Is there anyone here I can interview for a homework assignment?

Hi there, Jew. I too did my questionaire on the forum thread, as it just seemed easier for me that way. So without further adieu:

Knowledge required: Animation course in college or University (2-4 years), and years of hands on experience

Skills required to perform job: Knowledge of anatomy, movement and timing, cinematography, not to mention a lot of patience and a passion for the art and a great deal of diplomacy

Duties and responsibilities: Responsible maintaining the artistic look of a given series/film, and ensuring its quality within a given budget

Working conditions: Long hours, a lot of widespread confusion at times, but a rewarding feeling to see the finished work

Salary range: $2000/week USD (plus or minus)

Oppurtunities for advancement: Yes, but not many. Can make the jump up to producer (creative producer) or executive level.

Related occupations: Creative Producer, Artistic Director, Creative Director, studio director

Name: Wade Konowalchuk

Occupation: Director

How long in this occupation? 13 years

How did you choose your occupation? Drawing funny pictures was the only thing I REALLY excelled at and had a passion for.

Financially, does it let you live the way you prefer? Yes, but downtime between projects can sometimes strain your financial situation.

If not, why not and what can you do about it? ---

What rewards have you experienced? I see my vision brought from script to screen, and that satisfies me. The nominations for awards help too (although I have not won yet, I have had two nominations). Not to mention royalties from European broadcasts ;)

What sacrifices have you had to make for your career? Sometimes, you have to give in to lesser quality going through the pipeline due to budget/time constraints. Also, in the beginning, I needed to live a nomadic existence, and travel to where the work was (bringing me to such places such as India or Chile).

What kind of commitment does this career require in terms of:

Education: I spent only 2 years in school, studying Animation for Television. It was an INTENSIVE 2 years.

Energy/endurance: You need to be able to work the long hours, and dedicate yourself to making the best work you possibly can, allowed by the studio.

Stick-to-itiveness: This can sometimes be tough, especially when the producer tells you that you are asking to much, and to accept lesser quality. It is hard ot tell him to piss off sometimes. Also, sometimes you get offers in the middle of a project to do something far better somewhere else, but you need to see the current project through to the finish. The hardest thing to do in this busienss is to turn down a great contract.

If you had it to do over again, would you choose this career? Absolutely

Why or why not? Animation is my life, and I know I do my job VERY well and am capable of a lot. Also, animation gives you the opportunity to be doing different things day to day (style-wise). One month you will be doing something like Beavis and Butthead ( :( ), and the next month, something Disney-esque. Variety is the great part. Would rather be doing this than punching buttons on a calculator (accountant).

What is your typical day like? Get to work at 9 am. Then the madness starts. Everyone has a crisis that only the director can make the call on (it seems nobody else can figure anything out on their own, or are too scared to). After 10-12 hours of the madness, I go home to the wife, usually bringing scripts to edit, or other work to do in preparation for the next day.

What two or three skills help you the most in doing your job? My attention to detail, perfection in my work, and my ability to tell a story graphically.

How did you learn these skills? Born with it. Many of the skills learned though were learned on the job, learning from my mistakes (and yes, there were many when I first started directing).

What kind of education did you need for this job? A LOT of hands on experience, doing every job in the pipeline at some point. School is great, but working is much better.

What kind of courses should I take in high school to prepare me for this job? High school? I am unaware of what kind of crazy courses they have in highschool nowadays (I have heard of some weird choices), but when I was in highschool, I needed to focus on ART class. Believe it or not, MATH doesn't hurt either.

What kind of education will I need after high school? Animation school. First, a traditional animation program, and then follow it up with computer animation.

What do you like the most about this career? I draw funny pictures, do what I LOVE to do, and people PAY ME for it!

What's the hardest part of your job? As said before, letting lesser quality work go through, knowing your name is attached as the director.

What do you think the future looks like for this kind of career? Hard to say. The industry is taking a big hit presently, but I am sure that we dinosaurs with some experience will adapt, and be able to hold out. Kids will always want animation of some sort.

What kind of salary can I expect? When you start, straight out of school as a clean-up artist, I would not expect much more than $400/week USD. With hard work and experience, your salary will steadily increase.

If you had a chance to do things over again, what would you change? Nothing except, I might study more in the 3D side of things. Back when I did my schooling, there was VERY LITTLE 3D animation, and no place to learn.

What motivates you with your job? My vision carried through from beginning to end. I love the final product.

What makes you feel real excited about it? Same as above.

What kind of personality does well in a career like this? Extroverted. You need to be able to express yourself readily. You need to be able to ACT. In all honesty, we as animators are actors, putting forth our acting ability through our drawings on paper/screen.

Is there a question you think I should have asked to better understand your career? Nope.

Hope this is sufficient for your needs.

All the best

Wade

I hear you wae..
i'd wish for a nine to six job too!
lol
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..

P.

As for a social life. I am married. I have no social life any more. I haev the life my wife tells me to have. ;)

LOL. Funny, me too :D Just kidding Mrs. Ape.

As for the 9 to 6, the studio I'm at now is part of the Animation Guild Local 839 IATSE , so we HAVE TO have no more than an 8 hour work day, unless we get paid overtime. The last studio I was at wasn't in the Union, so we were contracted to a 60 hour work week. That was fine for me since I was apart from my wife for that year.

Oh yeah, I forgot to put the ability to ACT in the "what two or three skills help you the most in doing your job?" question. Alittle psycology is also a good thing to have. As you can tell, the ability to spell in not required. :D

The Ape