How can I break into Animation without breaking my neck?

Recently graduated from animation school, demo reel in hand, I came to California looking for work, but keep finding a lot of shut doors.

So I'm looking for any kind of advice on how to break into the industry. :) I'm passionate about cartoons and I'm not giving up til I get hired.

I'm willing to do any kind of production work and start at the bottom, but when I look on all the job sites there seems to be only "senior" positions open. Where did all the entry level jobs go?! XD

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! :)

EDIT: Thanks to everyone who's given me some advice, I honestly didn't expect so many people would respond. :)

Tags: breaking, hunting, in, job, new

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Permalink Reply by Chris Battle on October 29, 2007 at 5:59pm: Six Point Harness Studios has yearly/bi-yearly Flash training seminars that can sometimes lead to things if you show some ability. At the very least, you can meet some of LA's top Flash talent and get some advice (If you're into Flash, that is.)

The job board at Nickelodeon always seems to have assorted Prod. Asst. openings. (Artist positions usually get snapped up quickly by people with experience) Call the studio and they could give you the URL or the job hotline #.

Good luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanie Michelle Rich on October 29, 2007 at 6:36pm: Thanks Chris! I appreciate it :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denny Furlong on October 30, 2007 at 2:28am: You could try freelance work and build a reputation. Other than that, know people. There's no better way to get your foot through the door than have a studio employee vouch for you (but you still need a strong portfolio). From there, join ASIFA and IATSE, check their job listings, attend events and get your name out there. I also recommend physically going to the studios and talking with real people. I know Nickelodeon is pretty receptive (the first time I went, I expected to be turned away at the gate, but instead I was welcomed inside... after that, I fell in love with the studio). Of course, you need to make friends, that's part of life and the animation industry. A little bit of press never hurt anybody, either. I'm tired and rambling... I'll stop now and refine myself a bit later. Good Luck!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanie Michelle Rich on October 30, 2007 at 11:27am: Thanks Denny!

Yeah, actually I joined up with Women in Animation - best thing I ever did! They helped me get connected with the animation school I went to and I've been making lots of friends through them now that I'm in LA.

Do you need any special status to join ASIFA or IATSE? I was always nervous about joining them since I don't have a professional track record yet, so to speak... XD; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denny Furlong on October 30, 2007 at 11:30am: You can just hop into ASIFA, it's more of a club than anything else. IATSE, however, is a union and they have a set of rules... usually, though, you qualify if you work for someone in the film industry.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Dr. Madness! on October 30, 2007 at 4:03pm: Hey the 6PH seminar is a great idea for anyone around LA looking to get into 2D animation. I actually went to the seminar not too long ago and it was incredibly useful! I had already created most of a film in flash as well as taken flash animation classes in school and the 6PH seminar blew all of that way in usefulness! It give great insight on the way things are actually done in flash studios. My advice for anyone looking to get into 2D animation is to seriously learn flash, I know some amazing traditional animators that haven't been able to find jobs out of school because everybody is looking for flash animators. The 6PH class is strongly recommended by me, if that really means anything!

Oh! But if you do go to the 6PH class be ready to sit on the floor in a tiny room crammed uncomfortably full for hours on end! Its a little brutal but the information you get will be well worth it!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by wes parham on October 30, 2007 at 4:23am: It's an old story, but I'll tell it again: "Things aren't always what they seem".
Of course, sometimes they are exactly what they seem.
Take an active interest and beat the pavement every day you are able to.
Call back. The closed door you just walked away from may land their big contract next week.
Visit when you can and be curious.
Ask for work, yes, but also ask for simple meetups. Lunch, anyone?
Share. Share your pasion and find out what makes other artists tick, too.
Be curious: Bring your curiosity to informational meetings with studio personnel..
Never take it personally. For some, it's an ego-bashing roller-coaster to put your work out there and not get much to show for it right away. Keep busy, and keep at it!

I know I left something out, but those come right off the top o my head.

-wes; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Elliot Cowan on October 30, 2007 at 7:34am: Wes, I think you've hit the nail on the head there.
Fact is that it's mostly who you know rather than what you know, but if you tackle it in the way Wes has suggested you will end up knowing the right people and these are the people you can learn from.
My experiences with forming friendships via blogger resulted in much more work than if I had dragged my folio about and nagged to meet people (which is not to say you shouldn't do that).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanie Michelle Rich on October 30, 2007 at 11:33am: Thank you Wes!

About taking people to lunch, I would absolutely love to, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I definitely don't want to come across as "brown-nosing." Is it okay just to walk in and ask who wants lunch? XD; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denny Furlong on October 30, 2007 at 11:37am: A lot of studios won't just let you in... be warned (a security escort really sucks).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanie Michelle Rich on October 30, 2007 at 11:41am: Yeah, good point. That's all I need is a criminal record or my face plastered on a poster that says "Crazy - Do Not Let in at ALL COSTS."; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denny Furlong on October 30, 2007 at 11:47am: Try emailing a studio suit (someone who makes decisions) and arrange a meeting. If you don't want to appear out of the blue, attend events and scout these people out. Mingle, then try to arrange something. Personally, I would try to get on speaking terms with studio heads, talk frequently and add them to your mailing list for holidays, etc... it has potential, but it's not everything. From a hiring perspective, if a choice comes between two equally talented people, I would hire the one who treated me to lunch.

In conclusion:

Be talented AND offer good food.; ▶ Reply to This