Quick Tip: Seek good people over great projects

Cheesy stock photo aside, it goes without saying that who you work with makes a big difference. I would argue that it matters more than the project you're working on.

In my career I have worked with a wide variety of studios, ranging from small startups with comp-only shows, all the way up to global multi-facility studios that work on the biggest and best tentpole films every year. I used to be the type of person who would actively chase contracts on the big Marvel movie of the year, and would repeatedly ask to be placed on the team with the biggest & best project the studio had available. This was great for building a solid reel, although at the end of the day, it honestly wasn't worth the added stress or the extra hours.

Towards the end of 2016, I had a revelation; I made a conscious decision to seek out people I enjoyed working with in the past, and to do my best to continue working with those people. As it turns out, this was the single-most impactful career decision I've made!

The benefits of working with people you're familiar with, and who you're confident trust your work & your word are immeasurable. More work gets completed, necessary overtime hours are restricted, communication mishaps are easily diagnosed; shows generally just run smoothly and everyone is happier to be there.

I highly recommend you try this experiment for yourself and notice how your quality of life improves, both at work and at home!