The hidden trap of developing a demo-reel rather than a portfolio is that a demo reel like any other video piece depends heavily on non visual art related things such as editing, pacing, direction, story boarding, special effects and music.
Due to this its often hard to figure out the true talent of the candidate whether it lies in visual art or video editing and production, and that’s assuming the demo-reel is good and interesting.
If the reel happens to be made badly then even though the art may be good it’s very difficult to recognize it for a specially for a reviewer who has to go through at least a few dozen (often similar looking) demos.
Showing posts with label Advice for Beginners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advice for Beginners. Show all posts
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Online job application basics
These are a couple of general courtesies I ask my students to observe when they apply to any company;
1) Make sure that your application has a especially tailored covering letter for every company you apply to. It is a cardinal sin to send the same application to a bunch of companies via the same email (make the effort to edit portions to suit each company you apply to individually)
2) Most people who apply to the Media industry have a passion for Media. This fact alone is simply not enough, you must list work you admire and have tried to emulate. If you can please list maps, models or art that you have contributed to fan and open source projects (this can be a huge bonus).
3) Make sure that you have online links to all you portfolio work rather than simply sending zip folders so as to spare the people who receive it the hassle of downloading huge email packets.
4) Make sure that you resume is concise yet detailed with emphasis on work that you have done rather than a list of software you know.
5) Do not use graphics backgrounds on your resume that make the size of the document bigger and can get smudged or disfigured when printed on economy mode (default mode for printers in most offices)
6) Make sure that you resume lists important details such as contact number and things such as passport availability etc.
7) Make sure that you use proper and polite language since not everyone knows and/or understands sms speak.
8) Do not include frivolous information such as hobbies unless they happen to be related to the job you are applying for.
9) Do not waste column space by listing scores for individual subjects or subjects that you took in your secondary school
1) Make sure that your application has a especially tailored covering letter for every company you apply to. It is a cardinal sin to send the same application to a bunch of companies via the same email (make the effort to edit portions to suit each company you apply to individually)
2) Most people who apply to the Media industry have a passion for Media. This fact alone is simply not enough, you must list work you admire and have tried to emulate. If you can please list maps, models or art that you have contributed to fan and open source projects (this can be a huge bonus).
3) Make sure that you have online links to all you portfolio work rather than simply sending zip folders so as to spare the people who receive it the hassle of downloading huge email packets.
4) Make sure that you resume is concise yet detailed with emphasis on work that you have done rather than a list of software you know.
5) Do not use graphics backgrounds on your resume that make the size of the document bigger and can get smudged or disfigured when printed on economy mode (default mode for printers in most offices)
6) Make sure that you resume lists important details such as contact number and things such as passport availability etc.
7) Make sure that you use proper and polite language since not everyone knows and/or understands sms speak.
8) Do not include frivolous information such as hobbies unless they happen to be related to the job you are applying for.
9) Do not waste column space by listing scores for individual subjects or subjects that you took in your secondary school
An Artist's Portfolio
The real focus at the time of the hiring of an artist is on their portfolio. Though a good show reel done well does earn you extra points its only essential if you are applying as a rigger or animator. For other art positions such as concept artist, texture artist, modeler, lighting artist or post-production artist without an impressive portfolio of still images chances of passing an interview are incredibly slim.
When hiring an artist most companies are not interested in how well you know the software (again unless you are applying for a specialist job such as Max Scripter, Photoshop touch-up artist etc). What we are looking for is both the quantity and quality of art produced by the candidate.
A good art candidate has at least a dozen or so impressive almost complete images and models and a few dozen well started and developed work-in-progress type of ideas. Exceptional candidates have several folder full of art and often carry in several drawing pads of sketches.
You will be surprised at how much things such as versatility of art styles, good perspective sense, ability to adhere to art genres, good sense of proportion (specifically human proportion), color aesthetic and other such basic art skills matter during the selection process.
Most companies mine included are only looking for solid experience if we look at a CV for an artist (degrees or diplomas or the lack of thereof hardly matters).
When hiring an artist most companies are not interested in how well you know the software (again unless you are applying for a specialist job such as Max Scripter, Photoshop touch-up artist etc). What we are looking for is both the quantity and quality of art produced by the candidate.
A good art candidate has at least a dozen or so impressive almost complete images and models and a few dozen well started and developed work-in-progress type of ideas. Exceptional candidates have several folder full of art and often carry in several drawing pads of sketches.
You will be surprised at how much things such as versatility of art styles, good perspective sense, ability to adhere to art genres, good sense of proportion (specifically human proportion), color aesthetic and other such basic art skills matter during the selection process.
Most companies mine included are only looking for solid experience if we look at a CV for an artist (degrees or diplomas or the lack of thereof hardly matters).
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