Animator Interview (Professionals, please help me out!)

Charles Wilson
Investigative Mechanics Inc, (day job)
Investigative Mechanics: Forensic Animator

Smudge Animation LLC (evenings and weekends)
Smudge Animation: Owner/Animator

-What education and training is needed for this job and/or career area?

I achieved an M.F.A. in Computer Animation from the Rochester Institute of Technology. While said degree wasn’t required to be a forensic animator, it does help to have professional training across a series of software and hardware platforms as well as the basic to advanced skills necessary to tell a story in a format that people can understand. In the end, you could get into this profession with nothing more than a little computer experience and some weekend classes that provide certifications on reconstruction animation software, but I wouldn’t recommend it. The ‘school of hard knocks’ can really limit how far you can progress within organizations. As much as we might wish otherwise, a college degree opens doors for opportunities and advancement. That having been said, in the end, talent and hard work are absolutely necessary. This is a field where precision is the absolute and if you screw up or take artistic liberties, at best, it could land you in contempt of court. At worst, your career is over.

-How did you decide on this particular career area?

My father is a cause-and-origins investigator working mainly in vehicles (cars, trucks, construction equipment, boats, generators, farm equipment, etc). So, it seemed natural to use my degree to help him explain technical concepts to non-technical juries.

-Are there any required certificates or licenses for this job?

No, however there are a plethora of certificates that you can get which will make your job easier. Certification on Adobe’s Video Production suites is recommended as well as any 3d or 2d animation software you use for your job (Maya, Carrara, 3DSMax). And if you work with a forensic-specific program—like VistaFX, then the usual three-day training course is recommended. I’d also recommend taking business/accounting courses, CAD/modeling courses, English writing courses and any additional courses that relate to what you’ll be animating: building construction, accident reconstruction, auto mechanics, etc. When you’re presenting a film in a deposition, the opposing council likes to grill you about your background to make sure you’re considered an ‘expert’ in your field and will look for any opportunity to have you recused as a witness. They’re in it to win, y’know?

-How are technology/computers used in this job? Is there any other equipment that you need to learn to use?

I use computers almost exclusively in my animations. It’s all about using the right tool for the job, so don’t lock yourself into one platform exclusively. Some judges will only allow a 2d animation, some will allow 3d, some will allow video. It's really not about what computer or software you use, rather it's about what the end product will be. Also, you have to consider what is the best medium to relate the facts of the case. I’ve used Flash to do basic 2d accident reconstructions as well as industry standard 2d animation software. For 3d reconstructions, I’ve used Daz Cararra and I’ve used Maya. It really depends on the case. When it comes to video editing and DVD production though, I usually stick to Adobe Premiere and Adobe Encore. They’re powerful programs for the price and they get the job done reliably.

-What High School courses would help to prepare for this job?

Mechanical drafting was very helpful. So were basic computer courses, especially those that teach you to two-hand type rapidly and those that teach spreadsheet and PowerPoint presentation skills. If your school offers art classes (drawing and filmmaking) and scriptwriting classes, take them. Learn how to draw legibly. You don’t have to produce Disney quality drawings, but people do have to know what you’ve just drawn. And don’t be afraid to do a directed independent study. Look into the school’s audio/video club if they have one. It’s a good way to get your hands on some basic A/V equipment—you will be presenting your films on a wide range of equipment! Also, I highly recommend taking a Dale Carnegie course or getting involved with an organization like ToastMasters or even the debate team. You won’t spend all your time sitting in front of a computer. There’s a lot of reading depositions/accident reports followed up with phone calls, interviews, and face time with clients. You have to be able to communicate with people in a friendly, professional manner. You will have many opportunities to present information, so if you’re afraid of public speaking, do whatever it takes to get over it. I recommend Dale Carnegie and ToastMasters because they are safe, non-threatening environments that help you build your skills through experience. This is a field where good networking skills will get you jobs down the line. You don’t have to like everyone that you meet, but you do have to work with them. The annoying guy who you helped last year on the $500 job could be the guy who brings you that $40,000 job this year. Be polite to everyone. Lastly, good English skills are a must, so go heavy on the English grammar and writing classes. Learn proper grammar and know how to spell (or at least how to use a spell checker). This is a professional ‘suit-and-tie’ kind of world that I work in and they expect you to do things in certain ways.

-What hours do you normally work?

9a to 6p, with the understanding that I’ll work later or earlier should the need arise. That’s pretty much the standard for the corporate world.

-What problems can arise on a job like this?

Lack of information is really the worst thing that you face. Many cases will have incomplete or incorrect intel. Either the Police Officer/Fireman who is on scene didn’t gather the information that you need to do your job, or they didn’t gather the information correctly (nothing against police or firemen, they just have a lot to do in very a high-stress situation, and since they don’t work for you, you can’t set guidelines for them to follow). In rare cases, you’ll be called upon to prove that people are falsifying information. In other cases, you’ll have to reconstruct an accident from an incident that occurred years in the past and the evidence only exists in a couple of photographs. If you’re smart, you’ll work with multiple investigators: the one who is running the case and several support investigators who will check and recheck your animations to make sure that you are representing the incident correctly and fairly based upon the available evidence. Also, make detailed procedures and lists before you go on site. I’ve only forgotten vital equipment once. You learn from your mistakes real fast or you don’t last long. Having detailed procedures on what you’re supposed to look for at a crime scene can prevent you from missing important information.

-What types of teamwork or collaboration do you do?

