My passion for CG has led me to wonder whether I can pursue a career in this field, ideally working in digital media like film or game. I guess what I’d like to know is how to go about that.
Firstly, what is the general skill set or criteria for jobs in this field such as that of a compositor/modeler/animator.
Secondly, if my skills are below the expected standard, what is the best way to go about improving these? i.e tuition? work experience? self directed learning? If you recommend tuition, could you possibly point me towards material or tutors/companies/universities (ideally in the UK, near Wales).
Thirdly, even though this website is dedicated to Blender users, are there any other softwares that you would recommend for improving my ability?
To see my portfolio in progress just see some of my forum posts.
Sure you can either take a job on the side and learn cg in your free time…
Or you can go to a well known university and get the necessary connections,and access to software that you need.
If you are looking into U.K. universities,look at either Bournemouth University(BU) or The Arts University College Bournemouth(AUCB)they are the most popular schools for animation and vfx in england.People who went there have gone on to work for Blue Sky/MPC/Disney/Double Negative/Passion-Pictures/Lionhead Studios/Rare Games,just to name a few.
I went to AUCB where you are trained foundation in 2d drawing,and taught cg later.I’ve done some freelance animation and illustration since.I’ve only really started getting into 3D,I was very passionate about 2d when I was student.BU is more mathematically based (so I hear) and you aren’t trained to draw or anything.Its purely computer animation.
As for dreamers and loafers,I know a guy who was a mechanic,hated it.He decided to do animation mentor online school.Now he’s a full time animator,with clients such as disney/viacom.
there are many options.
You could even study computer science or engineering at uni,i’m sure some of those skills will be transferable into the CG world.It all comes down to skills + contacts (who you know)
If you want to enter the industry as a generalist,some skills will be transferable,modelling for example in terms of topology and edge flow is all going to be the same.
Animation skills are the same,it shouldn’t take too long to learn the tools of different software in regards to animating/modelling.
Commercial software includes MAYA/3DSMAX/SOFTIMAGE for your 3d packages
I think NUKE is the standard for compositing,and some big studios have there own software.You are gunna be learning and unlearning depending on where you go.You can only really be a generalist at the smaller studios
Big studios have a stricter pipeline,where employees will be doing one job (modelling/rigging etc.),and then its passed on the next department (texturing,lighting) and so on and so forth.
About 15 years ago I send an e-mail to a guy that made a funny animation of an alien singing a disco song. That e-mail sounded just like your post here and Victor Navone did in fact encourage me to pursue my dream of being a cg artist. I’m going to encourage you to do the same but with a few caveats.
Getting started in this career is tough but if you’re really passionate about it, I truly believe it’s possible for anyone… especially if I could do it. I would highly recommend going to a good university and learn all you can. Don’t you guys get free college out there in the UK?
I was going to write you a nice long post but I have something to attend to. If you want, send me a PM and we’ll talk more.
Learn to draw.
Learn to photograph.
Learn the Adobe Product Suite. (Mainly After Effects, Photoshop and Illustrator)
Learn about the rules of composition and color harmony.
You will be tempted, at times, to use your other abilities to make money, such as web programming. This is a mistake. Stay focused on animation as much as possible. Volunteer at TV station. Sign up for public access TV in your area and produce something, anything.
@Fweeb - Thanks for moving this post to this section of the website.
@ng-material - Thank you for an enthusiastic and informative reply! I have had a look at BU in the past and I’ve heard nothing but good things about them. I was unaware of AUCB. I think a grounding in 2D would be pretty useful for me, but at the same time perhaps not as essential as the mathematical side of things that is taught in BU.
That’s pretty incredible about the guy who was a mechanic and went on to do work for Disney and Viacom. Shows that anything is possible.
Thanks for the software recommendations also!
@tommywright - I agree. It’s definitely a competitive industry but, as you said, it’s possible if the passion is there! Senior lighting artist? Sounds interesting. Hopefully in 15 years time I’ll have done work similar to the level you have :eyebrowlift:
No it’s not free by any means. In fact, the fees have increased as of late.
I’ll be sure to PM you when I’ve got some time.
Again, thanks for the replies, guys. I appreciate it a lot.
If you really want to do CG, just do it. You can do it on the side, you can learn it by yourself. But I wouldn’t focus on a career in the business. Just be independent.
here’s what i am doing. I am getting a political law degree. It is my second passion, my first is writing. Until i do big the writing i will be a political lawyer. What i’d rather be doing is making movies,animated films, and own a game company.
ALWAYS HAVE A BACK-UP PLAN.
I am still getting a degree in film directing, computer coding and animation.
I say pursue it on the side. Whatever career path you take, your number one priority needs to be to stack and save money. Don’t get a loan for anything, not a house, not a car, not tuition. Then it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you pull in a nice regular paycheck. By saving every bit that you can and not going into debt, you will be ahead of 99% of the rest of the population who seem hell-bent on getting as deep in debt as they possibly can and living way beyond their means.
Repeat this for 20 years, and see where you are.
Making a career or business decision with no debt and $100k in the bank is a lot easier and calmer. End the desperation first.
