Creative Career - A call to level up (2019)

[@WesCGNet]

I just keep replaying this video over and over again while I'm working. It's so motivational and informative. Been working to move into the game industry for several years after college and have a good root where I live. I've been inspired by games since growing up because I feel they can change how people see the world for the better. However, I distract myself with so many other things that my career isn't focused on my own game career. I have myself to blame. I still haven't gotten there and the work I do today is nice but I want to do so much more. Most of all, I'm inspired by you because I love the idea of helping others in a multitude of industries. I'm inspired to make myself better so I can drive others to do more like you have. Thank you!

[@AllanMcKay]

That's great man, keep at it! It is easy to get distracted, and I'd be lying if I didn't say it happens to me too. Just occasionally we just need to stop and look at all the stuff we're doing day to day to 'stay busy' and ask ourselves "is any of this actually moving me closer to my bigger goals?" Most of the time it's just noise. Cut out or minimize the things that aren't moving you closer to the bigger picture, and make time for the things that matter the most. All the best my friend, keep at it!

[@wilowwells]

This stuff is always great to hear. I got a super late start in my professional career, not really getting focused until I was in my 30s. I landed in my dream job in CG at a stable AAA game developer about five years ago. The company is amazing but the hustle never stops and the constant need to learn and level up is never ending. Keep pushing, and once you achieve your goal, push harder.

[@AllanMcKay]

That's so great man - you're not alone. I think a lot of us start out quite late in our career. I think it's common, we try to get a 'real job' as our parents and friends pressure us with. And later on realize that we want to do something more fulfilling and creative, so we follow our passion. That's really great and congratulations on pursuing your dreams - and living them! (PS. I love your username haha that's awesome!)

[@rakshith_4eal]

You are only guy from vfx induatry who makes youtube videos to motivate the the young minds, tq learning from u has been a great honor.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thank you I appreciate it and I'm always happy to help. What other topics would you like to see?

[@nelpiper]

This video is precious. Really Inspired words there. Allan mentored me through lots of ours of training and it took me over 4 years of rejection and some hurtful words (even from loved ones) but I recently get into the studio I"ve always dreamed of. As Allan spoke so many times, a nice reel is not enough. Networking is VERY important. LotS of work and desire to succeed. Turning bad words into "fuel" for your "will" to get where you want. Thanks a lot Allan.

[@AllanMcKay]

That's so awesome man thank you - I'm not sure if I had a chance to really to your email yet (I think I did otherwise I was going to this week!) But I was talking about you and all the success you just recently had, again congratulations on all your hard work paying off! Hopefully we can meet up this year in Vancouver. And thank you for the kind words brother

[@nelpiper]

Allan McKay you did reply and I re-replied😄 Thx a lot brother. Let’s have some drinks (my treat).

[@AllanMcKay]

@@nelpiper Great I wasn't sure - last week I was in Paris, and it was a bit of a blur. Taking today off to get over jet lag before I get back into email :) I will respond shortly. Hope you're well buddy

[@nelpiper]

Allan McKay I’m great. Starting to feel a bit of the heat. Catch up with American time again. Get some rest. You deserve it. Thx a lot again brother.

[@pfolger]

Silent movie super star Mary Pickford, who at the peak of her career was the most famous person in the world, and who would later be a founding member of both the United Artists movie studio, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said... "You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing that we call 'failure' is not the falling down, but the staying down." Good job Allen, thanks for inspiring a guy in his 50's to get back in the saddle... Me.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much Paul I appreciate it and I love that quote that's amazing!

[@Persepolis8564]

Hi there Allan. This was the push i needed to get off my ass and work even harder. The fact that you put aside hours of your precious time to make content for us is fantastic. I never ever thought I would one day contemplate learning vfx,but coincidentally I saw one of your free tutorials and now I am obsessed with vfx. Thank you so much.

[@AllanMcKay]

Great man, if I was to ever give any advice it would be to be obsessed. Because that's what's going to drive you to keep pushing forward. Keep at it man, that's so great to hear - thanks Roozbeh

[@Persepolis8564]

@@AllanMcKay I am curious, do you have people that only do modelling ? I am mainly a hard surface modeller, so was wondering if a person requires to have vfx knowledge or background to work for someone like you?

