IFF seats

[tomasan]

I'm gonna throw this out there.

I had three years of Flame/Flint training in Art Academy, and I am now working as a AfterFX/Fusion compositor. I can see there are only "senior" flame seat out there, and without being able to get on the system as a junior operator, we may never be able to be "senior". Any advise? I know the only way is being an"intern" in Flame studio, and get on the machine at night(that means working during the day, and get self training after work, no life). Is there any other advise for people like me, who knows enough of the system(as a junior), to get on the box to learn more to be a "senior"?

[imported_mseymour7]

It is a very difficult question, and without lot of growth in VFX over all - it is for most companies to hire directly get good flame artists who have at least 3 years experience.

My advice is work at a bigger TVC house...with multiple flames.
Small shops can be very hard to find 'openings' and at larger places you can get real second shifts.. especially on jobs like music videos... this can then lead to TVC work and day shifts :-)

In the end - doing C3 work for a joint inferno/combustion job will give you exposure.. but the key to TVC flame work is clients. You need great client skills... good communication skills.
But your right offering to do some major directors pet project for no money at night - while still doing your day job will be the clearest path to them requesting you for day shifts. Also don't forget to suck up to producers at your facility. As producers tend to hand out jobs - (when the client doesn't request an operator) - you need for the VFX producers to know how good you are and how willing you are to comp for experience - no matter the job or the time of day. A good way to impress producers is to offer to work on the company show reel or house countdown... no one likes spending time on the reel or countdown design.. and EVERYONE will see it.
Every once in a while I see an exceptional countdown and think - man who ever did that had real imagination and great design skills.

mike