Thank you for airing this, it's been an odd bit of time these last few years. I have been half-committed to job hunting multiple positions for Motion Designer, Art Director and whatever variation on those two themes has been for upward of 5-6 years now. During that time one overwhelming fact seems to have come back repeatedly, no matter how much experience you have (I'm working on year 29 of my mograph career) age is a prejudice that you will encounter. I've had a few interviews nearly to the accepting level, I interview well but ultimately the job goes to someone else.
I'm what the younger folks refer to as being a "geezer" at the age of 50 and apparently it has become easier to accept me as an asset as a freelancer than as an employee. I think you're around my age, we're both folks who emerged from the mess that was the Art Institutes educational system and made a career out of it. Really, in spite of it.
Building on your own land I think is really the only option out there, making your own studio is a possibility but it's not immune to the age stigma of being "out of touch" even though you're not. This substack is a great way to work past that, imparting wisdom. I think folks need to think in multiple revenue streams these days in whatever way they can.
I for one have found solace in non-digital things, it's kind of nice not playing with pixels for a project.
Damn man, horrible news, but thanks for talking about it. Going on two years since I was laid off, and I'm still dealing with it. It's tough. It's an important conversation.
I'd love to hear about what you want to build and the process of doing that going forward. Creating personal projects is a real middle finger to these f'd up times....at least in my mind. Also, you're so good at breaking down things and asking good questions, I'd love to see some video essays or interviews.
I'm excited for the future of Keys and Curves! Take care!!
Thank you for airing this, it's been an odd bit of time these last few years. I have been half-committed to job hunting multiple positions for Motion Designer, Art Director and whatever variation on those two themes has been for upward of 5-6 years now. During that time one overwhelming fact seems to have come back repeatedly, no matter how much experience you have (I'm working on year 29 of my mograph career) age is a prejudice that you will encounter. I've had a few interviews nearly to the accepting level, I interview well but ultimately the job goes to someone else.
I'm what the younger folks refer to as being a "geezer" at the age of 50 and apparently it has become easier to accept me as an asset as a freelancer than as an employee. I think you're around my age, we're both folks who emerged from the mess that was the Art Institutes educational system and made a career out of it. Really, in spite of it.
Building on your own land I think is really the only option out there, making your own studio is a possibility but it's not immune to the age stigma of being "out of touch" even though you're not. This substack is a great way to work past that, imparting wisdom. I think folks need to think in multiple revenue streams these days in whatever way they can.
I for one have found solace in non-digital things, it's kind of nice not playing with pixels for a project.
Damn man, horrible news, but thanks for talking about it. Going on two years since I was laid off, and I'm still dealing with it. It's tough. It's an important conversation.
I'd love to hear about what you want to build and the process of doing that going forward. Creating personal projects is a real middle finger to these f'd up times....at least in my mind. Also, you're so good at breaking down things and asking good questions, I'd love to see some video essays or interviews.
I'm excited for the future of Keys and Curves! Take care!!
Video essays would be really fun to dedicate some time to!