CompuServe Thread

#I want to Work!

8 messages in this thread
#171953From: Richard K. HensonMay 26, 1995 4:30 AM
Will someone please tell me how people are breaking into the industry. I don't even know anyone that owns an Autodesk product, but I am hooked and want to know how to do this for a living! Don't care if it is a long road, I don't want to do anything else.
#171965From: David J. MarksMay 26, 1995 8:10 AM
>> I am hooked and want to know how to do this for a living! First of all, you are in the right place to learn about the software. Second, continue to work hard and put together a strong demo reel. Finally, post your location here and ask about nearby users' groups.
#172025From: EDWARD HARVEYMay 26, 1995 1:36 PM
<<Don't care if it is a long road Effective 3d animation involves a wide variety of skills. Modeling is like sculpture; dramatic lighting benifits from study of painting and film lighting; motion of characters is often better understood by traditional animators than software experts; all the skills that are needed for effective film/video work and then some. The software is much less important than these fundamental skills. Even the best software (3ds) wont be effective in the hands of someone who hasnt made a study of color, motion, lighting, acting, etc. Good luck Ed
#172028From: MARTIN G FOSTERMay 26, 1995 1:49 PM
Richard, >> Will someone please tell me how people are breaking into the industry << lock yourself away for 6-months in a distraction-free, window-less basement with your computer, some stimulating reference material, a small stove with water supply, some non-perishable foods, and toilet facilities. Just live and breath 3d Studio for this period of self-imposed sequestration. Once you start hallucinating you may produce some really cool animations where quality, but not quantity is the keyword. Record your best stuff onto betaSP and edit with music etc. Distribute your demo reel to the right people and IF you have any talent, you'll get a job. I'm only partly joking here. Myself and probably others on the forum are in a position to hire upcoming talent and a great demo reel is the key to entry, even without a lot of production experience. Therefore the investment in time and self-sacrifice can pay off handsomely. Martin Foster (MetroLight Studios)
#172171From: Yost GroupMay 27, 1995 12:08 PM
Your description of what it takes to become an animator ought to be immortalized in the libraries somewhere. (Would one of the TM's be able to do that?) – G
#172347From: Anne BrownMay 28, 1995 7:38 PM
Sure – Be glad to upload the conversation to the library! I'll capture it but wait a little bit to be sure folks have stopped contributing. <G> As an aside to all – if you ever see a discussion/conversation that you feel belongs in the library just speak up. Anne
#172501From: MARTIN G FOSTERMay 29, 1995 6:13 PM
Gary, >> Your description of what it takes to become an animator ought to be immortalized in the libraries somewhere. << Thanks Gary. For more in-depth information, there's actually a full length book on the subject called (rather cryptically) "Becoming an animator" and I believe it's by Mike Morrison and published by Sam's Publishing. It's been out almost a year but I saw it on the shelves at CompUSA today. I've never read it so I'm not sure if it goes into the true self-sacrifice required but it does have some interviews with the likes of Cyrus Lum (formerly Crystal Dynamics), Mark Dippee (ILM) with whom I happen to be working right now on the Herbie Hancock music video, somebody from Pixar (forgot the name), and others. Might be worth a read for the aspiring animator. I just hope it doesn't sugar coat the whole process. Martin
#172067From: David GouldMay 26, 1995 4:48 PM
<<Will someone please tell me how people are breaking into the industry.>> Breaking in is the easy part it's the breaking out that's the hardest. <g> You'll find that most computer graphics people are simply addicts that can't give up the habit. Firstly buy 3DS Studio and Photoshop and READ the manual and tutorial. Create a heap of demo images and/or animations in a variety of styles/genres then start looking for work. You might be able to find a company that will sponsor you(training). Good luck and say goodbye to the sun, since you'll never see it again ha, ha, ha (devilish laugh) <g> DaviD "Doing five ounces of 3DS per day" GouID