MAXI DIAZ Animation blog
One of the things that most concern the animators is our demo reel. Clearly a good reel has an important weight to get a job as an animator, but it will not do much if not accompanied by a good strategy to get pass all the tests in the selection process. In all my years working as a supervisor I had to do a lot of demo reels and do many interviews before deciding contracts for projects. I would like to share with you some tips to help hoping that you get your next job.
THE OWNER OF PRESENTATION
The first thing you'll have to send when applying to a job will be a presentation email. It is the first test to overcome in the hiring process and is much more important than that which may seem. Sure you have often heard the phrase: First impressions are everything. So… It is true! Through this email will get a first impression about you. A poor presentation can make your application fall into this part of the process. In my opinion, email a good presentation should have the following structure: First hello and introduce yourself using a simple, plain language. Needless to deal with you, at least in this profession. Then write a brief summary of your professional bio. This way they can get an idea of what your professional profile in a fast and convenient way. After speaking of the interest that you have in the job you are applying and what qualities make you a good candidate. Add the links where they can find your demo reel, curriculum, breakdown, letters of recommendation, etc. The material must always be available online. Never send curriculum and the rest of the enclosed material to your email because there are filters that considered spam emails containing files. It is always better to centralize all the information in one place. In my opinion, a blog is the best choice. He thinks that if the company you apply is small, there will be a team that is dedicated to recruitment. Probably the supervisor in charge of the entire selection process and typically devote time at the end of his journey to the review of applications. Try to get access to all the information as easy and comfortable as possible. Use for documents and files common formats that do not need to install any special program, plugins o codecs de video. When you reach the end of the letter, say goodbye in a friendly manner and appreciates the time they have spent in considering your application. Try the email has the right content but not be sparing with words. Ideally, not exceeding 15 the 20 total lines.
ONLINE MATERIAL
The next step in the hiring process is to review your material online. Try everything available at all times and that the links are not broken. This seems obvious, but the truth is that often will review the material and I find websites that are not there, emails abandoned mail accounts from which I do not get response or links that do not work. This happens because sometimes an animator creates all this information for a particular job at a particular time and if not call him for the job, after a while closing the website or blog. You have to think that when applying to a job, your data becomes part of a database and it is possible that within a few years a new opportunity arises in which you'll remember. This is more common than it may seem and if all your material you have moved and can not be localizaros will have missed a good opportunity. Always try to keep the information in a single location and just limit yourselves to update the information in every moment of your career.
For material that you must have available, is necessary to include: La demo reel, curriculum and Breakdown. For those who do not know, The Breakdown is a list of all the planes in your demo reel incluis order of appearance. In this document you should indicate the type of work you have done in each of the planes of your reel. This includes comment if you have animated entirely or just have encouraged some of the characters. Also the time spent performing the plane. In the case of production the number of frames that I asked a week. If it is a personal test, you have to indicate in an honest way the hours you have used in making it. For complete information, Also you indicareis software used on each of the planes. The Breakdown is important for the person who contracts to assess your abilities in the face of production.
LA REEL
About demo reel much information so I'll just comment on what is important to me. Firstly, included in the beginning a cover on which clearly read your data: Full name, your profession character animator, contact phone, email and your website or blog where your resume will be available and “breakdown list” de tu demo reel. As you can see, no redundancy of any of the information regarding filing email, but it is good to do so because sometimes the email submission and your demo reel can follow separate paths selection process. Remember that the cover should be simple, avoid the flying logos or bouncy lyrics.
My next tip is that you make your reel assembly oriented type of job you want to apply. If you apply for a position in a study of video games, The acting is not fundamental. Think planes where demuestres good skills and physical planes cycles shows well done from the standpoint of artistic and technical.
It should also monitor the duration, not less than 30 seconds and not more than two minutes.
Make sure you include reel in those drawings that show your best qualities. Discard those planes to which you have affection. Be objective!
Beware music. We must use appropriate music to our reel, not that we like. Avoid noisy or strident music that might disturb. Always be an accompaniment, so as to assure that no lid dialogues of the characters. On the contrary, they can not assess your ability good for lipsync.
Treat your demo reel like a little movie in which the rhythm and visual tour are its main virtues. If you have a shot of a character who ends up looking to her right, is the next plane is that of a character that appears to the right. In this way have a great visual connection and although they belong to different productions with different aesthetics, functioned together seamlessly. Your demo reel must be nice to see and easily understandable. Run your best shot at baseline and leave your second best plane for the final (Upside also works) In the middle part includes mostly flat planes physical or those less important.
INTERVIEW
If you get to the interview is to inform all you can about the company and the projects he has done. Introduce yourself in the company 5 minutes before the time of the interview. Start the conversation with a greeting and good handshake. From then let the interviewer always speak first. Stick to answer your questions simply, without being taciturn and trying not speak beyond where you are asking. It is very possible that you show project material where you will work. You will be asked to review the project, so that attempts to measure the response well and highlight all the positive things you've seen. This is not to make the ball, Be honest but politically correct. It is also common to ask you about your last job experience. In this case, You never badmouth the last place you worked or people with whom you have worked. That may seem basic but I've seen this mistake at one time and automatically assumed to be left out of the selection process. Nor can bring samples of your past work and less if you would have asked. If you've come to the interview is because you have passed the stage of your demo reel. Now simply want to get an idea of how are you in person and it is this that you have to focus. It is quite common to be asked by someone who can give references about you. Before the interview thinking that might be the best person and contact her for this on notice of a possible call or email. Do not be distracted, stay focused on the person who is interviewing you. If you get to know the company and some of the people who work there, not greet you enter the room before the interview. Send greetings for after the interview and try to be brief. Think about your future colleagues are working and a heavy disruption not go down well.
Well, I hope these tips will yield something useful for the future and will help you get your next job. Luck!
