If you’re a creative person, the likelihood is that you have a creative dream that you would like to fulfil. There’s something you love to do that you wish you could do all the time. However, the reality is that the dream doesn’t pay the bills and you end up working a “regular job”. This is the experience of most creative people. Artists, singers, musicians, actors, you name it, can all tell stories of having to work in restaurants, factories, hotels and the like to survive while they pursue the thing that they really want to do. There is nothing wrong with these jobs but for creative people, it’s not what they want to be doing. My purpose with this blog post is twofold. To share my experience to encourage others in a similar position and to offer some tips on how to approach the idea of pursuing your dream while working a full-time job.

Dealing With The Negative

We’ve all heard that success story. You know the one about that person who quit their day job and took a chance at pursuing their dream only to become a huge success. People are always quick, and perhaps rightly so, to heap praise on such an individual. Not everyone who quit their job has that experience though. A lot of people, for a number of reasons, fail. People don’t talk about this group as much and if they do, they are called fools for taking that chance in the first place. Then there is another group.  Those who decide to stay in their day job and still pursue their dream at the same time. This group is even less spoken of and is often viewed negatively. Mostly, I should point out, by the people in the group.

I recently asked a question in the Facebook group Traditional Animation. I asked for a quick idea of how many animators in the group are working on substantial personal projects while working a full-time job. Here’s a look at the results.

I got over 100 reactions and comments. Quite a lot of creative people are working full-time jobs while at the same time trying to create their own project. All of the responses were positive. In the sense that people were excited to be working on their own projects. At the same time, most of the folks who responded said that it was an extremely difficult task. One user likened the experience to “Squeezing the last bit of toothpaste out of a tube.” Yet another likened the task to Sisyphus.

Sisyphus, king of Corinth, climbs the mountain carrying a boulder, as he was condemned to do for eternity by Pluto, the god of the underworld. Courtesy of www.Titian.org

He was a king in Greek mythology who, as punishment for his craftiness, was condemned to roll a giant boulder up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top. A task he had to repeat for all eternity. To this day his experience is used to describe tasks that are both arduous and pointless. This is how most people who embark upon this journey describe how they feel about it. It’s a very difficult thing to do and at times seems pointless.

Yet, all those who described pursuing your dream with a full-time job as difficult, also acknowledged that they were doing it anyway. Not because it made any sense, but because of their passion to create. One person even said they would go crazy if they were not creating their own project. I’ve said it before.

When you have a burning desire to create, you find a way to make it happen.

This is how we initially overcome the negative. With passion. Without it, anyone trying to work on their personal creation and be committed to a full-time job would before long throw in the towel. The passion drives us. I say us because I am also a part of this group.

My Experience

Those who have been following us for some time know that my wife Dixie Ann and I have been working on Celflux for about six years. We started in 2013 with the publication of Celflux issue no. 1. The project has since grown to include an Animated short/series. In  2018 we launched an Indiegogo Campaign to help fund the animated short. The funds would have helped us get more people on board and finish the project quicker.

We only got 10 backers. We love our backers and we’re grateful to them but our campaign was unsuccessful. Did that mean that we should cancel our plans to make the animated series? No. We could not. So I decided to go the other route. I was able to get myself a job and I continued working on the project alongside 8.00-4.30 commitment. I was fortunate enough to get a good job in the field of design. So I am not far removed from exercising my creativity.

I’ll say this much. It’s a challenge. It is not easy. Your time is not your own and your project takes second place to all your other commitments. I can sum it up in one word. “Frustration”. You feel a sense of frustration not being able to create as you would like. Therefore, your project moves slowly and other projects are completed ahead of yours. Despite all this, you work when you can and do what you can. Let me share with you a few things that I try to do to help me pursue my dream while working full time.

5 Tips To Help You Pursue Your Dream While Working A Full-Time Job

These tips are meant as a guide. They are not a formula. They do not guarantee success. They are not hard and fast rules. I myself do not follow all of them all the time. These tips, if practised, can help improve your chances of success.

1. Picture Your Boss as A Backer.

Because your job takes up most of your time and keeps you from working on your personal project, it’s easy to start resenting your job. However, it helps to remember without your job you would not be able to pursue your dream in the first place. It’s a matter of adopting the right mindset. Gratitude rather than grievance. Others have Kickstarter and Indiegogo backers. You have your job. It’s a lot less sexy but just as important. The income you gain from your job helps you take care of your commitments so you can work on your dream.

2. Manage Your Time.

It goes without saying that time management is fundamentally important when trying to pursue your dream. With your job and other responsibilities taking up most of your time you will have less of it to dedicate to your project. So you will have to manage your time effectively. This might mean less Netflix, fewer parties, or as in my case less gaming. Basically, you may have to give up something that you enjoy regularly and reallocate that time to your project. Dedicate the time and stick to it.

