- Fourthings™ - edited this post 2 months, 1 week ago. Read the previous text »
I have a dilemma. Your input required please.
This has been depressing and keeping me awake. Ima try to make this simple, here are my options.
Take the 34,000 euro my mother has offered me to go to Vancouver Film School to study 3d Animation and Visual Effects. Live in a city I despise for about 10 years, but gain the best education for what I do in the world. I’d have access to the VFS job board and be able to get myself a very good job, with the likes of Pixar or EA Games. 12 hour days of study with countless hours of study aswell as that, I could easily be in the college for 72 consecutive hours. Working in the industry for the years after that will be equally as unsociable hours. So this would be seriously risking my relationship with my gf. That is, if she can even get to Vancouver (or wants to) while I study/work. (we’re already in a long distance relationship, me in Ireland, her in Oregon).
Or
Go to Australia with my gf, get any old job I can find at first, and live there for a year to two years as I work on my showreel, to attempt to get a full (or as full as possible) scholarship to VFS and apply for work in my industry. I may never end up going to VFS this way and may never have the great career I want. Me and my gf could live here not too difficultly for a long time, but she doesn’t particularly want to live in Australia. Also, I’m an Australian citizen.
Ima do 5 pros and cons of each (edited, couldn’t think of 10 pros for Canada :p)
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Canada
Pros
• I would gain excellent connections in my industry and a very good career.
• I’d be in an environment doing what I love, with the best of equipment.
• I’d gain invaluable years of experience with great companies and work on exciting movies/shows/games.
• I’d be realizing my dream/goal.
• Even if I failed, I could die knowing I tried.
Cons
• I’d more then likely lose mt gf, or at least seriously damage our relationship.
• I’d hate living there, possibly become depressed again or live a very stressful life, or both.
• I wouldn’t get a break/quiet life until I retire.
• I could succumb to the ever present temptation of crack on the streets (there is ALLOT in Vancouver).
• I would never feel at home in Vancouver, and never forget I’m burdening my family with a 34,000 euro bill, that would affect their standard of life. That could be quite a downer.
*****************************************************************
Australia
Pros
• Australia was my first home, the only place I ever felt at home, I could be content there.
• I would still be following my dream, but on my own, making it more rewarding if I succeed.
• I’d be fulfilling a plan I always had since we moved to Ireland.
• Me and my gf could be together, at least for awile.
• I could study in Australia, although there are no colleges that come close to VFS, nor have the same career opportunities.
Cons
• I could end up stuck in Australia, with a bad job, in a bad area.
• I could still lose my gf, or she may become unhappy living in a place she doesn’t want to live in.
• Australia may not be what I remember, I might not find the home I’m looking for.
• I could fail at finding a job, and end up coming back to Ireland.
• I could forever regret the decision, I could lose the motivation to go to VFS, or not get the scholarship, and get too old.
__________________
So there ya go, this is depressing me more and more each day. Living in Australia for a year and then going to VFS and asking my mother to pay is not an option fyi. Also, I dunno if I can even get the money together to get to Australia…
- Fourthings™ - edited this post 2 months, 1 week ago. Read the previous text »
I have a dilemma. Your input required please.
This has been depressing and keeping me awake. Ima try to make this simple, here are my options.
Take the 34,000 euro my mother has offered me to go to Vancouver Film School to study 3d Animation and Visual Effects (http://vfs.com/fulltime.php?id=7#/alumni/0/ ). Live in a city I despise for about 10 years, but gain the best education for what I do in the world. I’d have access to the VFS job board and be able to get myself a very good job, with the likes of Pixar or EA Games. 12 hour days of study with countless hours of study aswell as that, I could easily be in the college for 72 consecutive hours. Working in the industry for the years after that will be equally as unsociable hours. So this would be seriously risking my relationship with my gf. That is, if she can even get to Vancouver (or wants to) while I study/work. (we’re already in a long distance relationship, me in Ireland, her in Oregon).
Or
Go to Australia with my gf, get any old job I can find at first, and live there for a year to two years as I work on my showreel, to attempt to get a full (or as full as possible) scholarship to VFS and apply for work in my industry. I may never end up going to VFS this way and may never have the great career I want. Me and my gf could live here not too difficultly for a long time, but she doesn’t particularly want to live in Australia. Also, I’m an Australian citizen.
Ima do 5 pros and cons of each (edited, couldn’t think of 10 pros for Canada :p)
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Canada
Pros
• I would gain excellent connections in my industry and a very good career.
• I’d be in an environment doing what I love, with the best of equipment.
• I’d gain invaluable years of experience with great companies and work on exciting movies/shows/games.
• I’d be realizing my dream/goal.
• Even if I failed, I could die knowing I tried.
Cons
• I’d more then likely lose mt gf, or at least seriously damage our relationship.
• I’d hate living there, possibly become depressed again or live a very stressful life, or both.
• I wouldn’t get a break/quiet life until I retire.
• I could succumb to the ever present temptation of crack on the streets (there is ALLOT in Vancouver).
• I would never feel at home in Vancouver, and never forget I’m burdening my family with a 34,000 euro bill, that would affect their standard of life. That could be quite a downer.
*****************************************************************
Australia
Pros
• Australia was my first home, the only place I ever felt at home, I could be content there.
