If you’ve decided working in 3D is for you then check out this article. Our 10-point guide will help you to craft job-landing showreels
You’ve probably seen movies, games and adverts full of amazing CG elements and thought, “I wonder how they do that” and “I’d like to give that a go”. So now that you’ve decided working in 3D is for you, how do you go about applying for 3D jobs?
In this article, you’ll discover how to create a job-winning showreel with a ten-point guide created by the people who hire.
And don’t forget to follow the links at the bottom of this page for more guidance on getting started in 3D.
What will you need for a job application?
Before you apply for a job in the CG industry, you’ll need three things: a covering letter, a CV and a showreel.
Writing a CV, or resume, and a covering letter are relatively easy tasks and there’s loads of help online that’s applicable no matter what job you’ve going for.
But there’s an art to creating a winning showreel, and since it’s one of the most important pieces in getting a job in the 3D industry, it’s important you get it spot on.
Physical reels are quickly going out of favour, at least on unsolicited applications. In our experience, all studios accept and many prefer, online reels; although some still require a physical reel at the interview stage. If possible, host the reel on your own website. If not, put it on a video streaming site. The quality on Vimeo is acceptable for most studios; YouTube less so.
TEN GOLDEN RULES
What should you put on your showreel?
Visualisation artists: don’t switch off just yet, the same principles apply to print portfolios.
Keep it short
In large studios,recruiters may have to watch over a hundred reels in a day. Don’t make this more painful than it needs to be. Less is most definitely more.
Put your best work up front
For the same reason, many studios say that you have only around 30 seconds to make your mark. If they haven’t seen anything they like by then, it’s in the bin.
Only include your best work
Anything else raises doubts in the studio’s mind as to whether the good stuff at the start was a fluke, or, just as bad, that you can’t see the difference.
Include contact details
Give your current phone number and email address, and put them on the title screen of the reel: packaging often gets lost or binned when reels are stored.
Include a CV
A single side of A4 or Letter paper, tops. Put any commercial experience up front. And if you have a degree, no-one needs to hear about your GCSEs.
Don’t plagiarise anyone
It may seem like a big industry, but it isn’t. Try to pass off anyone else’s work as your own, and you will be found out. This kills careers.
Provide a physical shot list
Most people still expect one. But you should also put the information on your reel itself, as captions at the bottom or side of the screen.
Say exactly what you did on each shot
Studios see the same graduation short on reels from every team member. If you only did the lighting, put ‘Lighting only’ at the foot of the screen.
Keep the music discreet
Music is the norm, but loud dance tracks or anything with lyrics distracts from your images. Many studios will turn the sound off, anyway.
Don’t come over all Orson Welles
Do not begin with ‘Written, produced and animated by…’. Who else’s work could it be? A title screen with ‘John Smith, Animator, john@animator.com’ suffices.
Want more help in finding a job in 3D?
Follow these links to help kick-start your CG career:
10 simple steps to getting a job in CG
How to get hired in 3D
Main image created by Graham Linfield. Graham’s showreel was so good it helped him to win a job at Taylor James! Here you can watch showreels and see portfolios that helped graduates to land their dream jobs.
3D World Jobs brings together CG job-seekers and studios
Savannah College of Art and Design: Animation courses
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