tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post3967977017955347228..comments2024-03-26T22:42:06.412-07:00Comments on TAG Blog: On TestingSteve Huletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05537689111433326847noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-33135026238764615872016-04-20T20:14:39.352-07:002016-04-20T20:14:39.352-07:00In Response to Dawn...
• I don't know who you...In Response to Dawn...<br /><br />• I don't know who you are because there is no information on you. I posted who I am; I have over 50 shows (lots of samples on my website), and several Emmy awards to my name - and they're still giving me tests. I CAN tell how well someone can board from samples, resume and giving a call to people they've worked with. If the person you hire doesn't work out, you can fire them. Even the union gives you 90 days to make sure you've hired the right talent. The talent that is laking is in the hiring: those looking at an artists past work, even non animation work, can tell if they are capable for the job. That's what it means to be a good director; you know what you are looking for and at.<br /><br />• You would say, "90% of all artists in the animation field have gotten a job through testing." I would love to know where you get your information. Tests have been given out since around 2000, they have gotten excessive in the past 4 years (since about the inclusion of Side letter J itself). Most of my jobs were gotten from people I have worked with in the past. Oddly the jobs I have gotten with a test, were given as a formality because the "Studio insisted on it," after I was already assured the position. I personally know dozens of professionals in this industry who have been fortunate enough never to have had to take one. So please, be careful with how you throw around arbitrary figures.<br /><br />• Finally, I doubt you have ever done any professional work without payment. That's what ALL ANIMATION TESTS are: Work Without Payment. You can advocate for people who lack the skills to recognize the right person for the job all you want, but realize that this is forcing professionals to give up hundreds to thousands of dollars in free labor with no guarantee of any kind of return.Llyn Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04959499327606817604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-86687681609156485102016-04-18T14:53:07.974-07:002016-04-18T14:53:07.974-07:00In Response to Dawn...
• I don't know who you...In Response to Dawn...<br /><br />• I don't know who you are because there is no information on you. I posted who I am; I have over 50 shows (lots of samples on my website), and several Emmy awards to my name - and they're still giving me tests. I CAN tell how well someone can board from samples, resume and giving a call to people they've worked with. If the person you hire doesn't work out, you can fire them. Even the union gives you 90 days to make sure you've hired the right talent. The talent that is laking is in the hiring: those looking at an artists past work, even non animation work, can tell if they are capable for the job. That's what it means to be a good director; you know what you are looking for and at.<br /><br />• You would say, "90% of all artists in the animation field have gotten a job through testing." I would love to know where you get your information. Tests have been given out since around 2000, they have gotten excessive in the past 4 years (since about the inclusion of Side letter J itself). Most of my jobs were gotten from people I have worked with in the past. Oddly the jobs I have gotten with a test, were given as a formality because the "Studio insisted on it," after I was already assured the position. I personally know dozens of professionals in this industry who have been fortunate enough never to have had to take one. So please, be careful with how you throw around arbitrary figures.<br /><br />• Finally, I doubt you have ever done any professional work without payment. That's what ALL ANIMATION TESTS are: Work Without Payment. You can advocate for people who lack the skills to recognize the right person for the job all you want, but realize that this is forcing professionals to give up hundreds to thousands of dollars in free labor with no guarantee of any kind of return.Llyn Hunterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04959499327606817604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-29843110405889688182016-04-14T20:57:02.034-07:002016-04-14T20:57:02.034-07:00Here are some answers to your questions from someo...Here are some answers to your questions from someone in Production:<br /><br />Who is looking at the tests?<br />It's the Art Director, Director, Showrunner, Creator, and sometimes Line Producers. These are also the people who have a hand in making the tests.<br /><br />As a former Director and Guild Member for 20 years you should know that just from looking at a resume and portfolio doesn't mean that artist is or isn't right for the show. Over half of the artists that had been hired on my current and former shows did not have work in their portfolio that had style similarities to what we were looking for, some didn't even have any work experience in their resume. We could have just skipped them, but we decided to test them instead. They surprised us and made a great and strong addition to our team. <br /><br />Is there a point to the test?<br /><br />Yes. It's to make sure the person hired fits the show. Since you do storyboards, you know you can't tell if a storyboard artist is right for a show base on past works and resume. Just because an artist's portfolio shows that they can draw a great board, doesn't mean they fit every show hiring. Some shows are fully scripted and some aren't. Storyboard tests shows whether or not the artist has the humor or sensibilities for the show that's hiring. <br /><br />I never been more thankful for tests than when we were recommended a great Storyboard Artist to join our show. We looked at his portfolio and resume and both looked great. Our show had already been on air for a whole season but we still sent him reference and sample boards. His humor matched our show as well as a clown at a funeral. (And just a FYI, even people in the same studio has to test if they want to go on a different show.)<br /><br />How many people have actually gotten jobs from taking a test? <br /><br />I would say about 90% of all artists in the animation field has gotten a job through testing. There's a lot of new people coming into the industry and not everyone has connections to just join a show with no proof that they fit the show, other than their buddy's say so. And it helps give artists that's never worked in a certain style the chance to show that they can do it. <br /><br />Tests give new artists and old artist a chance to show that they can do a style not in their portfolios. And saves production time and money from firing a storyboard artist because, even though they draw a great board, they can't capture the humor/sensibilities of the show.<br /><br />I understand artists hating tests. No one likes taking tests. But thinking you should get a job over other artists, without proof that you can do it better than them simply because you believe so, is an entitlement the studio is not willing to pay for when we have to fire you when you fail to meet the expectations. It just wastes our time and makes us miss the opportunity to hire someone else who would do a better job.Dawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02623923366118015193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22906998.post-65449819176367878742016-04-12T10:39:10.306-07:002016-04-12T10:39:10.306-07:00I agree, the testing is getting way out of hand. I...I agree, the testing is getting way out of hand. I myself have not been offered a test in awhile but if I am offered a test and it's non-paid then I will politely refuse it. Generally, I say "NO" to test anyways. Luckily, I haven't had to say no in a long time.Darrelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12889266634145768063noreply@blogger.com