When I first encountered 3D, I knew it was my passion and I pursued it relentlessly. After several years I have finally landed some paying work/contracts in the business. Has it been worth it? Not yet. If you count the hours I have invested in learning all aspects of 3D, and compare it with the income I have brought in, than I would have been better off flipping burgers.
Rather applies to everything corporate. Big companies operate all on similar values and enforce/encourage similar work environments. I’ve seen much of the same misery he describes in companies outside of the media business. If you live in a post-industrial country (all about services and know-how and little actual produce), chances are you will have to face such working conditions more than once in your lifetime, regardless of your field of expertise. Competition is fierce nowadays for every job.
My understanding is that an amazing demo reel is worth more than any degree you can get. I understand the relationship between an awesome education in 3d animation and a good demo reel, but my point is that one generally does not need degrees in artistic fields. It helps, but some people have a great capacity for learning on their own and natural talent.
A friend of mine has been the assistant director on tons of movies, including a couple with Pixar. His comment to me was to take 6 months off work and do 3d stuff 10 hours a day, every day. Put together a badass demo reel and then shop around. Granted, this may have been personal advice because a lot of stuff in Hollywood is about who you know, but it’s an interesting idea. But (and a BIG but), that is pretty much an all in approach. Note that I am not advocating this… I just thought it was an interesting perspective.
Regardless of what you do, just make sure it is fun. Personally, I couldn’t do this for a job because I think it would suck the fun out of it for me. But that’s just me. Other people love their career in it. I’ve just personally noted that as soon as something becomes “work”, it is just that… work.
First career advice i would give you, is never ask for career advice on Blender Artists or any other 3d forum for that matter. You will get nothing but peoples personal opinions and things like my mates 3rd cousins aunty twice removed works for … And he says that you should do…
Do the research, figure out what part of the industry you want to work in and find out the entry criteria. Contact UK based companies and recruiters and see what they are looking for and the qualifications you need. Then put a plan together on how your going to achieve it.
Get yourself to Animex at Middlesborough University in Feb . http://animex.tees.ac.uk/. There are normally quite a few recruiters there who can advise you on the job market and entry criteria.
Also remember doing a bit of 3d as a hobby is million miles away from banging it out for 8 to 10 hours a day for a living. At the end of the day its a job you have good and bad days.
one of the main questions about you is how old are you and in what stage of your life are you now?
the younger you are, the better, if you are still learning I would say that the only limit is your passion and talent, if you are working already, you will probably need to keep making money besides CG education
one advice I can give you is to search for different contests online (starting with the ones on blenderartists), they are a great way to find new challenges and new learning areas, they will provide you topics, they will provide you problems, and they will provide you a deadline
and if you won’t get bored with CG challenges doing them one after another, that might be it
I’ll outline the aspects in the text that I believe apply particularly to the creative fields:
The creative industry operates largely by holding ‘creative’ people ransom to their own self-image, precarious sense of self-worth, and fragile – if occasionally out of control ego. We tend to set ourselves impossibly high standards, and are invariably our own toughest critics. Satisfying our own lofty demands is usually a lot harder than appeasing any client, who in my experience tend to have disappointingly low expectations. Most artists and designers I know would rather work all night than turn in a sub-standard job. It is a universal truth that all artists think they a frauds and charlatans, and live in constant fear of being exposed. We believe by working harder than anyone else we can evaded detection. The bean-counters rumbled this centuries ago and have been profitably exploiting this weakness ever since. You don’t have to drive creative folk like most workers. They drive themselves. Just wind ‘em up and let ‘em go.
Truly creative people tend not to be motivated by money. That’s why so few of us have any. The riches we crave are acknowledgment and appreciation of the ideas that we have and the things that we make. A simple but sincere “That’s quite good.” from someone who’s opinion we respect (usually a fellow artisan) is worth infinitely more than any pay-rise or bonus. Again, our industry masters cleverly exploit this insecurity and vanity by offering glamorous but worthless trinkets and elaborately staged award schemes to keep the artists focused and motivated.
Also, this doesn’t apply to just “big companies” (what is a big company, anyway?). Most agencies/studios are small places and the corporate pressure shifts over to them, because their clients are likely big corporations.
Agreed with a lot of points. I think a strong showreel is absolutely imperative to getting noticed and getting the job. I also understand the difference between dedicating hours to this stuff and just having it as a hobby. I’m currently 21 and studying music (another competitive industry) at university. I’m in my 3rd year now and will hopefully graduate in May. I feel as if my age is influencing my decisions in terms of what to do next. Since an early age I have loved drawing but I feel like a latecomer to this field (CGI). I’ve always had a strong connection with the Pixar films and in many ways I wish I’d discovered and tinkered with CGI sooner than I did.
I will look at the recommended courses that you guys have suggested. I’m also hoping to get some Maya and 3DS MAX tuition DVDs for Christmas!
whatever you choose, remember animation is art. And art has a great potential in communicating messages. Please don’t be one more advertiser that keep using art to communicate ‘buy this, buy that, desire this, desire that…’. Use art to make a better world