My goal is to stop looking for clients and start looking for funding for my own projects. It has been a huge headache in a lot of ways, and still one of my biggest adventures and greatest experiences so far. I started without any budget almost two years ago, getting people on board as volunteers, I am so proud and grateful of the work they have done so far.
By this point I am so glad I put all that energy on pre-production, we did 8 treatments of the screenplay, we have been getting support from award winning animators and screenwriters who have kindly seen our process and steer us here and there on the right direction.
It has been frustrating to advance so slowly since everyone involved have jobs that demand most of our time.
I wonder how many people here have gone through a similar experiences, I would love to read your stories, advises, warnings and overall ideas.
Cheers!
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Have you tried crowdfunding? Free work usually takes longer than paid work.
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Do you have any models for animation production companies? When you find them, save them and visit them for guidance. One of my favorite animators/animation directors just had some of her work in Netflix's recent Maya and the Three. Her website is PHENOMENAL:
https://fernandafrick.com/
Part of what I've learned from her approach is that she sets herself up as a source of projects first and a source of services second. Check out her Storyboards tab - her Lizard Hunt project definitely demonstrates her ability, but by using the scroll-thru storyboard, we can experience her work as an animatic, effectively pitching us on the idea and her services at the same time.
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Thanks for sharing your story. I am also at the pre pro production stage for my short animation script aimed at 'young family audiences'. Funding is one of 'the elephants in the room'. Sticking to a budget and not giving up' is my preferred route. 2D instead of 3D animation? Any thoughts?
Thanks so much, Derek Reid! It's my "I can play an FBI agent or bad-ass executive" look. LOL
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Isaac David Quesada A lot of projects start this way. Are you producing and directing it yourself? The short film Canvas (on Neflix) had a similar process, taking Frank YEARS to finally get ready for their Kickstarter. Then when that dropped they had a POC to show everyone which helped. Making shorts and doing any of this is a snails race without proper funding.
Frank and many others had some support with friends Producing the project to keep the team moving and allowed Frank to spend time where it was needed. Good luck!
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Thanks for your replies! Toby Cochran that is exactly the case, I don´t want to risk starting a crowdfunding campaing until I have enough POC to show. My current landmark is the trailer, it is on it´s way (and looking awesome I might add), and also I want to hire a community manager since I am not very social network savy, to help getting the project seen. all your comments are very appreciated since sometimes it feels like you are making things more complicated that it should be, Reading from fellow film creators is always appreciated.
@Usha Phadke, My own animation philosophy is to use everything, looking for the right technique for every element, a hybrid. For this short film I am sharing with you I am using 3d for space ships and other elements that require little animation but allows different angles, vector animation for subtle movements and frame by frame for complicated movements. I know there is not a single right path but my advice would be to think in terms of what feels right. Best of luck with your project!
Thanks for the suggestion. Will keep you posted!
Hi, Isaac, I'm going through all these but alone as a 2d animator - but I have more than ten years experience in writing scripts for tv animation series which helps me a lot. One of advice I could share - divide your story to tiny parts, ultra short stories - they are easier to produce and to be understood by the audience. Surely, this ultra short parts should make sense =) being meaningful, but it works well, really. Good luck to you and your team on your way to the wide audience!
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Hey @Alexander, nice reading your experience. I appreciate your advice. Working on short parts to create a whole product in the end is helping me manage my emotions, every time a short story is told there is a feeling of fulfillment, of getting something done, and in the end all of them will tell the complete story. Thanks!
That makes sense, I guess once I have a trailer I should just move it around distributors or is there a more professional or systematic approach?