• I would still be following my dream, but on my own, making it more rewarding if I succeed.
• I’d be fulfilling a plan I always had since we moved to Ireland.
• Me and my gf could be together, at least for awile.
• I could study in Australia, although there are no colleges that come close to VFS, nor have the same career opportunities.
Cons
• I could end up stuck in Australia, with a bad job, in a bad area.
• I could still lose my gf, or she may become unhappy living in a place she doesn’t want to live in.
• Australia may not be what I remember, I might not find the home I’m looking for.
• I could fail at finding a job, and end up coming back to Ireland.
• I could forever regret the decision, I could lose the motivation to go to VFS, or not get the scholarship, and get too old.
__________________
So there ya go, this is depressing me more and more each day. Living in Australia for a year and then going to VFS and asking my mother to pay is not an option fyi. Also, I dunno if I can even get the money together to get to Australia…
You frogot the third option of doing nothing and staying in Ireland. Did you consider that? Not that I’m saing that’s what you should do, but it just occcured to me.
I’m going to say go to canada, you may not like it but it is the best place for your stuff, then go to australia
- Fourthings™ - edited this post 2 months, 1 week ago. Read the previous text »
I have a dilemma. Your input required please.
This has been depressing and keeping me awake. Ima try to make this simple, here are my options.
Take the 34,000 euro my mother has offered me to go to Vancouver Film School to study 3d Animation and Visual Effects ( http://vfs.com/fulltime.php?id=7#/alu... ). Live in a city I despise for about 10 years, but gain the best education for what I do in the world. I’d have access to the VFS job board and be able to get myself a very good job, with the likes of Pixar or EA Games. 12 hour days of study with countless hours of study aswell as that, I could easily be in the college for 72 consecutive hours. Working in the industry for the years after that will be equally as unsociable hours. So this would be seriously risking my relationship with my gf. That is, if she can even get to Vancouver (or wants to) while I study/work. (we’re already in a long distance relationship, me in Ireland, her in Oregon).
Or
Go to Australia with my gf, get any old job I can find at first, and live there for a year to two years as I work on my showreel, to attempt to get a full (or as full as possible) scholarship to VFS and apply for work in my industry. I may never end up going to VFS this way and may never have the great career I want. Me and my gf could live here not too difficultly for a long time, but she doesn’t particularly want to live in Australia. Also, I’m an Australian citizen.
Ima do 5 pros and cons of each (edited, couldn’t think of 10 pros for Canada :p)
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Canada
Pros
• I would gain excellent connections in my industry and a very good career.
• I’d be in an environment doing what I love, with the best of equipment.
• I’d gain invaluable years of experience with great companies and work on exciting movies/shows/games.
• I’d be realizing my dream/goal.
• Even if I failed, I could die knowing I tried.
Cons
• I’d more then likely lose mt gf, or at least seriously damage our relationship.
• I’d hate living there, possibly become depressed again or live a very stressful life, or both.
• I wouldn’t get a break/quiet life until I retire.
• I could succumb to the ever present temptation of crack on the streets (there is ALLOT in Vancouver).
• I would never feel at home in Vancouver, and never forget I’m burdening my family with a 34,000 euro bill, that would affect their standard of life. That could be quite a downer.
*****************************************************************
Australia
Pros
• Australia was my first home, the only place I ever felt at home, I could be content there.
• I would still be following my dream, but on my own, making it more rewarding if I succeed.
• I’d be fulfilling a plan I always had since we moved to Ireland.
• Me and my gf could be together, at least for awile.
• I could study in Australia, although there are no colleges that come close to VFS, nor have the same career opportunities.
Cons
• I could end up stuck in Australia, with a bad job, in a bad area.
• I could still lose my gf, or she may become unhappy living in a place she doesn’t want to live in.
• Australia may not be what I remember, I might not find the home I’m looking for.
• I could fail at finding a job, and end up coming back to Ireland.
• I could forever regret the decision, I could lose the motivation to go to VFS, or not get the scholarship, and get too old.
__________________
So there ya go, this is depressing me more and more each day. Living in Australia for a year and then going to VFS and asking my mother to pay is not an option fyi. Also, I dunno if I can even get the money together to get to Australia…
ima give you the straight **** pal, i fell in love with my first wife and spent all the money i had saved up 6 years of being in the army which was about 30 grand on cars buying all new furniture instead of coming home single and maybe going to school or following whatever dream i had back then, end result, after 7 years we divorced and i had squat, nada to this day i often wonder what would have happened if i would have went the other way. to live to die to wonder how i got so f*cked up. haha :D good luck on your decision.
i say get the education, the work you looking for ‘ 3d Animation and Visual Effects ‘
is not in high demand in australia, and also ask you gf what she whonts, after the schooling, i just know the will be somthing that can get you to australia.
where did you live in australia, if you don’t mind me asking?
Well, something else I should add. My Mother can’t really afford this, I mean this will affect their lives quite a bit, it’s not as simple as just taking the free education.
well thats what i whold do, i whold pay it back as i got the money.
but as thay say ‘its your life, live it!’
I lived in Bunbury, a small town south of Perth on the West Coast. There is work for 3d artists in Sydney and Melbourne, anywhere where there is television advertisement or video game production there’s work for 3d artists.
well, i musent have looked hard enuf. =\
STE3L invited 3 users to read this post 2 months, 1 week ago.
