The Power of Personal Projects

Summary

The video by Full Sail University delves into the enlightening journey of embracing personal projects to find one's creative voice and propel a career forward. The speaker, Collin Hess, shares his own experiences, illustrating how personal initiatives can define one's artistic style, open unexpected doors, and foster personal and professional growth. Through anecdotes of his career, including setbacks and triumphs, he emphasizes the power of personal projects in shaping a career and the importance of resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to take risks.

Highlights

• Personal projects help define your visual style and creative voice. 🔍
• They provide opportunities to experiment and learn without boundaries. 🎢
• Taking risks can lead to surprising career opportunities. 🚀
• Personal projects offer a way to reconnect with your passion during tough times. 💪
• They can showcase your capabilities when traditional opportunities are limited. 🎬

Key Takeaways

• Embrace personal projects to discover and hone your unique creative voice. 🎨
• Personal projects can open unexpected doors in your career. 🚪
• Resilience and risk-taking are crucial for artistic growth. ✊
• Balancing personal and client work enriches creative output. ⚖️
• Even setbacks can lead to major breakthroughs. 🚀

Overview

Collin Hess's journey reminds us of the invaluable role personal projects play in developing a distinct creative voice. By embracing these projects, Hess navigated through personal and professional challenges, emerging with a uniquely defined artistic style and career path. His story demonstrates how self-initiated work not only refines one's skills but opens doors to unexpected opportunities.

Throughout the video, Hess highlights the importance of taking risks and embracing the unknown. His personal anecdotes, including experiences with major studios like Nickelodeon and Disney, emphasize the need to push beyond comfort zones. Hess's narrative shows that true creative growth often comes from stepping outside predefined paths and venturing into the unknown with personal projects.

Moreover, Hess illustrates how balancing personal projects with professional work can lead to creative breakthroughs. He underscores that, despite setbacks and periods of self-doubt, continuing to pursue personal interests cultivates both resilience and innovation. His advice encourages viewers to seize their creativity, embrace vulnerability, and let personal projects illuminate their career paths.

Chapters

• 00:30 - 01:00: Everyone told you not to do start/stop In this chapter, the focus is on the common advice people receive about starting or stopping certain actions. It delves into the reasoning behind this guidance and explores the consequences of following or ignoring such advice. The chapter might include anecdotes or hypothetical scenarios illustrating the impact of starting or stopping specific endeavors. The narrative could aim to challenge conventional wisdom, prompting readers to reflect on the reasons behind such blanket advice and encouraging them to make informed decisions based on their unique circumstances.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Doodling pay attention The chapter titled 'Doodling: Pay Attention' discusses the common advice against engaging in start-stop behavior. This likely refers to the idea of maintaining consistent attention and avoiding interruptions or distractions that can break focus. The context suggests an emphasis on the importance of steady concentration, perhaps in relation to activities like doodling or creative processes, without succumbing to discontinuity.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Using imaginations to get paid The chapter highlights the concept of using creativity and imagination as a means to earn a living. It discusses how activities typically considered leisurely or personal, such as doodling or daydreaming, can have economic value when applied in innovative ways.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Aha moment in career The chapter titled "Aha moment in career" explores a pivotal instance or realization in one's professional journey that significantly alters or influences their career path. Unfortunately, the provided transcript is incomplete and does not guide the specific content of this chapter. Nonetheless, readers can expect to learn about moments of insight or transformation that have a lasting impact on an individual's career trajectory.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Self-realization of how cool it is that we get to essentially goof off explores the concept of self-realization and appreciation for being able to 'goof off' while working, highlighting the creative freedom and joy in imaginative endeavors that provide financial and personal fulfillment.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Research and TED Talks The chapter titled 'Research and TED Talks' delves into the moments of insight and understanding, commonly referred to as the 'aha' moments, that occur during the process of research and listening to TED Talks. These moments are characterized by sudden clarity or breakthrough in thinking, which can significantly influence and inspire one's perspective or method in various fields. The transcript initiates by highlighting the universal experience of encountering 'aha' moments, suggesting a commonality in personal discovery and intellectual expansion.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Presentations and self-image The chapter titled 'Presentations and self-image' discusses the pivotal moments in one's career related to how we present ourselves and how it affects our career trajectory. It emphasizes the importance of self-perception and how it aligns or conflicts with others' perceptions, and how this dynamic can influence professional success.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Photography and childhood The chapter 'Photography and Childhood' seems to explore the theme of photography as a pivotal element in the documentation and narration of childhood experiences. The transcript provided is incomplete, but it suggests a discussion on photography possibly serving as a medium for capturing moments of childhood which cannot be fully articulated. The phrase " this like self" implies a discussion around individual identity in childhood and how photography intertwines with self-expression or preserving personal history. The chapter might delve into how photography helps in bridging memories related to childhood and forming a narrative around one's early years.
• 04:30 - 05:00: High school and learning disabilities This chapter focuses on high school experiences and learning disabilities. It begins with an expression of realization about the positive aspects of certain experiences. The narrative may discuss the challenges and achievements related to navigating high school while managing learning disabilities, emphasizing personal growth and understanding.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Determination and art The chapter titled "Determination and Art" seems to focus on the concept of leisure and perhaps how people spend their free time, possibly exploring themes related to creativity and relaxation. It suggests an environment or situation where individuals have the freedom to 'goof off,' implying a break from structured or serious tasks. This could either pertain to the process of creating art where artists often find inspiration in moments of leisure or the determination to reach such moments in a career or life.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Disney's Cool Runnings and inspiration The chapter explores the background and impact of Disney's 'Cool Runnings', focusing on how it served as an inspiration to many. The discussion likely includes an analysis of the film's themes, its reception, and its cultural significance. Additionally, there may be mention of how the film highlights the journey and challenges faced by the Jamaican bobsled team, providing motivational insights related to perseverance and achieving the impossible. The chapter aims to delve into the ways in which 'Cool Runnings' has influenced audiences and possibly inspired similar stories or real-life events.
• 06:00 - 06:30: Coach's advice in Cool Runnings The chapter is centered around a coach's advice in the context of 'Cool Runnings'. The significance of looking into presentations is highlighted as a key component. This likely points to the importance of preparation and strategy in coaching, reflecting on how presentations can influence or guide athletes and teams to success. The exact nature of the advice, involving looking into presentations, might relate to planning, visualizing strategies, or learning from past performances, crucial components in the realm of competitive sports.
• 06:30 - 07:00: Personal question of finding a career path The chapter discusses the personal journey of finding a career path, emphasizing the importance of introspection and exploring various fields to discover one's true calling. It highlights the value of deep exploration, as exemplified by the enjoyment of delving into TED talks, suggesting a model of curiosity and continuous learning to identify and pursue a fulfilling career.
