August 16th, 2009
Quick post with a suggestion to maybe throw your hat into the ring with one of the various different challenges that CG websites often run.
Challenge city. Population you.
At the top of the pile you have ones like the current “Secret Agent” challenge over at CGTalk. This is a pretty high-end comp and the prizes reflect that. I mean, if you are entering to win a Boxx workstation, a copy of Maya and Houdini Master, Intuos 4 etc etc, you better be ready to bring your A-game!
VFXTalk used to run challenges but they seemed to have dried up, although I noticed that Alejandro Villabón over at Green Soda has started up some challenges. No prizes, but we should be looking at sharpening our skills.
Me? I am looking at submitting some work for the latest lighting challenge over at CGTalk. Again, there are no prizes, but that’s not really the reason to enter these kinds of things. The main attraction for me is that there is usually a focus (in this case lighting), you are provided with the scene or base elements (like the green screen for the Green Soda challenge) and you are given a time limit. For me, having the time limit and restrictions is great because like so many of us, I get started on some ideas I have, run out of steam and shelve the project. If there is a simple challenge with a deadline, there is more chance I will actual finalise something.
So, look around and enter some challenges to . . . errrr, challenge yourself!
Posted in Maya, Thoughts | 2 Comments »
August 9th, 2009
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!
Posted in Thoughts | 2 Comments »
August 6th, 2009
A quick post and link to an absolutely stellar free application; DJV Imaging. A quick summary would be “a powerful image and sequence viewer that handles a tonne of formats and IT IS FREE!” Yay!
DJV Imaging for FREE!
This thing makes fcheck go sit in the corner and have a long hard look at itself. I have used this in production before and have just downloaded it again after a recent update. If you are someone who needs to look at sequences of images, and if you are in visual fx or animation I can guarantee you do, download it and give it a shot. Guaranteed you will start to use it more and more!
Tags: cool applications
Posted in Cool Applications | No Comments »
August 2nd, 2009
This isn’t really a tip post but I don’t really know what other category to put it under. Basically this is a look at how I go about making the vidcasts for this site. It is by no means a step by step guide and is definitely the only way to do a vidcast. It just happens to be the way process that works for me given my equipment, skill level and desired outcome!
- Mummy, how are vidcasts made?
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Site News, Tips & Tricks
Posted in Site News, Tips & Tricks | No Comments »