[@zbavas]

Thanks for being so honest and candid. I really appreciate your passion and have looked up to you for years. Thanks for being such an inspiration.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much man I'm honored 🙏

[@paulharrison3522]

Sharing your story with us on a visceral level really hits home. Good time to take a step back and re-evaluate the plan and make sure there is a goal we're each striving for. Please keep making videos like this, cheers and thank you!

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much Paul it means a lot

[@maxer167]

Allan teaches for 20 years afaik. it was 2001 , i was reading his particle tutorial for 3ds max . it was about 5/6 pages . back then it was a thing to prepare with this much of attention. (no videos , just screenshots and typing ) such a nice guy.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much Maxer! Yeah my first tutorial was in 97, it was one of the first every subd character modeling tutorials out there. So it's been a looooong journey But it's always been fun to share and help other artists get the success they deserve Thanks so much for the awesome comment and for remembering all the way back! Haha Thanks Maxer

[@BaliDev]

Thank you Allan, that in the end you decided to post this video. It was just soo insipiring that you might not even realise it yourself. I'm pretty much in the same boat. I've always loved video games, and animated movies and stuff, and i decided at around the age of 14 or 15 that i would like to be the one, making such games or movies. For a few months i was obsessed with it. I was watching tutorials day and night and i loved it. I decided that after high school, i will get into this industry. But in the process, i started delaying things saying that "i've got years to learn this so i dont need to hurry and learn it that fast. And this mentality kept getting stronger and unfortunately i was dumb enough to stop learning it at all. I always looked for excuses like "well i will just attend a 3D animation class, and there the teachers will teach me for everything so i dont need to work on it until then. So after finishing high school, i was at the point where i had to decide what to do with my life, and everyone in my family and my friends told me that, this is a child's dream and i've got to grow up, go to university, get a diploma and then if i still want to pursue this carreer i can try it. I wanted to believe that i can make it with the help of a 3d animation school so i attended an open day (not sure if you call it an open day in English) at this 3D school and even the leader of this school told me the same as my friends and family, to go to uni first and get a diploma. So here i am doing the uni, hating almost every subject that im studying. I'm from Hungary and it's not a huge country full of opportunities especially not in this field, so i started to believe that this is not an obtainable road for me, and i need to find a proper job with my diploma when i finish. Although in the end at least i convinced myself that after uni i must give it a try, because that's like the only thing i loved doing. I'll be honest with you, i wasn't watching your videos so far. I subscribed to your newsletter or whatever that is a few years ago and im always getting your emails when i opened gmail, but honestly i ignored them for the same reason i was explaining so far. But now i've read that title saying you were scared to post this and it made me curious what could it be so i opened it and watched the video to the last second, listening to every word you were saying. This is exactly what i needed. Literally. A mind changer. Now i feel like i'm given back my hope, my dream my motivation. From this day, im returning to this path and im starting to learn it all. I'm going to finish uni, because i've got only 3 semesters left, but from now on i will be learning new skills every day in the 3D field in order to reach my goals, my dreams. No excuses I cant explain how grateful i am. Maybe you've changed my life with this video. Thank you Allan! (sorry fo this little novel i wrote, but i felt like you need to know how meaningful this video is.) One final thought: I was always told that another reason i cant succeed in this area is the fact that i cant draw at all. Literally i draw like 7 year olds at the age of 22. What do you think about that? Is it necessary to learn how to draw if i would like to be a 3D modeler/animator/vfx artist?

[@DJNicke]

Truly inspirational video! Life is what we make it. I've had the pleasure to know you in real life, and I've always admired your succinct self-discipline in only the necessary areas. You truly strike the work/life balance well my friend, and you continue to be an inspiration to me and many others!

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much buddy, we're well overdue for a catch up! I hope everything's going great - look me up next time you're stateside!