• 07:00 - 07:30: Falling in love with personal projects The chapter discusses the passion and excitement involved in starting and working on personal projects. It highlights the emotional investment and joy that comes from creating something of personal significance, often driven by individual curiosity and creativity.
• 07:30 - 08:00: Introduction to motion graphics The chapter titled 'Introduction to motion graphics' likely delves into the basics and foundations of motion graphics. Given the fragment of the transcript provided, 'presentations start with this this', it might begin by discussing the fundamental concepts or elements necessary for understanding or creating motion graphics. The chapter may cover topics such as key principles of animation, uses of motion graphics in various media, and the basic tools or software essential for designing motion graphics. It sets the stage for more advanced topics by introducing the essential framework or mindset for beginners to start exploring the world of motion graphics.
• 08:00 - 08:30: Deep dive into Saul Bass and title designs This chapter explores the life and career of Saul Bass, focusing on his contributions to title design. It highlights his impact on the field and his standing as a significant figure in design history.
• 08:30 - 09:00: Locking in to create a title sequence In this chapter titled 'Locking in to create a title sequence,' the narrator reflects on their journey by revisiting old photographs. They share a particular childhood photo that they believe perfectly encapsulates their identity, humorously named 'a callin big boy.' The narrator notes that their laid-back demeanor persists to this day. Interestingly, this same young version of themselves was voted most likely to join a ska band in high school, adding a touch of humor and nostalgia to the narrative.
• 09:00 - 09:30: Challenges of learning animation In this chapter titled 'Challenges of learning animation', the speaker recounts their personal experience with learning disabilities during high school, which left them feeling uncertain about their future. Despite these challenges, they were determined to push themselves and explore new opportunities, eventually finding a passion for art as a means to connect and express themselves.
• 09:30 - 10:00: First film release and its reception The chapter discusses the impact of learning about certain disabilities on the narrator's perspective towards their career and future. The narrator mentions the Disney film 'Cool Runnings' released in the early 90s, indicating its relevance to the topic, though its specific connection is not detailed in the transcript.
• 10:00 - 10:30: Exploring creative interests The chapter titled 'Exploring Creative Interests' tells a story about four Jamaican athletes who decide to compete in the Winter Olympics despite never having encountered snow or a bobsled before. Driven by determination, they aim to prove their capabilities to the world. A standout moment in the movie is when the coach imparts crucial advice to the team.
• 10:30 - 11:00: Finding a visual sense of style The chapter discusses the dedication required to be the best, emphasizing the need to practice, study, and understand opponents while others may be distracted by leisure activities. The speaker reflects on personal challenges with learning disabilities and the journey to find their educational path, ultimately discovering Full Sail University as a fitting choice.
• 11:00 - 11:30: The power of personal projects to explore style The chapter discusses the realization and discovery of the influence of personal projects in honing one's style and skill. It emphasizes the importance of personal projects in helping individuals stand out and be the best they can be, not necessarily the best overall, but the best version of themselves. This concept emerged during the author's school years and has resonated throughout their career, highlighting the significant role personal projects play in personal and professional development.
• 11:30 - 12:00: Completing school with a unique project The chapter titled 'Completing school with a unique project' discusses a pivotal moment during the protagonist's educational journey. During this time, the protagonist experiences an 'aha moment' that ignites a passion for personal projects. This discovery occurs while attending Full Sail, where a diverse array of subjects is offered. The protagonist is particularly captivated by motion graphics, a field introduced during the course, which combines illustration and design. This revelation leaves a profound impact, marking a significant shift in the protagonist's academic and creative endeavors.
• 12:00 - 12:30: Final presentation and its success The chapter describes a moment of inspiration where the narrator, influenced by Saul Bass's work on title designs, comes up with an idea. Instead of going on a typical spring break getaway, they propose to four fellow students to stay in and work creatively on a project together. This reflects a dedication to their craft and a willingness to collaborate with peers to bring creative visions to life.
• 12:30 - 13:00: Vimeo staff pick and viral success The chapter discusses the inception of an animated project that later became a Vimeo staff pick and viral success. Initially, the creators had no idea about the direction or outcome of the project. They started with simple, goofy storyboards featuring doodle-like balloon animal characters. Although they faced challenges, especially in animating characters, they spent half a day planning the entire storyboard. The chapter captures the uncertainty and creativity involved in the early stages of the project.
• 13:00 - 13:30: Job opportunities from personal projects The chapter discusses the challenges of starting personal projects and emphasizes the importance of overcoming the initial hesitation. It highlights the common mindset of finding excuses not to start, such as self-doubt or lack of skills. The key takeaway is to adopt a DIY approach and get started regardless of obstacles, as it can lead to unexpected job opportunities and success.
• 13:30 - 14:00: Freelancing and burnout The film was completed because the creators weren't concerned about others' opinions but were focused on getting it done. Upon release, it garnered 50,000 views, considered impressive at the time.
• 14:00 - 14:30: Sabbatical and reflection The chapter titled "Sabbatical and reflection" discusses the author's opportunity to explore their creative interests through a project they worked on. They reflect on how this project, referred to as the Empire, marked the early stages of their career and development of their visual style. Although their style has evolved over time, there remains a clear connection to their past work and influences.
• 14:30 - 15:00: Creating proof of concept for 2D animation The chapter discusses the importance of personal projects in developing a unique artistic style. It highlights the challenge students face in discovering their artistic identity, and how personal projects offer the freedom to explore and express individuality, as opposed to the constraints often felt in student projects.
• 15:00 - 15:30: Success and opportunities from new project The narrator is nearing the end of their schooling, having completed their final portfolio classes. They are well-prepared with tools such as a personal website, portfolio, and a completed LinkedIn profile, but they still feel something is missing. They reflect on a significant project called 'the Empire,' which was a collaborative work involving four other artists, and express concern about the project being presented multiple times.
• 15:30 - 16:00: Re-energized through personal projects In this chapter titled 'Re-energized through personal projects,' the narrator expresses the need to create something personal and sacred. With their teachers' approval, the narrator decided to embark on a solo project. They isolated themselves in their apartment for two weeks without a clear plan but emerged with a creation that was truly their own. Music accompanied this process, suggesting it was both a challenging and fulfilling experience.
• 16:00 - 16:30: First aid for creativity In this chapter titled 'First aid for creativity', the transcript 'fun right yeah' suggests a playful and enjoyable approach to nurturing creativity. It implies that the chapter might cover techniques or mindsets that encourage having fun while being creative, perhaps emphasizing the importance of enjoyment in the creative process. However, the transcript provided is minimal, and a more detailed description is needed for a comprehensive summary.
