Read on Twitter
Anim students are graduating now, and while I still don't feel "qualified" yet to give advice, only 4 years into my own career... I DO hold a senior artist position at my studio, and I feel like I am trusted with that title so early because of these key things:
NUMBER ONE: be easy to work with. It SOUNDS easy to be kind and collected and do as you're told, and it IS! the problem is, you would not BELIEVE how many egos there are in the field. People who don't get their dailies in on time, people who don't follow the brief...
people who don't want to do the notes their supervisors give them, people who continue to work on shots they aren't supposed to while their high prio shots get ignored for days, people who can't accept creative changes on their shots, people "too good" for grunt shots...
Especially starting out, just be a team player, man! Don't get whiney when you get notes, PAY ATTENTION TO YOUR DUE DATES, communicate with your coordinator or supervisor if you're having issues, learn to take good notes and apply them to your shots, and you'll be fine.
two: speaking of grunt/unimpressive shots, don't underestimate them. some of my best shots originally started out very simple, then ended up being either A) way more complex than it started or B) a beloved moment for the viewers
Mothra climbing Godzilla was both of these things
Mothra climbing Godzilla was both of these things
Same with projects you think you won't like. It's especially easy to get envious of the flashier, more exciting-looking project at your studio. You might think that other project will be "the big one", but it ends up being the one that flops. you NEVER know.
if you're not putting effort into your work because you don't care about the project, everyone WILL notice.
you might think you can "win" this and get moved to the other show, but you proved your professionalism is conditional and it might factor in to your contract extension
you might think you can "win" this and get moved to the other show, but you proved your professionalism is conditional and it might factor in to your contract extension
round up:
Be cool, do your notes, get updates in on time, communicate, check your ego, and remember there is something to take away from EVERYTHING you work on, even if it was learning to be as professional and hard-working on the project you don't care about vs the one you do
Be cool, do your notes, get updates in on time, communicate, check your ego, and remember there is something to take away from EVERYTHING you work on, even if it was learning to be as professional and hard-working on the project you don't care about vs the one you do
