Are you a recent graduate, preparing to graduate?
We know that your portfolio is an important part of getting a job. You've spent hours practicing, learning software, and
completing projects, your portfolio will be ‘perfect’. But, did you think about your resume?
Of course! You've designed it, it has your education, clubs, summer jobs, church involvement AND you're panicking!
You don't have any 'real' experience, this is the tenth job/internship you've applied to and nothing. It's the fourth time your dream internship turned you down. Maybe you just don’t feel you’re ready to apply for that yet.
"You need more practice?"
Well, we can break down what's happening here into the mental aspect. Be forewarned, we’re blunt.
For the Technical stuff such as what to put in the resume and what to put in your portfolio! Check back May 1st for PART 2!
THE MENTAL STUFF
THE FIRST POINT: You will never be ready. Ready is a fantasy land and it doesn't exist.
- If ready doesn’t have a specific meaning for you, for example, a 5 - 10 piece portfolio, with a minute-long demo reel and resume by the end of say 3 weeks. It means you're procrastinating and waiting for the imaginary someday to come.
The confidence you are searching for comes from action. So does the elusive creature that is motivation. No one ever told us but just because we love something doesn't mean it's always fun. This is one of those not-fun moments. Chances are you already know this and you may be in a repetitive cycle, the only way to break that cycle is to apply for that internship/job, enter that contest or submit to that festival.
We know it's not easy but it is worth it.
THE SECOND POINT: Need Experience to get work, Need work to get experience!
If you don't have relevant experience GO GET relevant experience. Go out of your way to find it. It doesn’t have to be a full-time studio job.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Our biggest recommendation is! Get together with your peers and do a small-scale project, finish it, get some feedback and enter it into festivals and competitions.
TRULY VALIANT by Patrick Meikle and Jade Carberry (Heartoon Cartoons) is one successful example of this.
BEST ANIMATION, BEST POST PRODUCTION, AND BEST PRODUCER at the Lignum Vitae Film Festival 2021: Read about it here.
JELLY MAN ADVENTURES by Shaquille Crosse (Wetleaf Studios Team), Kingstoon2021 Best Concept Category Winner is another good example of this.
Work on a local or regional project, find out what's going on in the industry, and get involved.
Associations and Animation groups are great for finding these. Check out associations such as JANN, TTAN, and GAN
on social media for projects happening in the region.
If you need writers, musicians checking the Jamaica Writers Society (JaWS) and Jamaica Music Society (JAMMS) is a great way to find them. Collaboration is key, no one makes it by themselves.
- Volunteer or intern at an animation studio, media house, or a non-profit. You can offer to work on the weekends or in other available hours. Paid internships are great and highly encouraged but also super-competitive. The
HEART Graduate Work Experience Programme (GWEP) also facilitates this.
"ENTER ANIMATION FESTIVALS"
THE HONEST TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE
If you completed college or school and left without getting ANY relevant experience, sorry to say, you've wasted your time. It hurts to hear but it's the truth. College is good for learning the skills but youtube can do that too, where college really shines is in networking and building industry connections. It gives you an environment where you can completely focus on your craft surrounded by those who want the same things as you. Connect with your professors and classmates, that's the gold mine of college.
You no longer have the luxury of taking it easy or excuses. You are now playing catch-up.
" YOU ARE WANT TO BE AN ANIMATOR! "
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