I told that I decided to change my career path to the VFX industry after watching a blockbuster. I did an Internet search on tips to jump into the field. Once I found that VFX companies were hiring a position for production managers, I assumed that I would be good at the management of production flow for VFX projects. That’s how I felt getting closer to the VFX world because I was then in charge of film coordination in my previous work.
My problem was that I didn’t know where to start for prepping to change jobs in the first place. It was likely that most departments were demanding special technical skills. To communicate effectively, I just started to learn Maya, modeling software used in the CG industry. I was so naive to believe that CG character modeling was the most important thing and it would bring me to know how the VFX pipeline is formed — just with modeling. With a 6-months class of CG modeling, I got to make a rigged tin can robot asset!
I didn’t have any connections in this field, so I used to look at some CG communities online — most of them for artists, not really for people in the production area. But, that time, I got a lead title at my previous company, and I finally had to focus on the work that I’d got on at. Time has flown by so fast since then and I gradually forgot about my decision. About two years past? I discovered that I resigned myself to challenge in my career. Then, I quit my job without deciding on my next destination. Many of my acquaintances and friends had given me advice that I should leave a job for another after finding a new one. Even, there was no factor to predict whether this career path would be suitable for me or not.
I applied to multiple major CG companies that encompass film and new media projects that I had been interested in. Thankfully, I was called in for an interview from several companies, and I was hired by a company that attracted me the most. During a job interview, the hiring managers used to ask me questions like below:
- introduction about myself
- what interests me about the role of the project manager position
- the reason why I’d like to switch my career path to the VFX industry
- ability to illustrate my knowledge of the VFX pipeline
- software and video tools that I can handle with, such as final cut, MS office
- Foreign language skills
- wondering if I’m able to accept the salary lower than before (because I could be hired as a junior)
- any questions about the company and the position
- final statement
On my first day of work, I moved around all departments to introduce myself to my new coworkers. And for several weeks, I got an OJT with my colleagues before being assigned to a project. I was like falling into a dark maze after the OJT because I realized that what I prepared for this work became completely nothing and I should build up my thing from nothing. It was such a challenge to me, in my early thirties, to jump into a world that I was not familiar with — In my twenties, challenges had been very exciting for me! Many of my co-workers asked me if I don’t regret that my career got interrupted. Of course, I regret that…
- my salary was lowered — salary in the VFX industry is in a quite low condition compared to other industries
- I should set up new connections from zero
- My seniors are younger than me…
- The junior employees were generally 3–5 years old younger than me.
- et cetera, et cetera…
Luckily, I’m a person who likes to challenge myself in a new world — Of course, I used to feel sick of something easily. In the next article, I’ll go over what happened during a job interview and the first months in the company.
