Analysing my reel

I am happy with my reel so far. It's something I'd gladly put forward to industry professionals. However, I will strive to update it every couple of months, or whenever I finish a project. For now, I plan to still keep it down to a minute and not include anything older than two years, especially as my skills are still forming. Perhaps as I continue to focus and animate better, this will change. For now, I'm growing so fast that I quickly outgrow my older projects and am not so satisfied with them.

If needs be, I will develop a generalist reel but my focus remains on character animation. Don't want to clutter the character animmm with general animation that doesn't wholly represent my practice

Marketing myself

I really enjoyed the lecture on marketing myself. Everyone has a different approach, and I think I'd do best by going to plenty of social events and festivals to meet as many industry peeps as poss. Sometimes I have really off days when I network face to face and I worry I come off as a dumbarse. Having said that, I think I'm not terrible at it and I find online networking incredibly frustrating, especially when they don't reply.

I will MARRY face to face networking and social networking by meeting people at events and then instantly following it up on LinkedIn, which I ain't been doing so far.

Regarding my website, I'm generally happy with it as it is but I could stand to revisit it a little down the line. I want it to be my primary self-marketing tool as a link to me 'gram, me LinkedIn and me Vimeo. My problem with it right now is my visibility. It doesn't show up on Google so I need to take some time with search engine optimisation to ensure that CHRISTOPHER HARRY is the ONLY thing on Google worth looking at. I will also link it on my other social accounts to increase the sense of connectivity.

Instagram I find is a useful tool at networking events as a sort of instant portfolio to hand, where I can whip out my phone and immediately show people what I'm working on and what my films look like.

10 Networking Opportunities

LINKEDIN

As I mentioned, I've been using Linkedin more than ever BEFORE. Once I'm on it, I find I can jump around companies and mutual contacts eternally.

FACEBOOK GROUPs

A wonderful place to meet budding fellow filmmakers and find collaboration. Once I start taking the time to make my short films (starting with British Wayz tours the continent") I will be finding local filmmakers this way and trying to get projects started

NETWORKING EVENTS BY UNI

Not that I'll have much longer to take advantage of these, but I've managed to see and meet a lot of people through events organised by our WONDERFUL careers department. I've been to several of the creative networks events which I will extrapolate upon in a later blog post.

GALLERY OPENINGS

Being mates with a few fine art students allows me to attend plenty of arty events and meet likeminded people. Big exhibitions, small exhibitions. I recently went to the Tetley Gallery and discovered the work of a documentary filmmaker I'd never seen before, who I then connected with on LinkedIn. As well as broadening my potential social circle, I broaden my MIIIIND woo

MAF (obvs)

MAF is bloody gr8. Last year I volunteered and got to meet a couple of my heroes. It's a chill chill environment that helped me overcome the stress I feel of talking to people who outshine me. Now I'm more confident approaching profeshes.

THE DOTS

Is a really sick creative network, similar to Linkedin except it promotes projects as well as people. If you're looking for a side hustle, you can get on there and find something that really works for you. Perfect for freelancers or as a means of finding collaborators. You can also curate the types of projects you see.

D&AD

The D&AD festival is a mad creative fest in London where you can introduce yourself to whoever. Hopefully, if my work gets accepted this year then I'll have some CLOUT to go and hobnob with the best upcoming designers and artists.

"We offer a feast of different perspectives and experiences, through a rich programme of talks, workshops, masterclasses, interactive features, fringe events and networking opportunities, delivered by today’s creative pioneers. Plus, a chance to view the most outstanding work of the past year."

- D&AD website.

THOUGHTBUBBLE

Perhaps this is more for illustrators, but often the two professions overlap. It's so diverse and such a wonderful atmosphere that it makes networking incredibly easy.

AESTHETICA

It's BAFTA qualifying, BABY! And it's local. I don't know if I'll ever win a BAFTA, but this festival covers live action and animated films with a similar bustling feel to MAF. I would love to volunteer there one year and I'll submit my final film to hobnob with the greats

LEEDS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

I volunteer at the Picture House, so get to work on some LIFF screenings anyway although I have never volunteered at LIFF itself. Again, it's a great chance to broaden my horizons, see new stuff and it would allow me to get more involved also with Leeds Young Film Festival. I am incredibly inspirational to young people. I actually tried to volunteer for LYFF this year but I was in France during the training session so was automatically DISQUALIFIED.

