not to be flippant (again), but even they at Pixar are usually pretty humble about their skillset. That should make one feel even better.

Anybody else ever have this 600-lb. Gorilla on their backs...?

Awww come on man, I'm trying to lose some weight! I'm around 590lbs now! And personally I prefer to sit on the shoulders, get a better view from up there. :P

Out of curiosity, is there a big animation industry in Ohio?

Same for me Harvey, but mine were in the margins in my math and history books.

Aloha,
the Ape

...we must all face a choice, between what is right... and what is easy."

As for networking...(sigh). I have this annoying habit of letting my bridges crumble (I'm simply not a big one for keeping in touch). Comes from being too much of a loner, I guess ("Rugged Individualism..." You can have it).

You may not want to hear it, but I got my big break through a friend. And with the exception of my current job, every job after that has been through friends that I knew or made in on a job. And while my resume/reel helped it was my contacts that got me the opening. Depending on how close you are/were to your friends, they still might like to hear from you. And chances are they got their break through the goodwill of someone and may want to pay back karma a little bit.

This is such a relatively small industry that it's very difficult, not impossible, but very difficult to do well without the aid of your peers. Same goes for burning bridges, everyone knows someone who knows you after a job or two. It's much closer to 3 or 4 degrees of separation in a very short amount of time. Good word travels quickly, but bad travels quicker.

Keep your chin up. I've also been hired (again from the recommendation of friends) because of my attitude on the previous job. The hours are almost always going to suck, the pay never quite enough, the tools will be sub-par, and management will never truly appreciate your genius. These are the nearly universal truths in the animation/FX/gaming industries. But if you can be the guy/gal that shows up on Sunday for another 12 hour day with a smile on your face, there's a very good chance that you're going to be asked back again or along for the ride to another gig.

And don't waste too much time on a website unless you're hoping for a web design job. I have yet to hear of anyone other than other web designers really caring about a website except for the reel hosted on it. You're better off spending your time doing exercises that you can add on your reel (walk cycles and lip synch for animation, lighting tests for rendering/lighting, painting for texturing, etc.). The elusive killer reel can go a long way towards landing you a sweet gig.

Hope this helps.

Producing solidily ok animation since 2001.
www.galaxy12.com

Now with more doodling!
www.galaxy12.com/latenight

There is a very real, very scary possibility (even probability) that however much I persist, persevere, endure (pick your verb), all my efforts could come up snake-eyes.

I could also roll e-o-leven (goes to heaven) and all the "soul-freezing amounts...blah, blah, blah" will be worth it, after all.

Thing is, I can't know.

...welcome to life...

Well... I guess the point is that you have to get to know yourself and decide what you really need. do you consider your craft a means to an end or an end in itself? Translation: If you're doing it because you like to do it, you should be fine, but when you start to sigh because that Oscar is taking you longer than expected... well, that's trouble.
And I suppose Fate plays with us all. In the 80's, when I was publishing my strips in a national newspaper, suddenly had to stop drawing simply because there was no more black ink in the country. And then came the nineties, with the worst crisis we've ever seen here, and all the newspapers had to close for years. So I turned to something else :D

Honestly man...alot of it is also your perception and attitude and outlook. It could be as simple as honestly looking at other high end work and fully understanding where you stand to it and what you need to improve...yet at the same time work for that improvement.

Yesterday 10:41 PM
ScatteredLogical Not to be flippant (again), but even they at Pixar are usually pretty humble about their skillset. That should make one feel even better.

Sounds like everyone is saying the same thing, hang in there. If you keep your self ready, when the opportunity comes your way, you will be ready to grab it.

...

Thanks again, people, for the words of encouragement. Seriously. I'm in a pretty dark place, right now (hence the snarky) and my nite-lite's busted.

But it ain't permanent (I hope).

I mean, the sun'll come out. Tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there'll be sun. Probably. Meanwhile...

...Feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

I have an inexplicable amount of stuff to do.

I'll write you when I find work.

Count on it...:)

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

Well why not tell us how you are going about it Aleph? and maybe a link to some of your work.

Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.

Out of curiosity, is there a big animation industry in Ohio?

...Not really. It's mostly little mom-and-pop operations scattered around Columbus. Which is really strange, because OSU has a really good animation curriculum.

There's nothing at all in Cleveland. As far as I know, I'm it (and that ain't sayin' a whole lot).

...and, no, I haven't found work; buy AA did ask a question. :)

"...It is a foolish mistake to even try to second-guess the public. Make things for yourself and if by chance someone agrees with you, it's coincidental."

--Julian Schnabel

The thing with Grandma Moses was she painted because she enjoyed it and that's what she wanted to do. She wasn't looking for monetary or social acceptance or renumeration. She followed her bliss. She may have waited until later life because she had other responsibilities to see to earlier on. You can't always schedule success. Life is a crap shoot. I wonder which part of her life she found more fulfilling.

Pat Hacker, Visit Scooter's World.

Sounds like everyone is saying the same thing, hang in there. If you keep your self ready, when the opportunity comes your way, you will be ready to grab it.

Have you heard of a band called Buenavista Social Club?
they made it when their youngest player was about 80

Have you heard of a band called Buenavista Social Club?
they made it when their youngest player was about 80

Grandma Moses didn't gain fame for her painting until very late in life. That's why they called her "Grandma" :D