Re: Maybe it's just me

I agree with Jim H, you shouldn't worry about doing recognizable logos if you're not doing it for a client. Okay, you've been doing some nice animations, but you're mostly demonstrating your mechanical aptitude, and not showing as much in the way of original thinking. I hope this doesn't sound negative...I've also made this mistake before, and it took me a little while to understand what I was doing wrong. I had originally started out by doing some pretty far out stuff (not technique-wise but subject matter). Then I got it in my head that I'd better start making some stuff that looks "marketable", and use real products etc. I can tell you it usually doesn't work though, unless you're doing something really innovative with the software, or really pushing things conceptually. And if you are able to achieve that, wouldn't you rather have your animation say something about you as a designer or person? Look at it this way, one of the drawbacks in our business is the ever-present clients telling you "it's too fast" and "make it red instead of blue" and "make the logo a little bigger". This is one of the few times we get to do absolutely anything, whatever we want, and we only have to please ourselves. You should take advantage of it. (If you really must do something that says "Pepsi", take it in a direction that no-one's ever seen before, and really develop it into something. Come up with a whole campaign- a series of spots, or title sequence, bumpers, lower thirds, etc etc.) But you should realize that clients want you to have original ideas, so you can "bring something to the table". Almost anyone can learn how to use the software, the hard part is being able to come up with great ideas on a regular basis (and then know how to use the software to pull it off). That's the difference between an operator (or "wrist") and a Designer. Sometimes clients don't know what they want, and they need a creative person to pick up the ball and run like hell. Your reel is your chance to demonstrate your originality. I'm not saying chuck it, your reel is your reel, we all have to go with what we've got. But if I were you I'd take all this into consideration for the next projects you do. And if you're stuck for ideas, try illustrating a piece of writing, or make a "tone-poem" around a theme (like "Untitled:Darkness" or "Infinity", which you can see at www.Belief.com)