Fear and Deer in the Headlights

Even though I had seen a lot of these music videos before, it really was a joy to revisit them, especially since a couple of them are some of my favorites - mainly Rifle's Spiral, Simple Math, and Easy Way Out (I think the latter might be my favorite of the three, though they are all so good). Each one of them surprises me in their technique, artistry, and depth. The shot in Rifle's Spiral where the magician is free falling still blows me away every time, just knowing how hard it is firsthand to stop motion animate. Even knowing they had someone from Laika, arguably the greatest modern stop motion company, come in to do that shot, its still fairly incredible. They keep the motion fluid and tracking and still there is the chaotic out of control aspect that just naturally comes with free falling and yeah - its just great.

I think I've read the Joe Trussel article before (considering I took the class before when it was under Leeper and had different course credits, I wouldn't be surprised if I did). If not at least I'm familiar with his War Photographer video and with the sentiments that he writes about. Even though I've read it before, likely in my freshman year, it was totally different reading it again this time, mainly because my experience has changed. Since freshman year I've taken many freelance art jobs. I actually just yesterday signed my first official freelance contract with a company down in Florida, while the rest have been sort of a 'word of mouth/e-mail' sorta business. Its the only time I've been able to sell my art so I know it at least can sell, but it seems like one of my strongest paths to take once I leave the college scene may be to freelance for an indetermined time. And, as Trussel says, freelance work leaves a lot up in the air, and a lot to worry about. You never know when or if you're going to have work - I know from experience that I get contacted at odd times and almost out of nowhere, if I stress anything its make friends with other artists especially on the internet because it leads to a lot of opportunities and ocassionally money; all my jobs have been referred through friends or for friends. And even though that's nice and all one day your friends and their network of people might not need you, or you may become irrelevant, and that's downright terrifying. Its great that people want me to do things for them now, but what will happen when they realize that I really can't draw as well as they think?
Its definitely not the most secure path, and I know I've had my run ins with finnicky clients and some rip offs, but at the same time, which Trussel emphasizes, there is a lot of freedom and time to work on your own stuff, and I think that's why currently the freelance path looks really good to me.