I like anime a lot, and I know a bit about the industry. I like working with (most) of the industry people that I work with when I'm running a con, like
pmx. I also just like the people - DLW and Matt from ADV, Jerry, Richard, and Charles at Bandai, Chad and Stephen at Pioneer, Keith and Manga, Toshi at Viz, Steve at Harmony Gold, Shin - who is doing his own thing now... and that is by *no* means an exhaustive list, so I REALLY don't want anyone to think I'm snubbing them or something. If I stop and think about it I know a lot of other names, but that's not the point. I like hanging out with those folks. I get along with them and enjoy their company, and I always look forward to seeing them at cons, etc. In fact, seeing the industry people I know, and the con regulars and staffers, is the real reason I bother going to cons these days. Rarely do I give a shit about the video rooms, films, etc. And I can find better buys online than most dealer's room prices anyway. I go because of the people.For the past few years I've been thinking, maybe I should really be working in the anime industry. I mean, my ready-made name aside and all, it is something I enjoy, something I have an interest in, and it is full of people I already know I like and that I get along with, and in some cases I already know I can work with them effectively.
Of course, what the hell could I do? I would love to learn the geek side of things - DVD production. I have more than a passing interest in that field already. But it doesn't seem to be the kind of thing you can learn yourself - that's expensive gear, and it isn't like burning a disc at home. Even if I try going to school for it, it doesn't mean I'd ever get a job in the end. And it would probably mean starting my career over - taking a big cut in pay and status, and I'm not sure I can do that. I could be an IT/web geek for a company, I have the mad skilz and I can always readily learn new tricks. (I've been wanting to learn Flash anyway.) But web geeks are easy to find, so I don't think that's really viable. And I'm not sure that's really what I want anyway.
This feeling seems to be getting stronger, after each con I go to and see folks again. I think I'd really like to land at ADV Films. DLW and Matt are both really great guys, hell, everyone from ADV and NewType USA that I've spoken to so far has been cool. And everything I hear about ADV is that it is a great place to work - lots of work, but rewarding. And over the years it seems like people I've known have ended up there - the latest being
seigyoku.I don't know, it is probably a silly dream.
