So you've been toiling away, developing those mad storyboarding skills for a while now.
You've done a bunch of exercises. Ours. Someone else's. Whatevs. You've done them and... maybe... you've even gone back and done them again.
You've built some good habits. You've broken some not-so-good ones.
You've put yourself out there and survived the horrors intrinsic to actual people actually seeing your actual stuff.
You've punched that "roof" button on the elevator, gone up, and shouted how ready you are to two-step the sh*t out of the doodling-for-dollars dance.
And... maybe... you've heard a voice shout back:
"Show me."
Well, come on, then. You've got a portfolio locked and loaded, all ready to go, right?
...right?
Oh, no.
OK. It's OK. Calm down. Don't panic. Look at me. Hey... HEY.
Shhhh.
There are lessons to be had here.
Lesson 1: Always have something ready to show somebody. Even if you're not currently looking for a job, you should always be looking for feedback or contacts.
Lesson 2: Odds are, you're closer to having something ready than you think.
Three things. If you have three things that represent the best version of you that you can offer a studio or a client today, then you have a portfolio.
They don't have to be long things. In fact, it's better if they're not.
I promise you, there will come a day when someone has the time and the inclination to check out the 15-minute, meticulously boarded scene from that epic space opera floating about in your head.
I also promise you, this isn't that day. For now, if someone says, "Show me your stuff," you should assume what they mean is, "Show me your stuff, right now and right quick."
Aim for minute-long or... maybe... two-minute sequences. Think you've got something that's half a minute of pure gold? Perfect. In it goes.
Also aim for self-contained pieces. Story art is as much or more about story as it is art, so make sure you're showcasing your ability to creatively get from a beginning to a middle to an end.
Think about who it is you're hitting up for a job or trying to impress and tailor your selection. If you have things that sort of look like what they already make or are getting ready to make, good. Go with those.
Thematically similar works, too.
If you're only looking for feedback or aren't sure how specific to get, remember: comedy, action, drama.
Three things.
Three short things.
Three short, self-contained things.
Three short, self-contained things that look at least a little like something your target makes or might make.
You've got this. Here’s how you present it:
If you don't already have a phone- or tablet-friendly website you can point people to, get one. They don't have to cost much, and can even be free.
Consider at least purchasing a domain name and redirecting your free web address to that one. It's easier for you to recite and easier for someone else to remember and type, too.
Think slideshow. If you're dealing with boards-as-animatics, you're already there. If you're dealing with board-boards, use a setup that lets folks flip through them one at a time.
Including thumbnails and process work isn't bad, but... consider limiting it to a page or two after just one of your three things. You're pitching a product-- no one needs to know too much about how the Kool-aid gets made.
If you're going the PDF or paper route, a lot of the above still applies. Try to keep your presentation as clean and simple as possible.
And that's all I've got for you. I am by no means suggesting this is the only way to go about building a portfolio. I’m not saying it’s the best way, or even a great way. It’s just a way.
If you’re in a bind, this is a method you might consider to get something into someone’s hands, fast.
Sometimes, that’s all it’s about.
Cheers,
Damien