Career Update

I have been getting a few queries as to why I even have this blog "I want a Job at Pixar". I guess if you hadn't been reading from the start it might seem a little strange and a lot single minded. The word "PIXAR" does not actually mean the company Pixar it's just that 'PIXAR' the company is what I consider to be the absolute pinnicle of our industry, the place everyone would most like to work atleast once in their career, also the word 'Pixar' to me is like a tennis player saying they would like to play at Wimbledon, or a car racer saying they want to drive for Ferrari. This statement doesn't in anyway mean I don't want to work anywhere else. I have been applying for positions at many different companies not just PIXAR. That's just my target, nothing else. This blog is a way of putting myself out there and should I never get that job well all the things I am doing to obtain that position are absolutely helping my career move forward, the fact that I have a running blog is an incentive to do something - people will know what I want and can see how I am trying to get it.

Freelance Update - The AlienNation Music video clip I mentioned a month odd back has been put on hold. Ruben the Director assures me it will happen one way or another, for which I do believe him but I have to continue looking for work until there's cash in the bank. There is some positive news - I started a new freelance job last Thursday - it's a great crazy Asian car commercial (click here for a link to see their last spot). Same style and feel. I have 7 weeks to bring it all together, which is cool because I am going to enjoy this which helps greatly with the incentive to put in extra hours regardless of income. I will upload the comp when it's finished and aired.


Career Update - as I said above I have been applying for a few different jobs hoping to find something I could really get stuck into. I had an interview (well 2 interviews) at a company called Transmission Games - I thought they both went really well but does anyone ever guess right how their interview went. Even though I have never worked in Games before the job did look exciting - it was to head up the cinematography for in game cut sequences and FMV (full motion Videos). I am still waiting to hear back from them. Then theres another company - a big fish / the big cohoona - Digital Domain in LA. I applied for a CGI supervisor position, with the help of an insider college I was able to get my showreel infront of the right people. I had a brief phone interview with a HR manager and hung up on that interview very excited. With some emails back and forth it seemed to come down to VISA and in particular me not qualifying because I have a lack of Press and Awards. This result though disappointing is good because now I know I am only knocked back on these 2 things rather then my work quality. It's just another hurdle to jump over. Plus I have a good contact at Digital Domain and when things change for me in the future (Press or Awards) then I will go knocking on their door :)

I am still working on Monty Biggs and Sweet Dreams on the side of freelance - these updates will be listed in next post.

P.S What the f'n crap is going on with the Petrol prices, everyone should watch "Who Killed the Electric Car", makes me so angry I want to invent something.

Started new script

A lot of the funding I am going for with 'Monty Biggs' require that the application is backed with another future project/script (mainly feature film). At iloura I worked with a guy called 'Dan Conway', one of the funniest most non-politically correct people I have ever meet, made my time at iloura enjoyable that's for sure. Anyway Dan used to write scripts, some live action (think Reservoir Dogs) and some for Animation. There was one script that stood out in my memory 'Sweet Dreams'. Dan has already developed characters, synopsis, character sketches, treatments, and character breakdowns, but to this day......no script. I absolutely loved his creation, since then Dan has moved onto a more lucrative career. I contacted him a few months ago explaining I am getting into directing and "do you mind if I take Sweet Dreams and see if I can develop it further and write a full script". I know Dan is a far better writer them I am so once I have finished draft 1 I will get him to go over it and pull it apart and re-write sections if hes up for it. Hopefully it will become a co-writer production and I can get a full feature script under my belt to help Monty Biggs get funding.

Today I just finished act one of 'Sweet Dreams" - it's really funny, coming up with the ideas is by far the hardest part of writing, but for this that's already done. The words just seemed to flow without any break. I am loving this. I wish my other new script was the same - maybe this is the way I should work - get the bones together and the guts of it (script will come easily) - anyway it's all a learning process

Also this week I started reading a book called "What they don't teach you at FILM SCHOOL" by Camille Landau and Tiare White. It's a great inspirational read. Not technical at all, but instead has a more industry tips and tricks feel about how to create films by breaking boundaries. The style of writing is very 'Bobby Chui' - inspirational with a Strong "just go and do it" message. I started writing 'Sweet Dreams' as a direct reaction to the chapter "Your Short Film is only as good as your Feature Script". This chapter explains how it's no use getting every ones attention if you have nothing else to offer. This book and listening to Bobby has made me better for it - so I highly recommend if any of you want to get 'creating' give them a try.

selling yourself

So I have been busy lately working on selling myself. An important trait everyone should learn, that's for sure. My website is one point of call (needs constant updating), but mainly it's about getting your name out there. I have applied for a few senior jobs with various interviews coming up.

