1. Self-Reflection - First and foremost we would like to invite you to ask and answer the following questions to yourself:

 

• Why do I truly want to work as a creature actor? Is it because it’s the current hype? Is it because I see it as an additional way to earn? Is it truly the dream for me?

• How much do I know about the industry and what is required?

• Do I have the level and multiple skills that meet the demands of a creature actor within the industry?

• If I'm not offering more than what’s out there or something different to others, why should I be hired? Especially if they already have the skills and the necessary relationships for future work.

• What am I doing in my spare time to develop my career?

• What sacrifices am I willing to make to give focus and time to develop a career within this part of the industry?

• Where and how can I meet and connect with like-minded people?

• How can I add value to the industry?

 

There are tons of more questions you can ask yourself, but these questions should help get you started on your journey.
 

 

Asking for opportunities / Reaching out to potential clients!
 

2. Performance Reel - It is a downer when a performer reaches out to us about wanting to join our network but hasn’t done research on our company, doesn’t have a physical performance reel, or sends us reels that are not related to what we do. If you are confident to ask for working opportunities, it is very, very important to first develop a reel of the skills related to potential clients you are reaching out to. We can not stress how important it is to ensure you have a reel at hand. It does not have to be work from a production or the video quality of a cinematic camera, it can be videos of you training or making up stuff in your back garden. BUT YOU NEED A REEL (at least a minute’s worth).

 

3. Training & Networking - Taking up courses by industry experts and going to the right events to network, increases your opportunity of obtaining work. Remember, you want to have the required skills but you also need to be seen by the right people.

 

4. Motion Capture Opportunities - as a lot of creature acting comes from using motion capture, connect with motion capture studios local to you and get in contact and express what you want to do and if you could be used as a test dummy. Use LinkedIn as a platform to connect with industry professionals working in that field, and when you connect with them, ensure to have video content/CV to share your skills to spark a conversation. Don’t be afraid to send a DM asking for advice, but remember - HAVE A REEL AT HAND.
 

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Creating your own opportunities / Making potential clients come to you!

 

5. Social Media/Content Creation - Create non-stop content of your skills for Social Media, let the world know who you are. Get as many people looking. Add, tag and collab, join groups that discuss and share posts on the part of the industry you want to get into. Think of content that is attractive, content that others are not doing, content that inspires. We are in a world where one post could change your life and having followers has always been a currency. This may result in potential clients reaching out to you, which means you have more say when negotiating fees/contracts. Once you start BE CONSISTENT!

 

6. Create Your Own Opportunities - One way of doing this is from buying your own mocap equipment or using A.I video versions like Move A.I to create your own mocap content. This can be costly and very time-consuming, especially learning how to use animation softwares for the first time but as there are not many performers taking this path, it means there, as they say, “There’s a gap in the market”. This increases your chances of earning because depending on what mocap system you use and how advanced you are at using the necessary animation softwares, you’ll be able to offer additional services alongside your performance services. You can also partner up with an animator who is as hungry as you.

 

 

7. Last but not least, make sure you are not an ASS - You can have all the skills and all the popularity, but if you are hard to work in any shape or way, the news will get around fast. Because 9 times out of 10, everyone knows everyone!