Bryson McBee
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My 2021 DreamWorks Cover Letter (and thoughts on being an artist)
🕑 Added 2023-03-30 02:09:34 +0000 UTCIn 2021, I was entering my senior year in a degree that I didn't love and realizing that life was about to start happening really really fast. I had just been through one of the worst years for my personal growth through the pandemic and some really unhealthy behavior patterns. And around February in 2021, I decided I was gonna stop messing around and start dedicating my life to doing what I loved above all else. And what I've always loved and wanted to do more than anything was make cartoons.
^ The first drawing I made in 2021, Jan 13th
So how was I supposed to do that? I was about to finish a Finance degree, not like I could change majors! I thought I would look at entry level internships for animation studios just to check, and I soon realized that they all were exclusive to bachelors level students, meaning that after 2021 I was going to have little to no chance of ever getting accepted into an Animation Internship at a major studio. So I applied to all of them: Nickelodeon, Dreamworks, and I refreshed the Cartoon Networks intern webpage every single day (they never opened applications for the Summer 2021). I found this Dreamworks cover letter while cleaning out my drive, and I thought I would share it with you folks.
If you're keen on how competitive Animation internships are, you could probably tell that even if I had another 3 years to apply, I probably already had 0 chance. They specify that the positions aren't degree specific, but a Finance degree is a far cry away from Photography or Theater or some other tangentially productive degree to animation. And my portfolio wasn't doing me any favors either, I think the best thing I had in there was Full Metal Alchemist fan art lmao.
But, I sent in all my stuff anyway. And while I waited for them to tell me no, I picked up Blender.
^ My first original Blender project, made Mar 26, 2021
I really hated the 3D stuff at first, it was so hard to wrap my mind around, but I used the stuff I learned in MAR's cute froggy tutorial to bring my little green alien to life in 3D!
^The first 2D Greasepencil Animation I made in Blender, May 27, 2021
I was really inspired by 2D artists like Dedouze and Worthikids that used Blender to bring their worlds and stories to life. Worthikids has been my biggest inspiration from the beginning. Seeing someone design, animate, write, act, sing, perform in every human way possible, HOW CAN YOU NOT BE INSPIRED?
I never heard back about any opportunities to work at a studio. But I kept drawing, and I kept learning Blender, and I kept putting my work out there and expressing myself in as many ways as I could. I kept being an artist! I didn't know where any of it would take me. I thought maybe one day I would take a course on story writing/boarding and maybe find a job someday.
But you folks have really shown me that I don't need to hang my hopes on getting picked up by some studio. I kept learning and trying new stuff everyday, and before I knew it you folks showed up for it. I can't thank you all enough because this whole machine really can't run that well without ya. It means a lot that I can share my work with you all, and it blows me away that you folks want to support me out of love for my work. Thank you all so much for sticking around and making this whole thing what it is today.
Ahahha sorry for getting all emotional on a wednesday! Follow your dreams or something!! hahahah. I still have a long way to go to do all the things I've wanted to do since I was a kid, but you folks really give me hope that we'll get there. So thanks, much love!!
Comments
Bryson McBee
yes!! it can be so hard to start something new or trying to make a change in your life. as afraid as most people are of failure, fear of success is a big thing too! i know you're gonna do awesome stuff when you focus on what makes you happy and let go of what you expect a success to look like!!
Emily Aggers
This is really inspiring. My friend and I wanna start something together but we're often afraid or concerned about it and get stuck on that. Her brother recently told us to fail upwards and it really redirected our mindset. You did that! You failed upwards, you didn't get what you originally shot for but you kept going and made something else start to work. That's awesome and I'm happy for you!! :) your art is so fun, I love your 3d style and tastes. I feel like every time you post i get to see some of my favorite things in such a cool style. You're doing great!! I hope you can keep finding success!!
Orna_has_Calcium
This was such a nice read and really shows where determination will get you when wanting to pursue something you really love. and wow just from 2021 seeing ur art skills go from the little dude in a cape to what u do now is honestly crazy. Keep up the great work ! and thanks for sharing the very human story of how you started 💛
