Often after graduation, The skill sets that you have won't be production ready. Even if you have been working in the industry for a while and you want to take the next step up in technical skills or learn a new software, its quite draining and daunting to start.
I personally found it very very hard to get motivate to start. After working long hours, how can you find the energy to do more stuff? Its a hard and long climb by yourself. Facing the computer at home after work with so many distractions not very conducive. Its like dieting,you know eating healthy and less food is good for your health but its so hard to maintain a diet especially during liulian season.
One suggestion I have to get started is if you have like minded friends or colleagues of similar interests but different skillets, get together and do small non commercial projects for your reels. No man is an island. It is so much easier to much more fun to bounce ideas of each other and have each other pushing each other. Add you get a sweet test or animation that you can enter into festivals and get your name known out there. Just be careful of who you pick to work with if you do not want more stress then needed.
Or if you know of someone at work who knows more about the tool or technique, ask them nicely to spend some time to explain to you how it works and start you off. I am sure they will be more then happy to help out. Alcohol and food probably won't harm. The rest is really up to you to go find out. Once you shown that you get it and have results, they will be willing to help you more. And who knows maybe if there is a opening, they might consider you for showing the initiative.
Or just quit your job, take on freelance flying logos and do your own movie and on the way learn about cinematography, pacing, directing, producing, build your profile and meet more people. (yeah right.... in pressure cooker Singapore... who the fuck is crazy to do that?)
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