Mar 30

A question for recruiters

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
Hi everyone,

I am an Indian compositor with almost 5 years of experience working in India. I want to work abroad but inspite of my experience on Hollywood movies, I do not get a job in western countries like UK, USA, Canada, Australia etc.

For a moment, if we consider that my resume and show reel are good then what is the other problem that stops recruiters from hiring me? I mean technical problems – work permit, visa etc. I really do not want to settle abroad or take anyone’s job but I came into this field to work on big hollywood movies and I can’t? Just because my passport says ‘India’? Hardly any hi-end compositing work comes to India and I want to do hi-end compositing. I just want to gain some international experience, to see how the big ones operate. Can any of the recruiters here advice me on how to go about it? Do I need to upgrade myself? Do I need to get an education from a western country? How do I prove myself worthy?

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Mar 22

Where are all the jobs?

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
I know times are tough but there just seem to be no jobs out there…at all. I’ve been trying to get a roto job now for the last 8 months (and I consider myself to be fairly proficient. People tell me I should have no problem getting work with my reel). In that time I’ve seen Dneg advertise (but are they really cos they always seem to advertise) and that is it. Not a single other roto job.

Am I missing something?

I seem to be in an unfortunate place between runner and roto artist. Cant get a sniff of roto jobs but Im told I have too much experience to be a runner. Just what is inbetween unless I want go down a data ops route (which I dont cos that is more of a 3D route)?

So glad I wasted 25 grand on a degree that cant even get me a job making tea.

__________________________________________________ ______________
Jon Reid
reid.vfx@googlemail.com

RotoReel: http://vimeo.com/9939625
__________________________________________________ ______________

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Mar 20

school selection? indecisive

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
hey everyone,
i am from Pakistan and completed my a levels(maths physics chemistry) last year may/june09.I took a gap year because i wanted to study abroad but my father was reluctant he wanted me to study engineering(that’s what i’d be doing uptil now) but now i have convinced him somehow.Filming and photography were on my mind but then i met one of my relatives who’s a 3d modeler,product designer and he’s my inspiration to cg.
So from past 5 months i am working in 3d with a help of tutorials from lynda & digital tutors(going to get gnomon’s dvds soon).Vfs was on my mind till last month but i have planned for working in states for which i have to have a 4 years degree and some experience.Which VFS & LBL won’t give me,then i looked up for SCAD’s visual effects degree but i have to take a S.A.T exam first? and i am ready to take traditional arts foundation as well and i have not touched the particles yet but modeling so i just have the stuff for portfolio which is in the tuts? is that enough or should i model something on my own.
I have some relatives in virgina,manhattan,ontario and in uk as well.But my preference would be U.S/Canada.So please refer me some universities and save me from stale engineering (my father actually) =/ he’s got the money but he doesn’t spend on me :d and yes i guess i’d be the first one from Pakistan to earn this degree lol
my aim is to learn visual effects & animation as well and God forbid if i’d to leave states after completing my bachelors,i’d be experienced enough to make music videos or tv commercials in my country and return the money to my father 😐
thanks
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Mar 17

Good generalist reels

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
Hey guys,

I’m wondering what people think regarding generalist reels.

Specifically, I’m assembling some work (both 3D and VFX) and am about to start putting a reel together prior to moving back to the States in the Summer. However, the more I think about it, I’m starting to second-guess myself in terms of the content.

My main concern is that of a feeling of cohesion. I really want to demonstrate a variety of skills , particularly lighting, rendering, matchmoving and dynamics & particle effects, but I don’t want to hurt my chances of being considered for entry-level work in, say, solely matchmoving.

Would it be ‘better’ to cut several reels demonstrating individual skills to appeal to particular roles, or cut a single reel including all the work to show a varied skill set? Anyone have any decent generalist reels bookmarked they’d like to share?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

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Mar 15

Movie VFX Course or Internship Abroad (USA,Canada)

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
I have completed my course in movie VFX and I am thinking which will be better.

1.Another VFX Course or Internship in a good Studio In USA or Canada.

2.Are there any studios that provide internship to international students(Freshers)

3.Please list the best Movie VFX schools and Studios that provide Internship.

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Dec 06

Learning Projection

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
Hey guys. I’m currently in school, at work, and I watch a lot of things like fxPHD on the side.

I’m interested in learning more about projection mapping. Reading a few things on 2012 and seeing some reels makes me want to learn this. I haven’t done a thing with it except for one I used camera projection mapping in 3DS Max.

I’ve just seen a lot of breakdowns where 2D images are used for some pretty sick things, not just set up on cards so it makes an image appear separated.

So are there any good classes or tutorials on this? Or is this more of a sub-subject? I’m amazed I haven’t gotten into this yet.

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Nov 28

two serious questions sorta

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
thanks to anyone in advanced who can help me. its my first post cuz i really wanted to ask these questions. also thought they belonged here, sorry if they dont.

1.) in today’s industry does one/can one get a job souly by a demo reel? from what i read thats how its done but then education is always mentioned. can i actually get the job with just a demo reel and no training.

2.) while not as serious its a demo reel question. i know its bad to use popular stock footage in a reel, but im wondering about the footage that comes with the popular fxphd classes. it seems they are pretty popular here and a major catch or draw of theres is the ability to use there footage in your reel. even these guys so called pros are tellling you to do it. so im wondering should i?

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Oct 27

DE n VE

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
hi i m upendra from india can any one say differences between DIGITAL EFFECTS(DE) and VISSUL EFFECTS(VFX)? and which course is best to learn in this both DE and Vfx? can any one help me pls?
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Sep 16

Graduation in animation

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
hi everyone……..
i am a lighting artist from india just i finished my course in maya and i have did 10+2 only
i just wanna know how much graduation is important in animation field to grow up in the industry please if anyone knows about this please help .????
thanks in advance…………..please
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Sep 13

SCAD

Posted in: Professional Career Advice!
Well to start off, let me introduce myself. My name’s Dayna, and I am a high school student. For the last few years I’ve been very interested in 3D and VFX and I’ve decided that I would like to study VFX in school.
I would like to attend a 4 year school because I have no experience in 3D, (besides a little over a year of modeling in a CAD program for school.) Therefore, schools like VanArts or VFS probably aren’t best suited for me. Plus, I’d like to not be completely married to my computer for a year straight.
So, I’ve read about SCAD and it sounds like a good school for VFX, (although I’m aware that you get out of art school what you put into it). However, I still don’t know much about it. I was hoping that some SCAD alumni or people who know about the school could give me some information on the VFX program.
Also, I’m a little worried about SCAD because it is an art school. The first year is foundations year and I can’t draw to save my life. Will this majorly impact me if I attend?

Any information would be appreciated.

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