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Share some of your precious work experience

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#1

I’m new in 3D and studying 3D animation at University. I would like to know if you can help me understand how the industry works so I can make the most informed decision in the near future. Unfortunately even though we like to be creative and spend time just making simply the things we like, we have to think about work and responsibilities such as paying loans and other expenses. So eventually we have to work, for money.
What I’d like from you to tell me is How do you earn money from this industry? Give me an example of a model you were paid for? How much? How does this kind of thing work? Any archeticetual modeling? If you work in a private studio do you get employed for a short/long time? What are the contracts like? If it’s too personal please try and give me a rounded number or PM me. If you’re doing illustrations. Basically I would like to know as much about this industry as possible. The smallest thing would really help me understand. It would help me reduce my fear of the unknown after I finish University.
Even if you know websites that have already determind a price list for what they do, or a company. Anything. I’m just trying to think of examples that someone can relate to and help me.

Anyway, thankyou very much for reading this big and boring message. :smiley:

#2

Come on ppl no one can help me anderstand??? i am no asking to match its very simple just spend 2 min and tell as.

#3

I would hope that your teachers would be able to give you the lowdown of how to get into the industry.

Freelancing is a good way to make some money on the side but unless youre extremely successful and have a plethora of people coming to you, you wont be paying the bills with that money. Pricing freelnace work is tough at the beginning because you think “well im new and I want to just get whatever work I can” but you often end up doing way more work to satisfy your client than what you get paid for (at least the first few times I did it).

I got my first jobs just from people I knew in the area who had some businesses that needed simple work done.

it is imperative to have a website and demoreel that showcases your work. for any job (unless youre planning on working for family friends for the rest of your life). without a demoreel of your strongest pieces you will not get a job anywhere.

From there you market yourself. I applied to at least 30 different studios before I heard anything back. And even that didn’t work out. Thick skin is a good thing to have at the beginning. Sometimes I would get so disappointed because I thought I did great work and no one was noticing. That is not the case…most times people simply are not hiring. Be strong and keep updating your resume and portfolio. If you apply at a place and dont hear back from them in a month, send them something updated to remind them that you exist. Its very possible that they just forgot you were there.

Take advantage of the communities and connections you have. Thats how I got the job I am at now at Industrial Light and Magic. A former teacher that I was very close with got me the hookup. These forums and other ones are filled with professionals who can do more than just say “hey your sculpt is coming along nicely”. interact and establish a better relationship with the people online. Many people in the industry wont mind taking a look at your reel and giving you some private advice as to what to work on. Hell, if you really impress someone they may show their supervisor! That is much better than going through the front door and the HR departments.

I hope this is somewhat helpful. But this is a critique forum, so in addition to your question, perhaps you could post some of your zbrush work to look at and we can start the process of getting to know you.

Race

#4

thx alot for spending some time and spending some time. i am planig to start making some things out of the uni wen i go back to my studies for the summer i worked very hard to learn and aderstand more staf about 3d in general but i dont realy have anything to show for but my pans are to do exactly this is not just to use this foroums for simply the things you sad but also wen you spend so match time on the pc is good to know that your are not the only crazy guy out there i still fell that i still need hundreds of houres of work to atchive what i what been able to take something from my imagination and and show it as i want it to be. and zbrush is what and the work that i have seen in the z-brush gallery is what made me what to do this coz come one there are some amazing staf out here that are the art form that i like.
anw thank you very match Industrial Light & Magic looks very cool and that you are having alot of fun there and i liked your Cave zombie.

pls if any one would like to add some more staf it would be very nice of you

#5
  1. work on including all the letters in the word your wanting to type.

in all seriousness, working hard is a HUGE benefit to being able to break into the industry, cause trying to get in there is always production work to do.

Learn scripting on top of your modeling. ( max script mel script, z script ) just cause its impressive and gives you a different way to think about production.

Move to where the jobs are. I looked for 4 years with no success from middle america, moved to LA and had a job in 2 months, and that was while i was getting hammered every day and answering call from celebrities at my temp job ( very exciting thing to do)

Be Cool. There is ALOT of people who can do what you want to do, but how much fun would they be to work around? be pleasant and professional, and fun, smile make eye contact and be assertive, all definate skills for the industry.

Other then whats above, just try to produce quality work and alot of variety, and DON’T GIVE UP. It does help to know people in the industry but not essential.

Also, don’t pay no attention to a companies website as to wether or not they are hiring, apply anyway. Alot of times they are looking but don’t have time to update the site, they might say " we really need to hire …oh wait whose reel is this"

and don’t AWAYS wait on your teachers to do anything for you. my teachers were only glorified grad students and were only a semester ahead of me. they had no idea. but from all my friends who got jobs after college, moved to where the jobs are. Vancouver, LA, NY, Texas has alot of gaming studios, but start where there are the most choices for success, then once your experienced you can start cherrypicking jobs.

#6

this is turning out to be a really great thread!! Thanks, guys, for responding to this person’s post. I too am trying to find a path into the industry, and I’ve found the responses to be very informative, and enlightening… inspirational even! Hopefully some more responses from industry professionals? :smiley:

#7

thx polyguns and blkspd3

well i know max script mel script, z script no just to make more staf or say that you know script but also to be more protective and have a peter prespective on how things can be done. i know i cant learn that is not becouse i am a ltle cry babe but becouse i know that thats one of my big limitations will spend some time watching tutorials for scriting but i know that to sit and learn that now it will be a bad way to use my time as if i learn somthing it will be to litle and there are things that i can learn that i cant be beter at them. anw i though as an artenitive to anderstand the uses of scripting so i can work with ppl that know that and be able to use a bid of this tool.
and i dont whant to be an ass but i cant aford not to be working for 4 years i am stading on a loan and i cant make it by simply working for the minimoum salery.

o And yes at least for the first years after i finish my uni will move were the jobs are but only after i know i got the job. an thx agen this is geting to be a nice post. and i enjoy makeing conversations for the sake of confersation coz allways you will get somthing from the outer person.