'Unpaid Intern' ConceptArt SPAM

[Alex Jenyon]

****Self deleted - people seem to be kind of missing the point, and in any case it's a discussion long past

[S.C. Watson]

Alex, I understand where you are coming from, and even agree to a certain extent. However I think this is the exception to the rule.

Jason Manley owns the forums. Ca is his baby, and I know he'd *never* send anything like that unless he was 100% confident that it was and is a good deal.

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[sumdumguy]

Hi Alex,


I don't mean to go and get on a rant but this is 'the industry' (Hollywood, not bollywood, not UK or Canadian producitions, but Hollywood.) and as a person whose been here for sometime. I've seen this song and dance all before.

I see you are in the UK working on film and such. I'm not patronizing or belittling and of your achievments that you may have made but check this out: I work in the Hollywood industry. I know 'exactly' what this 'major film studio' is doing and what Jason is trying to do to help.

Here's an example: Hollywood gets flooded by thousands of these type of project/pitches every year. On average about 500 or so will ever make it to the door step of a big-hitter studio meeting and out of the 500 only 50 make it to development and out of that about 20 or so get the greenlight. Out of 20 only 8 will be picked from and focused on. The rest will be split up to be 'optioned' or get thrown in the development pool. and so on and so on.

Suffice to say, and I'm not totally 100% sure, but from the gist of the e-mail it sounds as if the studio has given a 'green light' for a 'meet and greet' not for filming or anything just to sit down and chat to see what can become of the idea. From here it can lead to a pitch session or two; or it can go straight to network or straight to developmet, etc. But for the most part, it sounds like this group ('major film studio') is heading in the right direction. So the aritsts will have to make a call, sacrifice a little for a bigger payout or let someone else take the sacrifice for the payout. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't, but it's always a game of chance.

SDG

[Jason Manley]

I have this much to say....

those who can...do. I did nine months of internships....and I think I have done what I set out to do...back then i wanted an animation studio working on a couple big projects...that was it...i thought it would be me and like maybe five guys. I needed experience...i had to see how it was done...so i entered the industry. seven years later and i have a company of 50+ artists, two multi-national studios ...not to mention the building of CA...point is....if you think that the idea of an unpaid internship is stupid...lame...or bad....then get ready for heartbreak because your mindset will hold you back. I was willing to do WHATEVER it took to get my goals met...still am....still do. I would not have all the information I needed to get where I am without doing those internships. period.


so irritating...wake up peeps....if you arent working in the industry and want to be...the internship route is a great way to get your foot in and prove yourself to be invaluable. I cant believe people dont complain about the travesty of a 100k art school education but 3 months real experience with a true chance at opportunity is considered spam.

foolishness...completely. the writer you would have worked with on that gig was the writer of hellboy. if you think that is spam and not worth the opportunity then well...your nose for opportunity is not very sensitive.

yes many pet project films wont get funding...because of who this writer is, and the content was really fantastic...i thought it would be one to bet on. unfortunately some of our members have whined like crazy about it. boo hoo hoo..i am shelling out 100k for art school (or shelled out) to learn from teachers mb wouldnt even hire...but the opportunity to learn with the writer of hellboy and paramount studios crew and boo hoo hoo....


silly rabbits....i tell ya.

[Wilderness]

Interning is an incredible way of gaining practice and experience in the industry, but when can you say enough is enough? I have been working internships on and off since 1997, and while I have had some amazing experiences and been involved in a number of great workplaces and projects, all of my experience continues to earn less than the most unskilled, undocumented worker. The whole notion of illustrator/artist as businessman goes out the window. You become enslaved by your own dreams (as does the 100k art school), when you provide years of hard work and experience for free. No other worker, unskilled or otherwise, is expected to work for free. The more illustrators are willing to work without pay because it is what they dream of doing, the less illustrators as a whole will be paid fairly and respected.