Career Change. Yeah...

Hey guys! I've massaged out my tension for this city... just a little, but it's kind of growing on me. I think one needs to be financially fortunate in order to truly appreciate what LA has to offer, but I'm on my way to a more forgiving attitude with the more industry experience I get.

I find myself consistently looking to the future and forgetting to enjoy the present. I suppose this is in my nature, but I can't help but overlook the fact that I am just not happy with who I am right now. I keep telling my parents "I can't wait for this confusing and frustrating part of my life to be over" and they keep reassuring me that this part of your life is one of the toughest since you haven't quite paved the path to your career and haven't quite left the "student" road. They are right. But I'm doing everything in my power to make sure that it happens sooner, rather than later.

To cut to the chase, I recently had a very moving experience. It wasn't any moment that was easily recognizable by anyone but me (if you passed me within 5 minutes of this realization, you would have hardly noticed). However, it did happen, and I'm very thankful for it. It started about a month ago, while I was reading Sir Ken Robinson's "The Element" (I highly recommend this book to everyone, btw). I was doing a very tedious task while at work, and I kept going over and over in my head "Sonya, yes, you love animating. But why are you kidding yourself? Can you really sit down and animate for 8+ hours a day? If you wanted to be an artist and it was in your blood to be one, it would have happened already. Stop fighting it. Do what you're good at."

I looked up from the cutter board. "Do what you're good at." Simple, yet powerful. I stared at the wall, realizing I was fighting who I was because I went through school with the only image in my head of being in the industry was being an animator. I had never really considered combining what I was good at with what I was passionate about. BOOM.

I need to be a project manager.

Without any hesitation whatsoever, I packed up my bags (I had been thinking so hard, I didn't realize it was time to go home) and I went home to call my parents. "Yeah, we were worried about you trying to be an animator when you weren't as experienced as the other artists." Thanks, Mom! Why couldn't you have admitted this sooner???

In any case, the last couple weeks I have been emailing people and asking them questions of how one would go about this sort of position, looking up websites for certification (and inquiring as to whether it's necessary), consulting current coworkers about my position in the company with my newfound goal, etc. I have to say, this option is less daunting than becoming an animator. I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders and there was nothing standing in my way of being successful. Once I wrote up my resume, I found myself struggling to CUT OUT qualifications, whereas before I was struggling to find the phrases that sort of showed that I was qualified enough. I found myself changing my website and listing off projects that were 100% relevant rather than ones that I sort of could make a case for. In addition to this, I concluded more and more often that this was right for me, and the best part is, I still get to be around the same group of animated (tehe) people and I still get to be a part of the most fascinating art I have encountered. WIN.

So, my current goals right now are to pursue an animation/film studio that I am comfortable with that I can settle in as a Digital Coordinator/ Project Manager/ Whatchamacallit. I think I would be the happiest there and I can't wait!

If any of you are still struggling with what you want to be in the industry, or in general, consider these delightful questions I was consistently asking myself and didn't have the answers to until now:

-When you are emerged in a project, what seems to be the most appealing to you? Have you tried it? If not, you should. If you find yourself wanting to do something else, it's probably too late and you've already lost interest. Also consider the lesser-known options and explore those. Not everyone is fit to be an animator, but if you find that aspect appealing, consider rigging/scripting or even producing.

-What is it about that task that is the most appealing to you? Is it the math of it? Is it the art? Movement? Your ability to take charge? When you get this answer, this will point you toward what portions of the task you should focus on. There are Technical Animators for the more physics/math/programming oriented people. There is environmental modeling for the less organic designer. There is pre-visualization for the 3D cinematographer and story-teller. Storyboarding for the 2D cinematographer and story-teller.

-When you are working on something that you supposedly want to pursue in a career, does the time go by fast? If you are constantly checking the clock or switching to Facebook, you may be in the wrong place... If this "something" is playing games in general and you are actively engaged in analyzing how the design/assets/strategy fit together while you play, consider being a playtester/QA (yes, that is an option).

-Lastly, if people are constantly suggesting a certain career path for you, it might be a good indication that you are good at something. Listen.

Just remember. There are THOUSANDS of people that have been in the industry before you. And they have all gone through this same process of knowing what they generally love, and finding their place in this business. There are roles that need to be fulfilled, and plenty of people that suit those roles. Ask around. Research. Look at the credits of movies and research what those unknown titles are...

You may just be surprised as to how right you are for something you've never really considered...