Need advise (future-planning)

[Creator]

Hi there,
maybe this topic was already discussed here, but i'm tired of searching for an answer that isn't really limited.
Anyway i'm done with my school and now the playtime is over, but i really always wanted to make something in the world of cg.
But till now i never made 3d seriously, so i'm kinda unexperienced.
I didn't really think about the direction i want to go, but i prefer something with modelling, especially characters, but however i'm not limited.
I don't care if it's gaming or visual effects in films or anything else.
Now my problem is, where do i have to start.
Some of you know my skills through my threads here so maybe you can give me youre opinion.
Now i'm thinking of going to a film academy and take it the "easy" way but with a graduation or i will keep on self learning, learning whats really important and hope for my talent to be enough.
Is it even necessary to go to on an academy?
I also tried to work for training on studios, but i got regreted, because they always looking for people who bring the food and aren't interested in talents.

Maybe you also know some sites or discussions where someone with experience is writing about it.

Or maybe some of you say that it's to dangerous to work in this genre....

don't really know, but i hope some of you can give me some advice.


ps: Sorry for my bad english

greetings Creator

[Psycho Mantis]

do you want to stay in germany? Where do you live. I tried to work as a 3d freelancer, but there was no market where i lived(thuringia). Now i moved to konstanz, and here its even worse, no need for cg. I applied at a minor game company, but they said now - they looked for someone who has 5 years of experience and completed 2 games mininum, i find it kinda hard to get a cg job here.

[Buzzy]

You don't need to go to college. I have a friend who didn't even finish highschool, but he's such an great artist that he was able to get a good job anyway.

However, I would still recommend going to some sort of college or art academy. Its really good for experience. Also, it gives you the opportunity to interact with alot of other artists.

[Creator]

Thank you for the answers.

I thaught about staying in germany to get a start, but moving to other countries is a also a possibility for me.

There is an animation school in germany wich was recommend to me by severval film industry employees.

But i also know someone who startet cg at the same time as me and didn't make any graduations for cg and now he is in hollywood ^^.

I'm more an artist who depends much more on his creativity and i didn't really care about the technics.

I also thaught about giving up on 3d and start with 2d but i think to be successfull with this i have to be a yanick dusso :crazy:.

But at the moment i startet to prefer sculpting the most

[MaggieQue]

I think online 3d contest is one of the best way for self learning.

E.g. Dominance World, u could compete with the best artist and gain online exposure etc.

If u're really great, customer will find u.

[orb3]

Hi Creator,

The problem you are facing in common. We all go through this phase. BUZZY is right. Going to a fancy college is not important but do have some formal training in the field you want make a living in.

And dont worry about getting jobs right now. You need to first learn as many things as you can like modelling texturing lighting compositing riging skinning. Learn everything and then specialise in what you love doing most. If youre good you will definitely get a job.

Self learning if the best learning but sometimes a degree also is required.

U sauid u live in germany. Im sure you can find lots of jobs. Think about people like us in india which doesnt have any large studios and where 10 years no one had heard of CG.

Good Luck

[zartoop]

Do anything to get a start and a foot in the door - even if it is just making coffee. I have been a recruiter for the past 20 years and now run a number of other businesses.

One of my sons (now mid 20's) started at 15 working in a computer store for no pay. Got his first paid job as an assistant in a graphics animation and modeling company at 15. Has never had any formal training. Lives, eats and breathes modeling, animation etc (started with ed versions of PS and max). He has had great jobs, crap jobs, been retrenched, out in the cold for some time BUT long story short - today he has a great job and his name on the credits of at least 3 major box office motion pictures. I am sure he will be in Hollywood before 30.

What was the secret?

Hard work, passion, focus, talent (but he was not what anyone would call an 'artist') BUT above all friends and industry contacts. He built and maintained good casual friendships with everyone he came across, went to the lan parties, chatted online, always stayed in touch, always helped others - never asked for a job - people remember - and when the day comes for an internal recommendation for a new employee they thought of him.

Hang in there it will happen - nothing beats focus and persistence