I recently graduated with my Bachelors in Animation but my school practically gave me my degree and spit me out. I didn't do any internships (school didn't give credit for that plus I was already a full time worker and student) and I don't know where to start! A lot of jobs require previous experience which besides school I don't have. I eventually want to become a storyboard artist but would be honored to be apart of ANYTHING in animation.Any advice? How did many of you get your career going?
Well.........apply to studios.
If you have talent, and the studios have openings, you'll probably be hired.
If they do not have openings, keep creating, get your work in other people's hand any way you can.
Remember that work credits do not need to be from paying work, but work experience from recognized studios and productions counts for more than free jobs or volunteer work.
Without knowing what your work is like, I cannot offer any other suggestions.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
most of the jobs I see are for seniors with a ton of experience and all I have in my degree. Is there a certain type of level or job I'll have a chance for now? Ill get my work up sooner or later.
Most likely you'll have a chance at a entry level position.
The best way to gain that is to get your work under the noses of as many people as you can, any way you can. Forget about your degree, it's meaningless unless you want to teach.
Get it out there on-line, in print, in person.......however you have to.
If you have skills that the industry wants or needs, you will get work.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
First of all - CONGRATULATIONS on graduating! That's fantastic.
Now you have to face the eternal question faced by every graduate -- What next?
Start by assembling your portfolio - perhaps you can talk to one of your teachers to help you select the best.
Scan your work and make sure you have large, small and "for web" versions of everything. If you work digitally, so much the better (or easier).
Sooner is better than later and one of the quickest ways to getting your work online is to start a blog (blogger.com is free & easy). You can always build a beautiful website later.
Put your resume and cover letter together - be brief and spell check EVERYTHING. What computer apps do you know?
Do a lot of research on the big studios, tv series, commercial agencies. What shows do you like on TV? contact the studio that makes them. See if they're hiring entry level story board artists.
I think internships, PA and runner positions are a great foot in the door.
Good luck.
is it possible to apply to credit internships even though you're not in school? Like you would love to just have the experience rather you get paid or not or is that illegal?:confused:
My studio has paid internships in the summer only. In the spring/fall they're credited and go through schools only. I'm pretty sure it's one or the other - paid or credited.
You can try to find entry level positions like a "runner" that will get your foot in the door and help you gain industry experience.
In case you haven't done a search, here's an informative post re: storyboarding
I also suggest reading that link that B'ini just supplied--I agree with every word from artmaw in that thread.
I can tell you with absolute certainty that storyboarding has not changed from how it was described in that thread posted 4 years ago.
Storyboarding is still the most difficult part of the animation process, and I have been doing 'boards since 1991. I have done them exclusively since about 1995.
You really need to know your stuff to be hired to do them now, and that includes the drawing AND technical aspects regarding 'boards.
The demands are high, but it still tends to have relatively decent rewards, depending on the project.
"We all grow older, we do not have to grow up"--Archie Goodwin ( 1937-1998)
For my internship, I was lucky enough to work in the Story department as a PA. I was able to watch pitches, scan hundreds and hundreds of drawings and pin them up on boards. Lots and lots of pinning. I got to see how Story interacted with other departments (editorial and layout) and I got to know naming conventions and the database. Hmmmm... what else did I learn about - animatics, drawing styles, gags, archiving, reticles, creating scripts in photoshop - and pinning.
So, just getting in there will help get you on your way.
In the thread Ken mentions, Larry L. speaks about companies hiring storyboard artists doubling as directors. That's actually very much the case where I work - so far almost all projects I've had a hand in were boarded and directed by the same persons who've also had years of experience animating. Furthermore, the boards were used directly as scene layouts. So yeah, you really have to be a jack of all trades and it doesn't do to know everything just a little.