Advice to new grads, looking to get into motion graphics...

I just got an email from someone at my alma-mater who was looking for advice into landing her first job in LA. After writing my reply, I realized how useful this info would be not just to her. So without further ado, here's my advice to new graduates...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hello!
Thanks for getting in touch with me. In the midst of the fast-paced work world that is LA, your email almost got swallowed in the incoming waves. But I rescued it, and here I am. Nice work on the portfolio. I'll make this quick because the server went down and I have a bit of time. So I'll cut to the chase...

First off, it's now mid-summer after you graduated. You are probably feeling like if you don't land a J-O-B soon, your career will nosedive or worse. Don't listen. That's just that over-achieving voice in your head that grew stronger while you were at NU... we all felt that way. I sent out countless resumes and such to effects companies and animation houses thinking that's what I wanted to do with my life. I got rejected from every single one. I got my first job in LA as a "vault manager" at a small boutique commercial editorial house after one woman who owned a post-house saw my resume and thought I might be a good match for one of her clients. The rest is history. And that happened AFTER I drove across country, went broke in both Portland and San Francisco, drove back to New Hampshire, and then finally drove BACK out to LA. So... you have time. Enjoy the break... if you are like most college-grads, it's probably the first time you've had nothing "to do" since you were in kindergarten. So enjoy doing nothing... at least for a little bit. And here's a little tidbit that doesn't really matter now... you didn't really NEED that Northwestern diploma to work motion graphics. And you will be competing against art-school grads for work. Don't let that bother you either. Sure they have a bitchin' portfolio, but half of them are snooty art-fags that no one wants to work with. Instead of cutthroat portfolio-padding, Northwestern gave you great opportunities for leadership, drive, and plenty of good times. Capitalize on that. You can be that cool chick that everyone loves instead. Which brings me to my next point... the likability factor.

Second, everything out here is word-of-mouth. A good portfolio helps too, but once you get in, you're in. So take some of that free-time I was mentioning, break out your pens and paper, and draw... paint... do all that time-consuming hand-drawn stop-motion stuff that everyone WANTS to do in motion graphics but no client ever gives you enough time to actually DO. Remember how I mentioned I got my first job? Yup. Word-of-mouth. Be a good people-person, as it seems you are already. Then once you start bringing around your portfolio, with a bunch of spec work that looks super dope, people will be all over you.

Third, stick to the basics. There are lots of artists who can design good boards, but can't animate a thing. That's not a bad thing, it just limits the kind of freelance gigs they can get. Freelance is pretty much all I know, so that's all I can give you advice about. It's kind of like rent-to-own though sometimes, because companies might hire you freelance for a minute, and then ask you to accept a fulltime thing. When and if that happens, email me before you accept cause you might get screwed into something less fruitful than continuing freelance. But I'm getting ahead of myself there. All I'm really saying is, be versatile. Learn the keyboard shortcuts, learn the apps... at least know Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, and get into a 3D app. I use Cinema4D. It's easy to learn and very versatile. But other cats out here know Maya. It's more powerful, but way more complicated. Don't worry about knowing EVERY app, just know how to do the basics and you'll be fine. There's a surprising amount of freelance work doing boring repetitive tasks like rotoscoping (cutting things from the background footage) or 3D motion tracking, or building lower thirds, bumpers, etc... Stuff that helps you get your foot in the door, you catch my drift? Just get in there with the basics, know how to do it right, and they will hire you again, and give you more cool stuff to work on. At least those kinds of jobs will pay the bills while you get your new life together in LA.

Oh yeah.. you can also work elsewhere, like NY, but I wouldn't recommend any other cities until you have a working portfolio (as opposed to a student portfolio) just because there's not as much work to support the entry-level.

Ok... have a great day, and an amazing weekend. And look me up when you get here.

Ahoy!
-Andrew

All-Electric Hybrid Mini Cooper

This is the new BMW-made electric Mini, only 500 made and only in California.
www.treehugger.com/files/20...ornia.php

And this baby [ www.treehugger.com/files/20..._mini.php ] has all the best electric and hybrid features, including a plug-in all-electric mode, but was announced in 2006 and I haven't heard anything new about it until this recently announced version from BMW,
Think about that... solar panels on the roof, DC/AC inverter in the garage... Cost of fuel? $0 Sticking it to the oil-man? Priceless.

I'm just glad I live in California. ;-)

ACLU Sues Over Unconstitutional Wiretapping Law, aka FISA

I just pledged a monthly donation to support the ACLU. Now is more important than ever. The ACLU is making some really important landmark cases, most recently concerning the unconstitutionality of the situation with the detainees in Guantánamo, and now, bringing the battle to the courts over this new law that just passed which allows the government to pretty much wiretap anyone, anytime, anywhere, without a warrant.

As the ACLU stated in a press release today,
"...a new wiretapping law gives the Bush administration virtually unchecked power to intercept Americans' international e-mails and telephone calls. The case was filed on behalf of a broad coalition of attorneys and human rights, labor, legal and media organizations whose ability to perform their work - which relies on confidential communications - will be greatly compromised by the new law."

In situations where confidentiality is literally a matter of life or death, think about how important it is to know, as a journalist or human rights worker, for example, that your sources are kept safe. Otherwise, who's going to speak out to you anonymously? And then, think about how impossible it would be to inform the public about these very vital yet sensitive issues. I personally don't think this is a coincidence... I think this administration knows the "chilling effect" (look that up on wikipedia) that this kind of law has on journalism about such subjects as the Guantánamo prisoners. If we leave it up to the government, we might never know even HALF as much as we do now.

