Possible to get job just as 3d modeler?

[mad_styles]

Hi, I'm looking to break into the 3d industry, does anyone think its a good idea to go for a job just as a 3d modeler? I'm trying to decide what do I want to do more animation or modeling, i enjoy animation but it's quite difficult and I'm naturally artistic so modeling would probably be my strength.
I live in New Zealand so the companies are smaller I need to decide what to spend the next few months working on. But I don't want to spend the next few months just modeling if thats gonna limit my chances of getting a job, any ideas?

[Crispy4004]

A few months is hardly enough time to put together a reel or portfolio that will land you a job, especially if you are just now finding your focus. I've found the more you dive into your area of expertise, the more you find yourself developing other skill sets. Some example scenarios:


1.You start out an animator. But you notice none of the rigs really give the control you want. So you start making rigs, which means you also have to gain a rudimentary knowledge of modeling. You begin modeling and realize you are really into deformations such as cloth. Suddenly your an animator with cloth FX and rigging skills.

2.You start by modeling. Then you want more control so you start sculpting. But your models lack color so you begin to look into shading and texturing. The shading looks decent but your lighting is terrible, so you start learning about rendering techniques. You realize that to get the most control you need to learn some compositing, so you look into that workflow. Suddenly your a Modeler with rendering, texturing, and compositing skills.


In short, don't worry about not having enough outside skills yet. They will come in time. There are some that just model or just animate. But if you are going to make just a modeling or just an animation portfolio, it better be one killer reel.

[mad_styles]

Thanks crispy4004, yeah i agree with you there is more to modeling than just creating a nice looking polygon mesh. The truth is I want to do both, perhaps the key to having a good reel would be a balance maybe half with some good examples of animation and the other half with some examples of my modeling ability?
But then i wonder whether i'd be spreading myself thin, ie if i spent 3 months animating then 3 modeling wouldn't it be better to spend 6 months getting really good at one or the other. At the end of the day I'll do whatever is gonna increase my chances of getting a 3d job. What do you reckon?

[Crispy4004]

3 months for each would definitely be spreading yourself thin. 6 months may even be too short of a time frame for one depending on your current skill level. Focusing on Rigging would be your only option to combine the 2. Doing that will require you show some modeling and animation understanding.

Of course, you'll also have to demonstrate rigging, skinning, and scripting abilities which could easily take triple the time to learn. That said if you create a good reel you should have no trouble getting a job. Studios are always looking for Character Technical Directors.

[mad_styles]

Sorry I probably should have explained my situation at the start, I've just finished a 10 month long course in 3d animation in march and I'd already had quite a bit of practise with maya before that. I have approached a few companies with my animation but they've said its not quite at their skill level yet and that i need to apply the basic principals of animation whih seem to be missing in my peice ( I was aware of them just obviously wasn't doing them ).
I've been told I should start again and look at re rigging my character so as to get better facial animation. I've just gotta decide if I want to spend the next few months re rigging and practising animation or try a different route, if you're interested here's a link to my animation:

http://www.sharecg.com/v/35635/Animation/Late-Night-Cab

[timberwo7ves]

blues brothers (Y)