TOM 002
05-16-2003, 01:01 AM
Ok. This has been an argument that has plagued me for the longest time. At this point in time I am going to enter senior year of high school, which means college isn't too far off. Now, this is the big thing: whether to major in engineering, which will give me a relatively good paying job in the future, or major in the arts, something I love yet is very hard to do well in.
I guess the real question here is to all you people that work in video game companies, animation studios, etc. Now, some people tell me that people who work in art often don't make enough to make ends meet. I've also been told that to even become part of any development team, the chances of actually being accepted are almost nil. A cousin of mine has aspired to be a filmmaker, but still lives with his parents and asks to crash with my other relative in LA to look for that chance. Heck, my dad even says that some are lucky to find a one room apartment. And the scary thing about all of this is that it is all possible.
Then again, if you look at all the detail put into movies and games, anyone can tell you that a ton of effort is put into those products. I've read in Gamepro that a concept artist alone can get $25,000 a year, which seems pretty comforting. And when I look at all the games that have ever been manufactured, I know that some money has to go to the people who helped make the game. I mean, come on. How much effort do you think it took to create those worlds in FFX?
So to all you graphic designers, animators, actors, and anyone else in the entertainment business, please put my fears to rest. If I was to become a member of this industry, will it be worth it? Will I have enough to support a family and maintain a stable future, or will I end up a starving artist who'd be lucky to afford a shack downtown?
I guess the real question here is to all you people that work in video game companies, animation studios, etc. Now, some people tell me that people who work in art often don't make enough to make ends meet. I've also been told that to even become part of any development team, the chances of actually being accepted are almost nil. A cousin of mine has aspired to be a filmmaker, but still lives with his parents and asks to crash with my other relative in LA to look for that chance. Heck, my dad even says that some are lucky to find a one room apartment. And the scary thing about all of this is that it is all possible.
Then again, if you look at all the detail put into movies and games, anyone can tell you that a ton of effort is put into those products. I've read in Gamepro that a concept artist alone can get $25,000 a year, which seems pretty comforting. And when I look at all the games that have ever been manufactured, I know that some money has to go to the people who helped make the game. I mean, come on. How much effort do you think it took to create those worlds in FFX?
So to all you graphic designers, animators, actors, and anyone else in the entertainment business, please put my fears to rest. If I was to become a member of this industry, will it be worth it? Will I have enough to support a family and maintain a stable future, or will I end up a starving artist who'd be lucky to afford a shack downtown?