Beware: Employer ripping artists off in Los Angeles

[MisterBingley]

Hello everyone

I am a very frequent visitor to Concept Art and post here several times a day. However, I created a new screen name to protect my identy. The Mods here can probably trace my I.P address and find out who this really is, but I trust they won't ban me for this attempt to get the truth out.

If you're an artist, particuarly art student looking for entry-level work, there is an employer in Los Angeles who offers such a great position for students it's hard to pass up. I actually work for this man. And because I work for him, I know of the shady things he has done to unsuspecting student artists (thus, my new identity).

He will post an ad on craigslist looking for a "character artist," and will give his top 5 applicants a "test" to draw a character he has in mind for a video game. He then passes his faviorte drawing on to me and tells me to do a 3D model of it. But alter it slightly. He doesn't hire any of those artists and dosen't buy the character from them.

Plus, he sells completed projects on pirated software. I understand if art students use pirated software to do their homework, but this is an entrepeneur with lots of money selling work, other people's work, off illegitimate copies of Maya and Photoshop.

And as a personal insult, he promised me "full-time" work if I quit my steady part-time job. Like a dummy I did so, without a contract to prove that he promised me full-time. Now, in the past 2 weeks, I have recieved NO work at all. I just QUIT my steady part-time job I previously had for this scum bag, and now he isn't giving me ANY hours at all!

Everyone, not just Los Angeles based artist, BEWARE of such employers looking to sucker freelance, naive art students into doing free work.

I can't believe people like this actually exist in the world... but they do! . I never thought I would be a scammed, but I have .

BTW... I don't want to reveal the name of the man or the company just yet, until I know it's safe to do so.

[Interceptor]

How incredibly underhanded!! I'm from Canada, but even so, this had made me more aware! It's a real shame that this happens. An artist being ripped off is like seeing your little brother getting punched in the gut.

Thanks for the info, you phantom-renegade-artist :)

[obid619]

What a bastard! Let's kick his ass! <readys pitchfork and shovels and torches> :perv:

[Interceptor]

There really should be a CA lynch mob for guys like this.

[Ilaekae]

I like to blow things up...can I help?

[madster]

You can always anonymously alert the software companies that he's running pirated software.
I know Adobe, Corel, and most of the others don't like businesses doing that stuff...they'll check it out and fine the shit out of him...

~M

[NoSeRider]

I think your loyalties are misplaced.

It's obvious this guy screws people over for his own personal gain. He's taking advantage of your morality and sence of devotion and just feeds you a carrot once in awhile to keep you quite.

I bet the guy is a Machiavelian type who justifies everything he does in terms of how it benefits the company, himself and then throws in something about how it benefits you just to keep you lingering on as his sidekick.........he a manipulative SOB.

Don't be woooohed by Bizarro logic. Some people have this ability to justify themselves by a threatening forceful personality rather then a sense of morality, deductive reasoning and truth........it's the bully on the playground syndrome.

[Undefeated]

He will post an ad on craigslist looking for a "character artist," and will give his top 5 applicants a "test" to draw a character he has in mind for a video game. He then passes his faviorte drawing on to me and tells me to do a 3D model of it. But alter it slightly.

I'm assuming you do as he asks, making you a party to it.

And as a personal insult, he promised me "full-time" work if I quit my steady part-time job. Like a dummy I did so, without a contract to prove that he promised me full-time. Now, in the past 2 weeks, I have recieved NO work at all. I just QUIT my steady part-time job I previously had for this scum bag, and now he isn't giving me ANY hours at all!

Hopefully, a lesson has been learned about karma here.

Now, I dont know the details of the situation, but when you knowingly helped him screw people, what made you think he wouldn't screw you? Its like when your buddy talks shit about EVERYONE else behind their back, but you just KNOW he'd never talk shit about YOU.

I know that work is work, and you seem the type to be regretful about screwing young artists, but you did it, and you only came forward when YOU were victimized by the man's screwjob policies. You may be a desperate young artist yourself, I have no idea. I don't mean to sound overly harsh, because you're showing some balls by coming forward, but what goes around comes around. Thats what people say.

I know I sound like a dick, but if your father is beating on your mother, and you dont do anything but steal her purse while she's knocked out, its hard to complain. You were kind of looking the other way - and even benefitting from it.

The warning, though, is appreciated.

[MisterBingley]

I'm assuming you do as he asks, making you a party to it.



Hopefully, a lesson has been learned about karma here.

Now, I dont know the details of the situation, but when you knowingly helped him screw people, what made you think he wouldn't screw you? Its like when your buddy talks shit about EVERYONE else behind their back, but you just KNOW he'd never talk shit about YOU.

