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| DEMO REELS HELP DESK |
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Demo reels, school projects and assignments...
 Q: Anonymous asks:
Last semester we were assigned a basic animation assignment, to animate a luxo lamp and ball, ala Luxo jr. It was supposed to be kinda like the flour sack project - adding character to an inanimate object, not focusing on modeling, but only on animation. It's not my BEST work, but it was decent, and I was going to put on my reel.
But, a friend of my is TD at a big house, and he was looking at it, and said that I should definitely NOT include it, because anyone looking at the tape will think I'm trying to rip off Pixar, and that they will boot my tape before they even bother to look at my credit sheet to see the explanation that it was a class project, not my attempt at feigning creativity. Plus, since it simply does not and can not look as good as Luxo Jr., it would make me look bad in comparison, anyway.
Like I said, this piece is not essential to my reel, but I'd still kinda like to include it.
I'd like to hear some thoughts on this.
A: Christopher Anthony writes:
I personally would leave it off my list of things on the showreel. You really should only put in your *best* stuff. I'm scrapping everything currently on my website - none of it would even come near going on a reel. I hate it all, and to be honest, to quote Angie Jones (I think), you have to be able to scrap something you've worked weeks on, just because you know you can do better.
If you must put it on a showreel, put it on at the end - in fact, put all your work in descending order (best to worst). Who honestly cares what you were capable of making shiny balls on checker board surfaces when you were 15? Companies want to know what you can do for them now. Unfortunately, a lot of reels are at that sort of level throughout - companies don't want to sit through them, so the first sign of poor work and you can bet it'll be ejected and in the bin, sooner than you can say "so was it any good?"
A: Chris Bailey writes:
My opinion is that even if it is well done, the test will elicit groans from the person or persons that sees it. Unless you've done something really clever with the concept that JL didn't do, leave it out.
A: Mark Ainslie, Topix, writes:
Despite the fact that you may have nothing to do with selecting the theme of you project you will get some negativity about it. My rule of thumb if you're going to emulate an already existing theme is, "if you can't do it as good or better don't bother." I remember seeing on a reel a Star Wars thing. The first thing that came to mind that the quality was inferior to the real thing. It's difficult to be objective about anything else after that. Even if you can do it as good as the original you're probably going to end up offending some people just because you're copying them. I personally don't think it's a good idea for schools to be assigning or encouraging projects that emulate existing themes for that reason.
If you really insist on putting it on your reel I would recommend that you clearly explain on your credit list or demo reel that is was a class assignment. The problem with that is not too many people will read it.
In a way you answer your own question and solve your dilemma in one swoop. You say it's not your "BEST" work. So don't put it on your reel. Personal attachment to substandard work can go against you. Learning to edit your work, despite personal attachment, is a skill that will serve you well.
A: Rick May, Freelance Animator & moderator of CG-Char, writes:
It looks like I'm going to disagree with a few people. But various viewpoints
are good.. No?
My feelings are that if it is good, put it on your reel. You said that it isn't
your best work, then maybe it should not go on there. But if it is up there in
quality, and shows off your skills, put it on. To avoid the whole problem of
whether the viewers will know it is a class project or not, put a subtitle on
the bottom saying "class assignment 98 / Bob's Animation School". Or something
along that line.. Then at least they will know you were told to do it.
But it is true you should only put your best stuff on it. I've accumulated
several years of character stuff on my reel, and I've decided I am dumping it
all.. Even the best stuff on there is going in the trash. I've decided it is
best to just clean house sometimes and not put any material that isn't up to the
standards which you want to continue working in. You've just got to drop what
isn't your best stuff.
A: James Oblak writes:
I have to second Rick's comment and add this: Go back to your teacher and
point out your problem, suggesting that he/she change his approach to this
assignment so others don't end up in the same situation. I know this won't
help your decision but sometimes teachers need to be taught also.
A: Roberto Ziche, Autodesk, writes:
Mmm... My opinion is different.
When your knowledge of animation principles is enough, you can start the adventure of creating your own stuff, but in a school, the approach of having everybody doing the same thing is correct.
20 students do 20 Luxo Jr spoofs. Then they watch them all together and find the weak and strong point of each. At the end they all know what they should have done and what they shouldn't.
This is not possible if I animate a dog walk cycle, someone else a spaceship and another one a bird flying. At the end, I still don't know if my walk was correct or not. And even if it doesn't look good, I don't know how to change it.
[Added thought appended to answer...]
Think about this. You are a student at an Art school. They teach you painting. What do they want you to do as an exercise to increase your technical skills? They make you copy Mona Lisa and tons of other classical stuff. This because, even copying it so that you can't tell the original any more, will teach you a lot. When you are done with that, you can add your own imagination.
So, even if a teacher asks the students to recreate Luxo so that each frame match the original, I still think it's a good exercise if the student can catch all the details he's trying to reproduce.
Of course, If I see such a thing in a reel, I will rip my hair off.... and the reel will be flying out the window :-))
A: Pamela Thompson, Independent Recruiter, writes:
Roberto Ziche had a good point. There is some value in everyone doing the
same assignment to learn basic principles but each artist should end up with a
different version or interpretation. I wish more people were given the
assignment of animating a four legged animal. There are far too many
spaceships out there on demo reels.
It would be great to see some coyotes, horses, deer, cows, or even four legged
aliens walking and running about on demo reels.
Another thing to add about CVs/resumes is to make sure the type font is easily readable, no gray scale in
the background, and make sure to include a phone # (large type font please)
and if possible an email address. Make it easy on the employer to reach you.
Also, include a resume/CV whenever you send a reel and make sure your name and
phone number is on the reel as well. Both on the outside case, the reel
itself and it would also be a good idea to put a slate on the reel with your
name and phone #. ( I get stuff all the time without this!) And have someone
else look at your stuff and make sure your correct phone number is on it.
A: Joel Hooks writes:
A demo reel is to showcase an individuals talent. If you don't have enough original footage for your tape, then you are not ready to send it out. Using other peoples work and ideas is an excellent way to learn the art, but as far as applying it, you have to do original creative work that comes from you mind (while keeping in mind the principles you learned from copying).
A: Dave Stripinis writes:
I remember talkin to Pete Doctor about this very subject back at SIGGRAPH
96 in New Orleans. He did a Luxo homage on his demo that got him hired at
Pixar, it was a Luxo Sr. piece.
I personally have gotten mainly positive commentary about my Luxo take-off,
as well.
But remember, Luxo Jr is 12+ years old. It's probably all been done by now....
A: Ty Robinson writes:
I remember in acting, when people did a scene that was from a movie, you couldn't
help but compare it to the original, and no matter how good it was, something wasn't
right because you would be analyzing and comparing to the original scene. But if
you write your own stuff, and perform it well, it looks even better (like film).
The same would appear to apply to animation. Do something original and do it well,
and it will capture their interest even more. Although I have seen people get into
big houses with some animation base
A: Colin Doncaster writes:
Never put shots on a reel if you don't want to do that type of work, eg,
if you want to do animation don't put an effects shot on. And only put your
best stuff on and you'll know what your best stuff is. It'll will be the
pieces where you don't hesitate to put them on, no humming and hawing. Also,
if you are working on something that your not happy doing it, find somewhere
that you are, you'll only build a stronger reel, and, well, be happy! |
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