STE3L invited 3 users to read this post 2 months, 1 week ago.
Anonymous
#
2 months, 1 week ago (24 minutes after post)
IF you have more of a chance at succeeding in the job that you want by going to Canada, then I think that you should do it.
reasons:
You’ll always wonder if you don’t.
You’ll get a lot out of it career-wise.
You’ll need to avoid drugs no matter where you go.
You could lose your gf even if you went to Australia.
Your gf might want to move with you bc you said that she isn’t happy there either.
You could both end up really liking it.
If in ten yrs you don’t like it, you can always move and still be able to get into the field that you want, and will still have contacts within the field.
Even if the gf doesn’t go, you can still have really good conversations. There are so many programs on the computer that can help to keep you connected (like skype, and emails and such. I really don’t know computer things though, so I can’t tell you which ones.)
Good Luck.
There some good points Anon, thankies :]
lol jeb, nice encouragement.
despite what jeb had to say i say go to australia, it sounds like you and karen will be much happier there. you may not get the stellar education of vfs. i think u shud study in australia get a degree, and get a job in 3d there eventually. it may not be the best education in the feild, you may not retire by 35 but i think u wud live a much better life there u wud have to humble urself for this four, i mean u always strive for the best but what will that striving really get you in the end (this also goes for the courriering mas talked to u about). i say live a chilled life in oz for a while, see how long u can keep it together with karen and just chill. u may not get as rich as u want but u can be as happy as u wanted. show karen how great australia really can be.
and about jebs comment. (sorry if i offend u jeb but imma just lay it out) ya jeb fell out with his love and was left with nothing, that may happen to you four BUT u have something to fallback on, 3D animation and then continue life as u want to on ur own eh. well i hope u really think out what will make u the happiest (tbh i dont think that is VFS, sounds like too many neagtives for u and there is so much oppritunity in oz). you can always go back to vfs once uve exhausted ur interestsin oz, maybe u cud get a full scholarship by then or even have eneough cash for a part scholarship.
GL bro
i think Canada is good but i wouldnt really know for sure
Good advice Cali, the main reason I worry about studying in Australia, is their 3d courses are the old style academic dealey, even with physics and math :S I fail **** like that. I’m good at the hands-on doing ****, VFS is all practical with a minimal amount of theory.
This decision isn’t getting any easier :p
Anonymous
#
2 months, 1 week ago (39 minutes after post)
:) You’re welcome.
Let me see what others I can think of:
There really aren’t poisonous snakes in Canada.
Very very few sharks near the coasts.
If you finished school, you wouldn’t feel so guilty about your family helping you bc you could get a GOOD job and have enough money to pay them back.
You would set yourself up for success which will be good for your financial future. It might be good for your future children/spouse to feel security of knowing that you will have an education behind you so that you can help to support them.
I hope that this really helps. I’d be freaked out by the snakes. That’d be reason enough for me not to go to Australia, LOL.
Anonymous wrote:
I’d be freaked out by the snakes. That’d be reason enough for me not to go to Australia, LOL.
just remember that the snakes dont live in the main street
hmm i see, much like my situation with being a machinist. you are much more free in oz, build up ur portfolio to get a job in 3D without college maybe.
as i said before: u have more freedom and more options in oz
Cali: freedom in ur head too with the 34k from mom
Cali: and if u do take the 34 and go for a year
Cali: were u get the money for next year if u dont get a scholarship?
Cali: and what good will that one year do u
Cali: dude srsly lap up the good times in life while u can
were will u get the money for the second year of vfs if u dont get a scholarship. u will have much more time to become more eligible for the scholarship if u go to oz neways. also, i think ur better off in oz neways
in the end you will know whats best for urself, i may have fantasized about autralia a bit for u
Well if it’s a decision based on just the countries Australia would win hands down, snakes or no snakes :p
Vfs is just on year, but worth more then any degree or masters on the planet in the same industry.
Also I forgot to mention, staying in Ireland is not an option cos I hate it here and I can’t be with my gf, and there is zero future for me. Plus there’s no work here
- Fourthings™ - wrote:
Well if it’s a decision based on just the countries Australia would win hands down, snakes or no snakes :p
Vfs is just on year, but worth more then any degree or masters on the planet in the same industry.
Also I forgot to mention, staying in Ireland is not an option cos I hate it here and I can’t be with my gf, and there is zero future for me. Plus there’s no work here
theres work in paris, ubesoft has a studio there.
This reply has been removed.
Hmm, I really have no idea what to do, so many mixed answers. She’s said she thinks Australia is best, I would have thought she’d say Vancouver. Anyway, Ima lay it to rest for awile, I don’t seem to be able to make a decision. Thanks for your replies :]
as absolutely little as my advice is worth to you anymore, I say canada.
if 3D art work is your dream, then go to the school that is going to give you the best chance at getting the job. if you can take the best, then take it.
before you hated canada your entire life was about getting to that school. dont let one bad experiance **** up the rest of your life and chance at getting the dream you want.
its obviously still a dream, something that you really want to do, otherwise youd already be in australia and this wouldnt be such a hard decision. btw, work there is incredibly scarce right now, as it is here, unless youre willing to live maloolabungadungtown and work sheep.
vancouver is a massive city. im sure theres one area you could find to live in that wouldnt make you vomit every day.
oregon is not that far from canada. certainly less distance than you have now.
i hate where im living, where i moved for school. but if you keep the focus on what youre going to get at the end of it all, then its doable.
for once, think about yourself. just as yourself, and not as part of a relationship. think about your own happiness. do what makes YOU happy, what YOU want to do. like youre always telling everyone else to do. dont let a bad thing that happened colour the rest of your life and put you at a disadvantage.