I know that work is work, and you seem the type to be regretful about screwing young artists, but you did it, and you only came forward when YOU were victimized by the man's screwjob policies. You may be a desperate young artist yourself, I have no idea. I don't mean to sound overly harsh, because you're showing some balls by coming forward, but what goes around comes around. Thats what people say.

I know I sound like a dick, but if your father is beating on your mother, and you dont do anything but steal her purse while she's knocked out, its hard to complain. You were kind of looking the other way - and even benefitting from it.

The warning, though, is appreciated.

You would be correct Undeafeated if I worked there for a long time. However, I have only worked there for 1 month, and just recently in the past 2 weeks became aware of how the company runs.

When I recieved the model sheet of a character that he asked me to model, I had assumed the model sheet and character design had been purchased from the artist. It wasn't until I finished the model and sent it to my boss that he told me he was still looking to hire a character artist. He did not hire the artist who did the character I had just modeled. I just found out last week when I e-mailed the artist who did the model sheet and asked him if he got hired, or paid for the work he did. He did not get hired or paid, but I had just done the model which will now be put into a game.

I did not KNOWINGLY collaborated with him in ripping people off until I realized it a week ago. I wasn't aware of it until I contacted the character artist and recieved cracks for programs a week ago. We don't work in Painter, by the way.

[Undefeated]

Then I apologize. Having worked in too many sales jobs, I know it takes a while to wade through the company kool-aid and see how things really are.

[NoSeRider]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/med/100153723.html

:S.....I'm fishing. I have no idea......just seems too coincidental.

[darth massacre]

I can't believe people like this actually exist in the world... but they do! .
Of course they do, I worked for one for 2 years.

Is there any way to get back your secure job?

PS: I too suggest giving Adobe a call and see what happens.

[figure2]

When a potential employer requires an applicant to submit work under the quise of a "test," without compensation and without any assurances about what will happen with the work, it is a MAJOR warning flag. Applicants should not agree to those terms without some discussion. Chances are if you were to question the employer about the practice you would suddenly find yourself "out of the running." If that happens, consider yourself lucky that you were too sharp to be taken advantage of.

[Qitsune]

Major developpers do it, like Jamdat... Hopefully Jamdat is honest about it because they have a lot to lose if word gets out.

[broken lizard]

I vote lynch mob.

[MisterBingley]

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/med/100153723.html

:S.....I'm fishing. I have no idea......just seems too coincidental.

Sounds similar, but that's not the one. I wouldn't be suprised if they are running the same type of scam, though. I'm tempted to give them an e-mail to find out.

I also hope you understand why I am trying to keep myself, and the company, anonymous as possible. They have money, LOTS of money, and I'm broke. I wouldn't be able to fight a legal battle. Plus, game company employers probably keep in contact with each other and I don't want to become black listed.

What's Jamdat? I live a few blocks away from the Jamdat building, and alway s wondered what the heck they do there. Hmmm... maybe I should apply for a job there.

[MoP]

Well, if a company is asking for art tests, it can vary.

Obviously, yes, they have plenty to gain if they say they're looking for a concept artist, and they demand you draw up a concept based on a description they give you, under the pretence of it being an "art test"... as soon as they have the concept image they can just go crazy with it.

If it's an art test for a 3d modelling position, where you make a model based on a concept they give to you, then they don't actually gain anything, since all you need to submit are images of the model, maybe a little test animation, and texture flats, all of which are useless to the company without the 3d model itself.

MisterBingley: That company does sound incredibly dodgy though, get out if/while you can...

[CaptainInsano]

Bingley, that sucks man. I'm in Los Angeles too and it was hell for me to land my job in the industry. I got asked to do "tests" and never heard from them again. I wouldn't be suprised if that was MY character you sheet that they gave you :tihi: Thankfully I got in with some honest people... a rarity in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is a festering shit pool for sleazy, oppurtunist thugs like your boss. They oughta tear this whole place down... and just renovate it into a city-size version of Mickey's Toon Town. But even there, Mickey might try to molester ya.

Actually, the place I work at might be looking for an artist/modeler/animator. PM me a link to your portfolio. :}

Good luck. >:D

[egerie]

What's Jamdat? I live a few blocks away from the Jamdat building, and alway s wondered what the heck they do there. Hmmm... maybe I should apply for a job there.
Mostly cellphone / mobile games. I think they also do handhelds. (I think we're talking about a different Jamdat than the building you live next to. Dunno.)