My greatest error

So I applied for this Channel 4 internship, right? I put my application together really nicely and had it ready the day before. All I had to do was confirm one person as an extra reference and it all would've been ace. I saved it and set it aside for tomoz. Then I foolishly went on the LASH and forgot the deadline. It would have been a wonderful opportunity.

The lesson is to be more of a planner. I have bought a physical paper diary as a substitute for my untrustworthy memory that comes as standard with all homo sapiens. It's incredibly helpful for remembering professionals and contacts, stuff I gotta do. If I was slightly more annoying I'd say I was "adulting"

Reviewing my Presence/ CV/ everything

WEBSITE

I think my website reflects me well, although I am at the start of a long and beautiful relationship with Squarespace. I STILL haven't worked out how to get my site to the top of the Google search results which is a must. I might change the formatting at some point, but for now it perfectly serves my purpose of being a place for my entire portfolio, social media and CV to live.

VIMEO

Here, I don't curate my vids as harshly as I do on my website (I have stuff up there from A-level). I wouldn't call it a dumping ground of crap, but I throw things up there. It is closely tied to my website, too. Really happy with it.

LINKEDIN

I have been engaging far more with LinkedIn in the sense that I've been connecting with plenty of people, but I am still not posting. Posting across LinkedIn and Instagram is time consuming and incredibly tedious, but perhaps using something like Buffer would allow me to post more consistently and to multiple platforms. Generally happy with my LinkedIn.

SHOWREEL

Is on Vimeo, the Youtube of online video platforms. I can quickly update it with their handy 'replace video' feature and it automatically updates itself on my website, greatly reducing the mental load of having to update it manually. I am happy with my showreel as it is now. I need to replace last year's video mapping clip with my much preferred THIS year's clip, but I can't because I didn't take a decent vid and the profesh one isn't online yet. My showreel improved when I cut less and kept the mood clear and simple. No sense in complicating things.

THE 'GRAM

Instagram is a pain but I find it most useful as a way of demonstrating my work quickly, like at a party when someone asks what kind of thing I make. I nearly got a commish through DA gram as well but it fell through due to budget stuff. I will continue to post, making it a place for WIP stuff and sketches, but more informal than my Vimeo.

C.V. 

I'm happy with my CV but always struggle to keep it down to two pages. I have a good template now which I can frequently update and link on my website. Keepin' it bland and profesh. Adore the Helvetica typeface.

BIZZOWIZ CARDZ

I will keep the cards updated. I saw this really clever thing where someone had put the Vimeo password of their short film on their card, so while it was still doin' the fest circuit he could still show people, but only the people he wanted to show. I will add this feature to my card once Gloop Caff is finished. Constantly itching to change the design but I enjoy having a card that sticks out.

Horizon Scanning

Ultimately, I want to be able to make my own films and hobnob in those independent circles. I also want to go to a studio to get experience, work with people I admire and contribute towards character driven storytelling. Ultimately, all my work should focus on character and storytelling, and I'll strive to work ethically and not promote mindless consumerism.

Studios-wise, I've been looking into and applying for roles at Blue Zoo, Rumpus, The Line and AKA, some of which currently have internships going and some of which do not. I'm also checking out Sixteen South in Belfast, Blinkink, Passion Pictures and Lupus Animation to see where they list jobs. I also think it's worth me starting by checking out smaller studios such as Bearded Fellows and stuff around Manchester, as it would allow me to live (semi) affordably and continue to develop my own practice. I could be grounded and live with my girlfriend, at least while we begin to build ourselves as professionals. In a studio, I hope to learn how to direct and manage budgets and pipelines. I'll also build lasting professional relationships. This is why I'm dead set on continuing to volunteer, putting myself as much in with creative people as possible. I'll apply for stuff that isn't just in animation, as well. This includes roles in live action production and TV. I'll do running stuff. It all culminates in me positioning myself as a storyteller.

I have to continue my own practice. This would involve carving out some time each week to write and direct my own films on a really teeny tiny budget. Facebook groups are a good place to find other budding filmmakers for collaboration. I won't rely on waiting for funding to pursue this, but I must keep it as part of my schedule otherwise I risk falling into a routine without my own films and forgetting the reason I chose animation in the first place. I won't move back in with my fam, as dear as they are to me, because I think I will learn a lot from struggling to keep myself afloat in my own place.