• 16:30 - 17:00: Pitching and success with personal projects The chapter discusses the experience of unveiling a personal project during a final presentation. The speaker reflects on the emotional impact of the moment, describing how re-watching the event still gives them chills and feels inspiring.
• 17:00 - 17:30: Learning traditional animation The chapter titled 'Learning traditional animation' begins with an individual reflecting on their success after posting a video online that received a significant amount of attention. Initially expecting 50,000 views, they were surprised to get 500,000 views and a second Vimeo staff pick, which served as validation of their work. This overwhelming response led to a revelation that they might be onto something special, prompting them to continue pursuing traditional animation despite not being entirely sure of their technique. The success also opened new opportunities as they noticed doors beginning to open with increased viewership.
• 17:30 - 18:00: Film creation in traditional animation style The chapter focuses on an individual's journey in the traditional animation industry, highlighting a pivotal moment just before their graduation. Despite not having a job lined up, they actively seek internships and communicate with various studios. However, they feel intimidated by one particular studio they aspire to approach but haven't mustered the courage to contact yet. This narrative underscores the challenges and pivotal career decisions faced by individuals in the creative arts field.
• 18:00 - 18:30: Rewards and recognition In the chapter titled 'Rewards and Recognition', the narrator shares an experience of reaching out to a studio via email, showcasing their work. Almost immediately, they receive an email response expressing interest in their work and suggesting a call. Coincidentally, the studio was in the process of sending them an offer for an internship, highlighting a serendipitous moment of mutual recognition and opportunity.
• 18:30 - 19:00: Opportunity to collaborate with Nickelodeon This chapter describes the author's initial experience of transitioning from student life to a professional career which began with an unexpected opportunity to collaborate with Nickelodeon. Despite initial fears and uncertainties about post-graduation life, a personal project opened doors to career paths that the author hadn't anticipated. The author reflects on the two invaluable lessons learned from this experience about the significance of personal projects and seizing opportunities.
• 19:00 - 19:30: Freedom to experiment with personal projects The chapter titled 'Freedom to experiment with personal projects' explores the significance of engaging in personal projects as a way to discover and develop one's creative voice, which can then be shared with a broader audience. The narrative transitions to the author's personal experience, where after an internship, they ventured into freelancing due to an unmissable opportunity. However, this path led to burnout after three years, suggesting the challenges and demands of freelance work.
• 19:30 - 20:00: Post-Nickelodeon depression and recovery The chapter discusses the author's transition from working as a 3D generalist to pursuing their true passion in 2D animation. Despite having a successful freelance career at a studio for over a year and a half, the author felt unfulfilled and spent all of their free time honing their 2D animation skills. On a spontaneous Friday afternoon, they made the bold decision to leave their stable job to fully embrace their passion for 2D animation.
• 20:00 - 20:30: Creating own opportunities with personal projects The chapter discusses the concept of creating personal opportunities through embarking on personal projects. It starts with an individual's decision to take a three-month sabbatical, emphasizing the importance of financial preparation before undertaking such a break. During this time, the individual aims to reflect on their career position and strategize ways to realign themselves within the industry.
• 20:30 - 21:00: Telling emotional stories through film The chapter explores the journey of a 3D artist who desires to transition into 2D art. The artist considers creating a short film as a proof of concept to gauge interest and determine if pursuing 2D art could be financially viable.
• 21:00 - 21:30: Connecting with the story of a square The author describes a four-week project where they created a tribute to an imaginative character, represented by a 'chill little dude' sitting in a chair. Upon releasing the film inspired by this character, the author's life experienced significant changes. This project was more impactful for them than their previous works, revealing the influence and importance of creative inspiration.
• 21:30 - 22:00: Realization of personal projects' significance In this chapter, the author discusses the unexpected success and impact of personal projects. The project garnered over a million views and received multiple accolades including a third Vimeo staff pick, being featured on Disney's YouTube channel, and being showcased on Delta Airlines. As a result, it opened doors in the industry, such as a meeting with Paramount Animation that led to mentorship opportunities. The author highlights the immediate positive outcomes as a rewarding return on investment, culminating in securing a significant role.
• 22:00 - 22:30: Impact of personal projects on career The chapter discusses how personal projects can significantly impact one's career. The narrator shares a personal experience of working as a creative director in a small 2D animation studio. By following their passion and engaging in projects that inspired them, they quickly saw positive outcomes in their career. This leap of faith in pursuing what they loved paid off, leading to career advancement and a sense of rejuvenation from the projects undertaken.
• 22:30 - 23:00: Encouragement to pursue personal projects The chapter touches on the emotional and professional importance of pursuing personal projects. It emphasizes the feeling of disconnection and burnout that can occur in academic or professional environments. By dedicating time to personal projects, individuals can reconnect with their passion and remember the reasons why they do what they do. The narrative reflects on taking breaks to engage in personal work as a means to rejuvenate and realign with one's creative and professional goals.
• 23:00 - 23:30: Brief Q&A session The chapter titled "Brief Q&A session" revolves around the concept of personal projects acting as a form of first aid in the creative industry. The speaker reflects on their past experience pitching an idea related to crisis first aid, drawing parallels between professional and personal endeavors. They highlight the challenges of working in the creative industry, such as dealing with uncreative periods and difficult people. Emphasizing the balance between personal and professional projects, they quote the mindset of doing one project for 'them' and one for 'me.'
• 23:30 - 24:00: Advice on choosing a career path In this chapter titled 'Advice on choosing a career path', the speaker shares their personal journey in the arts, particularly after achieving success with a project. They emphasize the importance of pursuing personal artistic endeavors rather than just following mainstream trends. The speaker recounts their decision to take a leadership role in an animation studio in Seattle and their ambition to explore new creative methods, specifically a shift to 2D hand-drawn animation, demonstrating a continuous drive for innovation and personal growth in their career.
• 24:00 - 24:30: Time for personal projects In this chapter titled 'Time for personal projects,' the narrator shares their experience of working on a personal project focused on frame animation, reminiscent of the traditional Disney style. They wrote a short story and collaborated with a senior animator to learn the process of animation, including compositing and painting backgrounds. Together, they engaged in storyboarding and had fun while learning about animation.
• 24:30 - 25:00: Different forms personal projects can take This chapter discusses the various forms personal projects can take and highlights an example of animation work. The speaker mentions their pride in completing a film, indicating it's a first attempt at such a project.
• 25:00 - 25:30: Recalling the hardest times and overcoming them The chapter titled "Recalling the hardest times and overcoming them" opens with music, setting a reflective and emotional tone. The transcript begins with an exploration of challenging periods in life, emphasizing the emotional and mental struggles faced during these times. It delves into the personal experiences of individuals who have encountered and navigated such difficulties.
