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Laid Off

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:04 am
by bupaje
Oh well. Due to changing requirements from a major client 24 illustrators and graphic design folks were laid off Monday -me included. Going to miss that place. While I do my job searching I figured I'd do some drawing in Flash. Here is a wip.

Image

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:03 pm
by cribble
Oh crap! Sorry to hear that. Good luck with the job hunt, and hope you find somewhere better. :)

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:16 pm
by jahnocli
Bummer. 24 people laid off? That's one hell of a client! Good luck with your job search -- have you looked at "Flash jobs" on the Flashkit site? Seem to have them all over America (If you fancy a job using Flash, of course!)

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:52 pm
by bupaje
Thanks. I have been checking around. Probably am looking for a Flash/Photoshop job as I have a years worth of work for my portfolio in those tools.

It was a huge client. Represented too much of their business. They were aware of those and trying to add other new accounts but too little too late. The client added their own art department and we were left just with animation and Flash programming. Now they hired an animation director too so that may go as well.

Well, the company -Animax- was and is fantastic. I've never worked in such an awesome atmosphere before. Great to be around so many wildly creative types.

Here are a couple of my erstwhile coworkers.

http://soapintheeye.com/
http://nhudiep.blogspot.com/
http://luisdeluna.blogspot.com/
http://inneryoung.com/index.html

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:03 pm
by DarthFurby
Sorry to hear about the layoff. Unfortunately the animation business is all about the next gig, and job stability is a foreign word, but it's re-assuring to see that your first job in the industry was such a positive experience. Fortunately, the improvements in your work are incredible(it's like looking at a completely different artist), and I know Animax was responsible in some way, but I'm curious to know how. It really is a big jump in such a short period of time. Anyway good luck and hope you find something soon.

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:38 pm
by bupaje
I had heard it was like that and I do feel very fortunate that was my first gig - I almost didn't get it. I applied multiple times with no answer and finally offered to take a test to show I could do it. That time they answered and I was able to do a good enough job to get hired during a time of extreme growth.

Thanks for the thumbs up on my work. I hadn't really drawn consistently over the years - more of a napkin doodler though I did do a fair amount of game textures. I was fascinated by tiny details and texture. At Animax it was production work and when they saw how I was about details and lighting I got assigned several large prop assignments that had me drawing hundreds of items pretty much non stop. I did some other work in between but 75% of what I did was nonstop drawing of these small detailed items which helped me a lot.

[EDIT: Forgot to mention one other thing -just being able to work in a room with several dozen other artists and get feedback]

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:23 pm
by Rasheed
bupaje wrote:[EDIT: Forgot to mention one other thing -just being able to work in a room with several dozen other artists and get feedback]
I'm sorry about your layoff, but working with other artists and getting feedback rocks, because you're able to improve your skills so much faster that way.

Good luck with your job hunting!

Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:26 pm
by human
Wow, bupaje,

I don't think I've seen much of your work.

Had no idea you were so skilled.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:11 am
by Rhoel
Welcome to the wonderful secure life of an animator. :wink: I hate to think of the number of times I have heard that "Studio meeting" comment - your heart sinks every time and it's a bitch.

Best advice to any would be animator: Never buy anything on credit, only use the money you have in the bank. Invaluable. I have seen too many friends go down the tube because they started a 3 year series, bought the new car and the latest. fastest PC, only to have the project fail three months later and them with credit repayments to meet and no income.

Still crap news. Hope the next contract is not too far down the line.

Keep an eye on http://www.elance.com - they have a animation/flash section where you can tender for projects. earning can be good.

Rhoel

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:34 pm
by bupaje
Thanks for the advice and thumbs up. I guess the first time is the scariest. My only problem now is getting copies of my work for my portfolio. They made us keep our files on a portable company drive and after the meeting they ushered us out the door and said they'd send the files. It hasn't been long enough to disbelieve them, but I have got the worry bug. Next time I'll keep copies of my better stuff on my own pc.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:30 pm
by Rasheed
I'm sure you already read it, but I always think of that thread on the AWN forum called So you want to be an Animator? Here's what to expect. A good read, I must say. The good, the bad and the ugly.

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:47 pm
by bupaje
Thanks for the link. I had read that -and was impressed by it. It is worth rereading. :)

Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:57 pm
by J. Baker
Sorry to hear that but love the art! ;)

Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 3:05 am
by dueyftw
For a long time I worked for one company. 15 years, and after awhile we 'the people I work with' would say "Oh no, the Deadly Donuts" Any meeting with them meant that something bad was coming from management. The last straw was the manufacturing plant going to Mexico.

Now, a few years later. I have a job that is bullet proof.

Dale

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:27 pm
by jorgy
Sorry to hear about that Burt. The only thing more transient than a career in high tech is a career in animation (been laid off 5 times in 7 years).

Best of luck,

jorgy