Thanks for the South Park moment. I’d forgotten about that one. :yes:
Welllll… to be blunt, historically we have European colonialism and capitalism to blame. Large western corporations traditionally wanted to keep wages and prices low in so-called “third world” countries, and that’s exactly what they did and still are doing. If you want to blame someone, blame your own forebears. Blame the ever increasing self-enrichment of an ever decreasing number of mindbogglingly rich people. We made our own bed.
That’s why we in the “first world” countries are able to purchase clothes and other misc consumer goods at far too low prices, and the overall level of standard of living is FAR higher in the UK compared to many African countries. Large Western conglomerates’ share holders like it that way, and want the status quo unchanged.
The other side of the same coin: when people around the globe offer their services, it naturally results in “unfair” (to your eyes) low-priced gigs by a “third world” citizen compared to a “first world” citizen.
This wouldn’t be an issue (as much) if wealth was more globally distributed to even things out - it would become fairer in that everyone would have to compete based on the quality and speed of the work delivered. However, we live in a society based on economic inequality, rather than equality. Perhaps not in word, but in real life - yeah, it is what it is. What you are experiencing now is merely a by-effect.
By the way:
Comparing the rents of a city such as London isn’t quite comparable either. It throws things off. Since working online allows you to live anywhere in the UK you’d save a lot of money by moving to South Wales, or Cumbria.
And when you mention those costs of living, let’s compare the average yearly salary in both countries.
The average income per year:
UK: 4275863 Rs
Pakistan: 165915 Rs
Overall living standards in Pakistan are much lower as well.
Anyway, apples and pears. Can’t really complain about a situation that we, who are living in the “first world” countries caused (and are still causing) ourselves in the first place.
I agree with the other poster: compete locally, not globally. Or move to a low-income country, and work from there 
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Honestly, I’d just give up on the visualization pipe dream. The only way to make money is in film and television, and they’re going to want Maya, Max or Houdini.
Even then, it’s pretty competitive, especially if you’re not a TD.
Globalization brings us all down to the lowest common denominator. I don’t have a solution (besides voting for anti-globalization candidates and opposing the NWO), but I recognize your frustration.
Why is somebody living in Pakistan allowed take the work/jobs of people in the UK cut throating and undercutting people???
Are you ready to give up on cheap clothes, electronics and other appliances that you get from free trade with countries where living expenses are lower?
Now, if you pay attention, people still buy clothes made in Italy, watches made in Switzerland, appliances made in Germany, and so on. You have to be able to compete on (perceived) quality of service, not price.
On another level, let’s say you understand CG and want to make a business out of it, why not be the middleman between cheap labor in Pakistan and clients local to you? Most clients aren’t particularly interested in managing groups of random people in foreign countries just to get some work done.
Lamenting the situation gets you absolutely nowhere, but if it makes you feel better, you can vote for the next best politician that promises you economic protectionism - it worked well for Donald Trump!
Sure the cost of living in a place like Pakistan is low, but the barriers to entry for a high tech field like CGI production are correspondingly high in those places. A computer, internet connection, and the opportunity cost of taking the time to learn the required skills to do production quality work probably represent a far higher percentage of this guy’s annual income than the average westerner’s. Consequently, he’s taking a much bigger risk staking his livelihood on this field, and undercutting the price of “first world” artists is simply a way of mitigating that risk. Ironically, if we didn’t have free software like Blender, it might be harder for people in places like Pakistan to participate in this field, because those already high startup costs would be even higher thanks to the likes of Autodesk.
One other thing, if the person undercutting you was not a Pakistani but rather, say, a 14 year old kid from the UK who didn’t depend on CG work to support himself because he still lives with his parents, would your feelings be any different? The “region locking” solution wouldn’t help you in this case, nor does any form of economic protectionism really.
Personally, I would “bloom wherever you are planted.” There’s a helluva lot of demand for computer graphics in all forms, even it’s just doing “bumpers” for TV commercials. You don’t have to move to London, or to Hollywood, or to anywhere “else.”
