Week 10 EOC: From Knowledge to Opportunity

In all honesty, I have yet to reach the confidence that I need to turn my knowledge into an opportunity. Maybe into something small, yes, but not to where I would like to have it be. Due to the content of everything that I see within our media, I have given myself an expectation that is rather difficult to reach let alone attempt to scale. Sure, some of the pieces and other things that I make are pretty nice to look at and watch. However, I always feel that there is something wrong with them, something that holds them back. And whenever I behold the pieces that I've made in the past, I become quick to turn the other cheek, move on, and try again with a different idea.

What I must do is to find more perspectives on things, learn more techniques, and discover what my art really is and what potentials I can push it to. If I were to present myself now in the professional manner, I would do nothing but lie and embarrass myself into a humiliating defeat. In other words, I am not ready. I acknowledge that someday and someday very soon that I will have to be. Do not discount the fact that--not only--will I plan, but execute with the little time that I have left. Learning what I can at the school, obtaining insight from my peers, and taking advantage of the technology that is there before me, of which I myself would have likely never been able to get my hands on.

I will continue preparing something that will not only be portfolio-worth in an employer's eyes, but my own. Because in a state of mind where I always over-think the things I do, it is what matter most to me. Sure, the money's nice to have and vital to sustain in our society, but it's not much compared to the satisfaction of creating work that satisfies the artist himself (or herself, whatever is preferred).

Week 8 EOC: Selfie Taken in Class

Week 7 EOC: Career Goals

I will state that I have always had career goals. Within the last 2 years I’ve been accepted into a school that specializes in the field and industry that I am most interested in. I was offered a Youtube Partnership with the Channel Frederator Network, hosted by Frederator Studios, the animation studio behind incredibly successful shows such as Adventure Time, Fairy Odd Parents, etc. During my attendance at my school, my sense of networking has brought me into an independent project with two other colleagues to make our own animated feature, one that would most definitely be portfolio worthy. On top of holding down school full-time, a part-time job, and all things outside of that.

My current goal now is what I’m actively working on now, and that is to create this animated short film with my colleagues. Not only that, but if the outcome is as expected, I wish to also expand upon those concepts. To keep creating more professional content that is not only for employers to watch in awe, but for me to have fun making them.

As an animator, my portfolio is everything and is what I will be selling to my employers. I will be allocating my focus to creating content that is complete and fine tuned to professional standards.

It is because of that reason that I bite my tongue when I say, “I’m not ready yet”. Even within the eyes of my colleagues, the pieces and videos I make are not perfect within mine. However, if and when I do I become level with this criterion, I will most definitely earn the opportunities I search for. Not only the work I do, but also the way of how my work affects me as a person who has fun doing what he loves, which is animating of course.

Week 6 EOC: Seducing the Online Web Surfer Ideas

·      Create animations coming in as soon as the website is opened. Have animations build up the page. Have most buttons be interactive as you hover and click on them. Animations can play idly in the background at a very subtle pace where it doesn’t become too distracting to the viewer.

·      Placing on slideshow on the homepage showcasing the creator’s best pieces to put up front. The slideshow could even be more heavily animated by having the pictures vary in opacity depending on where the mouse’s cursor is placed. Once there is some interest on a certain piece, the browser can then click on the image and it would take them directly to where the piece is archived or to an alternate route towards one gallery, demo reel, site map, etc.

·      Having the home page designed to fit specific needs to the browser, depending on what their business is. Have the UI clean and easy-to-use, like an information kiosk and have the user be asked direct questions as to what they would like to see and at a brisk pace.

·      Have the user “role-play” as if they’re going to a show with some other characters a part of the website. Have them immerse themselves into the world that is forged before them, like having them go into a movie premiere showcasing all of the creator’s best pieces. And if the user wishes to see more about the creator, they can go “backstage” to see their contact info.

·      Create a highly interactive UI almost like a video game’s way of doing so. Buttons would play sounds and music. Animations would play idly in most places even to the point of there being a futuristic feel to it. Apply lots of polish to make almost everything capable of being interacted with, regardless of how mundane it may be. (i.e. having boxes swing gently as the cursor passes them).

Week 5 EOC: "Whatever Works" Evaluation

In the film Whatever Works, the mother leaves her life behind as it has shattered from her marriage and her own daughter running away. She goes to find her daughter in hopes of regaining solace and her reaction to her lifestyle was not the most pleasant as she was expecting. The mother essentially crashes at her daughter’s home to rebuild her life back together, in her own way. She adapts to the New York life, though she still holds some spite for her daughters life and tries to morph it into a way that is still meets with her own standards. However, as time passes by, she discovers herself through the mere interactions she has with the friends on her son-in-law.

Not only that, but a majority of her person changes. Albeit very different than what she has experienced, it’s something that the mother had adjusted herself to. She networks more often. To enjoy herself and to find a place where she belongs. Regardless of the content and/or context of the situation. The mother attempts to throw the past away and goes to forge a future herself. She officially leaves her husband, hooks her daughter up with a more suitable man, and pursues a passion hidden within her.

Me personally, my career isn’t exactly the most important thing that I hold in my life right now. I know that it’s important and I know that it’s what will establish what is basically my livelihood. I grew up with so much trouble figuring it out what this whole life means and there is so much more than to what I’m doing right now. Do not get me wrong, animation is precious to me, and anything that I will find outside of that, I can apply it to my craft. As my own preference, I do animation for the fun of it and that’s what I enjoy about it most. The moment where I become critically dependent of the income that it gets me is where it stops being fun.

Week 4 EOC: Deeper Meaning of The Devil Wears Prada

Within the Devil Wears Prada, it speaks of a more significant meaning rather than to tell the story of an everyday girl obtaining an incredible job.

Even from the beginning of the day of her interview, she is improperly dressed for the part and she has a breakfast where it endangers her and others with her first impression. As the days progress, it becomes more evident that our protagonist expresses apathy and shows up without much professionalism, image, or even knowledge about the business itself.

I believe the point is that when you become a part of that company, you will actually be a part of that company. To be aware of everything that revolves around it and doing your work whole-heartedly and with genuine pride. Dress the part and know the part before you can be the part.

Week 3: EOC - Deeper Meaning of Swingers

            The 1996 film Swingers, holds a philosophy much deeper than one may think. The message is an encouraging one, to those of who are having trouble getting their bearings together. The endeavors depicted in the movie are activities that require a vast amount of experience in networking. The answer as to where to start is ambiguous, however some answers are well set in stone; be yourself, be honest, and be confident. Being introverted and afraid to make mistakes is still part of being human and that’s okay, though that doesn’t exactly play out well when one begins to take initiative in something more ambitious.

            Be assertive and be straight, don’t dance around subjects and do NOT lie. Despite honesty being key, you also have to have a sense of pride and dignity along with it.

            Everybody likes a go-getter!