[@Roozy_Persepolis]

Hi Allan. This youtube has made me tear up. I have had a tremendously tough past and I am struggling with mental illness,while pushing myself over and beyond what I can do to become successful. It is very tough.This video is like the best medication I can take. I can relate to everything you say. I will be finishing the vehicle I talked to you about and post it on the TYFlow facebook page when it's textured and ready,so you can use it in your tutorials if you want and be able to share it with the tutorial in order to allow other people to follow you step by step. You have no idea how much this video helps me every single day. Thank you so much.

[@CurveWraps]

This is so crazy good!! We need more of this type of content, keep pushing yourself to post because I know how unbelievably difficult this was for you to share. One of your best videos in my opinion!

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much! Love your KZbin channel BTW! :)

[@fabiandietzanimation]

Wow! Thank you Allan! Awesome video and very inspiring :)

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Fabian! :)

[@ChristianLappinOFFICIAL]

Thank you, Allan, for continually providing motivation to help me get out of my own way.

[@AllanMcKay]

You rock brother 👊 it's great to hear from you always and I always wish you the best success

[@mohamedlamine5566]

Thank you Allan for all this motivation videos...

[@AllanMcKay]

I appreciate it Ralf

[@vazak11]

That was inspiring, as someone who one day wants to be a show-runner and make my own creations and more, make a living in this industry, hearing of your struggles and perseverance is well, inspiring!

[@3deeart]

Thank you Allan!! This is an amazing video!! So inspiring and full of amazing advise!! Much appreciated!!

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Dee! I always appreciate your kind words thank you again! Is there any subjects that you specifically would like to see covered more?

[@3deeart]

@@AllanMcKay This video made me realise lots of things about my self and the thinks I was trying to "ignore". LOL So thanks again for "asskicking"! ;) I enjoy every topic you are going through. I am more in After Effect and Premiere at the moment but opening up to more. I will be defo here and hope to meet you one day in person. Thanks for all Allan!!

[@diogocarrijoa]

Great video, that's good to push people towards their goal. Your story is awesome, most of us started on VFX with their 20's or 30's, so that makes things different for each of us, everyone have it's own story, and everyone can learn from stories like yours. I always appreciate your videos!

[@AllanMcKay]

Absolutely, thank you Diogo, I agree we've all got different stories but the more I talk with others I realize our journeys are all too similar Thank you so much!

[@diogocarrijoa]

@@AllanMcKay That's awesome, thank you! You rock!

[@MahmoudHamdyGad]

Great video Allan .. you are always inspiring 🤗

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Mahmoud!

[@NLucifer]

Very inspiring, learned a lot usefull things, opened my eyes some of my sins. Thank you, Allan.

[@iamcoffeerepublic]

Just dropping a thank you.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks coffee!

[@bearybear1]

I will fail my way to success. (LES BROWN). Really moving and motivating at the same time. I know that I most improve my goal setting, it's very poor. I believe my heart is in it. I just have to throw it over the bar and the rest will follow. Thanks Allan for sharing.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Andre, and thank you for sharing goals are everything - keep at it my friend

[@sankhadipsen2650]

Thank you so much for such inspiration..this applies to everyone everywhere...thank you so much.....

[@AllanMcKay]

No problem man, thank you!

[@kolyabk3529]

keep motivating people and share u experience

[@cgfarmerstudio]

Thank you...I agree on everything you say..coz am like what you were in the past still struggling to achieve what I dream...am in the worst place to start with, I leave in Ethiopia, Africa( a place where you have to choose between food or dream)...dreaming to work in CG industry is still a fantasy here. but you are right things that worth doing are not easy to do...am still working 8hr on the job I hate then get back home and work ( 3d modeling, studying animation vfx...) till 1am in the morning coz I know it would be far worse if I give up coz my dream would hunt me down for life...thank you for sharing your story.