3. Manage Your Money.

The same thing applies to your money. You have to ensure that you manage your money in such a way that the pursuit of your dream does not affect your other commitments. Again, this may mean you have to give up a few things. What’s more important to you, that guilty pleasure or your project? If you are not that good with money, like me, they learn. Or find someone who can help you manage your money. I’m lucky that Dixie Ann is an accountant by profession. So she is the one that does the budget and lets me know what I can spend on Celflux. Or if I need something for Celflux she knows what we can cut back on to make it happen.

4. Set Realistic Goals.

We have a saying in Trinidad. “Don’t hang yuh hat where yuh hand cyah reach”. It speaks about living above your means or trying to do something beyond your ability. In pursuing your dream be realistic. Don’t set goals that you know you won’t be able to accomplish. If you do you will become frustrated when you don’t reach those goals. Assess yourself honestly, know your limitations, recognize your capabilities and set goals accordingly. They can be short term or long term but they must be realistic.

5. Get Rest.

Finally, rest is the most important thing. You are not superhuman. Don’t try to burn the candle at both ends. Burnout is a real thing. Working on a project while working a full-time job can sometimes seem like working two jobs. Sleep deprivation can lead to serious health issues like depression and heart disease. Some of them irreversible. As great as your dream is, it’s not worth your health. Sure you might sleep less, but be sure to get enough sleep. Balance your hard work with sufficient rest.

Conclusion

So it’s not only possible to pursue your dream while working a full-time job, it’s possible to do it without it killing you in the process. Don’t let anyone look down on you and more importantly believe in yourself. When you complete your project that would be a reward in itself and who knows what doors it will open up for you. Wishing all the folks out there pursuing their dream much success.

Till next time.

Everard J. McBain Jr.

Everard is the Creative Director and CEO of GemGfx. GemGfx is a multidisciplinary design consultancy based in Trinidad and Tobago. He has been involved in the field of Graphic Design for over 14 years. He is also the art director and co-author of the graphic novel Celflux which he created along with his wife Dixie Ann Archer-McBain.

ww.gemgfx.com

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When we decided to create the Celflux Animated Short, a few folks asked, some in a rather patronizing way, “Why did you choose to use 2d animation?” One person went so far as to say “Don’t you know that no one is using 2d anymore.” Yeah. They actually said that. Now to be fair, the last feature-length film released by Dinsey with any hand-drawn elements was Princess and The Frog in 2009. Paperman was released in 2011 but was just a short. Someone also pointed out to me that there was also Winnie The Pooh which was also released in 2011. It had a smaller budget but was indeed feature-length. It’s poor performance at the box office, along with that of Princess and The Frog, caused Disney Exects to rethink their 2D department. Most people cite the reason for this to be an issue of cost. Traditional animation, they say, was getting too costly to create without any guarantee that it would give a return. 3D films such as Frozen, Toy Story, and Finding Nemo, cost less and rake in millions at the Box Office. So there’s been no major theatrical release of a traditionally animated film in years. So perhaps it’s safe to say 2d is dead… but only on the big screen.

Does 2D animation have a future?

Blizzard is a company known for developing some of the best games around. Classics such as Starcraft and Warcraft. One of their latest games has already become a hit and powered its way into pop culture. Of course, I’m speaking about Overwatch. Apart from creating great games, Blizzard for years has been known for creating some of the most breathtaking 3D shorts known to man. This was no different when it came to Overwatch. Marvelous 3D work was done on the various shorts that told the character’s backstories. Recently, however, for the release of their character Doomfist, Blizzard shocked everyone by releasing Doomfist’s origin story as a 2D animated short.

The release quickly racked up about 11 million views online with many fans commenting that they would definitely watch a 2d animated series if Blizzard made it.

John Lasseter, former head of Pixar, once said:

“I love the medium of hand-drawn animation. I think it’s fantastic. I never quite understood why animation studios… were deciding that audiences weren’t interested in watching hand-drawn animation anymore. What an audience doesn’t want to watch are bad movies. They want to watch good movies.”

So what he’s saying is that 2D and 3D are just mediums. It’s what the creator does with the medium and how they use it to tell a good story, that makes the difference.

So there’s definitely a future for 2D animation because there’s still an audience out there who appreciates a good story. Also, with the closing of one door, the big screen, many other opportunities have arisen for 2D animation.

The Future of Independent Animation Lies With Independent Creators.

There was a time when comic books were created by teams. Writers, artists, Inkers, Colorists and Letterers. Times have changed. There are now independent creators who do everything themselves. There was a time when animation was done by an entire studio. But again, times have changed. Just as in the comic book industry, more and more individuals are creating independent 2D animated projects. 2d animation is thriving online, in Europe and in Asia. Here are the reasons why I believe the future of 2d animation lies with independent creators.

The Availability of Technology

With the development of various accessible animation programs such as Toon Boom, TV Paint, and Adobe Animate, the ability for independent creators to develop their own projects has come within reach. Phenomenally talented animators are rising up all over the internet and producing quality work. Such a thing would not be possible if the software and technology did not exist.

