Is it Tough to Find Your First Job? Do You Have Any Tips for Finding That First Gig?

If you do your best throughout school and really put forth 110% effort, a job will come. Maybe not right after graduating, but it will eventually. Don't be afraid to apply to studios that you feel you have no chance getting into, but don't apply only to those studios. Be open for any opportunity and use it as a learning experience to move you closer to your goal.

I felt I was very lucky to find work right after school. I didn't feel ready to get my work out there, so I was planning on taking three months to finish up my short film. In the meantime, I saw that Tippett Studio was looking for animators for an upcoming project that sounded interesting. So, after convincing myself I had nothing to lose, I decided to apply. A couple weeks later, I had a phone interview. A month after that, I was moving to the Bay Area to work on my first film!

I did have animation experience before going to Animation Mentor, though. I think what I learned at Animation Mentor plus previous studio experience at a game studio helped me land a job quicker than I thought I would. Some people begin Animation Mentor with no animation or Maya experience at all. After graduation, these animators might need more time to refine their skills before getting a job. But there are some that get jobs right after graduating, even without prior experience. It all depends. We all are at different levels, learn differently, have different amounts of time we can put in.

Don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t find a job right out of school. Keep working hard and you’ll get there!

Guest Blogger Jess Morris

Do Animators Use Camera Angles to Hide Animation Flaws?

If there is a flaw, it is the animator's job to fix it.

Sometimes animators do animate just the upper body in frame thinking that they are saving time and work by ignoring what isn’t seen. An animation supervisor with a critical eye will immediately see that flaw.

The body off screen has to motivate what we see on screen. This is more critical with computer animation because it doesn’t have the “cheat zone” of 2D. No matter what animation medium you work in, you have to create the illusion of feet moving to adjust balance or shift weight to initiate a move, even if it isn’t seen on screen.

This does not have to be polished animation, but it has to be analyzed and blocked in. It is dangerous to think that a camera angle will hide an animation flaw, because the people you are trying to impress will likely notice it right away and it could cost you that new job. Ultimately, it’s our responsibility as animators to animate the character properly.

Guest Blogger Wayne Gilbert

What's a Beat? Do You Have Any Tips on the Best Way to Find the Beats in a Shot?

That's a good question, and one that can be difficult to nail down. It's a bit abstract and can change from shot to shot.

I tend to define a beat as any important storytelling moment. This can be as major as a change in emotion, or, if your shot is a more focused on physical action, it could be a weight shift or change in direction. Look for any moment where you are introducing a new idea.

I've heard that a good test for finding a beat in your shot is to look for a change. This could be a change in expression or a change in direction; if you're working with audio, it could be a change in volume, speed or tone. If a change is occurring, chances are it is a moment you can define as an important storytelling "beat."

Guest Blogger Nelson Brown