Preparing for Ottawa

The business cards are printed, the demo reels are burned, the portfolios are, well they're still being printed up—looks like Ottawa is 'round the corner, yes? Yes. The Ottawa International Animation Festival 2008 is happening this week, from September 17th to the 21st. This will be my fourth time to the Canadian capital, packing all my hoping-to-get-a-job materials with me. Even if I don't snag any gigs during my time there, I know that the networking will benefit me in the long run. (It better.)

I'm curious about the Animators For Hire event, wherein any jobseeker can get a short interview with various companies in the industry. Not sure how it's going to go for me, mainly because I'm probably a hard sell. Honestly, I'm not making it easy for myself: I mean, seriously? A former director who's been in the industry for 12 years, looking for freelance gigs because he'd rather stay in Portland? I'm not like these young kats, fresh, green and wet behind the ears, just itching to get their foot in the door and willing to move anywhere at the drop of a hat. Hopefully, my experience along with my quirky way of looking at things will win these potential employers over. That, along with my dashing good looks. Har har.

I do have the internet on my side. I know that many companies do, in fact, hire freelancers remotely, working back & forth via FedEx and/or ftp sites. Faster computers, faster servers, faster everything has made the World of Animation just a wee bit smaller nowadays. I plan on benefitting from this. (Actually, I have already.)

Oh yeah, I gotta mention this: I'll be moderating a panel on that Saturday, the 20th, called Animation Education Report Card. I've been on two panels before at Platform, but this'll be my first time acting as moderator. I'm actually quite psyched for it. In case you're too lazy clicking on the link, here's the panel specs for ya:

------------------------------------------------

ANIMATION EDUCATION REPORT CARD
Saturday, September 20, 9:00 am, National Gallery - Lecture Hall

Get the inside scoop on how animation school curricula fares in the real world. Are institutions giving graduates the tools they need to survive and meet the needs of an ever-changing animation industry? Listen in on the debate with representatives from top schools and productions houses from Canada and the states.

Speakers:
Tom Knott, Laika Entertainment
J.J. Sedelmaier, President / Director, JJ Sedelmaier Productions, Inc.
Neil Hunter, Co-coordinator & Professor, Animation Program, Algonquin College - Animation
Leland Burke, Animation Area Coordinator, Massachusetts College of Art

Moderated By:
Ward Jenkins, Animation Director, Drawn!

------------------------------------------------

To prepare for this panel, I thought I'd open the floor to you guys and see what sort of questions do you think I should ask? What should be addressed that you think is being largely overlooked? Is there anything that frustrates you about the current state of animation education, not to mention trying to get a job in the industry after graduation? Please feel free to ask away here, or send me a message via email (check my profile). They usually record panel discussions at OIAF, so there's a possibility that you can hear what we talk about at a later date. I'll keep you posted. If I like your question, I'll probably give a nod to you, if that's okay. Let me know otherwise.

For the OIAF schedule click here. I may do a follow up post here mentioning what screenings and panels I'll be checking out.

Two years ago on Drawn!, I did only one post on the festival. This year, I plan to do more. (I promise, John!)

So, yes....this week is about getting ready. Looking forward to it! Hope to see you there. If you are going, feel free to contact me and maybe we'll run into each other. I said 'maybe'.

Oh, and I prolly will tweet the entire time I'm there, too. Just so you know.

Lately

Illustration for an upcoming book by Von Glitschka. Stay tuned for more details...

Things that are very apparent to me now that I'm looking for work:
1. Should've learned Flash
2. Should've learned Maya
3. Should've worked at becoming a technical director
4. Should've worked at becoming a compositor
5. Should've worked at becoming a web developer

I've found plenty of job openings for the positions listed above. If you're wanting to do any of these particular jobs, then you're in luck because with each job search done on the umpteenth animation job search website (and otherwise), tons of companies are needing Flash animators, Maya animators, TD's, compositors and TONS of web design work. Not sure if the pay's going to be any good (for Flash, that is), but hey, the opportunities are there.

Things I have going for me:
1. 12 years experience
2. I love animating
3. I love drawing
4. I look at things differently

Things I have going against me:
1. I'd rather stay in Portland
2. I'm looking for freelance gigs
3. I'm a traditional animator -- can't do Flash

I've been asked if I can do Flash so many times it's not even funny. Looks like I need to start learnin'. I can do After Effects, but not to the extent that some companies are asking when it comes to A/E work. Usually they need some serious compositors, not just some dude who's done mostly animatics and moving storyboards. I know a few things in that program, but not all the bells and whistles that that program has to offer. I'd love to stay in Portland because we've slowly immersed ourselves into this community, and we've come to love this town more and more. I'd understand and respect the fact that if a great opportunity should happen upon us we'd have to move, but really, we'd love to stay if at all possible.

Things I'm working on:
1. Storyboard gig for a commercial
2. My portfolio website
3. Going to Ottawa
4. An art show
5. An overall optimistic attitude

So, all is not lost -- I'm happy to report that I'm currently working on storyboards for a commercial. This is great, since it'll keep me and my family here for, oh, lessee....another month. Now if I can only maintain this...

