I was talking to a young co-worker of mine the other day about some jobs that we saw being advertised around the traps. One was for the studio that does the FX for a sci-fi show that he loves and would consider a dream job if he could get to work on it. I asked if he had applied. He said no as he didn’t feel he was qualified enough, it was overseas and he had only just started his job here.
Just ask
I certainly don’t suggest starting jobs and then bailing straight away . . . bad form all around, but I don’t see the others as particularly good reasons not to get in contact and start a relationship.
Whoah, whoah, whoah . . . “starting a relationship”? That sounds awfully management speak or new-age drivel, but if you haven’t noticed, this industry is built on relationships. You mostly get jobs because of who you know. Of course you have to be able to deliver, but if it comes down to someone who can deliver and someone who can deliver who has a mate working at the studio or who knows the HR person, who do you think will get the job?
What I am talking about here is the power of asking. You have to ask. I think the best summary about the power of asking is this blogpost over at FreelanceSwitch.com. The point is that only you know what you want and a lot of times the only way to get it is to make sure that other people know it!
How to go about it? Send the studio an email. You realise they aren’t hiring but just want to get in touch with your latest reel and resume. Ask if it’s okay if you keep them up to date and then DO it. The thing you are trying to do is start a conversation. You might get a form email response, you might get someone from HR email you back. If it’s the latter, make a record of their details and position so that next time you can either send an email directly to them or at least mark the generic “jobs@ABCstudio.com” email address to them in the subject line. Now you are a real person interracting with another real person. The more you can make yourself a defined person as opposed to just another applicant, the more you will come to mind when the are looking for new hires.
Good luck!
This is exactly how I feel about getting in to the industry. At the beginning of the year I emailed Jeff Gaunt who is the lead visual effects compositor at cutting edge Brisbane regarding my status and basically letting him know that I exist and that I want to work for him one day. He responded saying he would give me a call but got held up with work (which was a little unnerving).
I am going to drop a line back his way and let him know I still exist and see what happens.
I am also looking at collaborating with a 3D artist because basically.. I have not had the chance to work with passes before and being an aspiring compositor.. that really sucks.
So if you progress with your 3D skills dont hesitate to swing some work this way for some callobration with myself.. obviously your own composite of your own work would be much more solid but if theres anything dodgy out there you dont mind passing on for me to work on I’d be happy to take it on. Cheers man.. the recent blogs are extremely insightful.
Cool man, I will keep it in mind
Definitely hit Jeff up again, but remember, the point of keeping in contact with people is to keep them up to date with your progress, so try and make sure you have something new to show what you have been doing since the last time you emailed. Also try and reply to the original email conversation so the person can see what you talked about before.
Good luck!