• 25:30 - 26:00: Getting into freelance work The chapter titled 'Getting into freelance work' appears to discuss the initial steps or considerations one might take when entering the freelance industry. It begins with a musical intro, suggesting a podcast or audio format, possibly setting a relaxed or motivational tone for the discussion. As the transcript provided doesn't delve deeper into specific content beyond the introductory ambiance, one can infer that the chapter might explore common themes like finding clients, setting rates, or balancing work-life challenges typical to freelancers. It might also touch upon personal anecdotes or success stories to inspire listeners.
• 26:00 - 26:30: Most rewarding moments in career The chapter delves into the recurring themes found in various projects, highlighting a common experience in the creative process where there is initial confusion and uncertainty about the direction or outcome. The narrative emphasizes the importance of pushing through these doubts and creating art independently, without letting external voices deter one's creative drive. It gently touches upon avoiding self-congratulatory anecdotes while heralding the value of perseverance and intrinsic motivation in producing meaningful work.
• 26:30 - 27:00: Determining when a project is ready to share The chapter discusses determining the readiness of a project for sharing, illustrated through an example of a collaboration with Nickelodeon. Despite promising developments and the creation of sketches, the projects did not ultimately get picked up for further development.
• 27:00 - 27:30: Finding direction in projects In this chapter, the speaker shares their experience working in collaboration over nine months, allowing them to gain deep insights into the industry. They reflect on the opportunity that this presented, noting how remarkable it is given their career trajectory. They started as a graphic designer, spent five years building their career, transitioned to an animator, and now serve as a creative director. They highlight a significant career milestone: being approached by Nickelodeon to create content, exemplifying the opportunities that have unfolded as they advanced in their profession.
• 27:30 - 28:00: Managing mental health while working on projects In this chapter titled 'Managing mental health while working on projects,' the focus is on understanding how personal projects can influence mental well-being. The speaker reflects on the freedom and creative control offered by personal projects, allowing one to experiment and customize to personal satisfaction without external pressures. This autonomy is highlighted as a key aspect in maintaining mental health, as individuals can control their level of involvement and investment of time according to their comfort and interest.
• 28:00 - 28:30: Books that have influenced creativity The chapter delves into a personal narrative, recounting a period of prolonged project development and communication challenges. The speaker reflects on their extended interactions with Nickelodeon, spanning nine months, which ultimately concluded without project acquisition. This period of professional limbo is metaphorically described as a personal 'Dark Ages,' highlighting a phase of uncertainty and introspection.
• 28:30 - 29:00: Continual inspiration while working The chapter delves into the struggles artists face, particularly with depression. The narrator recounts a personal experience of leaving a meeting feeling inadequate and overwhelmed. They describe the internal voice that contributes to self-doubt, highlighting the intense mental challenges they encountered. By sharing this, the narrator aims to shed light on these common but often unspoken issues among creatives.
• 29:00 - 29:30: Conclusion and thanks The chapter 'Conclusion and thanks' emphasizes the importance of taking initiative and creating your own opportunities instead of waiting for them to be given to you. The speaker reflects on a recurring industry notion that you can't do something until you've done it before, which they disagree with. They stress that personal projects allow for creativity and self-starting, as exemplified by their personal realization about the power of self-generated opportunities. The chapter embodies a motivational conclusion, urging proactive behavior.

The Power of Personal Projects Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30
• 00:30 - 01:00 everyone told you not to do start/stop
• 01:00 - 01:30 doodling pay attention but like it's
• 01:30 - 02:00 just cool that we get to use our
• 02:00 - 02:30 imaginations to get paid and I think
• 02:30 - 03:00 every one of you will have that that aha
• 03:00 - 03:30 moment in your career at some point
• 03:30 - 04:00 where it's just this like self
• 04:00 - 04:30 realization of how cool it is that we
• 04:30 - 05:00 get to essentially goof off right so you
• 05:00 - 05:30 know like doing some research and
• 05:30 - 06:00 looking into presentations and you know
• 06:00 - 06:30 especially like diving deep into TED
• 06:30 - 07:00 talks it's like I feel like all these
• 07:00 - 07:30 presentations start with this this
• 07:30 - 08:00 moment of like look at me you know I was like a child prodigy like it's obvious that I am Who I am today because he's the the proof of it so so I did some
• 08:00 - 08:30 deep diving into my my own like photography and just looking at me as a kid and I found what I think is the perfect image so I'm just gonna present to you what I like to call a callin big boy yeah pretty cool you can see the similarity still like I'm still chillin on the chair hanging out like just cruising through life what's funny is that this dude in high school was a voted most likely to join a ska band if
• 08:30 - 09:00 anyone knows what scholars anymore go to prison or become a rodeo clown and then the reason was is that uh during high school I was diagnosed with like several learning disabilities and just didn't know what the flip to do but you know I was still determined to kind of like push myself and try new things and I just got really into art through that because I didn't know how to connect in all these other areas so my big thing was just like hanging out in the art
• 09:00 - 09:30 room um like I said like look I'm I'm still just chilling out just taking it all in so you know that learning about these little disabilities kind of set me up for thinking of my career and my future in a different way also at the same time I'm gonna make a little little reference here that probably most people aren't gonna know but that's okay I'll explain it so like in the early 90s there's a film that Disney released called Cool Runnings and it's a pretty
• 09:30 - 10:00 silly film it's it's based on a true story but it's about four Jamaican athletes who decide to compete in the Winter Olympics the the the problem was is that none of them had ever seen snow let alone sat in a bobsled you know yet yet with a heavy determination they set out to show the world that they were capable of and you know there's like one specific moment in the film that really resonated with me and the coach explains to the team that
• 10:00 - 10:30 like look if you want to be the best you have to be the ones like while everyone else is out drinking beer partying and goofing off you have to be the ones in your room practicing studying the track and figuring out your opponent's moves so this kind of like led me to this big question of like all right I've got these learning disabilities I don't know what the heck I'm doing but yet I feel like I need to go into school and I found full sail and it felt like this is
• 10:30 - 11:00 this is gonna be a perfect fit but yet I just I didn't know how I was gonna stand out how I was gonna make myself not necessarily the best but the best that I could be and and I hit on something like halfway through school and it's it's it's this idea that's kind of resonated throughout my career so let's just dive into it and look at what I like to call the power of personal projects like I
• 11:00 - 11:30 said like halfway through school I had this moment this aha moment where it ended up being like the exact moment that I fell in love with personal projects but full sail you know with da D it's like you get a little bit of everything but at a certain point I was introduced to motion graphics and I was like my mind was just blown like you mean to tell me I can illustrate and design these things and now I can
• 11:30 - 12:00 breathe life into them through motion like that's absolutely awesome at the same time I had begun like this deep dive into Saul Bass and specifically his work on tidal designs and it was just really inspiring everything that I was creating at the time I had this crazy idea what if me and four fellow students like instead of going off and hanging out for spring break what if we just like locked ourselves in my apartment and made our
