It's been a while since I've posted anything but I've still been busy behind the scenes. I rendered the missing frames from the hippo animation and edited the whole thing together just like the original, and posted it under a separate link on the site. I'm also tackling the more technical end of things. I came home from SIGGRAPH with four new books, the two most important ones (right now) being on MEL scripting and Python. I got through most of the MEL book (easy stuff) and then decided I needed to go straight to Python (a much bigger book). I also signed up for a class on shell scripting that's being held this coming weekend. I can get around in Linux just fine--used to do a good bit of development there--but some of those old Unix commands are hiding in the dark recesses of my memory. So this coming weekend I'll be tackling shell scripting from 8 to 5 on Saturday and 1 to 5 on Sunday. And depending on how that class goes, I might even sign up for the advanced class being held the very next weekend. But we'll see.
I left resumes and reels all over the job fair. For those who wouldn't take reels, or who I didn't get to talk to for whatever reason, I sent emails a little over a week ago. I sent emails to some I had talked to as well, just to follow up. The waiting game has definitely begun, and luckily I have plenty of learning (and relearning) to do in the meantime. But then last Friday I got an email from Sony Imageworks. They reviewed my resume and wanted to know if I was interested in an interview. Sure! So they sent me a test to evaluate some of the skills I would need as an employee, and if I do well I'll get an interview. I'm not at liberty to discuss what is on the test, but let's just say it definitely confirmed that taking this shell scripting class is a good idea! I've already tackled most of the test but I'm not totally comfortable with all of it, so I asked if I could delay sending in my answers until after I take the class. I almost didn't expect to be able to, because you're supposed to be able to turn things around quickly in the real world. But they said yes, take the time you need. I'm glad I have the chance to send in my best work and not rush through it. I do need practice with this stuff, I already knew that. Now I know just how much. So I'll stay busy for a while for sure.
So as the calls and emails continue to pour in over the next few months (I'm being funny there), I'm not going to go into my specific opinions on the different companies or people I talk to. I have my preferences right now, I know where I would like to go and what I would like to do, but I'm going to keep that to myself. You never know how your opinions might change when you meet new people, see new situations and have some real interviews. You also never know how your comments will be interpreted by potential employers. So until I have an actual job offer in hand, I'm sticking with the facts and saving the editorial for another time, and maybe even another place. I will say though that I haven't met anyone in this business that I don't have a high opinion of or at least didn't enjoy talking to at the show. The future looks bright. And my cell phone is now on me at all times.
It's not just about the new people I've met though. CG is a much smaller world than you would think, and I ran into plenty of old friends as well. Someone once asked me if I had any friends that would go out on a limb to help me get a job somewhere. The answer is an unequivocal yes. In fact, that's how I got my job at Multigen, and there's a good chance that's how I'm going to land the next job too. At least if everything works out the way I would like. But that is a mystery to be revealed at a later time.
I left resumes and reels all over the job fair. For those who wouldn't take reels, or who I didn't get to talk to for whatever reason, I sent emails a little over a week ago. I sent emails to some I had talked to as well, just to follow up. The waiting game has definitely begun, and luckily I have plenty of learning (and relearning) to do in the meantime. But then last Friday I got an email from Sony Imageworks. They reviewed my resume and wanted to know if I was interested in an interview. Sure! So they sent me a test to evaluate some of the skills I would need as an employee, and if I do well I'll get an interview. I'm not at liberty to discuss what is on the test, but let's just say it definitely confirmed that taking this shell scripting class is a good idea! I've already tackled most of the test but I'm not totally comfortable with all of it, so I asked if I could delay sending in my answers until after I take the class. I almost didn't expect to be able to, because you're supposed to be able to turn things around quickly in the real world. But they said yes, take the time you need. I'm glad I have the chance to send in my best work and not rush through it. I do need practice with this stuff, I already knew that. Now I know just how much. So I'll stay busy for a while for sure.
So as the calls and emails continue to pour in over the next few months (I'm being funny there), I'm not going to go into my specific opinions on the different companies or people I talk to. I have my preferences right now, I know where I would like to go and what I would like to do, but I'm going to keep that to myself. You never know how your opinions might change when you meet new people, see new situations and have some real interviews. You also never know how your comments will be interpreted by potential employers. So until I have an actual job offer in hand, I'm sticking with the facts and saving the editorial for another time, and maybe even another place. I will say though that I haven't met anyone in this business that I don't have a high opinion of or at least didn't enjoy talking to at the show. The future looks bright. And my cell phone is now on me at all times.
It's not just about the new people I've met though. CG is a much smaller world than you would think, and I ran into plenty of old friends as well. Someone once asked me if I had any friends that would go out on a limb to help me get a job somewhere. The answer is an unequivocal yes. In fact, that's how I got my job at Multigen, and there's a good chance that's how I'm going to land the next job too. At least if everything works out the way I would like. But that is a mystery to be revealed at a later time.
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