Motion Graphics Career Dilemma …

[Stephen Smith]

Have you tried any of these forums:
JOBS Offered – Higher Pay
JOBS Offered – Low/No Pay
JOBS Wanted

Salt Lake Video

Check out my DVD Money Making Graphics & Effects for Final Cut Studio 2

[Holden Smith]

Thanks Stephen – have been checking it out …
If only it was easier for us europeans to work in the states 🙁

[Scott Novasic]

wow, you sound like you want the OPPOSITE of what I love. I own my own small business and take on all kinds of projects as my own boss. Working alone. The more co workers, the more opportunity to share ideas, AND the more opportunity for office politics and personality clashes. Careful what you wish for.
Disney, Pixar, and a number of other large studios will offer you what you are looking for, but you may end up in groups that work on miniscule portions of projects that may remind you of what you used
to do. Everyone of us is different, so you need to really be honest with your goals. Break it down
for example

#1 MONEY: how much do you need to be happy or survive. Decide that IN ADVANCE.

#2 TASKS: what ‘in a perfect world’ would you love to designanimate. 2d – 3d teach be a generalist?

#3 CONTROL: Do you need to ‘own’ the project. OR are you fine sharing partial credit for work done.

#4 HOURS: working for someone has the allure of regular hours, in reality, you may work more hours
than you ever wanted to, and possibly with no overtime pay. Do you have a Social Life?

There is more to consider, but I did one thing to help me with the types of options you are considering. I moved to Los Angeles. There is so much work here of ALL types that you can try
out a place and if your unhappy, you dont have to move to be just blocks from another possibility.
LA is certainly not the only place you can do this, but just a bit of advice.

Good Luck

Scott

SuperNova
Animation & Visual Effects
Scott Novasic
Los Angeles Ca
web:https://web.mac.com/finaleffects

[Holden Smith]

Thanks for the reply Scott – breaking it down to money, tasks, control and hours is really useful.

I’ve answered those questions – I’m not motivated by money but like everyone, want to comfortable etc.
I do enjoy following a project from start to finish – I think my strengths are ideas, artworking and a solid knowledge of the motion graphic production process.
I have never been a control freak and am comfortable sharing credit and adapting my ideas.
I think I do operate best to regular working hours (understand your point of working hard for no reward) …. this is starting to sound like resume!

… so I’m not so sure my goals are that different from yours – probably too many months freelancing from home and feel I need a bit more direction!

I’d love to be able to consider LA as a destination (especially having spent some time there) but am not so sure it’s a viable option for a European.
I’ve always been under the assumption you need to be a ‘superstar’ designer with an exceptional reel for an LA / NY studio to consider you – never mind the VISA issue …

Having worked all over the London & UK I definitely feel ready for a move abroad, your description of LA does make it sound like exactly the place I need to be / would thrive in.
Do you know of anyone who has moved over from the UK / Europe? Would love to heard how they did it …

Thanks again for your reply … and apologies for my rambling!

Cheers!

[Scott Novasic]

Well, Holden, its all about the demo reel. Period.

I had some anxiety coming here for the same reasons you do. Am I good enough etc. Well, the dirty little secret, as I see it, here in LA is that there is work for you at various skill levels. I was near the top of my field in Chicago here in the USA for 5 years. Chicago is our 3rd largest city. LA is 2nd. I got hired in LA at CBS which was what I wanted then, THEY paid to bring me and my family out to LA. I loved the setup in Chicago, BUT, I ended up hating it in LA at CBS. Bad organization, out of control ego’s and no real synergy among co workers. I could not of predicted that. Things went great in Chicago. But, like I wrote, personalities and politics can rear their ugly heads some places, where as others places seem to gell nicely.

They hire ‘mid level’ designers ALL THE TIME, when I see ads. I needed to feel NOT that I was near the top of talent here in LA, but rather, that I was good enough to be in the “mix” so to speak.

Really it comes down to how adventurous you are, do you take risks. It took me until I was 39yrs old to finally get out here. I wish I came out here 10 years earlier at least.

Show your reel to as many people as you can, get feedback, get a feel for where you “fit in”

do you have a current reel?

SuperNova
Animation & Visual Effects
Scott Novasic
Los Angeles Ca
web:https://web.mac.com/finaleffects

[Holden Smith]

You speak a lot of sense Scott – thanks for taking the time out to respond.
Would it be ok to email a (small) reel / examples of work to your .mac email address? Would be great to get your opinion.

Thanks again!

[Sam Young]

ever consider teaching?

[Holden Smith]

Not quite ready to do that full time but it would be nice to give something back 🙂

[Matt Mcewen]

Having experience is great! Can you give me your take on this new product from Digital Juice. It was designed for motion graphic users. Just click to watch the video.

https://www.digitaljuice.com/products/products.asp?pid=967

Kind regards,
Matt (Digital Juicer)

Matt McEwen
Digital Juice
mmcewen@digitaljuice.com
http://www.digitaljuice.com