• 12:00 - 12:30 own title sequence the crazy thing is like we had no idea what would happen and we didn't even know how we were going to animate it like what was going to happen so we just started with a simple story I mean it's like as you can see it's just like goofy little doodles like we drew a little like balloon animal characters like I think we spent maybe half a day just boarding out the entire thing and then it came to the point of like holy crap we don't know how to animate characters so we just
• 12:30 - 13:00 shot reference for everything and and the reason I share this is because like one of the biggest hurdles with personal projects is just getting started right there's always an answer a reason not to do something whether it's like hey I can't do that right don't know how to do that but this was proof of like just DIY just like get as gritty and dirty as possible because this turned into this and you know this is
• 13:00 - 13:30 one of my favorite shots in the whole film but what's fun is that you know we were able to get things done just because we didn't care we didn't care what anyone thought we didn't care what anyone thought about the process we just wanted to do it she released the film and it got something like 50,000 views which at the time was pretty spectacular but was even cooler was that I had this
• 13:30 - 14:00 like this observation that the project allowed me to explore my creative interest what I mean by that is like the things that I was visually inspired by and now like looking back I can see that the Empire was like the beginning stages of what my careers become today and and what I like to call like my visual sense of style may not be exactly the same you can see the connection between point
• 14:00 - 14:30 a and point B where I'm at now so you know I walked away from the project realizing that personal projects create this opportunity for you to explore that visual sense of style and try and find that voice that you're looking for right I know a lot of students are we're trying to find like Who am I as an artist and it's it's kind of hard sometimes with like student projects but with personal projects you can kind of do whatever the heck you want no one's
• 14:30 - 15:00 telling you what to do so so let's fast forward you know to end of school I'm answering like final portfolio classes and I already have my website my portfolio I've got LinkedIn resume like everything yeah I felt like I'm still missing something see like with the Empire we had this really cool piece but there was for other artists so that meant that people were gonna see the project five different times but I
• 15:00 - 15:30 wanted something that was like holy and uniquely mine so with permission from like my teachers I was like can I just like go away and make a project and I'll come back they approved it so I locked myself up in my apartment for two weeks I had no idea what I was gonna make and this is what came out of me [Music]
• 15:30 - 16:00 fun right yeah
• 16:00 - 16:30 so so I unveiled that during my final presentation and I mean even still watching it I get a little bit of chills and like it feels inspiring to me but
• 16:30 - 17:00 this time I I put it online and I received my second Vimeo staff pic and instead of 50,000 views I got like five hundred thousand views and you know I'm just sitting back my jaw drops and it's like alright like maybe I'm onto something here like people are taking notice of this stuff like I don't know exactly what I'm doing but it's fun like I might as well keep trying this I guess you know what also happens is that doors begin open right when you have 500,000
• 17:00 - 17:30 like views on something like people are gonna take notice and and from that you know doors open and and one of the coolest stories I've had throughout my career and I don't know really if I've shared this with anyone but I'm like two weeks out from graduating and I I don't have a job lined up so I'm talking to different Studios about an internship I'm trying to figure out where I'm gonna go but there's one studio that I'm just too scared to like reach out to finally
• 17:30 - 18:00 I gained the courage I drafted that email and I hit sin and almost instantaneously like we're talking a fraction of a second I get an email back saying hey Collin we love your work let's hop on a call so get on my phone later that afternoon only to realize that at the exact moment I was sending my email to this studio they were sending a separate email to me offering an internship and it was just like this
• 18:00 - 18:30 is freaking insane like what a way to start off my career here I had been like scared out of my mind about graduating and I didn't know what I was going to do but yet need goofing off and playing around with this personal project open up the door for me to go where I wanted to go so you know I haven't even graduated yet and and I've learned like two amazing valuable like ideas right personal
• 18:30 - 19:00 projects help find your creative voice and then they help build that voice and expose it to a broader audience well like let's fast-forward a little bit further like six months later you know after my internship I decided to dive into freelance I got a really crazy opportunity that I couldn't pass up and so I just I went into it but it didn't take long for me to burn out it took me about three years and it was because
• 19:00 - 19:30 during the days I was getting booked as like a 3d generalist but my passion was with 2d animation so I would spend nights weekends like even the mornings basically any time I wasn't at work working on my own stuff trying to see how far I could push 2d animation so like on a Friday afternoon I made a crazy rash decision I had a really good booking I've been in a studio like freelancing for a year and a half and I was like I just can't take it
• 19:30 - 20:00 anymore and I decided to take a three-month sabbatical don't do this unless you've saved up money and in my thinking was like alright if I get out of this it'll give me some time to think about my place in the industry and how I'm gonna reappropriation
• 20:00 - 20:30 [Music] I keep getting booked as a 3d artist but I really want to do 2d so I figured if I could at least do like a proof of concept and see if people were interested if they liked what I was doing if there was any interest in pursuing this like as a viable like financial option then this film would be a great way to see if that was possible
• 20:30 - 21:00 and you know so so over the course of four weeks like I said I created this you know ode to that chill little dude sitting in in the chair just like full of imagination not created when I grow up well apparently I wasn't the only one that like needed a little creative kick in the pants because when I release this film my world changed like I thought the other two things were cool but with this
• 21:00 - 21:30 project its has like over a million combined like views I got my third Vimeo staff pick Disney picked it up for their YouTube channel it was put on Delta Airlines like on all domestic flights and the list goes on a paramount animation brought me in for a general meeting where I got just an amazing mentor from that and then the coolest part was it like an instant return on my investment and I got the role of a
• 21:30 - 22:00 creative director of a small 2d animation studio they wanted to bring me up to basically just keep doing this so so that little leap of faith I took in following like what I was passionate about almost instantaneously like paid off this all happened because I was just playing around and working off things that were inspiring me you know the other thing is I walked away from the project feeling re-energized and
• 22:00 - 22:30 reconnected with my work because like I know even as students like sometimes we feel we end up feeling disconnected from like what we're making and we get burnt out and there's that opportunity when you work on something for yourself to like remember why you do what you do and for me that was when I go what we'll take a little break with this so I had to figure out a way to fit this in because this is this is a part of a
• 22:30 - 23:00 pitch I did a couple years ago is for like crisis and for first aid in crisis and I mean if I want to connect it back to anything it's like personal projects for me are a form of first aid because although we're in a creative industry there is on creative times there's uncreative people and you do get bashed up and beaten around sometimes so you've gotta you know there's that idea of like one for them one for me a lot of
• 23:00 - 23:30 like mainstream directors do that and you got to do things for yourself as an artist so after the success of when I grow up I'm you know it's two months later I'm up in Seattle I'm running this the animation department in the studio what's my first idea let's make another short film right but this time like I wanted to try something new I wanted to attempt like 2d hand-drawn like frame by