This reply has been removed.
… I just had a thought.
Any body remember “CandP”. Good old Carol and Paul. The most stable 2 people you’ll ever meet.
Well - when B and I stayed with them for our wedding in Vegas they gave us really good tips on married life. One of them was that you constantly have to think about the other half. Think about it … “I’ll just go down the shops to get milk” - you didn’t think. You get back and other-half says “I was worried. You’d disappeared! And now you have milk but we also needed bread.” Makes sense?
So. In all of this, I see what Four wants to do. What would benefit Four (of which, Canada still sounds like the better option for your dream/goal) but I don’t really see any of Nyx’s dreams.
What does Nyx want? What are Nyx’s dreams? Where does Nyx want to live?
Its obvious you guys have a connection :) Have you spoken to her about this?
[Wewt for playing advocate]
Courtybubble ~ That is good advice, I prolly should let go of the past and give Vancouver a second chance eh. Lately I’ve lost allot of the optimism and motive I once had. Now I feel like I just want a quiet boring life for awile, I’m tired of pursuing my dream. But I would imagine the quiet life get’s boring, fast. My sis is living in Melbourne atm, she claims life is good there, and work is ok. Things are so abysmal here tho it has to be better.
Jerry ~ I would love to talk film sometime. Also if you have any advice on good films schools in Australia I’d appreciate it. I would love to drop everything and go to VFS, but I’d have the guilt of costing my family 34k euro on my shoulders the entire time, and be stuck in a city I despise, constantly trying to dodge the crackheads that already know me…
Ditzy ~ Nyx doesn’t know what she wants, nor is she sure of her dreams, nor does she know where she wants to live. All I know is she’d be miserable in Downtown Vancouver, and she’s already told me she would rather not live in Australia. I’ve made it clear that I will not make a decision that doesn’t take her feelings/desires into account, but she’s provided me no scenario that would make her happy. So I really don’t know what to do there.
This decision is only getting harder, as the replies are so mixed. If I could have my cake and eat it, I would go to Aus for a year or less, then go to VFS and get it done. Maybe I should review the plausibility of this plan.
Thank you to everyone who’s replied, I appreciate it :] And by all means keep them coming, any input helps.
Anonymous
#
2 months, 1 week ago (15 hours, 10 minutes after post)
Have you researched what things each city has to offer for you, for your gf and for any children that you may have? I don’t know where you would look, maybe tourism websites, to search for things like schools, sports, recreation, hobbies, religious services (if needed). Go look at top news stories of the year for each place. It will tell you the pros and cons pretty quickly. I’m thinking that if each of you can see all of the other things that these places have to offer, it may make it easier to make a decision.
why dont u ask nyx what she wants/what will make her happiest
Cali Dispensable wrote:
why dont u ask nyx what she wants/what will make her happiest
He has. I don’t know which option I would prefer, either. I’ve gone through periods of leaving towards Vancouver followed by periods of leaning towards Australia.
For me, I have never been one to take any kinds of life altering risks that would either improve me forever or simply bring me misery and regret. Now obviously, I don’t feel I’ve accomplished near as much as I would like and I am almost to the point now where I see anything risking to be pleasant for the sheer fact that my mundane life has become quite unpleasant. I am left to wonder whether this job I have been holding for 3 years has been worth my time and potential or has it just been something to keep me afloat in all of the troubling circumstances. Going to school means very much to me but I hate having to work that **** of a job and see those ugly faces with their arrogant smiles. School is dependent on my paycheck. That is the only reason I keep it.
But I digress and I apologize for the personal rant. I’d say go to Australia Four. It’s better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.
I would say go for VFS.
I say this from similar personal experience. I’ve lived in France for the last year studying and me and my boyfriend stayed together, doing the long distance thing. I have now returned to France to work here for a year. I decided to end it with my boyfriend a few weeks before I moved. It was the hardest decision I’ve almost ever had to make but for me it has been the right one. (As much as I miss everything about him and our relationship.)
At the end of the day, when it comes to education and career, I personally believe you have to do what is in you own best interests to better yourself and ensure that your future is all that it possibly can be.
I know that relationships are about two people and their feelings and joint decisions etc but I think you would regret not going to VFS.
You can go to Australia after VFS.
If it’s only one year there I think you will be able to manage living in Vancouver, even if you hate it so much.
If your relationship is meant to last then it will and your girlfriend would be able to understand that you need to persue your dream by going to VFS.
And about the money, if your parents are willing to pay that much for you to acheive your dream job then they are brilliant. Don’t worry about their finisncial problems, they wouldn’t offer if they really couldn’t afford it. Just make sure you pay them back when you have the amazing career you want. Lol.
