How to Get Your Dream Job in Film Special Effects in
8 Easy Steps
Getting a job in cinema special effects is difficult, but not as difficult as you may believe. The 10 items listed below will go a long way toward assisting you in landing your ideal career.
1) Take an art class.
To work in special effects, you must have a strong passion in art, whether you are self-taught or have attended art school. If you're asked to sculpt a life-size Roman-style statue or an Egyptian coffin, having a mental reference point is essential. However, more importantly, it will make the task more fun. You may be flipping through an art book over the weekend and then being asked to duplicate one of the images you've been admiring on Monday morning.
2) Gain an understanding of the industry
If you want to work in special effects, you need to understand not just the difference between a Stag (stagehand) and a Director, but also how the industry is split. The days of Ray Harryhausen (Jason and the Argonauts) locking himself in a shed with a tiny crew and doing all the special effects alone are long gone. Everything is now dispersed across many teams and departments. So, if you want to sculpt sets and enormous monsters, you should work as a film sculptor; if you want to work on smaller, more technical tasks, you should go with the model unit.
3) Adopt a realistic mindset.
Working in the creative industries, especially in the film business, is difficult. You'll often be working on difficult projects with tight deadlines, and dozens of others will be waiting for you to finish so they can finish their own tasks. You'll need to strike a balance between the amount of time you have and the quality of the job you do; you can't be too picky with your work. Not only that, but you must market yourself — all special effects artists are self-employed, and you must seek out available tasks.
4) Easily approachable
Almost everyone in the film business is self-employed, so they recognize that self-promotion is the only way to gain employment. This doesn't mean you should go around to potential employers' homes or develop bizarre self-marketing efforts; it just means that the vast majority of individuals in the sector are approachable. When you make a cold call to a relevant Head of Department (HOD) and demonstrate your passion and want to learn, they will typically agree to meet with you for 5-10 minutes to review your portfolio.
5) Sketching
All technical drawings in the film business are created by draftsmen in the Art Department. Is this only padding to get to the elusive '10' steps? No. It is critical to learn to draw and practice if you wish to construct any 3D object, particularly the human form. Sculptors frequently compare their work to sketching their objects in clay from numerous perspectives. Defining the lines and shadows is crucial to effective sculpture, just as it is to good sketching.
6) Exercising
This is self-evident, but it is also critical. You will improve if you practice making and sculpting objects in your leisure time. Limit yourself to reference images (rather than a real model) and set a rigorous deadline for yourself to imitate a film working experience. Trying other mediums is a little more challenging, but equally beneficial. You may be an expert in steel building and welding, but these abilities will be meaningless until you join the engineering side of special effects or the metal work team. Low-grade potter's clay and polystyrene are the most common materials used in the films.
7) Perseverance
Don't stop there when you eventually meet the man or woman who you hope to be your future boss. They'll accept your information, but it might take up to 18 months for them to find an appropriate project and contact you. You should meet as many potential employers as possible, and if you're feeling courageous, stop and talk with other individuals in the department. Leave a card or, better still, copies of your favorite one or two pieces of art with your contact information on them (and ideally your online portfolio address if you have one). Then, every 6 months or so, give them a brief call to catch up — even if they can't offer you a job, you'll be amazed at how much information you'll get about various prospects.
8) Establishing connections
Networking can be awkward and unpleasant at times, but it is necessary to learn about the many career opportunities available. After you've completed a few jobs, you'll be given the phone numbers of a few coworkers; make sure you call them. However, if you're the first to learn about a new James Bond film and then notify everyone, you'll find yourself in line to present your portfolio. This isn't to say you shouldn't share any job-related information you have; it just means you should keep in mind that everyone is looking for work. Keeping an eye on movie news websites is also a smart idea.
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