Writing The Perfect VFX Job Email in 2019

[@leevfx]

I'm about to apply for my first VFX job in a large VFX house, so this couldn't have come at a more perfect time! Thanks Allan.

[@AllanMcKay]

Anytime Lee, thank you!

[@MaxFernandez182]

Lee Watson hey man! I just saw that you wrote this one year ago and was wondering how did it go for you and how’s you career going!

[@notskinner2304]

I just thought making best reel would help get me the job but never thought about these things. Thank you so much Allen. So much greatful.

[@EthanFilms]

Thank you, once again telling us what we don't get in school, invaluable advice!

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks mate :)

[@morkmonk7319]

I just found this video...this is exactly what I want to introduce to my VFX students.

[@mikeoley13]

Damn dude, this is priceless. Thank you very much for sharing. So glad I stumbled upon your channel today.

[@SpencerMagnusson]

Love these suggestions - makes it more of a personal conversation and connection instead of a demand. I'm definitely going to use these to help me. Many thanks, Allan!

[@AllanMcKay]

Awesome thanks so much!

[@mikefxv]

Great Video Alan,I learnt a lot of useful things,I'm going to incorporate them,thanks

[@danastoian6350]

Question: what do we write if there is no experience? My cover letter has 5 sentences.

[@880728leonjf]

allan, thanks for sharing with us the experience you have and the tutorials, its really helpfull

[@AllanMcKay]

Thanks Juan!

[@noyanbayman8806]

this man deserves more views

[@rephayersecondchannel]

Amen

[@ISknne3D]

Awesome Stuff Allan, looks like a movie set with all the boards behind you. :)

[@AllanMcKay]

hah cheers buddy, don't think there's a room in my house that isn't filled with whiteboards!

[@TheBk961]

Great vid. Just noticed a typo at around the 22:09 mark - you've left out the word "need" in the sentence "in case you ever [need] any.."

[@AlexandreChianca]

Thank you very much for sharing all that knowledge. I was a student of Luis Pages until he completely screwed us over and stole our money back in January. Now you're my new hero sir, i'm trying to watch everything you ever did. The dream is to work in VFX for games and film. Currently, I'm proficient only in Maya, vRay, Fume... and i'm also learning Houdini and Nuke. Do you have any tips about how to approach big studios and how to boost a demo reel? Luis made me [us..almost 500 other students] lose a lot of time [and big money] saying things like ''forget about rendering if you want to be an FX TD'' , ''no big studios use Houdini, you're safe only with Maya'', stuff like that. I'm kinda lost now. If you could shed some light, I would be forever grateful sir. And thank you again for all your work. Cheers.

[@AllanMcKay]

Wow you're the second person in the past week to mention this. Really sorry to hear that. I don't know him personally but we have a few mutual friends, it's sad that this has happened. I don't know the full story, but I'm really sorry to hear that. Honestly - you should use the software that the studio you want to work at uses. Or the city you want to work in (not necessarily the city you are in, if you plan to move (again, go where the work is)). I do think (from an employers perspective) that showing that you can take a shot from start to finish is important. It doesn't mean you need to know how to render, light texture a shot. But as an FX artist you want to know how to composite, and go through all the duties that you would be expected to do in the job. You want to be able to show that someone could hire you tomorrow, and you can sit down and do the work. So typically being able to integrate your work into a real shot is going to really be important. It's easy to get someone to make FX on black background, but then they aren't able to render or take direction or take a shot to completion later, and that's where it becomes difficult for employers to safely decide to hire that person. There are studios that use Maya for FX, however I personally feel Maya is a bit dated on the FX side (other areas I love Maya). 3DS Max and houdini I feel are the strongest for FX these days. Again, it really depends WHERE you are applying - London for instance is more Houdini/Maya. LA is more Houdini and Max etc. If you have specific questions - shoot me an email, I will be happy to help where I can ([e-mail]) I think the biggest question is where do you want to work. Once you can answer that, everything becomes easy. Because it doesn't matter what software is popular, or what you should or shouldn't focus on.

[@MirceaGoia]

Another excellent and practical video!

