Work For Free Or Not Work For Free - A Dilemma For Newbies

I generally tell students and aspiring artists wanting to break into the industry "never work for free!" However, there could be times an opportunity presents itself where the unique experience and circumstances of a job are worth the free labor investment. That's the dilemma. Cinematographer Brad Rushing offers some perspective on this topic from a live action point of view.

 

Avatar to Riot Games - Interveiw With Animator Daniel Zettl

 Check out this great interview with animator extraordinaire Daniel Zettl. We worked together on the same team at Riot Games. Daniel is a super talented animator and shares a lot of solid advice in this interview. Enjoy!

Avatar, Smaug and League of legends - Interview with Daniel Zettl

How to Become A World-Class Animator with Marco Marenghi

I had the pleasure of working with Marco at Sony Imageworks years ago on the epic box office smash... Green Lantern. Marco was great to work with and super talented.

2019 College Rankings - Top 50 Animation Schools

The Animation Career Review has released their list of the top 50 animation schools and colleges in the US. There are some fantastic schools on this list. Great to see the University of Texas at Dallas ranked at 37th. If you're interested in how they rank the schools check this page  Background Info and Criteria for College Rankings.




// Top 50 Animation Schools and Colleges in the U.S. – 2019 College Rankings

 // Top Animation School Programs in Texas - 2019 College Rankings

Animation Demo Reel Tips Galore

Here's a list of demo reel tips and advice from both feature animation and vfx. I'll be updating this post periodically as I come across new material.

// 12 Rules to Follow to Perfect Your Animation Demo Reel

Jean-Denis Haas - Animation Demo Reel Tips

// 10 Tips For Making A Quality Animation Demo Reel

// 6 Tips from Recruiters Who Look at YOUR Animation Demo Reel 

// 5 Things NOT to Do on Your Demo Reel 

Demo Reel Tips
Reel Feedback Webinar on Demo Reels. Tips on what it takes to get hired as an animator.
On the panel:
Will Groebe, Miko Coedel, Michal Makarewicz, Jim Brown, Jean-Denis Haas and Hans G. Brekke.

// Pro Tips: What makes a great animation demo reel?

Getting A Job In The Games Industry

A discussion with Senior Character artist, Daniel Orive, from Riot Games (Artstation: https://www.artstation.com/danielorive). He talks about work ethic of artists and what's required to get a job in the industry.

In this interview Michael Vicente - a Senior 3D Environment artist - explains what it takes to get a job at one of the biggest game companies in the world: Blizzard.

Supervising Animator Ben Willis: Getting into the Animation Industry

Eric Goldberg's Advice for Young Animators

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth, PhD, is a 2013 MacArthur Fellow and professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. In her new book, GRIT, she explores the science of why some people succeed and others fail, and why talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. She shows that perseverance and passion matter at least as much as talent and intelligence.



// What Is Your GRIT Score?






NPR: Human Brain

// The Power And Problem Of Grit

Weta Animators Discuss Demo Reels and the VFX Industry

James Bennett
Simeon Duncombe
Todd Labonte
Eric Reynolds

Visual Effects Advice from Film & TV Experts (BAFTA)

Scott Ross at TEDxLAMiracleMile: Global entertainment, our shrinking planet

Why do we sleep?

Great TEDtalk about sleep. I definitely need more ZZZ's a night!

How We Did It: Secrets Of Student Academy Award Winners

Some good advice here.

Art Business Bootcamp: Getting You Hired

Check out this great article over on the Muddy Colors blog
//Art Business Bootcamp 2: Getting You Hired