I work very closely with investigators. They figure out why the accident happened. Then it’s up to me to present/translate their technical knowledge (and reports) in such a way that the layperson can understand what happened. However, it’s normal for me to accompany them into the field and help with the investigation—whether it’s sifting through wreckage, extracting data from onboard computers, or helping them reconstruct an accident. If you’re out of shape or expect to spend the rest of your career behind a computer, this probably isn’t the job for you. You’ve got to be flexible.

-What is the salary range for this job? What are the benefits and perks? (If you're not comfortable sharing, what is the salary for an entry level position in this field?)

Salary is really measured by experience, degree, and certification. Starting is usually in the $30-$40K range, but I’ve seen much higher salaries. It really depends on where you work. I make a healthy salary and get profit sharing/bonus depending on the job and how much we bill out. But, I’ve also been doing this for over ten years, have an MFA and certifications, live in the Midwest, and work at the family business, so others may vary depending on experience, education, and cost of living in their geographical region. If you look at the graphics artists guild handbook, the salary ranges for television and film animators are comparable.

-List Positive aspects of this job:

You get the chance to help people and work in your field. It really gives you a feeling that you did your job right when your film got the widow that multi-million dollar settlement that will help her take care of herself and her kids. Also, since I’m animating in a very technical aspect of my profession (read that: non-art related), I don’t have a problem coming home and working for a couple of hours on an artistic film or freelancing through my Smudge Animation business. Burnout for me has been very rare. It’s pretty easy to come home, have dinner, and then just flow right into my personal films or any contract work that I’ve picked up. You’re also the rare bird at the zoo when you go to festivals. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve been waiting in line at an animation festival, had someone turn to me and say ‘so what do you do for a living?’ and had a crowd gather around me when I start talking about my job.

-List Negative aspects of this job:

You will see your fair share of people with ‘questionable motives’ and ‘best intentions’ along with acts of outright stupidity, so you HAVE to have a way to let off steam. You get exposed to a lot of senseless death and destruction. The stories you hear about a company who ‘wants to save a couple pennies by using an inferior car part that caused a fire and burned to death a husband who left behind a wife and kids’ are unfortunately true. I’ve worked on cases where people are just being careless (eating while driving, talking on cell phones, just in a hurry) and it cost the lives of innocent bystanders. And sometimes, everyone did everything right and bad things still happened. This can be a very emotionally draining job. So, you have to learn how to compartmentalize things and deal with the bad stuff in manageable chunks. Dad works on elaborate flowerbeds at his house. Mom quilts. I channel emotions into my personal animations. If you don’t find some healthy coping mechanism, this job can really eat you up inside.

-What are six personal characteristics needed for this job?

Honesty, precision, very good communication skills, persistence/endurance, a determination to seek the truth no matter where it leads, and the courage to stand your ground against anyone who tries to get you to compromise your integrity. Oh and you can be expected to go on site and take lots of measurements, photographs, and film—so get in shape and learn how to ignore adverse weather conditions!

-Describe the activites/responsibilities performed in this job.

Lots of research and writing before you even think about animating that film. There’s this whole ‘CSI’ mythos that surrounds my job. And I’m sure that there are people out there who do work like what you see on television, but I’ve never seen it come across my desk. Judges are very concerned with films/animations that are so photorealistic that they could prejudice the jury. So your job begins by obtaining and reading the police/fire reports. Then you look at accident photos. You’ll sometimes drive to the accident scene and film the scene along with landmarks and/or you’ll send a crew out there to get precise measurements. Then the investigator will tell you what happened and detail out the physical evidence and hard facts that support their theory. At that point, you’ll write a script and go back and forth with the investigator until you’ve got their facts straight and provide a non-prejudicial view of what happened. After that, it really follows the standard filmmaking process: storyboards, sound recording (if any), animatic, animating, making any corrections, then post-production. And in the end, it is up to the judge to decide if all your hard work will be shown in his/her courtroom.

-Is this a position with a good outlook for the future?

Absolutely! I’m honestly surprised that more people aren’t doing this job. Ben Franklin once said that you should be a ‘jack-of-all-trades and a master of one.’* Meaning, you should know a little about a lot of things and a lot about one thing. But, times change, and people change with them. The trend towards highly computerized, fuel-efficient vehicles and alternate fuel vehicles shows no signs of slowing. So as objects in our lives get more and more technical, and people become more and more specialized in their personal knowledge, it falls upon people like us to bridge the ever-widening gap between the layperson and the expert.

* You often see Ben Franklin misquoted as ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none,’ but he actually said ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of one’. Again, his implication was, you should know a little about a lot of things and a lot about one thing. My job takes me way outside my field of expertise on a daily basis so you are always learning!

- I'm also supposed to get a signature but I don't see that happening over the internet. Thank you so much for taking the time to help me out, I really appreciate it!

No problem. PM me your school’s address and the teacher you’re doing this project for and I’ll send you a print out of this interview on company letterhead and signed/dated (care of your teacher).

- Also, does anyone have any ideas on how I could go about finding an animator in my area to job shadow? I tried using the career connections on the awn site but it involves paying in order to get information. I'm stumped

I’d start here:

http://www.productionhub.com/directory/listings.asp?section_id=7&cat_id=132&state_id=3191

then Google animation companies in your location until you find something.

Hey, can I use your information on my homework too since, I have to find an animator to interview on my career interview paper. As well as I need your email for proof that I got this source from. 

Okay, here's the deal: I don't visit this forum often and I don't receive any notifications for responses to this thread--especially since it's nine years old. As there are now three students who have asked to use this info, please allow me to state the following:

"I hereby give permission to any student to use the answers I have provided in this thread for their class projects."

Any further questions can be directed to me and I'll be happy to respond to them as I have available time. My contact info can be found on my websites: www.smudge.biz and www.womenanimators.info

Thank you.