#01 - How a Simple Personal Project Got Me Multiple VFX Job Offers - And Why You Should Start Now!
Hey there,
I want to start this newsletter series with a personal story about my journey into the VFX industry. It wasn’t always smooth sailing and I was once standing at the edge - uncertain of how to break in.
So let me take you back to a time when I was unemployed & struggling to land my first VFX job. The questions kept piling up: What am I doing? Is this even possible for me? But I’m going to show you how I flipped the script - how I turned a simple personal project into a career-changing opportunity. And trust me, this isn’t about getting lucky. It’s about taking action in ways that get noticed.
Struggle: The Early Days
When I first started looking for VFX jobs, I had really basic skills. My portfolio was slowly coming together; but it was lost in the shuffle. I had spent so much time learning my craft - but it felt like no one was seeing it. It felt like I was at a standstill. I was getting a little desperate. But then - everything changed.
Transformation: Stepping Up
I took action outside my comfort zone Instead of just waiting for the “perfect job” to appear, I decided to get creative. I started pushing myself into online communities, game jams and volunteering on video game projects.
Here’s what I did:
Participated in game jams & volunteer game projects: These are incredible ways to get hands-on experience while connecting with other creatives. The clock is ticking and teams are nimble - so you have to work quickly and efficiently.
Joined VFX online communities: I joined online VFX forums and discord communities like RealtimeVFX as a way to not only challenge myself but to get my work noticed by others in the industry. What matters is that I put myself out there and it worked. I learned a ton of great new skills and made life long friendships along the way.
Partook in a VFX contest: I entered a VFX contest where the challenge was to create a tornado effect. I spent hours experimenting, learning new tricks and pushing the boundaries of what I knew about texturing, modeling, particle systems & shaders.
Result: Groundbreaking
The result? I won second place and let me tell you - the floodgates opened. Winning that contest didn’t just feel good; it changed EVERYTHING. Industry professionals took notice and reached out to me. I started getting messages from people I had only dreamed of working with. My work was now seen as valuable. Suddenly, I had people asking for interviews and had multiple job opportunities rolling in.
Takeaway: Get Started Right Now
It all started with one simple decision: to throw myself into the creative process and to put my work where people could see it. So, what’s the big takeaway from my journey? If you want to land a VFX job, you need to show up - not just on paper, but in front of the people who matter.
Here’s how you can do that:
Start a Personal VFX Project: Don’t wait for the perfect job listing to come around. Pick a topic, a theme or an effect that excites you and build it. Whether it’s a tornado, a fireball or some other jaw-dropping effect - make it yours!
Participate in Game Jams and VFX Contests: These are opportunities to test your skills in a real-world environment. Game jams help you collaborate & contests let you showcase your unique abilities.
Be Active in Online Communities: Join VFX forums, Discord servers and social media groups like RealtimeVFX where artists share their work. Follow VFX Artists on LinkedIn. Engage with folks, ask questions and put your work out there. You’d be surprised how much exposure you can get just by being active.
Are you ready to take action and create VFX that get noticed? Consistency is Key. The more projects you create, the more visible you become. Keep improving, keep experimenting and never stop learning. Remember, it all started with a simple project for me. Your next personal project could be the key that unlocks YOUR future in VFX for games.
