If there was one thing you could do that would make an incredible difference to your success, you’d want to know it – wouldn’t you? Then don’t miss this episode as John and Robin focus on identifying success secrets and magic bullets.
For free 1-minute business tips with Robin Dickinson, watch BLACK CHAIR Business
Mentoring TV
The Foundry has released 3D Camera Tracker and Kronos, two exciting new plug-ins for Adobe After Effects.
Alexander of Amateurmedia.net has created a stylish new font named Typograph Pro. Also check some of the great usage examples created within Cinema 4D.
Red Giant Software has released Colorista 2, with some exciting new features and improvements. Use motionworks10 for a 1o% discount.
Fontfeed.com has an excellent column “Screenfonts” which discusses the use of fonts in movie posters.
Industrial Light and Magic has a new site. It’s quite amazing just how many productions ILM has been involved in.
Urban Dirty has terrific free grunge stock images and also provides color themes for various images with a downloadable .ASE file. You can import the .ASE file into After Effects using Swatch You Want.
20 Responses to this post
March 15, 2010 at 2:47 pm |
The magic bullet in 3 parts:
1 – Living your passion
2 – Selling the product of your passion
3 – Make people very happy in the process
(this may take a lot of time so I guess John was right anyways)
March 16, 2010 at 12:38 am |
I would say that my magic bullet is the ability to stay focused on your outcome.
When i was just starting out i wrote down on a piece of paper, what do I want for my business or in other words, what is my ultimate outcome?
Once I did that, my brain just kind of took care of the rest and drove me to that goal.
Great show guys! Keep it up!
March 16, 2010 at 3:56 pm |
Said well, Kobi.
But you made me think that maybe it’s more important to be focused on the work – the making of your job – insted of in the final result.
To keep an eye in the outcome is very important, but to put both of them in the final prize can also be a huge distraction.
don’t you agree?
March 17, 2010 at 2:19 pm |
I agree that you can’t be blinded by the end result but instead let it juice you and motivate you and push you, or rather PULL you to your goal.
March 17, 2010 at 2:36 pm |
Perhaps it’s important to have a goal but to focus and stay in the present moment throughout the project…
March 17, 2010 at 2:33 pm |
Hi Kobi, it sounds as if you had a business plan, which is something that many don’t even consider these days. Thanks for watching and best wishes, John.
March 16, 2010 at 10:35 pm |
I agree with John about how designers should really have their own style. In fact, I believe that is the magic bullet in our industry. However, as he mentioned, it takes time, years of practice, developing your passion, etc. to form your own style. It’s not a secret ingredient or a quick fix. In that sense, it’s not really a “bullet” at all. More like a “magic molasses.” But I believe it is the key to success in this industry.
I believe there is a bit of a danger in relying too much on tutorials. While you can learn some great techniques, too often new designers see these tutorials as their magic bullet: their fast-track to landing a job. But as John was saying, employers and clients aren’t looking for someone who can follow tutorials or create things that would be recognized. They are looking for someone with style.
March 17, 2010 at 2:37 pm |
Well said Chris, motion graphics is more popular than ever before and the wealth of tutorials online has created the “clone phenomenon”. It’s up to us to guide beginners to find their own style.
March 17, 2010 at 5:41 am |
Tutorials are a great way to learn some tools, but what you do with them require creativity, and this is something that comes only with experience and practice.
Perhaps the real Magic Bullet is to know really soon that there is no Magic Bullet at all.
“There is no spoon”
March 17, 2010 at 2:42 pm |
There certainly is no spoon Grisi. The sad thing is it’s amazing how many expect to be spoon fed.
March 18, 2010 at 7:14 am |
Another thing I have learned through the years is, knowing how to interact with your client. If you have a sour attitude, can not listen, and you do not take the time to understand your client’s needs, your client will look for someone else no matter how talented you are, but If you treat your client with respect and honesty as you would any friend they will stick around for a very long time.
I also agree with Robin Dickinson in ” you have to keep your expenses down “. I see so many people working like crazy paycheck to paycheck worrying about their job stability, but if you simply live more humble and saved your money instead of spending it all, you can relax knowing there is money stored in case the worst comes to happen, which in life there is always that possibility, so better to prepare for it.
My two cents
Thank you for sharing this great video.
Deyson Ortiz
March 21, 2010 at 2:31 pm |
Hey Deyson, indeed, you want to be the person client’s love working with and a sour attitude won’t help. I’m also someone who doesn’t spend wastefully! Best wishes, John.
March 18, 2010 at 9:45 am |
Just started my first job using AE, i make short silent adverts (15 – 20 sec) for small business these are then shown in gyms around the UK.
I’m finding it difficult to get better as I don’t really have the time to plan out and design each advert, theres no VO so its all on screen text and expected turn around is VERY quick.
I believe the “magic bullet” for me is simply the determination to get better without looking for short cuts, i’ve been lucky enough to land the job and I love it, I just need to overcome the obstacles which are currently holding me back.
March 21, 2010 at 2:32 pm |
Hi Ashcat, quick turnaround is a skill in itself. It does help to sometimes have the bigger jobs where you can flex your creativity as well. Perhaps start some of your own projects? Best wishes, John.
March 20, 2010 at 9:40 am |
Thanks to your video I`ve recalled the short piece from TED. It`s also worth to see. It`s here: http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html
March 21, 2010 at 2:59 pm |
Thanks Lubomir.
March 22, 2010 at 3:08 pm |
love your stuff but this was totally boring.
March 30, 2010 at 11:24 pm |
Boring in what way Kryptic?
March 26, 2010 at 1:07 am |
Hi John and Rob. Great discussion as always.
My experience does not come from the motion graphics industry, but I have been a self-employed entertainer (magician) in Sweden for 12 years. I stumble with all things you have been talking about through the series, and your insights are great and give me food for thought.
The first thing I learned is that it is very easy to do what you want to do, but only when you know what that is. And it takes time and practice to find your own voice, and to know yourself. So it´s really great that you point this out again and again that just to copy someone elses work is NOT your own voice. To copy is one way to learn what your voice is. The longer you copy, you find things that you would like to change because it just feels right to you. That is your voice starting to be heard. For a gifted few this is second nature, but for the most of us this takes practice and patience.
But when you find that which makes you “you”, you have struck gold!
I am in no way done with my search, and your discussions are really helpful to keep me thinking.
Lookoing forward to the next episode.
May 12, 2010 at 9:24 am |
First I really wanna say thank you John (and also Robin) for taking all the effort to produce a series like this and share your experience and knowledge. I tried hard figure out the subjects you talking about in the BOD-series. Nobody (my impression of German Creatives) is willing to give proper advices or informations. Maybe the are afraid of business competition
Ok, back to the topic. I would agree to the “3 magic bullets”, but I’d like to add “endurance”, which is kind of connected to passion. You have to hold on your passion and try to push your “carrier” as a designer, even if you get stuck, make bad experiences, earning less money at the beginning, have “wrong” clients etc.
Thanx again for sharing and Best Regards
Oliver
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