ANIMATION IS HIGH AND THE 3D INDUSTRY IS YOUR OYSTER AS LONG AS YOU GO ABOUT IT IN THE RIGHT WAY
When thinking about your next career move, do you tend to
steer away from the 'glamour jobs'? After all, the jobs that involve
working on the biggest blockbusters will attract so much competition
there's little point in applying, right? It's a fair assumption to make
– but it's utterly wrong, argue our experts.
Take the forthcoming Star Wars sequels – possibly the most glamorous job in VFX right now.to complement those in San Francisco, Vancouver and Singapore, partly
to work on Episode 7 and further Star Wars movies to come. And they're
keen to encourage UK artists to apply…
SEEKING ARTISTS
"Yes, we absolutely are hiring," confirms John Knoll, ILM's
chief creative officer. "Actually, we have open positions in all our
studios around the world." And John says there's no need for a secret
handshake. "Just go to the ilm.com website and head to the jobs tab; you can search and see where the openings are."
Nor is ILM only looking for decades of experience.
"Obviously, very experienced artists are highly sought-after," Knoll
says. "But I think there's a lot to be gained by having artists who are
young and enthusiastic, and who come at this right out of college with a
lot of energy and a real willingness to learn."
That even one of the world's biggest VFX companies is keen
to hire is a sign of the rapidly growing opportunities within the
industry. But how can you maximise your chances of landing
that dream
job?
CHECK YOU ATTITUDE
Rainmaker Entertainment is currently in production with Blockade Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) on the CG animated feature Ratchet & Clank
For those early in their career, Tara Kemes, vice president of culture and talent at Rainmaker Entertainment, offers this advice.
"Your enthusiasm makes a big impact – fresh out of college,
attitude is pretty much the most important thing. Also, don't apply to
all the open positions: we want to know you know where your skills lie.
Also, persevere. If you don't land the first job you go for, don't let
that discourage you. Dream jobs are something to work towards."
But what if you're already at your dream company but chasing
that precious promotion? "Speak up!" Tara urges. "Share your ambitions
and goals. Maintain perspective and keep a great attitude. Remember –
this is animation! Few people end up here by accident. It's a
privilege."
FIND A MENTOR
Tara also suggests you seek out a mentor, but be smart about
whom you approach: "Identifying someone who grew their own career
through mentorship is a good tactic."
In general, networking is key. "Make connections," she
urges. "You may meet someone now who, if you've made a positive
impression, will remember you down the road and think, 'Hey! I want to
hire that artist we met a few months ago at the career fair. We didn't
have a suitable opportunity then, but they'd be great for this job
now.'"
There is a lot to be gained by having artists who come right out of school with a lot of energy and a real willingness to learn
It helps if you're prepared to move, as well: both to new
studios and new countries if necessary. Steven Elford, studio CG
supervisor for Rainmaker, has done just that, relocating from England to
Vancouver. "Every time you start a new job in a new studio you are
faced with new challenges," he says.
"You have to get used to the culture of the studio, the
workflow and pipeline and the tools. This can be quite daunting but time
always goes fast, and before you know it it'll all be second nature.
"Find out how long the studio feels it should take you to
learn the tools and integrate," he advises. "They'll have had many
people go through the process and will give you some idea of what you
should aim for. And if you have any other concerns then talk to the
people at the studio: they're there to help you succeed, after all."
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