Hope I’ve helped in some way,
Good luck,
Jamiee -x-
Mills ~ You made a good point. I have to say tho, I grew up in Australia, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been there, and I grew up on the West Coast, I had been planning to go to the East. I was in Vancouver in February, got to know it extremely fast, I got to know the worst parts of it extremely fast, I’m on a first name basis with most of the crackheads and dealers in downtown Vancouver, one of the main reasons I don’t want to live there. So oddly enough, Vancouver is prolly the devil I know better of the two.
Jamiee ~ My instant reaction to reading your reply was that you made the wrong decision, if you say you miss him and your relationship then how on earth could it have been worth it, and why not try to find a compromise between your career and him? But I digress… Yes, my Mother has absolutely offered me money she doesn’t have, and my Father does not support her decision at all, but it’s not his decision, as it’s not his money.
Queen Pickle ~ Either way I’ll be a 3d artist, and hopefully either way I’ll end up in VFS.
So then, if I could call you all back again, one last time for your advice…
Here’s what I’m thinking I apply now for VFS, so I’d be starting around August next year, and then go to Melbourne and save/apply for scholarships and sponsorships, and then move to Vancouver next year. Do you think that would be foolish? I risk losing the chance to go to VFS at all, but I simply could not happily, with a clear conscience, go to VFS on my mothers dime, which she cannot afford. I would forever be thinking “I could have got that scholarship” because I am really confidant I can.
Anonymous wrote:
Have you researched what things each city has to offer for you, for your gf and for any children that you may have? I don’t know where you would look, maybe tourism websites, to search for things like schools, sports, recreation, hobbies, religious services (if needed). Go look at top news stories of the year for each place. It will tell you the pros and cons pretty quickly. I’m thinking that if each of you can see all of the other things that these places have to offer, it may make it easier to make a decision.
Sorry I missed your reply, I have done extensive research yes, I even went to VFS for an interview. I don’t consider what we’re doing to be permanent emigration so stuff like schools for kids and stuff is irrelevant. Money is our issue.
Anonymous
#
2 months ago (22 hours, 49 minutes after post)
Oh, sorry, I just saw the “10 years” written in your post, so it made sense to thing about things that could possibly happen during that time span for most couples. I hope that it all works out for you. Good Luck!
Well yeah it would make sense for me to stay there for 7-10 years to get rich, but I’m sure as hell not going to settle down in Vancouver, I really truly hate that place.
Nyxotic wrote:
Cali Dispensable wrote:
why dont u ask nyx what she wants/what will make her happiest
He has. I don’t know which option I would prefer, either. I’ve gone through periods of leaving towards Vancouver followed by periods of leaning towards Australia.
nothing else appeals to you? like anywhere in the world? maybe back home even?
Fourthings Pal go and finish your Schooling in Canada.After that with your Talent the World is not your Oyster but you will get recognition and a Decent Job…
I definitely don’t want to stay back home. I wouldn’t mind living in Dublin, but he doesn’t want to stay here and I can understand why so that’s not really an option. I’m optimistic about Vancouver and Australia. I think that whichever one we pick will work out for us. I’m just torn over which one I think would lead to the best results for us and especially Four’s career and dreams. He’s been so focused and working so hard I don’t want to see him burn out or give up. But I don’t know if that means pushing him harder or giving him the time and space that he’s been asking for lately (from the stress, not from me.)
He has a lot on his Plate ..Just give him all the support ….
well, his dream is not in australia. its in vancouver. simple.
your mum wouldnt have offered you the money had she not wanted you to have it shea, you deserve it and your family is there to support you. any guilt you feel over that is really unjustified.
Well, I’m thinking of tryna get to Australia somehow in the meantime, fact is even if I apply right now, I won’t start there until July next year at the earliest. And I need to finish my showreel somewhere I can relax, which isn’t here. Plus there is zero work here. Either way I’m starting to come round to the realization that I have to put VFS first, and suck up any animosity I have towards Vancouver. So thanks again for your advice :]
you know australia is like a blazing inferno death trap in summer. its also full of australians.
lol true, but I am partly Australian, and Melbourne ain’t toooooooo hot, where I grew up got up to 54°C In the summer, either way it’ll beat the year round grey that we get over here.
your argument is irrelevant. its still australia. although the shopping in melbourne is delightful
Four, about three decades ago I was in a similar position to yours, except that I had just received my bachelors degree. I went to a good university, but not to USC. My dilemma was not where to attend school, but whether to leave my city to find work in film in LA or NYC, or to go into tv. I went into tv, which was the safe thing. I worked for four years at a fledgling cable network, CNN.
I have regretted that decision ever since.
Four years later, I did take off, this time on a motorcycle and with no job. I still didn’t head for LA or NYC, just away. I found yet another tv job two days later. Several times since then, every time I made a career move it was without a safety net, leaving a job without another job. Maybe I was compensating for my lack of boldness when I was 21. I always landed on my feet, but never in film, always in tv. The two industries are so different, they’re nearly mutually exclusive.
Now at the age of 50 I’m back in school again, but that’s another story.
My point is this. To go for your dream, you have to take a leap of faith by placing yourself in a location where there are opportunities. BUT.. film school in Vancouver isn’t necessarily the Mecca you’re thinking it is. There are MANY good film schools. Build your skills and your reel in a city with a good film school, network as well as you can (obviously geography isn’t a problem anymore for that), and when you’re actually ready to start your career, then move to a city where you the jobs are.
