For the past few months I’ve been waiting for this: my name and work being showcased in Computer Arts magazine. No, I don’t have a spread that features myself in the magazine. I don’t even have my picture or name in the actual magazine. Then what’s the deal? In the February issue of Computer Arts, issue 171, I am featured on the ‘Output’ disc that comes with the magazine. How the heck was I able to even get on there?
In the middle of November of 2009, I received an email from futurenet.com, a website that provides a wide variety of magazines as one of their main operations. I was familiar with the site only because I’ve actually subscribed to Computer Arts at one time. Reading the first sentence or so, I assumed it was another one of there sales ads. As I read on nonchalantly, I realized that the person emailing had discovered my 2009 Showreel on xpls.tv, a site similar to youtube for motion designers. He had asked me if I was interested in showcasing my reel on the Output disc of their magazine. My eyes lit up and I agreed with no hesitation.
After emailing back and forth about what steps I had to take in order to make it happen, there was only one thing that prevented me from having my work displayed. Because the soundtrack for my showreel, like most people, was using copyright music, I would either have to use an original track, or get copyright permissions to use the track. Surprisingly, I was able to easily track down the artist on Facebook, but because the soundtrack is also a mix of other songs, I would have to get permission from all those other artists. The artist I messaged on Facebook was actually really nice about everything. I believe he was from the UK, and he had told me that I was allowed to use the track if no type of prophet was being received. Alas, I still had to search for another option.
I began thinking of all the music producers that I knew or knew of. After contacting some of my ‘peeps’ and even my peeps’ peeps, I was fortunate enough to use a track from a Mr. Ian Cansino (www.eyensee.tv). He was kind enough to let me use the track for my reel as long as he was credited, which he was; thanks again Ian. Sure, I had to somewhat re-edit my reel to the new track, but it was no problem for what I’d be getting in return.
Having bought the magazine, and seeing my name on the disc, I wondered to myself, “Why would this well known and reputable magazine from the UK be choosing my work to be showcased?”. Sure, I may be giving myself less credit than I deserve, but I find it really hard to believe when I see videos online all the time that are without a doubt, ten times better than what I’m able to accomplish. In the end, my wife always tells me to take it as it is; don’t question it. And even if nothing were to come out of this, because I for one rarely use the CD given in the magazine and who knows if I’d be contacted by potential clients, I’m still happy because seeing my name and my work on Computer Arts is still really freakin’ cool to look at.