• 23:30 - 24:00 frame animation like the old-school like Disney way so I wrote a quick story and I hired a senior animator because I'm not gonna be an idiot and trying to figure this out all at the same time but I basically hired him to to teach me like I wasn't just gonna have him animate everything I sat there and I composited I painted backgrounds and we just goofed off in storyboarding together while he taught me the process of animation and how to
• 24:00 - 24:30 frame by frame you know animate so let's take a look at the film it's not bad for a first attempt I'm pretty proud of it [Music]
• 24:30 - 25:00 [Music]
• 25:00 - 25:30 [Music] [Music] not bad not bad thank you um I don't
• 25:30 - 26:00 know if you've noticed like this reoccurring theme and all these projects it's like there's always this moment of like I don't know what the hell I'm gonna do like how I'm gonna make this I'm just gonna do it anyways because no one can tell me otherwise you know I think I think it's a really good thing to think about when creating art for yourself so like I'm not gonna dive into a bunch of these like humble brags like
• 26:00 - 26:30 the other things but there was there was one amazing thing that came out of this project and that was an invitation to collaborate with Nickelodeon and develop two different IPS two different things that hopefully would turn into a film or a series so here's here's some sketches from from one of the projects I'm just gonna give you spoiler alert neither of them were picked up so I'm not gonna get your hopes up but uh you know it was
• 26:30 - 27:00 amazing because I got to collaborate for like nine months and learn this process of of what that whole industry is like and what it also did was open my eyes to the opportunity or the the realization that looked like this is an opportunity like that's not bad for a dude who started off as graphic designer like I'm five years into my career I started in graphic design I've been an animator now I'm a creative director of a studio now like Nickelodeon wants me to create
• 27:00 - 27:30 stuff like this is freaking rad and so like looking back you know I feel like the other reason like personal projects are amazing and what I learned from this is like they give you the freedom to experiment like I was saying earlier like no one's telling you what to do the you know you there's no client you're the client so it can be as good or as bad as you really want it to be just how involved do you want to get and I don't know if you've also noticed but like each project the amount of time it's
• 27:30 - 28:00 taking me is exponentially like longer and it's like two weeks four weeks six weeks we'll see how long my current projects gonna take I'll explore that in a bit but so so I left you know after nine months of talking with Nickelodeon I left you know without these projects and I entered into what I like to call my own personal Dark Ages or the show right so you know like we're Moody we're
• 28:00 - 28:30 artists like we we deal with things like depression it's real and you know I I I walked away from that meeting feeling like well like I can't I can't do any of this and then this voice started going in my head yeah you know I'm my work is hell even my is like I can't even do that good and the reason I share this is because like I dealt with the pretty hardcore and it
• 28:30 - 29:00 was all because in my last meeting I received this message it wasn't necessarily this but this is what I got and that's you can't do something until you've done it before and it's this like reoccurring thing that I've heard in some form or another in the industry and I think it's total because of personal projects you can do whatever the heck you want like why wait for someone to give you an opportunity when you can create it yourself and and when I once I had that realization I was like
• 29:00 - 29:30 you know what I'm not gonna let someone tell me that I can't do like original stories that I can't do long-form content that's really what I want to do I want to tell emotional stories I want to get into film and television so last year I picked up an old script that had just been sitting around and it really felt perfect for like the struggles I was going through and it follows the story of a four-sided polygon that can't
• 29:30 - 30:00 get past itself because in a in its world a squares of square nothing more nothing less that really resonated with the idea of like well you can't do this until you've done it before like you're not in TV so you just can't do this like that's not a part of your makeup today you're outside like outside of my clothing of like friends and agents and everyone like no one has seen this artwork so well no I mean I I think it's
• 30:00 - 30:30 awesome it gets me excited the animation is looking really really cool and I'm taking an insane amount of time I took like five day you know two weeks on a five-second shot so things are growing exponentially as I as I do this but it's awesome because it's a simple story that it's it's the story that I've been waiting for because I I can fully pour myself into because I feel this character and I can connect with the
• 30:30 - 31:00 story that I'm trying to sell and you know it's is this idea of like dealing with like self-imposed isolation and kind of like boundaries that we put on ourselves or that we let others put on us and this notion that we aren't good enough because that's that's how I felt I don't think that was anyone's intention with my Nickelodeon thing but it's it's just how I ended up feeling when I break it down it's simply just not true like right we're all good
• 31:00 - 31:30 enough in our own ways so the point like it's not necessarily just to make a cool film but it's to show that I can make a cool film it's to show that you know what heck man like if you're not gonna give me this opportunity I'll just do it myself you know and with trying to move from advertising into a more you know original content I figured this would be the best way to do it you know to tell
• 31:30 - 32:00 my own original story so you know that kind of led me to this realization over this last year that you know as I look back it's it's been can seeing all of my projects it's the thread that's been there this entire time and that's personal projects helps showcase what you are capable of when someone won't give you an opportunity
• 32:00 - 32:30 when they won't open the door for you just keep knocking on it and keep you know or just go over and just try and open your own door and for me that's what personal projects have really been all about it's been about you know going into the unknown not knowing what I'm gonna do not knowing what's going to happen on the other end of this project but like I've got it do it because if I don't then I'm just killing this piece inside of me this this piece of artists
• 32:30 - 33:00 that like you can only kill so much of it until it's completely dead but if you feed into that you're just gonna grow and your work and your excitement and this is gonna keep blossoming so you know to recap kind of the the the points that I've learned throughout these personal projects it's that you know they find and hone your creative voice they expose that voice to a broader
• 33:00 - 33:30 audience and then when you're feeling like you know personal projects help you reconnect with that voice and they bring healing when you're lost they also give you an opportunity to experiment and try new things and I'm like I just you know shared like personal projects are a way to showcase what you are capable of and like the the guys in Cool Runnings right like at some point in our career we're gonna all face
• 33:30 - 34:00 the situation of feeling like it's us against the world and having to prove that we are capable of something that maybe others don't see quite yet whether that's like hey I'm a motion graphics ardour artist but I want to become a writer or you know I'm in recording and I want to get into you know animation like we've got to create those opportunities and and when you do that unimaginable has happen you know like I didn't know
• 34:00 - 34:30 that I was ever going to be working with Nickelodeon I didn't know that like I was gonna be getting calls from paramount or from Disney I didn't know that all the stuff is gonna happen I just listened to that voice inside of me that kept telling me to push on and you know if I could end with anything that's you know put yourself out there and become vulnerable and share kind of those creative ideas with the world don't be afraid to let them loose while you may