Were I to do a masters, I would apply to Gobelins or La Cambre in Brussels. I wouldn't embark on this for a few years, though, as I want a greater taste of the world to inform my practice.

IPSE networking event

I attended the IPSE networking event put on by uni tonight and the speakers were brill! The keynote speaker especially made excellent points about branding and putting out something distinct. One of the most interesting points made was that often the most lucrative work you can offer as a freelancer is the work that you make for yourself out of passion, rather than that which appeals to too broad a market and is designed to sell. I like to think that I make distinct work but I could still stand to specialise a little more.

I got to speak to Jonathan Straight, the keynote speaker, a little bit. I felt quite the philistine when he brought up the Tetley and I thought he was referring to a pub, not an art gallery in the city. Anyway, I've resolved to go to this gallery soon and pick his brain some more. I don't know why but I still get stupidly nervous when I meet hugely successful people. Maybe I'll get better at it if I become hugely successful at some point.

Applying for jobs

I applied for my FIRST job with a very cool and hip studio based in Madrid called 'SPA Studios'. It was a good excuse to get my CV and some cover letters together. I found the job on the great best website in the world LINKEDIN which I am using more. It's incredibly intuitive. I did also go for the production assistant role which I would be well suited to also, as I want to get any sort of experience I can!

Right now I'm in the mindset of "apply for loads of stuff" but as I progress I think I'm leaning more towards a desire to pursue part- time work as it will allow me to find clients in my own time and work on my own projects, which is what I ultimately want. I've written most of a script for a film to start after the large hand-in in May. A live action mockumentary-type thing with animated elements. I will research organisations like the arts council, who hand out small grants to independent filmmakers.

Job Hunting Part 2

I've continued to build my professional online presence by cementing my Indeed profile, updating my details and sticking my CV up there. I've also been rearranging my Google Drive as I prepare to graduate, so I am ready to enter the world of work/freelancing with a clear mind and a good idea of where everything is. It's a very liberating feeling. At the recommendation of a family friend, I've put together two spreadsheets. One is a client spreadsheet, a document of people I've made work for. It contains their location and specialism and what I did for them.

The other is an industry professional spreadsheet. It contains the details of the professionals I encounter, what roles they hold at what companies and where they're based. As I am so absent-minded with my head in the clouds, it is good to keep a record of who I've been talking to for future reference and so I have a good idea of who to talk to about what.

I was keen to volunteer at the LYFF, but they are insistent that I attend a training session on the 27th of March which is when I am video mapping in Lille. Bummer.

Business Card and Website

I've printed my business cards and updated them with my new name and website and all that cool cool stuff. Finally, if anyone wants to see my portfolio, I can direct them there without having to give them a link to my GRAM.

Here's the link HERE. https://christopheranimation.com/

Many will say that it could seem pompous to include an entire auto-biography on one's website, but they're jealous because I thought of it first.

I used Squarespace, which is well worth it if you intend to use your website frequently, which I DO! I looked to Bill Plympton's website for inspo, as well as Chris Shepherd's. Both are written and designed in a handmade, personable tone, which I hope to convey in my own website!

While a year ago I was unsure of how to market myself and how to go about finding connections, it feels good to have a groundwork now. A pro website, my gram, my LinkedIn is going well etc.

I went through development with my business card.

The biggest change was my name.

I'm happier with the new business card. I feel I've used the space better, sharpened up the font and made it a little more clean. My website is on there now. I'll undoubtably continue to evolve the design with every new printing, but it reflects where I am now. Someone mentioned that I should use the international dialling code with my mobile number.

Manchester Animation Festival

I volunteered at Manchester Animation Festival this year, which meant meeting a bunch of brilliant filmmakers and seeing panels I wouldn't ordinarily get to attend.

The yellow "volunteer" shirt gave me the courage to speak to the people I admire from the industry and they were all really friendly. What a wonderful atmosphere!

I got to meet Jamie Badminton from Karrot Animation who was incredibly friendly and who I hope to send my showreel to for some feedback

I met Barry Purves briefly, who has given me valuable advice on my Context of Practice monologue

I met Chris Shepherd, who watched Hedge of State! Finally, someone who isn't my mum has visited my vimeo account

I got to speak to Bill, the Producer of MAF, and speak to him about all manner of stuff

I met Rob Munday which was awesome as I watch loads of stuff on Short of the Week and admire his curations a lot.

It was a swell time and hopefully I've built up the good faith with the MAF people to return next year.