And though we are well on our way to a new administration under President Obama, don't be fooled. The goons are still in the CIA, FBI and elsewhere. We don't get to vote THEM out of office.

So... consider donating as well: secure.aclu.org/site/Donation/1265690862

Fireworks, anyone?

I'm gonna roadtrip to Nevada this coming Saturday to buy some fireworks. I'm looking to supplement my gas costs by offering to pick some up for you... So if you are interested in procuring some lovely explosives for your own July 4th celebration, please contact me here and I'll pick them up for you.

Chink-o-De-Birthday!

Seriously folks, you don't want to miss out on this... it's all your favorite DJs (and friends) in ONE PLACE!
losangeles.tribe.net/event/b...602d43d7

The details:

Friday, May 2, 2008 @ 9:00 PM
Ghetto Mansion
2225 South Olive Street
Los Angeles, CA, 90007

dcjuicy.tv/

Hello Everyone!

Friday, May 2nd is JOKTON'S Birthday!
You are invited! And you better come out, or witness the rage of the perverted clown!!

He's celebrating his Birthday at a Chink-o de Mayo Party for DC Juicy at the Ghetto Mansion! Info for that is below!

And now I pass the mic to JOKTON!!!

Also on Friday, I will be putting up a special birthday podcast on my Elements2Dance.com Podcast, and my guest this episode is Cowboy Mike, along with my own "Rocket Set". Enjoy!

Jokton

Upcoming for Jokton: May 17th at Plump

Chink-o de Mayo / DC Juicy info:
This Friday it's all going down peoples!

This is going to be the party of the year. Amazing
location, sick DJ's, cheap drinks, and D.C.JUICY like
you have never seen them before!

For those of you who don’t know what the Juicy is all
about?

DC Juicy is the Tenacious D of Sleazy R & B
And the Spinal Tap of Gangsta Rap.
Performing hook driven comedic songs with elaborate
stage productions.
They were forcibly removed from the studio 54 stage
for lewd contact ….
It’s the show that was too…. Dirty for Vegas!

This event does have a maximum capacity so you wanna
get your pre-sale tickets NOW.

www.dcjuicy.tv

Please re-post this flyer to your tribe and myspace
accounts today. We want all of your favorite people to
get there and get in.

Will ya look at this line up of talent!

OSCURE (L.A.B.A)
KRADDY (THE GLITCH MOB)
JOKTON (E2D.ORG POCKETUNDERGROUND.COM)
WOLFIE (HIPGENESIS.COM)
CHAD ROCK (L.A.B.A.)
BRADEN (SPACE ISLAND)
SEDA
YONA
BLUE (BLUEINSOMNIA.COM)

And Live Performance by

HELIOS JIVE

We are giving away free shots, we got piñatas, and we
are giving away clothing, limited edition posters, and
a raffle with tons of great prizes!

This will be a bold and adventurous evening. Please
come and play with us and support D.C.JUICY. We need
you ALL to come out for this one and pass it on to
your friends!

We love you and we will see you Friday!

Pix from Joshua Tree 420 Party up already...

www.flickr.com/photos/hoe...4645263196/

Professor Orbit declares

A while back, Tangee (happy birthday, girl!) and Dalmacio coined me the nickname Professor Orbit. And when I see a post like this, I feel like sharing how much I love teaching. I have gone through many cycles in the circadian rhythmic flux between creativity and commerce. One of those, most recently, was the experiment of drawing and getting away from the computer, i.e., software, to a more direct flow from head to hand to pen to paper.

So I was thrilled to find this in the motion graphics blog I check every day (some of the most amazing art being done today, in my humble opinion):
motionographer.com/2008/04/...w-basics/

Hü'a Jewelry - designs and pictures posted

www.flickr.com/photos/hoe...4531937874/

Let me know what you think. I am planning on having several different designs of these.
Also working on larger versions of the earring designs as well, ranging from 1-8cm long.

Blessings,
Andrew

Can I get a ride from LAX?

To everyone I'm bringing back goodies for (and to all my other friends here!)
I am arriving tonight (Friday!) at 8:25pm at LAX from Bali, via Taipei on EVA Air.
Any chance someone can pick me up and bring me and my goodies bags home?

I don't have time to email/call around... so I'm hoping someone will be able to hook me up. I will check again later today before I leave for the airport here in Bali, as well as at the airport in Taipei during my 2hr layover.

And...
Shee, Bridge, Laylo, Christina Marie, SuperCec, Kalla, Erika, Osa, Jupe... I have your goodies.
Shiho and Ona... I wasn't able to get the white sarongs or vests.

Peace out and see y'all soon back stateside!

Who wants something from Bali? Orbit Intercontinental delivery service ramping up...

So... I'm here for another 8 days. Shopping trips will begin now. If there's anything small (fabric, small wood items like masks, spoons, plates or bowls, shadow puppets, that kind of thing), that you want me to bring back, I have a Tupperware bin that came out here with speakers in it, and will be going back filled with goodies.

Also, if there are any designers here in Bali who you've been wanting to buy from, (2013/ION, Shawna, Zoltan, Ayya...) I can maybe bring some items back for you... like these rings from Zoltan?

check these sites for details:
www.zoltanguerin.com/
www.louguerin.com/ (click on the 'O' in LOU on the main page for the full gallery)
www.ayyawear.com/


Yes... I'm talking small. I'm not talking about big Garuda statues here. If you want THOSE items (or furniture, lighting, stone carvings, pillows, etc.) then keep your eyes on my blog for a future announcement of my new location that I'll be selling from in DOWNTOWN LA! Woo hoo!