I visited Vancouver briefly last year, and personally I like the place. Then again, a lot of people say great things about the city where I grew up, and I would never consider moving back there.
If you know crack heads in Vancouver who will likely try to draw you into it, then stay the hell away from there. This is the most basic of basic truths for anyone familiar with NA or AA. Stay away from the old crowd.
Is the financial assistance from your family only available if you attend in Canada? There are other film schools. After you get your diploma, you’re going to fetch coffee and wait tables while you try to get noticed in the industry anyway. You’ll work on minor productions to get your hands on equipment and you’ll work with some lousy actors who are themselves still learning their art. Those are just dues you pay.
Don’t sweat Vancouver.
Does that mean you should move to Australia? I have no idea. But I’ll bet I could throw a dart at a world map, aiming vaguely toward the developed countries, and it would land within a couple of hundred miles of a university that offers a program that will teach you what you need to know.
After reading your post and skimming over other replies (since that is alot of reading heh) my advice is follow what your heart tells you is right. I gave up the college dream A.)Couldn’t afford it, and B.) I was in love with someone. They were the best 4 years of my life too things wound up not working out but we were still pretty young. Now I’m finally married and a mom I still haven’t pursued my career passion yet but I intend to one day when I feel the time is right, but I follow my heart and my heart says I belong with my family with all the laughter I can get instead of stressing about all the what ifs. I don’t regret not going to college, do I intend to like I mentioned yes. I just may be 30 by the time I get to it. Oh well at least I know what I’ve done I’ve experienced alot more than most people I know and I’m not as tied down to 1 thing in my life job/career wise and bored.
Take your time you have your whole life ahead of you, 1 step at a time is all you can do.
That’s probably the best advice I’ve heard yet Sans (no offense everyone else hehe).
The problem I’ve had when looking for good universities that cater to 3d animation and visual effects, is the majority are theory, 3 year degrees where you sit on your *** reading about the industry. VFS are different, in that all their courses are 1 year, 12 month, 12 hour day intensive practical courses. Geared at a professional showreel using professional techniques and the best of equipment. So they teach me to work for Pixar, or EA games, the way Pixar or EA games are working now, with the software and equipment they use. If you know of any universities that offer something similar by all means please let me know.
There is another place in Vancouver that does a similar type of course, 2 in France (taught in French) and one in Italy (taught in Italian) so the latter are out of the question. RMIT in Melbourne is a great film school with a great reputation, but, they offer a 3 year theory course in 3d animation and visual effects that leans heavily on traditional animation (something I’ve already done), it EVEN makes you take a math and physics course, I haven’t done those since I was 16 (I never graduated highschool). Also my traditional drawing and whatnot is weak, my strength is 3d.
My work now emulates that of professional quality work, although, I have no experience in the industry. But it does give me a substantial headstart against other classmates, meaning I could be top of the class, so when the lead art director of EA games is walking around the renderfarm and sees my work standing out, then I too stand out. VFS offers me more career options then any film school I know of.
Juliana Kolakis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzJ3IX… graduated in 2007 and went almost directly to working as a character designer for the mummies in the Mummy 2, she just recently worked on District 9 as a character texture artist. That’s just one example of the springboard directly into some big productions that VFS can offer. Although I’m perfectly willing to eat the meek while I earn my stripes, I did it as a carpenter and I can do it again, you learn some very fundamentally important things during that time.
That comes as a surprise to me that TV and Film are so different, but something I’ll remember.
At the moment I’m still researching various Film Schools around Australia to find any excuse to not go to VFS, but right now it’s looking like the thing to do, crack or no crack, I’ll just have to attempt to deal with it. I’ve always had faith in myself, I’m strong, intelligent and optimistic, so I’m ok with throwing caution into the wind, but not ok with studying on my families dime, while they live a lower standard of life mid-recession, and guys the recession here hit far worse then anywhere I know of.
why, knowing all of that, would you even consider anywhere else then.
and the money is an investment in your future. the jobs you would get after the study in vancouver would easily cover repayments with interest.
sarisa_grimwing ~ I envy your level headed attitude hehe, perhaps I do need to calm down a bit, and try to take things slower, although I feel like I’m about to miss an important opportunity if I don’t act fast.
courtybubble ~ Yeah it’s true I could pay them back, I’m not sure how quickly tho, but yeah it prolly wouldn’t be too long. I’ll consider another college if I find one worth turning down VFS for, which is unlikely.
idk about you anymore then i guess, but i wouldnt have thought youd be happy with second best.
Living Your´s Dreams Men… The person out and in your live.
This account has been deactivated.
Hey Four & Nyx,
Just adding my two cents here…. not sure if my advice will be useful or not.
If I was in your place, I would choose to go to Australia. Look for a decent well paying job (something related to animation if possible). Save money till you can afford the course at VFS. Nyx can study or work.
The money offered by your mum will always come with strings attached. The pride you will feel when you save & make it to VFS on your own, will be incomparable.
I read the cons of this choice but this is the only option where you can sort of have your cake & eat it too. Take the risk, Four. I don’t think you will regret it.
Best of luck for whatever your choice maybe!
Silly.
- Fourthings™ - wrote:
sarisa_grimwing ~ I envy your level headed attitude hehe, perhaps I do need to calm down a bit, and try to take things slower, although I feel like I’m about to miss an important opportunity if I don’t act fast.