[@MOHITTHUMBAR]

your channel is so helpful and inspiring...keep educating us.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Mohit, I will always strive to do my best to serve you and everybody else - thanks again

[@marijnkarsten7323]

Super nice video Allan! I have difficulties with choosing a specific direction in learning new stuff and stick with it. I'am stuck in ArchViz and I am trying to get out by self education in Zbrush,Substance painter, maya , blender, cinema4d and now ty flow. But I am constantly switching between wanting to be a sculptor,motion graphics artist,animator, game artist etc. Being ambiguous is probably my biggest talent. As for everybody I can invest my time only once and there is so much to learn. Maybe sticking with something until you really master it is one solution? Thanks!

[@tlabd9582]

Thank you for the video.. I have been trying to break into this industry for a while but no success (I live in a small country in asia, been trying to send my stuff to studios in other countries). And I have starting to heard some hurtful stuff, even from my own mind that I should just give up

[@AllanMcKay]

It's so hard in the beginning - and it can be a long windy road. The pay off is worth it, being in smaller countries where there isn't much industry makes it tough. I feel I can relate, being in Australia when there was no real industry outside of the UK And US. I do think it's good to look for work in other countries, but probably not with the expectation that they'll move you to their country in the beginning (check out some of my podcast episodes on work immigration + visas). But working online is an option. Down the line you can start to look at working in other countries. I do think the beginning it's about 1) getting traction, getting experience 2) getting money, and reassurance that this is a viable job So in other words, no job should be too small for you - focus on the big picture that right now it's about taking any job you can, and later you get to take on the jobs that you find fun and rewarding. So, even going on 99 designs and other places, if it means you're getting experience interacting with clients, and doing paid work, and building your portfolio, then it's all worth it. The other thing is, it's easy to say "there is no work in my country" I'm not saying that you're saying that, but I am saying that we all do probably think that. In reality, there is, there is far and few cities in the world without some type of work going on. So hustling, and finding those places, as well as other likeminded people is important. It doesn't mean they're AAA game studios, or vfx studios. It might be local tv stations, or people who need graphics for their website. We all have to start somewhere, and I've paid my dues - doing crappy work like the rest of us :) But working for one or two of those places now, you never know where those people might be down the line. They might remember you and pull you into new opportunities that you never thought possible. You gotta be in it to win it, you gotta stick with it, but you also gotta say yes to every single opportunity, no matter how big or small, until you are at the point where you're doing so good that you can afford to say no. So keep at it, hustle hard, and look at every single place as needing graphics of 3D work, and push your services to them, both local and online. Good luck!

[@saikopiratos]

thats the mentor i needed in my life :O.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much and I love your username haha

[@F_itaca9456]

SuperValuable Advice

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks so much Francisco! 🙏

[@cmendes1]

very inspiring !

[@AllanMcKay]

That's great Karl!

[@apmanti12]

cool, im currently freelancing doing lower-end indie features and some tv's and im always looking up for those cool mpc/ilm type of reels and trying to put everything i got in my shots, i don't really have a goal to work in a big vfx house but I do want to bring higher-end quality to lower budget projects :)

[@AllanMcKay]

That's great man, and there's no set rule that you have to go to the bigger studios. I avoided places like ILM and other big studios for decades - because for me I liked the idea of having ownership of my shots, and I always assumed it meant you would be a 'cog' in the machine. I think that's the case at some places, but others it's not the case (ILM for instance I would always get handed entire shots). But I think there's a lot more intimacy in working at smaller studios, or on your own projects. So do what drives you brother! Keep going, and stay passionate :)

[@NebUlaDeigns]

Thank you !

[@FxmediagroupRu]

Great words.

[@DJNicke]

Do you have a book about Poop on your desk? Great video man! Thank you for sharing it!

[@AllanMcKay]

haha DJ! Great to hear from you brother - and I actually have TWO books about poop on my desk. The author and the Harmon Bros sent me an autographed version shortly after. I didn't even notice I had these until Christina started pointing it out. However, that book is an amazing book about the creative process - I highly recommend reading it!

[@DJNicke]

@@AllanMcKay - what is the name of the book? It looks like "From Poop to Gold" - is that right? I also see "So Good They Can't Ignore You" - "Willpower Doesn't Work" - "Secrets of Closing the Sale" - and it may be "Stop Staring" but I can't read the last two.

[@WastedCheez]

Is that the same content as the podcast episode ?

