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Animation & VFX · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Freelancing for Animators

Talent alone does not pay the rent. This practical business course equips animators with the entrepreneurial skills to survive in the gig economy. Students will learn to price their work, draft airtight contracts, manage client relationships, and build a personal brand. The curriculum covers the transition from “starving artist” to “creative business owner.”

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Calculate "Day Rates" and project fees based on overhead and market value
  2. Draft professional contracts (Scope of Work, Kill Fees, Revisions)
  3. Master client communication and negotiation tactics
  4. Build a portfolio and showreel targeted at specific clients
  5. Understand taxes, invoicing, and financial management for freelancers
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01The Freelance Mindset: Employee vs. Vendor
  2. 02Determining Your Rate: Hourly vs. Flat Fee
  3. 03Contracts I: The Essential Clauses
  4. 04Contracts II: IP Rights & Usage
  5. 05Portfolio & Showreel: Curating Your Best
  6. 06Branding: Logo, Website, & Socials
  7. 07Networking: Online & Offline
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09Finding Clients: Upwork, LinkedIn, & Cold Email
  10. 10The Pitch: Proposals & Treatments
  11. 11Project Management: Deadlines & Milestones
  12. 12Dealing with Difficult Clients
  13. 13Financials: Invoicing, Taxes, & Expenses
  14. 14Scaling: Subcontracting & Agencies
  15. 15Mental Health: Burnout & Isolation
  16. 16Final Project: The Business Launch Kit

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The Business Launch Kit

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. The Freelance Manifesto: A Field Guide for the Modern Motion Designer by Joey Korenman
  2. Burn Your Portfolio by Michael Janda
  3. The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns
  4. Graphic Artists Guild Handbook: Pricing & Ethical Guidelines
  5. Company of One by Paul Jarvis
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