I've finally entered the 21st century and registered my domain name. Wardjenkins.com will be up and running soon. However, it's taken me a lot longer than expected. I'm trying to learn some basic Dreamweaver as I go along -- this along with doing storyboards and working on my portfolio and so on and so on....I'll probably have to employ a friend to help me with this endeavor. Yikes.

Because of my current situation, I've decided to go to the Ottawa International Animation Festival, even without any money. As some of you may know, I'm a big fan of festivals, especially OIAF. This'll be my fourth time going, but first time completely unemployed and looking for a job. It feels like this year I'll be a true, active participant in the game, whereas the other times I was merely a spectator. Participant meaning in the manner of landing a job -- on that Saturday there's Animators For Hire, a recuiting event that's always eluded me because, well, I was never looking for a job. Expect to see my bright and shiny face at this thing this year. Going to Ottawa will be a strain financially, but I've been able to enlist some help to at least get me there (thank you thank you thank you -- you know who you are). Now, all I have to do is find someone willing to split a hotel with me.

An art show? A solo show? You've got to be kiddin' me -- that's what I said to the guy who owns this cool little gallery here in Portland. I'll post more about it at a later date, once all the details are ironed out. But, yeah...crazy, isn't it? Can't believe it!

Funny how I haven't posted as much here as I thought once I was let go from my previous employer. I thought for sure I'll be boring the tears out of everyone by my incessant blog activity. But no, it's been relatively quiet around here, hasn't it? Priorities change when careers are on the line. Funny how that is. So, we'll see how it goes with Ottawa. I hope that something works out. I'm sure it will -- it always does, doesn't it? Especially when I have family and friends supporting us, giving us that extra push needed.

We'll see how it goes.

Ottawa and Seattle

Sigh. The Ottawa International Animation Festival 07 has began. I unfortunately will not be attending this year. For the past three years I've attended this remarkable festival, and upon returning would sing its praises to everyone and anyone who would listen. I can't stress how important it is for students and animators to attend an animation festival, to see films that they normally wouldn't see and to hear filmmakers talk about their processes. Important because we shouldn't be confined to our typical comfort zone. Artists and animators should always be open to the NEW.

It's hard for me to check out the OIAF schedule because there's so much I'd like to see BUT CAN'T! Argh! For instance:

PERSEPOLIS looks very interesting.

Joanna Quinn's work is never dull.

AAchi & SSipak: a weird but wild looking film from Korea.

All of the Short Competitions look great, as usual.

And one of the main reasons why I'm kicking myself for not saving up enough money to go this year:

When Art Meets Industry: The Genius of UPA. There are four screenings:

The Trailblazers
The Directors
The Designers
The Legacy

This series of UPA screenings is, without a doubt, a consummate event. Probably never to happen again. If you find yourself within 100 miles of Ottawa, please -- do yourself a favor and go and see these extremely rare films shown on the big screen. I don't care if you're a follower of John K., you must see them. What UPA did was take animation and cartoons out of the proverbial pigeonhole that it was starting to make for itself during the mid-40's and gave audiences a chance to see something that they didn't think would be possible. Animation as art? Who knew?

Another event that I hate I won't be a part of at Ottawa is the Blogging Animation panel on Saturday, the 22nd. I was originally was supposed to be one of the panelists, but had to back out when I realized that I couldn't make it for the festival this year. Ironic, since I was the one who came up with the initial idea for this panel. I emailed the person in charge of the workshops and panels right after OIAF last year and gave a proposal for a panel on bloggers, to see it would work. This was way before PLATFORM, so I had to prove that this would be a good idea. I hope that the folks at Ottawa record this panel -- I'd be curious to see what Jerry Beck, Michael Barrier, Mark Mayerson and Jeff Hasulo have to say about this crazy blogging thing. Oh well! Maybe another time....

---------------------------



Well, at least I have something that will keep my mind off of not going to Ottawa:

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is hosting an exhibit of one of my favorite artists, Jim Flora! The opening is this Saturday, September 22nd, in Seattle. From the Fantagraphics website:

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery in Seattle will host a rare exhibition of Jim Flora's original art, fine art prints, and Flora ephemera from September 22 through October 24, 2007. The opening reception on Saturday, September 22 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM will feature appearances by Flora scholars Irwin Chusid and Barbara Economon, as well as musical interludes of period exotica by the Moon Spinners. Many works will be available for sale at remarkably affordable prices. Fantagraphics Bookstore is located at 1201 S. Vale Street in Seattle's lively Georgetown district. Open daily 11:30 to 8:00 PM, Sundays until 5:00 PM. 206.658.0110.

I will try and make it to the opening this Saturday. I've met Irwin before, but it's always good to keep in touch. He never ceases to entertain me with his fascinating stories -- he's a great storyteller. Excellent writer, excellent speaker. And it'd be great to finally meet Barbara Economon as well. Both Irwin and Barbara did a bang-up job on each of the Flora books.

So, if you're in the Seattle area this Saturday, swing by the Fantagraphics Gallery! Would love to meet ya.