Also 'Linked In' is a great way to network within the industry and it gives you access to people you would never think you could get next to (think 6 degrees of separation). People are mostly approachable and eager to help people within the industry, I highly recommend you jump on it.....hey search for me and add me to your network, bigger the better.

I have started 3D blocking 'Monty Biggs' - this is a pre-storyboard step I have added to assist Kyle (illustrator) with him doing 2D boards. Then once he has done this I will re-edit everything and refine camera moves and timing to produce a fully illustrated Animatic. That's really my goal right now - to produce an Animatic of a high quality. This animatic will be used to raise funding and hopefully get my script into production, well that's the dream anyway, worst case scenario is it never gets made but I have a full animatic to show my writing and directing skills.



I got asked today (phone interview) whether I would be happy working as a lead artist and not a Director - obviously they have read this blog. It's a fair question to which I answered - Directing and Writing is a long term goal,and any position I take will have to be part of that career path (somehow). Plus I am sure everyone has a goals(a dream) - I just happen to put mine out there.

How big is your 'Milo' tin ?

My wife and I discussed the direct connection between the size of peoples 'Milo' tin and how wealthy they are. Or E=MC² (Economy=Milo Container²). Since leaving my last job at Yomp Studios lets just say we always had the smallest tin, just the other day we bought the larger tin, mind you not the one that doesn't fit in in the pantry but large enough. Why am I talking about this well it all comes back to freelancing and the ups and downs. Even though we have been able to live for the past six months I have to say it defiantly aint easy, the shear nature of freelancing means people only call you when they want to avoid the massive quotes their getting from the larger companies, worse still they already have a benchmark to go off with massive expectations. It's a tough gig stopping yourself from getting burnt, and I am still learning. I just finished a couple of weeks of busy freelance and I am now free to go back onto what I love doing'Monty Biggs' - It's like a breath of fresh air getting back into Directing and Writing.

I do have to say the even though freelancing is painful it does give me time to do what I love.

It's been awhile

So where have I been - well throw in a few tight deadline freelance jobs and a dash of exploding computer and you can see why I have been away.

Well it didn't actually explode more like caught on fire.....well it didn't actually catch on fire more like smoldering smoking effect. Which left an sbsolutely terrible smell of burning electrical components throughout the house. Thinking I am knowledgeable with computers I deducted that it was the power supply that blew so I ordered a new one, waited a few days for it to arrive stuck it in, and guess what......I blew the new power supply as well baaahahaha. So I conceded that maybe I didn't know anything tech so I dropped it off at a local computer store where they pointed out that half the motherboard was black - I didn't even see it SOB !!! It's been 2 weeks without that computer and it bites the big one - Moral of the story if your income depends on expensive equipment protect yourself with a UPS (power serge protector). Turns out my insurance doesn't cover it either - so best check what cover this kind of equipment will get.

As far as Monty Biggs goes - I haven't done much which isn't good. I have been thinking about the script a lot. I am always interested in listening to feedback as it does help you think about different aspects that never entered your head. I did have someone over Analise the script a little the other day, I almost wanted to remind them it is a short and luxuries of establishing relationships to characters needs to be done as quick as possible in order get things going. I will have to go through as many of the shorts that I like and really think about why I like them, Blur does some great work, off to visit their site again.

Kyle the illustrator did do an awesome Monty Biggs Sketch of him in his three stages of life - Rookie, All Star, HasBeen - check it out - I love it.



Deadline for some freelance ArchVis (kids gotta eat) is today so as of tomorrow I am fully into my writing and Directing - thank god !