I want to get used to organizing my time like this. I know it's not the world's busiest schedule, but this is something I haven't really done before. I remind myself that I need to adjust to a schedule like this and that things won't get easier. I've been feeling a bit more driven lately, especially after taking a hiatus from freelancing. I'm hungry for work and yearn to improve. I feel I've come to a point in my life where building my career has taken a very high priority. It makes me feel nostalgic thinking about this, but I've come to terms that those days where all I had to worry about was fitting in socially and plotting my next attempts to be under the influence have passed me.
The project I've picked up is working on an online commercial for an upcoming classical album compilation from EMI Records from author E L James of "Fifty Shades of Grey" fame. I'll be working on a kinetic typography type of animation with quotes from the book. The interesting part of the project is that I have no recorded dialogue to follow, just classical music and excerpts from the novel. This will be fun because I can basically set the pace of the quotes and tinker with the speech and mood within the animations.
I was lucky enough to stay in contact with one of my university friends who graduated not too long ago who referred me to a job opening doing composite and roto work for a visual effects company called Almost Human. I applied, but they were looking to fill full time positions but was offered an intern/apprenticeship. There wasn't any bad blood from not getting the job, instead I was excited to just even be in a visual effects studio and to be offered a position that allows me to learn outside of a classroom. When I went into their conference room, I was already psyched by seeing all these props and creatures used in television and movies like The Crazies, Buffy, and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I start tomorrow, and I'm splurging in excitement to be working on projects that will actually be shown to larger audiences.
On my search to improve my involvement with my career, I've also signed up to a site called The IdeaLists which is a community you gain membership into by submitting your portfolio which grants you access to job listings from everything to annual, part/full time jobs, and freelance work. They cover everything from design, film production, non profit, fine art, fashion and so much more. I appealed to join a project recommended by Jabari and I look over for interesting jobs from time to time. It's basically a very well organized creative job listings site with limited access. Since you have to be approved to become a member, it prevents employers from being swamped with applications allowing you to not compete with the hordes, BUT this also means that the people you're competing with to land the project/job are experienced veterans with favorable reels/portfolios/resumes. Despite that, I feel any lead to some work is always a good lead, and that one should constantly be on the search.
As the end of my academic career nears, I've come to appreciate the 6 years it's taken me to finish college. When I submitted my graduation application, I couldn't imagine a world that was no longer bound to an academic schedule. I still can't grasp that I'll be moving onto a new stage of life soon. I'm happy I took this path of jack knifing my way through college. All the failures and mistakes I've accumulated helped me discover who I am. I think the big joke about college isn't necessarily about learning your major, but learning about yourself.
I've come to a point where I feel that my identity is no longer about the clothes I wear, the style of my hair, or the people I surround myself with, but by my skills that define me as an individual.
Do what you love to do, and find a way to get paid for it.
