#animation confession

[animationconfessions]

This is a story of animation school in Vancouver, but I think it shows part of the whole culture that we live through here, and that it has a cradle (from school) to grave (animation career) effect. It was common to talk about jobs while in school as the programs are very job-placement-focused from beginning to end. 

I remember while talking about this subject our instructors would tell us to not be discerning with pay, to just take what we can get. It felt awful because I realized our teachers didn't have our best interests at heart, only the success of their programs, and the statistics they could show other prospective students. I learned that day that people who want to go to animation school should not trust job placement statistics - If everyone has a low paying job, you're better off working at a restaurant. With tips, you will make more money.

*Submissions edited for anonymity.

[animationconfessions]

I have worked lots of unpaid overtime, but the worst was over a period of three months where I worked about 13 hours a day. A friend of mine calculated what I should have made for that overtime (under BC Labour Law) and it was about $14,500. I lost almost $15,000 on unpaid overtime wages.

*Submissions edited for anonymity.

[animationconfessions]

This didn't happen to me, but to my friend. They were working as an animator on a difficult show. They kept getting a handful of scenes sent back to them not because they weren't animated well, but because the director/clients kept changing their minds about what they wanted from these specific scenes. In 2 weeks of working full days + OT (including weekends) this person made 30 dollars. They told me if they weren't living with their parents at the time they wouldn't be able to afford this job.

* Submissions edited for anonymity.