James's Animation Blog: Talks with pros and blue zoo

Isobel Stenhouse - 10/2/21

Keep looking forward, not back. Don't think badly on the work you've already done and can't change
Try to buy student priced stuff and try it out whilst you can
Extra courses can keep you feeling motivated and feeling good about your work and your progress.
Avoid free work. Get paid internships or commissions
Give yourself time for self care
Don't ignore depression and anxiety.

Breathe, daily exercises can help
Talk about things, especially during covid
There's always something to appreciate
Therapy, sometimes you don't know what it's doing for you, but it's good to get stuff out.
GP mental health doesn't mean drugs, you get to choose
Time alone and time with friends are both needed
Try to learn something new
Write, draw or animate mental health - it might help you feel better about your mentality and your work as a whole
You don't have to tell an employer that you struggle with mental health but you can say "I struggle with noise, can I move somewhere quieter?"

Not racist or sexist and pro lgbtq community
Everyone has different perspectives, there will always be someone in an institution where they might be one of the above. But work somewhere where you feel safe
Talk to someone if you feel something isn't right. You get fired? You were in the wrong place anyway.
If someone isn't being accepting, see if you can improve the situation for everyone. Anti LGBTQ? Make an LGBTQ group in your office.
Educate yourself on mental health to be there for others

You are more than your work! Your personality, experiences, ideas and abilities are all valid and needed in work
Check out:

Blue Zoo - 15/2/21

Internship requirements and what they look for

Less is more
Honesty is the best policy, say what's a student film and what roles you did in the clip. They want to help you get to where you need to be.
Don't be ashamed if all you have to show is student films, they like seeing them
They use a lot of Maya but blender work is also welcome as they are quite similar
Mention any online courses and the names of them, they don't mind if you have uni experience or not as long as you have some
They want to see breakdowns! It shows the creative process behind what you did and methods.
They hire 2d animators a lot but the summer internship is purely 3D, they might do a 2d one in winter - Toon Boom for 2D
For Lighting & Composition and FX, they like to see 3D and 2D examples
No early priority if you submit to the internship sooner
They like what matches their style and how they animate their characters
Include references and references to any people you took reference from
Walk cycles, movement, weight, facial expressions are what they want to see
Equal opportunities won't affect the application

Have knowledge about the studio
Confidence
Talk about what's relevant, new shows, new adverts, new things the company has put out
Don't waffle, keep answered considered and honest

Fully paid internship
CV no more than 2 pages, they read CVs more than sheets
Show reel and portfolio wanted, cater portfolio and show reel top which of the 4 you want to apply for

You go through to a 30 minute interview with two people if they like the application above. One will be the mentor you work with.

James's Animation Blog