[@AllanMcKay]

Yeah I wanted to share this video on the podcast as well. Hope you find it insightful!

[@WastedCheez]

@@AllanMcKay Oh I do and I hope for more podcasts like these. They are so helpful, thank you Allan!

[@kjakinen1]

good stuff mate

[@daniellec6337]

While complacency is a real problem, I worry that the points around the 35 min mark might downplay that VFX is a rough industry a bit too much. Should more folks shoot higher? Sure. We all could be better at something. But we're more or less fighting each other over for pieces of the same pie. If someone likes their work and doesn't want to be moving on and opening their own studio I don't think it's too much to ask that the job not treat them like dirt. We need to encourage unionization instead of letting the jobs we love grind us into dust.

[@AllanMcKay]

Hi Danielle, I agree with what you're saying - but as much as a few key people really try to sell unionization. It's just not going to happen. It never was, just some people (both for good, and others more for their own intentions) have tried to sell the idea of it. There are studios that treat artists like dirt, but that's exactly the same throughout the rest of the world. Whether you're in architecture, law, or any other industry. I definitely emphasize that the industry is volatile, in terms of - if you aren't taking action and learning to equip yourself with all the skills as a person working in 2019 - instead just focusing on learning the latest software and thinking that's what's going to get you by then it's going to not work in your favor. In reality, in any industry - we need to understand our industry, and understand how to negotiate, how to freelance and discuss up front a lot of factors which play into the negative later on. There are bad employers, but typically as you mature, you start to see those pretty quickly and avoid them by asking the right questions up front. Again, just like in any industry. I definitely do not downplay that the industry, like any industry is rough - it's why I have devoted so much time to the Podcast and more recently to a lot of this content, and the guides I've written, talks I've given, I want to equip artist with the right tools and knowledge to not be taken advantage of and be able to reach their success without many painful experiences working for bad employers. There are good employers and bad employers, setting standards of what you're willing to do and what you ideally seek in an employer, you're at least aware of who you want to avoid. In the beginning, you're always going to have bad experiences, it's pretty rare that you'll work every time for amazing employers. But you begin to find the right people who you want to work with, and others you want to avoid. More so you learn to ask around, do your due diligence and avoid studios that fall into that category. I had this discussion with some of the Pixar and ILM guys last week, where we were all saying the same thing - that luckily 'most' (not all) of the really bad studios and bosses you work for, are all at the start of your career, because they pay cheap, they are easy to spot (ie. shady) and you quickly surpass most of them after the first couple of years in the industry. Since they can't afford you, and you can see through them most of the time in the initial meet ups. No industry is perfect, I do feel VFX gets singled out, when there are just as many horror stories at law firms, or other areas in the film industry. But the more we learn to equip ourselves with the right tools to prevent it and the knowledge to know how to navigate the industry the more we prevent this sort of thing from happening.

[@Captain_MonsterFart]

No way! Let's work endless unpaid overtime because we are so passionate!! THE PASSION!

[@yggrassildigital8483]

watching from kuwait 🇵🇭

[@AllanMcKay]

That's so great, thank you for watching, and hello from the U.S.!

[@yggrassildigital8483]

Allan McKay thank you master! i love your story and you speak clearly with feelings.

[@Titu-]

Sir , I am a teen age dreamer and artist but my fear is that I can't say proudly that I am an vfx artist in future because i am fearing that I don't think I can't make it please I need some inspiration for this 😞

[@AllanMcKay]

I'll be honest, we're all in the same boat. Whether we made it and we worry we're going to fail, be replaced, whatever it is. Or we're at the start thinking it's only ever going to be a dream. The fact is the only way to make it, is to make it. Sit down, build a plan and start doing it, and not let yourself or anybody else make you think you can fail. But it requires you getting off your butt, and taking action. If you don't today, you probably won't tomorrow. So make the changes you need to start today and stay excited, even when you are hitting the hard parts. Nothing worth doing is easy, so expect that, but start doing something about it today

[@Titu-]

@@AllanMcKay I love you madly macky 🙂 😎Keeping rocking