How to start up as a flash animator..?

[vict0r]

Sooo, I find myself in the position of trying to find something interesting to work with! Through the last couple of years, I've had several "normal" jobs such as a theme park employee/doormat, storage-boy and salesman for a fashion store, but although I'm just 18, I'm so goddamned sick of doing work like this without getting any closer to what I really want to work with. I don't have an exact plan laid out, but I know I want to work in something with animation or other graphic work.

Thing is, I don't really know where to start other than with flash animation and stuff like that. I would, in all modesty, say that I have an above average understanding and "skill" with flash and general animation compared to most people I know. I'm on my second year of media studies, so I also have a general understanding of composition, colour theory etc. so I would say that I am more than capable to start some paid work within this.

Creating a portfolio should probably be my first consern, but as I don't have much work experience and seeing as my harddrive died last year without me taking backup, I have very little stuff to show, even from school...

But looking past the "portfolio" part, we get closer to my real question..! How do I actually get work? I've tried google, but most pages devoted to this tells me that I need a US work permit to get work from US-based people... Should I put myself out there? If so, how?

Thanks for any replies! I don't want to be stuck with nothing other than irrelevant work experience on my CV and no portfolio when I actually try to get some work in the future!

[Oliwerko]

Flash animators are often not only animators, but also webdesigners/graphic artists. I think there is not much you can do while you are "almost 18", because most of flash animators I know work as internists in advertising agencies, not like part-time home-workers. I guess your best bet is to ask everyone you know if they know somebody who knows somebody who can provide you some work.

[Stupot]

People who get paid for making flash animations are the lucky ones, most people do it for nothing...
One thing you could think about is making games in flash... If you can get your name about you could end up being commissioned to make games and flash web content for promotional purposes, such as for upcoming movies and products.

I'd like to get into this line of work, but I can't draw

good luck victor

[fred]

I can recommend the mochiads.com forums where both flash game developers and sponsors/publishers/portal owners hang out.  Great place for showcasing your flash and teaming up with others. You can always post a link there to your 'stickman adventures' game for starters, as far as I remember it was on newgrounds.com so it can't have disappeared with your hd 

[OneDollar]

If you know, or can find someone who knows, how to program in Flash it might be worth looking at Armour Games http://armorgames.com/page/sponsorship. I know artists like the Super Flash Brothers have started making lots of games under their sponsorship, and the deal seems quite good. You could also try going for prizes at sites like Newgrounds. It'd be a good way of building up a portfolio and getting some cash at the same time. Other than that I'd suggest contacting graphic design agencies, finding out how people there started off and possibly if they could offer you any freelance work.