I have told the story before of Makoto Shinkai. He was the creator of 5 Centimeters Per Second. A movie that he created all on his own over a period of seven months. He did this because he had access to the programs that the company that employed him used. Programs such as Photoshop. Which is what I use to animate by the way. His story to me is most inspirational because it proves that independent animation is possible. He was one of the first to do it and many other creators have followed in his footsteps.

The Ability to Reach an Audience

The internet has changed the world in so many ways. It has made the world accessible. Before a creator had to be in a studio in order to get his work out to the public. The studios and production houses were the gatekeepers. Independent animators can now reach out on their own and find an audience to support their projects. Through social media such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter creators can communicate directly with their fans. Through video hosting websites like YouTube and Vimeo, creators have a place where fans can access their creations. Through crowdfunding, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, thousands of independent shorts and series have been successfully funded.

The Opportunity For Diversity

When the big name studios were the only ones creating the animation all the stories and the characters, for the most part, looked the same. Now that there is a diverse group of creators at work the animated projects themselves are diverse and made up of diverse characters. LeSean Thomas is the creator, writer and director of Cannon Busters. An animated adventure featuring diverse characters. He worked for years on several popular animated series. One of the most popular is The Boondocks. The pilot for Cannon Busters was successfully funded on Kickstarter to the tune of USD $156,535 and has recently been picked up by Netflix.

Read about it on Forbes.

And yes. Cannon Busters is 2d animation.

There’s also Urbance. Urbance is a 26-minutes animated action series for a 16+ audience. Written and Directed by Joel Dos Reis Viegas and Sébastien Larroudé. A topic that hits with stunning visuals and blasting tunes; Urbance brings you into a post-modern story world, made of hip-hop vibes and electronic influences. It successfully raised CA$ 229,300 on Kickstarter.

Urbance is also 2d animation.

These diverse animated projects would most likely have been turned down by a large studio but independent creators are able to bypass those conventional routes and bring their work directly to the public.

Conclusion.

So is 2D animation dead? No. Not really. This is why when we decided to create our own animated short, I made the choice to do it with 2D and taught myself how to animate. 2D animation is very much alive and well in the hands of independent creators. So we encourage everyone who loves 2D animation to support the indie creators that do it.

We are also throwing our hat into the ring with our own animated short. We are currently working on Celflux Reluctant Heroes The Secret Weapon and will be releasing the first 20-minute chapter online in April 2018 for everyone to see. Watch the trailer:

We will also be launching an Indiegogo campaign to help fund two more 20-minute chapters.

Early Bird Sign up Here!

Help us spread the word so that ours can be another successful independent animation project. We encourage every to continue to create because like animation the only limit is your imagination.

Till next time

Everard J. McBain Jr.

Everard is the Creative Director and CEO of GemGfx. GemGfx is a multidisciplinary design consultancy based in Trinidad and Tobago. He has been involved in the field of Graphic Design for over 14 years. He is also the art director and co-author of the graphic novel Celflux which he created along with his wife Dixie Ann Archer-McBain.

ww.gemgfx.com

The post Is 2D Animation Dead? Not Really. appeared first on Celflux - Graphic Novel & Animated Series.

Founded in May 2013 and based in San Francisco, California, Patreon was created to enable fans to support and engage with the artists and creators they love. Empowering a new generation of creators, Patreon is bringing patronage back to the 21st century.

Unlike other platforms which give the option for crowd funding a single project, Patreon is “ongoing crowd funding.” Patreon is ongoing crowdfunding for artists and creators. Fans pledge an amount of their choice, and the creator gets paid every time they release a new piece of work. It’s kind of like a “Tip” for the creator. Here’s a video of how the system works.

Celfux on Patreon

When we started the Celflux project, our intention was basically to create something wonderful, make it available to read for free online, and then publish and distribute physical copies to whoever wanted to purchase a copy of the book. Patreon affords us a unique opportunity to invite people along for the journey and let them know that they were a part of the process of developing something beautiful. So we’ve decided to create a Patreon page for Celflux.

The Celflux project is close to our hearts, so my wife and I are going to be doing this project as long as we have the life and breath as they say. We’re inviting others to come along on our creative journey. There are three main ways you can support this project.

1. Feedback: By visiting our website, reading the book and sharing your feedback. Interact with us and let us know what you think, how the book makes you feel, what you like, what you don’t like. We believe your feedback discussion will help us to create a better product.

2. Spread The Word: This is by far one of the most powerful things you can do to support the Celflux project. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and share the book with as many people as you know on your social network of choice. Help spread the word about Celflux by telling others. The more people who know about Celflux the larger the audience, the wider the reach.

3. Become A Patron: If the Celflux project strikes a chord with you, you think it’s something worth doing and if you feel so inclined, you can become a supporter of the project by becoming a patron. We’ve put together some pretty cool rewards for those that do decide to support us, and you can check those out on our Patreon page.

Look at Rewards

So again we want to say a special thanks to all the folks who have been following us so far, and to all those who will come on board for this creative journey.

Till next time.

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