My
first year and a half after leaving the NFTS I worked freelance,
surviving with odd jobs producing title sequences, illustration,
and web/interactive work. Since then I have been working
almost exclusively for Impossible Television (the animation
arm of Planet 24 Productions.) I initially found work with
them producing designs, storyboards and animatics for their
development work. Then went on to work animating and editing
on three series of late night interstitials for channel 4's
4later Zone.
Work has involved producing animated inserts for a Channel
5 animated magazine show 'Too Much TV' which was nominated
for a BAFTA and directing an 11 minute Christmas special 'Audrey
and Friends' aimed at teenage girls (also for Channel 5) which
I created for Impossible TV a 26 part animated series.
Since then I've worked as a Compositor/FX animator, Texture
Artist and Editor (yes we really multi-task at Impossible!)
on 2 x 40 episode series of 'MechaNick' for Channel 5. Directed/Animated
several title sequences for E4 shows including 'Can you pull?'
and (the now banned) 'Little Friends' ... Assisted on some
channel specific advertising for Heinz and Caprisun. ...and
am now in the middle of production for another 2 x 30 episode
pre-school series for Channel 5 (in the same role as for 'MechaNick')....
phew!
What
can I say about preparing yourself for finding work in the
animation industry... be realistic, most work is on commercial
projects, so don't be afraid of having something 'commercial'
on your showreel. This is not selling out, it's just being
realistic about wanting to earn a living!
