Breaking into the industry-The world has you chained to a rock
Hey all,
I've found myself in quite the predicament,
I've had a passion for game art since I was seven years old when my father brought home google sketchup and a copy of 3ds max 6 from work, since than I've worked as hard as I can, in excess of 15 hours a day to excel in the field and land myself the job of my dreams.
The problems I am fronted with are as follows.
1. I am a homeless minor, currently in San Diego county, but soon to be on my way to Los Angeles, my home, and the only place I know I can survive; I travel around with my computer in my backpack, and two pairs of clothes, street, and formal.
2. I am seventeen years old, I'll be eighteen in four months, but I don't have four months to waste, my life depends on it.
3. I cannot afford college, and I do not qualify for any form of federal aid, apparently disqualifying me from any open internship positions.
I'm not expecting to hop on a train to Los Angeles and be met with a 401k plan and guaranteed lifelong work; However, I need a place to learn, a place to make contacts, and if at all possible, a place to make enough money to get me a studio apartment month to month. I've been told by friends, family, and modders alike that the quality of my work far surpasses that of most games they play, I call bullshit. I need help, I need experience, and I need a way to learn.
If there is anyone out there, with any way, to get me an interview, for anything, anywhere, I would owe you the world, and quite literally my life; both my parents have more or less abandoned me, and I have nowhere else to turn, seeing as noone responds to my craigslist ads...
On the edge of my seat,
Payton A. Quinn
P.s. If this is a plus at all, I make some great coffee, and I do any and all work presented to me, regardless of prior knowledge with a passion that is quite literally stemmed from my lust for survival.
::Edit:: I can be reached at any time at:
PaytonQ@yahoo.com
Or
1(505)-974-8325
I've found myself in quite the predicament,
I've had a passion for game art since I was seven years old when my father brought home google sketchup and a copy of 3ds max 6 from work, since than I've worked as hard as I can, in excess of 15 hours a day to excel in the field and land myself the job of my dreams.
The problems I am fronted with are as follows.
1. I am a homeless minor, currently in San Diego county, but soon to be on my way to Los Angeles, my home, and the only place I know I can survive; I travel around with my computer in my backpack, and two pairs of clothes, street, and formal.
2. I am seventeen years old, I'll be eighteen in four months, but I don't have four months to waste, my life depends on it.
3. I cannot afford college, and I do not qualify for any form of federal aid, apparently disqualifying me from any open internship positions.
I'm not expecting to hop on a train to Los Angeles and be met with a 401k plan and guaranteed lifelong work; However, I need a place to learn, a place to make contacts, and if at all possible, a place to make enough money to get me a studio apartment month to month. I've been told by friends, family, and modders alike that the quality of my work far surpasses that of most games they play, I call bullshit. I need help, I need experience, and I need a way to learn.
If there is anyone out there, with any way, to get me an interview, for anything, anywhere, I would owe you the world, and quite literally my life; both my parents have more or less abandoned me, and I have nowhere else to turn, seeing as noone responds to my craigslist ads...
On the edge of my seat,
Payton A. Quinn
P.s. If this is a plus at all, I make some great coffee, and I do any and all work presented to me, regardless of prior knowledge with a passion that is quite literally stemmed from my lust for survival.
::Edit:: I can be reached at any time at:
PaytonQ@yahoo.com
Or
1(505)-974-8325
Replies
Sphere Speed Sculpt:
Shield asset replacer for TESIV:Oblivion:
WIP High Poly sculpt (ears missing due to engine limitations):
WIP armor sculpt:
based on this concept by Robert Simons:
I think thats All I have on this harddrive guys....
First you really need to find out what kind of services homeless shelters can provide you. A lot of them can set you up with a job and a place to live. Once you can support yourself you can buckle down and focus on putting together a kick ass portfolio.
Having a place to live is important. Not many people will be willing to hire a homeless kid, so setting yourself up with a job (no matter how shitty) and a place to live should be your first priority.
At your age I worked as a busboy and before that I helped landscape and dug ditches. There's plenty of time to worry about getting a job you actually want after you've gotten some stability in your life.
You're not going to find a paid internship, those are incredibly rare, and I don't think you should be wasting your time at an unpaid one, not when you have bigger problems.
Good luck!
If you can channel that into your work would be great forsure, you are already better than 95% of the artists that have jobs now were at your age.
Your work has promise but the presentation and type of work doesn't show off your skills the best. Do some game rez props and show you can work in a studio and not be a student. Most studios aren't going to take a gamble with a portfolio like yours since they can't determine if you can be a valuable asset. Plus they won't want to hire someone with no where to live and not proven to be realiable to show.
1. bug family, friends, strangers for a place to live. If family won't help you and get angry because you ask, oh well. Thats what family is there for.