• 34:30 - 35:00 not like follow a similar path to me I guarantee if you listen to that voice amazing doors will open once again my name is Colin Hess chilly and we'll continue talking but you know this this has just been an awesome week um I kind of feel like this guy right now I'm a little exhausted no but uh it's just been amazing hanging out with my full self family and you know anyone feel free to reach out
• 35:00 - 35:30 and connect with me especially about personal projects when you need someone to like just look at it because sometimes you feel a little crazy working on this stuff because you're being so vulnerable so thank you okay I think we have some time for a few questions from the folks that are in the room and then also online I believe
• 35:30 - 36:00 good morning gentlemen um good morning Colin I have a question for you so um I'm a ch2 I'm sorry my back up my name is Isaiah I'm a see a student here one of my biggest challenges for me is trying to figure out like this is a great presentation because I'm like like you're trying to figure out everything and I get very anxious about my future I was trying to find out how did you determine what you're gonna actually do
• 36:00 - 36:30 after full so you just kind of hold it down because I came here I'm like I'm gonna do this I want to do that when I do this but I'm trying to figure out that niche for me like what really what I really want to do after I graduate full sail and I'm trying to find out how did you decided to do what you do yeah ya know I think there's two things that really help one was me doing everything I didn't want to do like and that only happened by just trying it um I realized
• 36:30 - 37:00 like oh I really don't want to do this over here okay I'm gonna pivot try something else and then the other thing was saying yes because there was even a point like in my early on in my career where I told my wife like look I never want to be a director like I only want to draw like that just seems like so much work but then an opportunity came to do this stuff and my initial reaction was like nope not gonna do it but she forced me in a way like she was just like dude like just do it I know you're
• 37:00 - 37:30 scared it's just like push forward and and that's something that I've really kept close throughout all these years is like if you're scared to do something you should probably do it okay because that means there's gonna be growth and there's something fun there's something gets you a little high about like taking that leap of faith but really I think it's about exploring okay like that's that's how you find anything you want to do anything that's worth doing
• 37:30 - 38:00 hi my name is own calvetti I'm a games I'm student and my question is how long should someone generally spend on their first personal project however long you want honestly like okay so I'm at this place now where last year I had to like I met was a business coach because I needed to get my together I mean you know it's hard to like create schedules and figure
• 38:00 - 38:30 out how to do things as artists so one of the things that we did was he knew how important like self initiated work was for me like it fills my soul and it helps my client work get even better so we started with this thing where it's like alright every day I'm gonna start with like 30 minutes of my day is just devoted to like passion projects like a couple weeks went by and he's like so
• 38:30 - 39:00 how do you like that I was like man this is awesome like I wish I could do it for an hour and he's like why don't you like okay so I kept doing that and before I know it like now you know the first two hours of my day are all about passion projects and then the other six are client but what I found is that like you would think well your clients are getting less of your time aren't they paying for like the whole day and it's like no not necessarily what they're
• 39:00 - 39:30 paying for is my undivided attention when I am working and so what's happened is that the more I focus on what matters to me the faster I move the more inspired and the more energy momentum I have by the time I'm working with my clients now all that said as a student at first starting out like what if you spent five minutes a day what if you spent 15 minutes a day you might not get an entire project done in a month but eventually that's all gonna
• 39:30 - 40:00 add up and it's gonna snowball into whatever you're trying to do right so it's doesn't matter how long it takes I think you know as long as you feel creatively sorry there's not like a straight answer thank you
• 40:00 - 40:30 oh sorry it's working yeah hi my name is Jorge but come George well I am in the career animation and MPhil but this is my way this is my question I can present eight my person my personal project and like the draw drawings drawings or
• 40:30 - 41:00 shouri story mmm if I no time for presenting video or maybe just have a idea or when I ready to present Ace this project so one one thing I think I'm understanding the question like I mean one thing that I
• 41:00 - 41:30 probably should have like a V a caveat I'd like at the beginning it's like personal projects can be anything right like it doesn't need to be short films like for me that's just the form that it took one of my buddies his name's is James Curran but he does this amazing thing where he'll do it's called a gif upon and he'll go like he went to New York he did LA I need to Tokyo but he went to those cities for 30 days and each day he made a 10-second gif and
• 41:30 - 42:00 then at the end of it he had all these gifts that he put together and put some music but what that did is that launched his career and all he does now is make gifts and so you know it could be anything a personal project could be sketches it could be writing a script it could be making it self publishing a zine like it can be whatever you really want it to be so and sometimes you know
• 42:00 - 42:30 you don't have the time to do these big elaborate projects maybe it's something small yeah so I think being open to that is is really important thank you yeah yes I had a question from LinkedIn and one other I think he's not a student anymore he's probably a graduate he wanted to know if you can recall your hardest times and how did you get past
• 42:30 - 43:00 it Oh see one of my hardest times was definitely like after working with Nickelodeon cuz it's like I didn't ask for the opportunity he just happened and and I was just fully committed and like excited by it and this idea of like holy crap like this is a possibility and then going to this like realization of no this is not a possibility at least right now in this moment I mean it sent me
• 43:00 - 43:30 into a deep depression of like probably like two three years of me like just really battling depression meanwhile I kept working but I just had a really hard time and honestly I stopped doing personal projects up until this last year or at least short films because I just felt like well what's the point like no one's no one's you know no one cares anyways but what helps me get out
• 43:30 - 44:00 of that honestly is just taking baby steps it was taking one thing at a time because I was looking at the at my my issues or my troubles as like this massive lump this big thing this mountain that I had to get through but once I started realizing like alright if I just take it each day one at a time each project one at a time not worry about the results of like my personal project just just start one like let's just let's just start one and see what
• 44:00 - 44:30 happens okay all right now let's let's just work on the storyboards you don't have to commit to this that's just baby steps and that for me was the only way I could really get out of that funk I mean that in therapy but but you know I mean it's depression and all that stuff is real and it's real in our industry so I think whatever you can
• 44:30 - 45:00 do to kind of get in a healthy place and a healthy - is what you should do okay um I have a question for one of our online students Sam kind he's in our digital cinematography program he wanted to know what advice would you have for someone who's wanting to get into freelance work like where can they go to try to find that type of work make connections okay
• 45:00 - 45:30 so my first freelance job came I okay so I was in my internship that dream internship and I quit halfway through I was like this is not for me this is not what I dreamt of and at the same time like the catalysts like what helped me to feel comfortable with quitting was a fellow alumni someone that I had met like a year earlier and we had worked
• 45:30 - 46:00 together on a couple little projects and had fun and he called me up and he was just like hey dude do you want to come work on the Oscars it was like okay like how much can I make and basically ended up being like what I was gonna make him two weeks is this like more than I was gonna make in six months at an internship so for me it was kind of like well alright I have to try this like I'd be stupid not to but you
