|
Not every artist must starve. Add some technical knowledge to your
creative genius and you'll have the potential to earn big bucks as a
computer animator.
"It's fun," says Melissa Saul, 30, an
architect-turned-senior
-animator/technical director at Will Vinton Studios
in Portland, Ore. "I get to play all day, mixing art with
science." Vinton Studios created the famous dancing California
Raisins TV ads.
Saul spends the majority of her time on the computer. To animate an
object, she uses complex computer programs that allow her to build a 3-D
object, then put a "skeleton" inside it. Next she animates the
bones of the skeleton and, finally, creates colors and textures to cover
it. When Saul's not bringing M&M candies to life or making Clorox
bleach bottles talk, she's in meetings.
Computer animators may get paid well -- often $40K for starters -- but
landing that first job can be tough. Danielle Plantec, 21, got her foot in
the door through a non-paying internship. "Internships can get you a
long way, especially for contacts," she says.
Hot Locations
The San Francisco Bay area, LA, NYC and Austin, Texas.
Women in the Field
The field is 25% women.
Source: Princeton Review
Salary
In the past few years, salaries have skyrocketed. Entry-level positions often
pay from $40K to $65K. After a few years experience, animators can make $100K
or more.
Nail the Job
Target companies that fit your interests. At independent computer graphics
houses, you'll most likely develop TV commercials or interactive rides for
theme parks. Some firms specialize in computer games. If you want to see your
name in lights, try film studios.
Another important factor is your demo reel. You can use your student work;
just make it look as professional as possible. If you don't have many projects
under your belt, be prepared to show as many drawings as you can pull
together. The company will want you to demonstrate your artistic ability.
|