2. Get a cheap labor job to make some $$ and get some food.
3. hang around polycount. Do game rez stuff. simple props if you must and just crank them out to show what you can really do. think like a production artist and just show work. dedicate all your free time outside of work to the trade and keep up with posting here. if you're a cool enough guy and take advice well, some polycounter will eventually find something for ya.
I might have some friends in the Santa monica area I could ask around for a spare bed/place to crash if ya need it.. but its a 50/50 chance.
I'm going to call up the San Diego Rescue Mission and see if I can get a room there. Regarding working on props, etc, is there any pieces in particular I should work on show? (fire hydrant, ammo box, cliff face, etc)
Good luck with everything dude. Keep your end goal in mind and you'll get there.
I can't beleive that american welfare is so terrible. I made it all through uni on a gov't allowance and govt student loan.
But yes, your number one thing is to find a basecamp, a place to stay, and if you want the job, you need to make finished and quality assets. Complete assets that are ready to be put into a game.
Good luck man, Keep us updated with how your going as well.
A little clarification, not to sound like an arrogant shit, but by no means is this my best work, this is only what I have on my imageshack account, which I don't use all that often. I've got just as much experience making game res assets as I do sculpting (except I was a professional sculptor at a fabrication studio in new york for awhile), I simply do not have any pictures of them.
I shall start off tonight with something hardsurface and post it up in P&P, please remember everyone, critiques and comments are absolutely adored, as I want nothing more than to learn, and learn, until I can get a job, and than learn some more...
anyways, thanks all,
Payton.
You sound like you have a good work ethic and talent, and you should think this out more first. Seventeen year olds cannot sign contracts, apartment leases, etc. If you are a runaway, anyone that helps you and doesn't turn you in can actually be charged with a crime. If you are in an abusive situation or were actually abandoned, you need to go to social services or to a school counselor or to a shelter so you can at least not have to worry about your next meal.
As for college if you want to go, you can file as an independent (meaning financially you are on your own and your family cannot claim you on taxes), and receive much more financial aid than you would normally. There are also grants and scholarships available that can help you if you do this.
In regards to my situation, my father is and was a gigantic pothead, which made him very unstable, and he started verbally abusing and berating my girlfriend and myself, which upset me, and when I politely asked him not to, he said, "Its my house Payton, If you don't like my rules, than you can leave." So I did, shortly thereafter, my older brother who has always been the favorite, moved into my dads house, occupying my old room, leaving me on the streets of Albuquerque, I'm currently living in San Diego, and until two days ago, had a place to stay with one of my best friends, and now I'm living with my other friend until I can get an opening at the homeless shelter in downtown.
In regards to my rig, I own an HP pavillion slimline 3300F pc, its quite small and fits in my backpack, so I put my computer, keyboard, and mouse in my backpack, along with other micro-essentials, and have my blanket, pillow, and monitor strapped to the back, I plug it in at gas stations, mini marts, libraries, etc, anywhere I can find a power outlet...
Your potential is through the roof for sure, but it is just that.. potential. You definitely don't want to squander that possibility of success in the future by not addressing immediate issues of health and safety. So do what you have to do in the mean time to establish some stability in your life, and then worry about the particulars. You've been given a lot of good ways to go about accomplishing that in this thread.
As far as a little bit of advice of my own. I had a number close friends growing up that have unfortunately been in a similar spot to your current one, and just take comfort in knowing that there are only two ways to go from here.
1) you can let your situation define you. This often results in the most ultimate of consequences.
or..
2) You can get angry, and do as much within your power to remedy the situation... any help you receive along the way is a blessing and should be treated as such.
People close to my heart have chosen both paths, and that is the only reason I feel comfortable in saying that a lot of overcoming a rough patch, in any scenario, is in the mental approach. So keep a positive attitude, work tirelessly, and be unconditionally kind to people, and you will receive your chance. That's just how society works.
PM me if you want to discuss some of this stuff further, and best of luck to you, young sir. Your in my prayers.
That said: You're still on the streets. Take care of yourself down there. CA seems really good for social services. If you make mean coffee, try for starbucks. Kept a roof over my head for the first year I was out here, plus there's free wi-fi and coffee. Good for the artwork.
Write up a resume if you don't have one already, detail what you've done and any skills you have. Maybe put up a linked in profile for easy reference of your work and aforementioned skills. The connection network around here goes pretty far and wide, and even if there isn't a "hire you right now for a game studio" spot open, perhaps someone can at least get you a lead somewhere, and anywhere is better than nowhere (or many parts of ABQ...)
@Lroy: you'd be surprised. There are a lot of power and bandwidth options available for free or near free.
Good luck!
Focus on basic survival. Get a min wage or manual labor job to get some income and a permanent address, and keep up your modeling in the evening. You have all the time in the world at 17 to break into the industry.
The situation has been resolved, and I'll be moving up to L.A. this saturday, and hopefully find a job within the month, looking forward to meeting up with anyone whos up in the area!
Sincerely,
Payton.