Is The Animation Co-op a production company, labor union or employment service?
None of the above. The Animation Co-op is a freeform alliance of animation artists who are pursuing a variety of independent projects.
What is the mission of The Animation Co-op?
The primary mission of the Co-op is to help participants produce and distribute their independent films.
The Co-op sounds interesting, but I'm fine on my own and am concerned about people trying to pile onto my project. Is "cooperation" enforced by this organization?
No. The Animation Co-op is a crossroads of people, resources and information - to be leveraged in whatever manner (and to whatever extent) you like. The Co-op should and will be different things to different people.
I'm hesitant to expose my work during development. How do I protect myself against plagiarism while participating in the Co-op?
The degree to which you expose your work within the context of The Animation Co-op is entirely up to you. You can reveal as much or as little as you care to in the course of conversation, pitching and/or critique. Of course, common sense suggests that it is a good idea to register your work with the Writer's Guild of America and/or The U.S. Copyright Office before sharing it with anyone for any purpose, within the Co-op or without.
Is the Co-op focused upon computer animation?
The Co-op encourages animated ventures in all media. The media of choice for any given project is determined by the artists.
Is there a membership fee to join the Co-op?
No. However, donations in support of The Animation Co-op's operation expenses are greatly appreciated! :-)
How many people are in the Co-op?
There are currently over 1000 people subscribed to The Animation Co-op: artists, animators, actors, composers, vendors, students and teachers.
Do the independent projects listed in the Co-op database pay for services?
In some cases the independent productions listed are willing and able to pay for services, but in most cases work is sought on barter or spec. Database participants are responsible for contracting their own terms of service at their own risk. The Animation Co-op does not participate in negotiations and cannot be held liable for misrepresentations or damages resulting from participation on the various independent projects listed. For more on this subject...
Can I list a live-action project in the Co-op database?
Yes, if it features character animation or animated special effects.
Is there a limit to the number of projects a member may submit to the Co-op database?
No.
Is there a limit to length of time a project may exist in the Co-op database?
Technically, no. However, once or twice each year we clear out projects with older dates in order to keep the database from becoming stale. Folks whose entries are still valid are encouraged to re-submit their projects, ideally with updated needs (although the same old needs are fine, too). In fact, Co-op members are encouraged to update their database entries as often as needed, in which case their entries move up in the list with fresh dates.
Does The Animation Co-op discriminate in terms of the type of projects it lists?
Aside from hate speech situations (which we have fortunately never encountered), the Animation Co-op does not discriminate on the basis of content, age, race, political belief, creed or religion - nor do we tolerate anyone who does. What does this mean in practical terms? Simply this. We once had a project submitted of a religious nature, and that project was listed in our database. Recently, we had another project submitted of a religious nature, but the filmmaker noted that they only wished to work with people of their faith. Based upon that criteria, the project was not listed. We trust that the distinction between these cases is clear. :-)
I represent an overseas animation production company, and would like to offer my services to members of The Animation Co-op. What steps do I take to do this?
The Animation Co-op receives numerous solicitations from overseas animation production companies, software companies and other vendors seeking to cater to our membership. In order to be featured in The Animation Co-op "Resources" section (with notification sent to our exclusive member mailing list), you must either be an independent artist, OR as a company you must specify an indie discount that you are willing to extend to registered Animation Co-op members in particular.
What sort of events does the Co-op host?
The Animation Co-op hosts project pitches, lectures, casual social events and professional mixers in a variety of settings. Gatherings sometimes feature general "Show & Tell" sessions, and at other times consist of more intimate critique groups. Event notifications are distributed through the Co-op mailing list and posted on the Co-op website.
Where is The Animation Co-op located?
The organizational hub of The Animation Co-op is located in Los Angeles (contact info below), although Co-op participants reside in a variety of international locations, with chapters located throughout the world.
How do I start an Animation Co-op chapter in my area?
