Tips from Animal Logic for your showreels!

We had an interesting talk from Animal Logic today. This Australian based company has been involved in some pretty interesting projects in the last few years and is definitely one of the effects studios to work for! They currently have about 560 employees but this number will shrink once they finish the projects they are working on. What interesting for me was how clear the things they look in an applicant was pointed out. I think it’s worth sharing some of the those points which is definitely useful for anyone preparing a showreel or looking for a job in VFX.

10 Qualities You need to have!
1- A Good eye
2- Takes Direction – you work for the client not yourself!
3- Strong work ethic – this is not a 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job!
4- Discipline
5- Unique Talent
6- Healthy humility – control your ego!
7- Self motivating
8- Adaptable
9- Passionate – you’ve got to love what you do otherwise you won’t last long in this industy!
10- Visual Thinker

Show Reel
1- Only your best work
2- Best work first
3- Nothing unfinished
4- Group your materials
5- Keep it short (under 3 minutes)

Resumes
2 pages maximum including:
1- Personal information
2- Objective
3- Work Experience
4- Educational
5- Also [special interests,community involvements,personal refers]

Portfolio
1- Display your strengths
2- Show your versatility
3- Clean/strong,finished images
4- 10 pieces maximum

Formats:
Website
DVD
*uploaded quick-time preferable

Skills shortage–what they need
1- Pre vis
2- Layout
3- Concept artist and character designer
4- Environments TDS
5- Surfacing TDS
6- Groomers (hair,fur)
7- Creature animation
8- Animation TDS
9- FX TDS
10- Technical matte painters
11- Compositing TDS
12- Software developers

25 minutes, 5 people! mission: connecting a laptop to a projector! way to go NCCA!