[@MegaLagman]

oh wow!! Allan, huge thanks for your job! I literally did that: like hey, my name is kate, this is what i do and link. I was completely sure that hr or art leads will hire by having a look at portfolio and additional text is waste of time for them. But recently after receiving quite a lot refusals for application without interview or test assignment, i started to think why it could be :D will try to implement your advice and see how it will go :)

[@jellsart]

Hey Allan, thank you for sharing all your knowledge. I was there in Paris to your talk. It was awesome. I will be back in Paris in 1 Week for the MasterClass. I hope to see you there. Have a good day.

[@sabz0934]

Hell lot of tips to break the doors, Thanks again actually I need this because now I am wrapping the stuff in reel that I learn in fxtdt mentor program.

[@AllanMcKay]

That's great brother, can't wait to see the reel :)

[@paulharrison3522]

Thanks Allan, I'm guilty of messing this up as well and need to address it - this advice will help big time! Cheers

[@AllanMcKay]

Well your reel is pretty killer now brother :)

[@paulharrison3522]

Cheers! Definitely wouldn't be where it is without your help and guidance. FXTD and the LAS mentorship is amazing!

[@tyronemackayTV]

Great info thanks ;D

[@jimmay8627]

It would be interesting to see how this advice might change in 2024, in the era of AI-based screening systems.

[@hyraxist]

I went to the site just realised there are no email scripts just a link to download the video. I wish I knew that in advance.

[@NodeNest]

Thank you soo much for this!!!

[@AllanMcKay]

No problem, thank you! I'll be putting together an actual 'over the shoulder' tutorial on this soon going through how to craft one from scratch. But if you have any questions let me know. Thanks again!

[@cellacyben101]

Awesome!

[@imrenagy8122]

Thanks Allan.

[@AllanMcKay]

Thank you Imre :)

[@ayubeshaik5484]

Allan McKay

[@kamalganwani]

great video

[@tlabd9582]

Hey Allan, what should I write if I have to apply directly through the website? Some bigger studios have multiple recruiters, and I don't know if I should address it to only one person when I don't even know who's gonna read my letter. Do u have any advice? Thank you!

[@manishkumarkamal906]

Hello Sir, How can a fresher get job in fx (in studios) ?

[@AllanMcKay]

Hi Manish I'd say check out episode one of the podcast first www.allanmckay.com/1/ and then come back with questions? I'll be happy to answer any questions you have but that would be a good starting resource

[@3dvfxjpwala679]

Hi Allen my name is Jitendra I m big fan ..your tutorial is awesome ..I vfx arist ..I m master in 3d max particles .fume fx .ray fire..and any plugins ...

[@jaskaran765]

U do a vfx course or another

[@DanUrbano]

Man, who the f dislike this? haha

[@AllanMcKay]

haha - I hadn't actually looked. I guess to each their own. I do feel that a lot of these types of subjects are heavily overlooked. There's always some people who are too focused on "If I just learn zbrush better, that is all I need to land a job". which is exactly the reason I've put more focused on these subjects, because it's so critical to be able to convey yourself in the right light. But not all my stuff is for everyone, and not always the right time in their career. I think there's loads of great material out there that I've overlooked - and then later in my career realized was the missing link to getting XYZ result I had been chasing for years. Hopefully this is one that serves that purpose for others! Thanks for the comment,I laughed out loud when I read it haha

[@parikhvedant]

Hie sir please please please let me interview you this is the exact kinda thing i wanna discuss with you on my channel sir please

[@coffeediction]

What's the point of saying "Im not looking for a job" if people who watch this presentation ARE looking for a job, why avoid the truth?

[@jaskaran765]

Hey allan can I vfx job in Hollywood after vfx job

[@prashantverma9628]

Hello Allan, thank you for providing so much free knowledge, you are amazing. I wanted to reach out to ask you for pdf in one of your mail :' Here's a PDF email script for approaching studios for work' you sent on dec2014. I still have the mail but unfortunately link has expired. If you can send the link here as a comment or email [e-mail] I would absolutely love it. If you actually do I will literally tell all my friends that I got a reply from you. And if you don't it's all right I understand. Thank you! :) Ps: you're awesome.

[@rephayersecondchannel]

Oh uhm my dog died after 3 years fighting against cancer... btw I am a vfx artist please let me join your team.... xD wtf who did this?

[@rephayersecondchannel]

I love your deep sarcasm :D keep it up dude

[@jaskaran765]

Ofter vfx course