But also, it is necessarily team work. The process is both labor-intensive and time-consuming, even though time-saving innovations are proceeding very rapidly as always. Very pragmatically speaking, it is unlikely that a single “lone wolf” individual working alone, no matter how gifted (s)he may be, will be financially successful. Instead, the natural structure of a project consists of a team of specialists under the tutelage of a director … and of someone else whose job it is to keep the customer happy and to field the latest brain-storm from the customer’s Marketing Department. :yes:
Within a properly-run organization you can find a role that suits you best, and be productive and happy doing it, but without the probably-impossible task of trying to carry your entire world upon your own shoulders. Who knows – one day you might wind up running that organization. But it will still be “an organization.” As they say, “it takes two to Tango.” “Many hands make light work.”
So you spend a couple years doing bumpers. You’re bored out of your skin and Pixar still hasn’t called back. :no: But, you do the job faithfully and well, pay attention both to details and to deadlines, and prove that you are easy to work with. Word gets around. Someone describes their latest deadline to someone else at a dinner party and asks if they could recommend anyone. Your name comes up. That’s how it goes … it happens a lot.
(What’s the most-efficient and least-risky way to find someone, anywhere in the world? Spontaneous recommendations! “Your reputation precedes you.” Nurture it well.)
lol what? HAHAHA
lol what? JAJAJAJ
It’s really hard to convince people that their ideas about the economy are nonsense, when it’s so utterly convenient to blame capitalism/globalism/colonialism/immigrants/foreigners for their personal failure to compete in the economy. Those ideas just keep coming back…
As always, the Beer Baron speaks the truth. What a legend he is 
But on a serious note, as others have said; work locally. Build up a base of skills and pimp yourself out locally and get those gigs. Make sure to do them well and you will get other work from other local firms.
I think it only comes down to two things. 1) Don’t focus on money. 2) Always do the best work you can. And don’t sacrifice quality ever as long as you can get away with it.
Of course it is a given you have to be able to promote yourself. You have to make contacts.
But beyond that the world has a zillion things to offer as barriers that you have no control over, so there is no point in worrying about it because you simply can’t change it directly or realistically even over the long term. Can the world change and can conditions improve? Sure. But you are not going to be able to solve that, just to get a job. So forget about it.
Focus on doing the best work you possibly can and servicing people in the best way you possibly can. Does not matter where you get your clients. Whatever seems to work for you. Some people do well locally others do well remotely. It does not matter really. And you can have the same troubles with clients locally as you can remotely. Nowhere is the field free of B.S.
It will be rough. There will be ups and downs, and plenty to learn.
But look around you. People everywhere in every country, companies, freelance artists large and small studios are making a living at this.
To be sure. The things stopping you from succeeding are not world conditions or economic trends and competition. Those factors only make the game more interesting and harder to win at. But please someone tell me, what aspect of life is free of that?
Even the filthy rich have to pay attention or they could loose it all in an instant.
Lots of things and good advice were said already.
Freelancing is a dream for many but I think those new to it often don’t know how hard this field is and that in reality only very talented people can also sustain by this is the only income.
I would always see freelancing as a side income not main income.
I suggest my students and graduates to rather then go the full way and open their own small studio.
It can be a one man show - who cares. Hire in muscle if needed. Create a network.
Regarding online work agencies - yes you will compete with abroad people but there also reasons for why not every client wants to do this and rather wants to work with a local person.
Service (consulting) is very important. If all you can do or offer is modeling or rendering then it will be nearly impossible to stick out.
You might want to identify also an additional area of expertise you could help.
Right now I work on a project for a local computer hardware maker to build their product presentation for a trade show.
They had a rough idea what to do but I helped them with story telling, and crafting a product presentation that will stick.
In addition their CAD guy who switched the software I am helping with designing the product better.
So what started as an animation / render job also includes now advertisement/graphic design and industrial design.
If they see you know what you are talking about and can help them they will be very open to it - as long as they don’t have silly budget ideas. Then I walk away or reduce the service offering to what I am willing to.
One odd thing I found is that being cheap price wise can make you look like not being very good at your creative work.
A fine balance between cost pain and gained visual capital worked well in my past.
And if you want projects you have to advertise and seek out client directly and not hope they they will find you through a talent agency.
Also make use of social media to promote yourself.
Two of my students started their own 2 man show few years back and are still successful. But they learned quickly that being your own boss is a nice thought the work and responsibilities that come with it area also mighty impressive.
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