tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post7751240643070254773..comments2024-02-25T19:46:44.997-08:00Comments on Tail o' the Rat: Mr. Big Shot, Squisher of DreamsNamowal (Jennifer Bourne)http://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-51307919087950839852008-12-21T14:43:00.000-08:002008-12-21T14:43:00.000-08:00Hi STAG,Interesting perspective.In retrospect, I t...Hi STAG,<BR/>Interesting perspective.<BR/>In retrospect, I think was his "you naive fool" attitude that frosted me. Maybe he did get a lot of "gee I want a fun job like you got" letters but mine wasn't one of them.<BR/>A form letter saying listing specific skills required (like yours) would have been more useful.<BR/>"If you want to be an X, you'll need to be able to do A. B. and C.,<BR/>Be warned that this job has drawbacks X, Y and Z."<BR/>Since I work in the entertainment industry, I sometimes get the "that must be so fun" remark myself. But people who look over my shoulder and see what I actually do say things like "you mean you have to do <I>that</I> for every frame!? How tedious! No way I'd want to do that."<BR/>Then again before I was in Visual Effects I was a school teacher(!) Compared to teaching, what I'm doing now <I>is</I> fun.Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-3394456892141075642008-12-21T10:51:00.000-08:002008-12-21T10:51:00.000-08:00I hate to try to defend such a bozo...but I have w...I hate to try to defend such a bozo...but I have walked a mile in his moccassins, so I have a touch of sympathy. Only a touch since I suspect he let his inner bully come out. Or maybe, Namowal, he was telling it like he saw it. Do you suppose, upon reading it again as an adult, you would feel the same soul crushing discouragement you felt as a teen?<BR/><BR/>I have a business that is pretty artistic in nature....I make suits of medieval armour. Real suits. In a real blacksmith shop. Sounds pretty cool right? Like working for Disney? And sure as the calendar changes months, I get the bi-weekly inquiry from some kid who thinks my job is just too cool for words and will I take on an apprentice. <BR/><BR/>Once a year or so I would take one of them on, and it would last a day, maybe two, and then the horrible discovery would kick in that this job is a jay ohh bee, and the work involves Doubleya Oh Arrgh Kay! (emphasis on the arrgh...) My most hopeful "apprentice" decided after only a week that couch surfing with a lovely and lonely courdon bleu chef was preferable to pushing steel into place. Funny that. She would bring food home from work. <BR/><BR/>I disovered that I was spending an inordinate amount of time answering these young hopefulls, and so created a form letter. I now send them the form letter, and await in vain for their positive responces. Do you think I am being too harsh? Letting them know that you have to get up in the morning, that you have to eat? That you might get a blister on your pinky? <BR/><BR/>What do you think?<BR/><BR/>http://www.southtower.on.ca/armour/Requirements.htmlSTAGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06198646624631167489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-53061294728269671742008-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:002008-12-11T19:53:00.000-08:00Hi Sally, "You have nice legs. We'd like to hire ...Hi Sally,<BR/> "You have nice legs. We'd like to hire you to paint cels for us."<BR/>Geez. Where do these yo-yos come from?<BR/>I agree that this fellow was probably a former (or would be) artist and had a chip on his shoulder.<BR/>I feel bad for anyone who graduated from animation school when the era peaked, only to find their dream jobs yanked when the animation divisions started to close. Yowch!Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-31088400185137289692008-12-11T17:46:00.000-08:002008-12-11T17:46:00.000-08:00This post makes me so sad. And so mad. And so sad...This post makes me so sad. And so mad. And so sad. And so mad.<BR/><BR/>I could tell nasty stories about seeking employment long ago as an animator or anything you'll hire me for, but they never stuck the needle in that deep-- that's what's so horrible. <BR/><BR/>I mean I can remember some stupid guy saying, "You have nice legs. We'd like to hire you to paint cels for us." With my toes? Not the same kind of crap "sit on your face" meanness.<BR/><BR/>As I understood it, Disney had a structured approach for possible employment, for a long time, involving specific criteria for portfolio review. This guy over rode it.<BR/><BR/>It sounds as if the guy who usurped your chances there may have wanted to become an animator himself but decided to become a lawyer or some kind of suit instead, and was taking it out on you, though you couldn't imagine it at the time.<BR/><BR/>There was only a really brief time in the last 25 years when traditional animators were paid well and in demand, if it makes you feel any better. This was around 1998. I wasn't hired, but I taught one semester at Cal Arts then. There was so much demand and recruiting going on that it was a problem for the school: they couldn't even keep the students to graduate.<BR/><BR/>I read your post a few days ago and have been thinking about it off and on. Hate Disney, hate that place.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00874162149979602139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-28148758372095815072008-12-07T14:39:00.000-08:002008-12-07T14:39:00.000-08:00You said it, Stray.In addition to encouraging youn...You said it, Stray.<BR/>In addition to encouraging younger people, I'd remind them that the snottiness of any advice is inversely proportional to how valid it is.Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-66615894087447256752008-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:002008-12-07T10:33:00.000-08:00What a cruel person. It's a wonder we arrived at t...What a cruel person. It's a wonder we arrived at this age with any self esteem intact. Doesn't it just make you wish you were in a position where you could write to aspiring creative kids and encourage them as much as possible?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-48963802816829622342008-12-07T08:59:00.000-08:002008-12-07T08:59:00.000-08:00Hi Walterworld,I agree it seems odd. Even if I'd ...Hi Walterworld,<BR/>I agree it seems odd.<BR/> Even if I'd written something like "Gee, making cartoons sounds like an easy way to make a pile of dough. I want in!" the response would be unprofessional.<BR/>The fact that it came from someone high on the food chain* as opposed to an artist may have something to do with it. <I>He</I> wasn't at Disney because of his drawing ability. Was he jealous of those who had? <BR/><BR/>*but not a household name.Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-83247330674179939892008-12-06T19:00:00.000-08:002008-12-06T19:00:00.000-08:00That's awful! Hard to imagine that someone took t...That's awful! Hard to imagine that someone took the time to write back, only to send along a big dose of discouragement...walterworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18319070921534941313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-83031271280212671842008-12-06T08:59:00.000-08:002008-12-06T08:59:00.000-08:00Thanks, Linda,Classy guy, huh?I wonder if he was j...Thanks, Linda,<BR/>Classy guy, huh?<BR/>I wonder if he was just having a bad day, or if he shot down aspiring creative types every day?Namowal (Jennifer Bourne)https://www.blogger.com/profile/00384500508934864421noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36618421.post-21873633528688254032008-12-05T21:06:00.000-08:002008-12-05T21:06:00.000-08:00I'm aghast. Speechless.You go, Namo!I'm aghast. <BR/>Speechless.<BR/><BR/>You go, Namo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com