Professional Readiness + Networking
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Online Portfolio (website and/or a dedicated social media account)
Website:
Keep it simple and easy to navigate and contact you
Choose a hosting website that's easy for you to update yourself regularly
Make it searchable—register your domain with search engines, learn SEO (search engine optimization) basics
Dedicated Social Media Account:
This is different from a personal social media account. It should be curated and feature your current work and process—almost like a blog.
Demo Reel
If you're an animator, you should definitely have a reel. It's also common to have a reel for 3D modeling and VFX/compositing applications. For other roles, reels are nice to have, but are less common. If your work would benefit from being shown in video format, you should make reel.
Keep your reel short, sweet, and use non-polarizing/distracting music. Always include a reel breakdown if you aren’t responsible for everything on screen. A reel breakdown is a description of your role for each clip in your reel.
Resume
If you are applying for internships or other things that require student or recent grad status, consider putting your education first.
Cover Letter
While it’s good to have a basic outline/template and a format that matches your resume, cover letters are tailored to each application and often times are shared outside of a formatted document like in an email or text submission form.
References
Three people that can vouch for who you present yourself to be in your resume and who can speak to your character in a work/team environment.
Extras
Business cards & physical portfolio: You’ll only need these if you expect to be going to a networking event(s) or in-person meetups. However, it's great to have a PDF version of your
Additional Credits/Honors: film festival/gallery credits, previous work/team/collaboration experience.
LinkedIn Profile: Great for staying in touch professionally
NETWORKING ONLINE & IN PERSON
Relationship Building Online
Be where the industry artists are (Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, etc.)
Organizations fostering animation communities:
In-Person Events & Networking
Creative Talent Network CTNx
Ground Zero Animation Expo GZA Expo
Film Festivals (GLAS, OIAF, Festival Stop Motion Montreal)
Tips for in-person events:
Don’t be passive—do your research beforehand. Research who will be at the event and identify people you would like to meet. It's great to know what they look like too!
Talk to EVERYONE, not just the people you suspect are a big deal—you might be surprised by who you meet.
NETWORKING TIPS
Practice
Practice networking in social, but non-industry related environments too (like parties, family gatherings, etc).
Elevator Pitch
Your elevator pitch is a brief description of you and your work. It’s the reply you give when someone says, “Tell me about yourself. What kind of art do you make?” It’s a verbal form of description that takes roughly 30 seconds, the approximate time it takes to ride an elevator. It offers a way to share your creative passion and credentials quickly and effectively with people you’ve just met.
Informational Interviews
An informational interview provides you an opportunity to connect with professionals currently working
in your career field to gain valuable industry information, identify your professional strengths and
weaknesses, build self-confidence and build a network of contacts. Informational interviews may
take place face to face, at the interviewee’s place of work, on a video call, over the phone, or over email/direct messaging. These are usually 15-30 minute meetings, and be sure to stick to the amount of time you requested.
in your career field to gain valuable industry information, identify your professional strengths and
weaknesses, build self-confidence and build a network of contacts. Informational interviews may
take place face to face, at the interviewee’s place of work, on a video call, over the phone, or over email/direct messaging. These are usually 15-30 minute meetings, and be sure to stick to the amount of time you requested.
Know Your Industry Players
Research your industry and know about the major studios and the projects they are known for—more resources on this below!
STUDIO DIRECTORY
Here is a list of studios that make stop motion! We'd love to continue to add more, so if you see one missing, shoot us an email with their info at animationwildcard@gmail.com
First, we have a google My Map of stop motion and related studios in Los Angeles. Note that is My Maps are best viewed on a computer. On the upper left, you can click to reveal a list view and you can click into each listing to see if there is more information too. Just like the studio directory, we invite you to email us to help us keep this resource up to date.
5 A.M. Studios
The Netherlands
hello@5am.studio
Aardman Animations
Bristol, UK
hello@aardman.com
Acho Studio
Los Angeles
qrivera@achostudio.com
Ancient Order of the Wooden Skull
Glendale, CA, USA
Apartment D Films
Burbank, CA, USA
contact@apartmentdfilms.com
Athena Studios
Emeryville, CA
A+C Studios
London, UK
Beast Animation
Belgium
Bent Image Lab
Portland, OR, USA
Bix Pix Entertainment
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Catalyst Castle Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Chiodo Bros. Productions Inc.
San Fernando, CA, USA
Cinema Fantasma
Mexico City, Mexico
Clay Animation
Valencia, Spain
Digital Wizards Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Dwarf Studios
Tokyo, Japan
Good Golly
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Encirco Studios
Buena Park, CA, USA
Extra Credit Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Factory
Cheshire, United Kingdom
Hornet Inc
NYC & Ridgewood, NY, USA
HouseSpecial
Portland, OR, USA
Hobby Creative Studio
Guadalajara, Mexico
LA DI DA Films
Austin, TX, USA
Laika
Hillsboro, OR, USA
Loose Moose
London, UK
Mackinnon and Saunders
Altrincham, UK
Mammafotogramma
Milan, Italy
Mighty Oak
102 1st Place, #2
Brooklyn, NY 11231
+1 347-670-4463
MoSoMoS
1205 Manhattan Ave, Unit 1-5-3
Brooklyn, NY 11222
347-651-1266
Other Brother Studios
Kansas City, MO
Open the Portal
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Pedri Animation BV
The Netherlands
Plumicorn
New York, NY, USA
RatBat Studios
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Red Nose Studio
Greenfield, IN, USA
Screen Novelties
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Shadow Machine
Los Angeles, CA, USA + Portland, OR, USA
Shadow Steps Stop Motion Studio
Taipei, Taiwan
Sing-Sing
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Sock Dolly Productions
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Starburns Industries
Burbank, CA, USA
Stop Motion Department Inc.
Toronto, CA
Stoopid Buddy Stoodios
Burbank, CA, USA & Toronto, CA, USA
Threadwood
Roxbury, NY, USA
Trikk 17
Hamburg, Germany