• 46:00 - 46:30 know and then from there like I just started reaching out to Studios and you know just freelancing with whoever I could so there's a lot of networking I think and cold emails and you know doing stuff like that but I don't necessarily suggest anyone do it the way that I do it cuz you're taking a huge risk especially right out of school and it's like I've got six months before I have to start paying off my loans I think maybe that the smarter
• 46:30 - 47:00 way is if you have a gig if you have a job it's you know start taking freelance on the side and there's this idea that once you're freelance starts bringing in as much money as your job or more or it's taking up more of your time then you quit that job so I don't know if that answers the question well that that's that's how I get into freelance is just start asking people hi my question is
• 47:00 - 47:30 which has been the most rewarding moment in your career and yeah how most rewarding moment on my career this is pretty cool coming back to the hall of fame week is pretty cool golly I don't know I have a feeling honestly like when I finish this new film little square I
• 47:30 - 48:00 think that's gonna be a pretty rewarding thing because it's gonna be physical like embodiment of like me kind of letting go of some but at this point man I really don't know oh no no there was there was one moment 2014 I was inducted into the ADC young guns which is like the top 30 artists under
• 48:00 - 48:30 30 and it was something that I had dreamt of for years like even in school and on a whim I was just like you know what I'm gonna apply for this like I think I've got a portfolio ready and I got it and that was pretty pretty cool so that was rewarding we have another online question this is from Krystal she is in our graphic design program she wanted to know how do you know when a personal project is
• 48:30 - 49:00 ready to share it never is I think like Pixar has that saying right like the films never complete you just release it and I mean even when I think like something's finished I'll release it and then I'm like dang it like I forgot that or like I think my my my way of thinking is like a projects never gonna be 100% perfect as long as I've got it like 3/4
• 49:00 - 49:30 of the way to where I was imagining it that's good enough anything after that it feels like you're just polishing and most people aren't going to see it at the same time though I'm a stickler and I framed through all of my animation like I try and keep things as tight as possible but yeah I think I think when you sit back and you look at your project and you get chills then it's
• 49:30 - 50:00 done morning my name is ashamed of Kota I'm in the da D program and I have a question which is um like when you run into like when we're working on a certain project and you have like either like you don't know what direction you want to go in because there's too many direction or like you don't really know any direction to go in what is the best
• 50:00 - 50:30 way for you to go through that and get to like the point where you're satisfied with what you're trying to do so like what direction to choose like on a project yeah I think after a while that becomes intuition but in the early stages it's it's really about exploring and experimenting with those ideas like you know I'm sure to like the teachers tell you to like storyboard or brainstorm ideas and you kind of have to
• 50:30 - 51:00 like try and see the project a couple steps ahead and really like I've started implementing this thing of like what do I want to get out of a project like what do I want to get out of it creatively what do I want to get out of it emotionally all those things and whatever then resonates with me the most that's what I'm gonna do as well as whatever project I think I can finish first that's the one I'm gonna do it's like for me like little square that's
• 51:00 - 51:30 really like the precursor to like the project that I really want to do which is like a 15 minute hand-drawn film that I cannot do by myself so it's like a little square I can do that all by myself it's gonna take me like a year but I'm hoping that that will then open the doors to allow me to do like what I really want to do so I think it's just this this to answer your question it's about like what can you get done fastest
• 51:30 - 52:00 or first and what do you feel like emotionally connected to the most hi my name is Devin I'm also a da D major my question was just about the basically the mental health thing you said before how you were diagnosed with certain things I'm also going through that as well I was just wondering if you ever ran into any speed bumps with that I know for me it's like both my creative drive and it can also kind of hinder me
• 52:00 - 52:30 sometimes but like did you ever go through anything that kind of held you back because of that and yeah all day every day yeah yeah no I mean seriously it's all day every day I still been doing this a decade and I still like I'll have two hours where I'm like oh what did I just do like I didn't do anything like I just stared at my screen for two hours and like you know but what I've learned is like the most important
• 52:30 - 53:00 thing is self-care it's like for me that takes shape in going for walks going to the movies like basically anything that has nothing to do with my computer on my phone is like self-care and sometimes I still want to be creative so it's like alright like I'm gonna doodle or I want to work on my film but I just need to step away I'm gonna just storyboard with pencil and paper um the other thing that
• 53:00 - 53:30 I've been doing a lot lately is for the two hours that I'm working on my own personal projects I just listen to white noise I just put on like killer headphones and close my office door and just try to drown everything out because I feel like if I'm starting the day in a good way typically the rest of my my day goes pretty good but like if I start and I'm all over the place and I'm letting my
• 53:30 - 54:00 emotions kind of take hold and drag me around I'm um I have a question from LinkedIn from Lauren Gonzalez she's in the digital cinematography bachelors and she wants to know if there's any if there are any books that you have read that have made an impact there's a couple okay so Jim
• 54:00 - 54:30 Henson has a biography that came out in the past couple years and if anyone's in the Little Muppets or Sesame Street he's an amazing dude but he struggled this crap just like everyone else and reading stuff like that is really cool cuz it levels the playing field it kind of takes these people off the pedestal and you realize like they heard just humans like us but like in terms of like an actual creative book there's I think it's called directing the story in
• 54:30 - 55:00 spotlight Francis I can't remember his last name but it's specifically he was he was a disney story artist for years I think he worked on Ladin and different stuff like that but it's going through like how to successfully like tell a story and storyboard your project out and for me that just opened my eyes to take my work from like flat motion graphics look do you like this expansive like cinematic experience that I'm trying to emulate so that was a really
• 55:00 - 55:30 cool book how you doing my name's Kelvin I'm in the computer animation program you mentioned one for them one for me how do you continuously generate inspiration while working for these big studios what continue you had continuous inspiration okay so at a certain point it was looking at like blogs and like what everyone else is doing and then
• 55:30 - 56:00 sort of years ago I realized that that was just like hindering me cuz I kept like pitting myself up against everyone else inspiration like comes from everything for me like it really is like same as the mental health it's like me going for a walk me listening to music I don't know I I mean I've got I've got like a little folder on my notes in my phone or it's just like I just put down stupid ideas everything to me is a
• 56:00 - 56:30 stupid idea when it starts but then like if it sticks around and like I can't stop thinking about it then it's like maybe there's something there and that's like a little square started like I had the idea like eight years ago but I didn't know what to do with it I didn't know what to create but like over time like it just kept coming up in the back of my mind and finally it hit like I had that aha moment I like the perfect point in my
• 56:30 - 57:00 career but I think the inspiration comes from kind of anywhere and everywhere you just have to look for it what's that answer okay awesome well thank you guys so much for being here could we give Collin one more round of applause I hope you guys enjoy the rest of your Hall of Fame experience thanks guys
• 57:00 - 57:30 [Music] [Music] [Music]