It took me a long long long time and many missed opportunities and also many opportunities grabbed to learn to take it at my own pace. I lost alot due to both either seizing or not seizing opportunities and I used to get so stressed about it or ran around like a chicken with my head cut off while trying to figure out what to do, then I learned… It’s up to me what is going to make me happy, not what’s gonna make everyone else happy. Do what I want at my pace, and now since I’m a married mom, I have to take into account those others in my immediate family but as long as I’m not doing anything to hurt my marriage or my daughters future I continue to live by what makes me happy (putting my daughter first of course :P but you catch my drift.)
Anonymous
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2 months ago (1 day, 14 hours after post)
I stopped reading, bc there was just too much written. The only thing that I have left to say is:
:0 54 degress! :0 I’d DIE!
Sounds like Nyx wants you to go to Vancouver. Just saying …
Go reread her reply.
She is just torn because you want both. Sounds to me like you need to put Ozland on the back-burner. Not all of your dreams can be accomplished at once. Go get the studies done. Nyx made it clear she’s going with you, either way.
You’ll just have to keep yourself away from any drugs. Keep your head focused and support each other.
Ozland will still be there in 10 years time, when you have the training, the money and the time.
Anonymous
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2 months ago (1 day, 16 hours after post)
I vote for nyx…gone but care. just fixing my email or never a peep
Courty ~ I dunno what that means, there’s no scenario here where I don’t go to VFS.
Hhs ~ I struggle to understand what that means.
Nextstar ~ Any particular reason?
VerrySillyMe ~ See, your advice is the most appealing to me becasue it’s what I want to do, I worry that perhaps I’m asking for too much tho, or maybe I’m risking losing it all because I want too much. It certainly would be nice if it worked out tho.
sarisa_grimwing ~ Hmm this would lead me to think I should go to Australia, you give good advice, thank you :]
Anon ~ We used to open the fridge and stick our heads in, seriously.
Ditzy ~ I can’t really see what you mean, in her replies she doesn’t give any preference either way.
Anon ~ Vote for Nyx?
Anonymous wrote:
I vote for nyx…gone but care. just fixing my email or never a peep
then, if you can deal with living in vancouver, and she is not adverse to living there, it all comes down to the money doesnt it.
wether youre prepared to take it from your parents or earn it yourself. thats the only thing you havent reconciled with yourself.
- Fourthings™ - wrote:
Jamiee ~ My instant reaction to reading your reply was that you made the wrong decision, if you say you miss him and your relationship then how on earth could it have been worth it, and why not try to find a compromise between your career and him? But I digress… Yes, my Mother has absolutely offered me money she doesn’t have, and my Father does not support her decision at all, but it’s not his decision, as it’s not his money.
.
Actually it turns out I made the right decision. My ex has turned out to be a completely different person to who I was in love with.
There was no comprimise I’m afraid. I had to come to France and he couldn’t leave his job. I couldn’t give up this opportunity. I’ve been intending to do this for aslong as I can remember.
Fair enough but your mother obviously thinks that going to VFS would be the best for you, hence why she is willing to give you money she doesn’t have.
Jamiee -x-
courtybubble ~ this is what has been troubling me the most, I’m not ok with taking the money from my Mother, so I’ve decided to continue with my plan, go it alone and work for the scholarship.
Jamiee ~ Ah, ok, that makes sense, I guess I didn’t know the full story, I think you did make the right decision. As for my Mother, I think she made a mistake by offering, she never should have offered, she cannot afford it and by offering all she did was throw off my plans. And my plans are pretty good in all honesty.
Even if I don’t get any scholarship, and never go to VFS, I won’t regret this decision, because it is the right one. I think anyone would agree, it’s not ok put to my career ahead of my families financial stability, especially not during a recession.
As for Australia, if I can find the money to go there, I will. Until then I’ll keep looking for work and keep working on my showreel, and me and Nyx will just have to deal with Long Distance.
- Fourthings™ - edited this post 2 months ago. Read the previous text »
I have a dilemma. Your input required please.
This has been depressing and keeping me awake. Ima try to make this simple, here are my options.
Take the 34,000 euro my mother has offered me to go to Vancouver Film School to study 3d Animation and Visual Effects ( http://vfs.com/fulltime.php?id=7#/alu... ). Live in a city I despise for about 10 years, but gain the best education for what I do in the world. I’d have access to the VFS job board and be able to get myself a very good job, with the likes of Pixar or EA Games. 12 hour days of study with countless hours of study aswell as that, I could easily be in the college for 72 consecutive hours. Working in the industry for the years after that will be equally as unsociable hours. So this would be seriously risking my relationship with my gf. That is, if she can even get to Vancouver (or wants to) while I study/work. (we’re already in a long distance relationship, me in Ireland, her in Oregon).
Or
Go to Australia with my gf, get any old job I can find at first, and live there for a year to two years as I work on my showreel, to attempt to get a full (or as full as possible) scholarship to VFS and apply for work in my industry. I may never end up going to VFS this way and may never have the great career I want. Me and my gf could live here not too difficultly for a long time, but she doesn’t particularly want to live in Australia. Also, I’m an Australian citizen.
Ima do 5 pros and cons of each (edited, couldn’t think of 10 pros for Canada :p)
**********************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Canada
Pros
• I would gain excellent connections in my industry and a very good career.
• I’d be in an environment doing what I love, with the best of equipment.
• I’d gain invaluable years of experience with great companies and work on exciting movies/shows/games.
• I’d be realizing my dream/goal.
• Even if I failed, I could die knowing I tried.
Cons
• I’d more then likely lose my gf, or at least seriously damage our relationship.
• I’d hate living there, possibly become depressed again or live a very stressful life, or both.
• I wouldn’t get a break/quiet life until I retire.
• I could succumb to the ever present temptation of crack on the streets (there is ALLOT in Vancouver).
• I would never feel at home in Vancouver, and never forget I’m burdening my family with a 34,000 euro bill, that would affect their standard of life. That could be quite a downer.
*****************************************************************
Australia
Pros
• Australia was my first home, the only place I ever felt at home, I could be content there.
• I would still be following my dream, but on my own, making it more rewarding if I succeed.
• I’d be fulfilling a plan I always had since we moved to Ireland.
• Me and my gf could be together, at least for awile.
• I could study in Australia, although there are no colleges that come close to VFS, nor have the same career opportunities.
Cons
• I could end up stuck in Australia, with a bad job, in a bad area.
• I could still lose my gf, or she may become unhappy living in a place she doesn’t want to live in.
• Australia may not be what I remember, I might not find the home I’m looking for.
• I could fail at finding a job, and end up coming back to Ireland.
• I could forever regret the decision, I could lose the motivation to go to VFS, or not get the scholarship, and get too old.
__________________
So there ya go, this is depressing me more and more each day. Living in Australia for a year and then going to VFS and asking my mother to pay is not an option fyi. Also, I dunno if I can even get the money together to get to Australia…
Thank you for the invite four, but it’s a tough call. I have a few people I know in that industry and they claim is a very competitive industry. We in Canada use distance education a lot because of the distance between our metro cities. There are some very good places in Vancouver, but the cost of living is through the roof. BC = bring cash:) I guess it comes down to quality of life. Austria has been very popular here with our students and business people. I’m sorry I’m not much help. It would be great if you found what you need right at home or a virtual coarse though distance ed:) P.S. Government of Canada offers information on average income and information on that industry.
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/start-debut-…
Good luck:)
Seems silly that I even considered taking the money now. And I don’t expect I’ll be getting to Australia anytime soon :\
- Fourthings™ - wrote:
Seems silly that I even considered taking the money now. And I don’t expect I’ll be getting to Australia anytime soon :\
I guess that would be up to how good you are at saving.
Indeed, I’ve actually changed my plans quite considerably since my last reply. When I’ve decided on something I’ll post it here.
Hey Fourthings. You probably don’t need any advice right now. But the one thing I thought the second I read your post was ‘do not decide your future on your girlfriend’. No one should ever do that. I don’t care how much in love you are right now, that can change in a split second. If you are meant to be together, fate will make it happen. And you can call that cheesy, but I don’t even mean it in that way. The fact of the matter is, if you both want to be together, you will make it happen no matter what. If you ‘lose’ your girlfriend, which you are worried about, then it isn’t meant to be. If it was, she could easily wait out the long distance knowing that you are fulfilling your life dream. I know that you would do the same for her. If she was to break up with you for trying to achieve your life dream, or you were to break up with her for that reason, then it clearly wouldn’t be a relationship that would have lasted anyway.
You probably don’t need that advice now. But make this decision based on what your heart tells you, and don’t factor in your girlfriend or your parents if you can. If your parents are offering you the money, you may have to see it as a lucky break and forget what effect it will have on them, as hard as that is. They wouldn’t offer it unless they really wanted to see you benefit from it, and maybe that to them is worth more than anything else they could buy with the money. (or maybe not, I am really just guessing here)
Anonymous
#
2 months ago (5 days, 13 hours after post)
Cecilia wrote:
Hey Fourthings. You probably don’t need any advice right now. But the one thing I thought the second I read your post was ‘do not decide your future on your girlfriend’. No one should ever do that. I don’t care how much in love you are right now, that can change in a split second. If you are meant to be together, fate will make it happen. And you can call that cheesy, but I don’t even mean it in that way. The fact of the matter is, if you both want to be together, you will make it happen no matter what. If you ‘lose’ your girlfriend, which you are worried about, then it isn’t meant to be. If it was, she could easily wait out the long distance knowing that you are fulfilling your life dream. I know that you would do the same for her. If she was to break up with you for trying to achieve your life dream, or you were to break up with her for that reason, then it clearly wouldn’t be a relationship that would have lasted anyway.
You probably don’t need that advice now. But make this decision based on what your heart tells you, and don’t factor in your girlfriend or your parents if you can. If your parents are offering you the money, you may have to see it as a lucky break and forget what effect it will have on them, as hard as that is. They wouldn’t offer it unless they really wanted to see you benefit from it, and maybe that to them is worth more than anything else they could buy with the money. (or maybe not, I am really just guessing here)
Agreed!
the Stranger
Bungeye
courtybubble
Ditzy
Nyxotic
Good ole boy
Jamiee
Time Traveller
Sans
sarisa_grimwing
hhs
nextstar
verysillyme
Cecilia