THE STUDIO SQUAD™
A limited time LEVEL UP: HOUDINI Curriculum
CURRENTLY INCLUDED AS FREE BONUS
This program might not ever be offered again.
Here’s what’s happening in The Studio Squad™
Go from Houdini artist to project-ready freelance studio lead.
Run and deliver your first $5,000 3D Houdini client project in 10 weeks.
Starting in May, I launched a new curriculum covering exactly how to create and launch your own 3D studio (or freelancing business) from scratch.
I’ll be following along with the program alongside you, sharing every step of the way, week by week.
Here's how it works.
First, we’ll plan your freelance positioning and get you ready to take on the types of projects and work you’re already comfortable doing. This is how you can start to make some freelance $$$ while launching the studio and preparing for bigger projects.
Next, we’ll be walking through a full studio project. Together, we’ll go through every stage of a complete end-to-end client spec project (Using the 5-P Framework), and you’ll learn the production and pipeline stages needed to manage your own projects. This will teach you exactly what you need to do and in what order so you can run these projects on your own.
Then, we present the completed project and position ourselves to generate freelance demand. This is when we share the work we’ve done and position ourselves as the go-to artists. This is the stage most artists miss, but it’s the key to landing sustainable projects.
This program is for artists who already know Houdini and are ready to make the leap from “good at the software” to “able to run paid client projects.”
You’ll learn how to plan, pitch, manage, deliver, polish, and present a real Houdini project like a professional.
As of May 18th, 2026 the program has just started!
This doc (you’ll read below) shows you how it works, who this is for, and what we’ll be doing together over the course of those 10 weeks.
Have a read, and if you’re interested, there’s the link to join at the bottom of the doc.
- Will Hendrickson
THE STUDIO SQUAD™
I’m creating a step by step program for 3D artists to help them build a studio capable of delivering on $5k+ freelance projects in 2026.
Here’s what we’re doing…
Our goal is simple: To get you to land your first $5,000 USD freelance project in just 10 weeks
- While having freelance leads coming in all the time
- Multiple freelance opportunities to choose from
- And the ability to decide which projects to do (and which projects to turn down)
We’ll be building the foundation required to start making money from your 3D work, and the freedom to do it on your own terms.
I’ve built a $200k / year 3D studio, delivered on multiple 5 figure client projects, and had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest brands out there.
And now in 2026, it could be your turn to take your 3D skills and build something bigger.
This won’t work for you if you…
- Are just starting 3D, or just started learning Houdini and you haven’t yet completed full projects
- Aren’t willing to work on the business side of 3D
But if you…
- Already have a good understanding of 3D (or if you've completed LEVEL UP: Houdini)
- Have a goal of wanting to freelance more
- Want flexibility and freedom to decide what types of clients you work with
- Want to build new skills to level up your 3D career
…This could be the year where things get exciting!
I’m relaunching my freelance studio to show you exactly how it's done.
And within The Studio Squad™ program you’ll be right there with me launching your own. Using the same proven frameworks, same document templates, same exact positioning strategies, and same process that's been proven to work.
The plan is simple:
Phase 1: Get Yourself Freelance Ready!
Before the main phase begins, we get you ready to talk about your 3D work like a professional.
This is the quick-win stage.
You’ll learn how to explain what you do to non-technical clients.
You'll learn where you fit inside a 3D production pipeline, how to talk about rates, how to answer project questions, and how to pitch your work without sounding like you’re just looking for a fat paycheck (don't worry, those come later).
You’ll also start preparing your Portfolio Positioning Profile™, practicing your client outreach, and getting a public-facing portfolio ready to get clients reaching out organically.
You'll stop feeling like “just an artist using Houdini” and start acting like a freelance 3D professional who can talk to clients, explain value, and maintain real $$$ conversations.
You’ll leave this stage with:
- A clear explanation of what you do
- A simple freelance positioning statement
- A basic outreach script
- A framework to talk about rates and project scope
- A clearer sense of the kind of client work you want
- A social media content plan for the next 10 weeks
Phase 2: Client Spec Project
This is the core of The Studio Squad™.
Now that you’re ready to respond to freelance requests when they come in, it’s time to get strategic. We now need to create work good enough to get us noticed AND get us hired.
- You’ll be creating a full project designed to showcase the kind of work you want to get hired for.
- Inside this stage, we use the 5P Studio Method™: Pick. Pitch. Produce. Polish. Present.
- Pick - First, you pick the kind of Houdini project you want to build and decide whether you’ll work solo or in a team.
- Pitch - Then you pitch the project idea: the concept, client creative, visual direction, scope, references, and production plan.
- Produce - From here, you produce the work using a studio-style pipeline, with support for project pipeline, workflow questions, revisions, and production decisions.
- Polish - then you polish the project into a finished portfolio piece and case study.
- Present - Finally, you present it like a spec client pitch, showing the idea, process, outcome, and how this kind of work could be sold to a real client.
This is where you build the proof and confidence, by showing off the 3D work you’re capable of making.
You’re not just making “cool Houdini renders.” You’re building a client-ready project that shows you can think, plan, manage, finish, and present work like a professional.
Phase 3: Repeatable Studio Cycle
This is where the project turns into a long-term growth system.
After the client-spec project is completed, you’ll review your work, update your portfolio, reach out for more freelance opportunities, gather feedback, and plan the next steps.
This is the part most artists miss.
They finish a project, post it once, get a few likes, and then move on to the next one.
The Studio Squad™ teaches you how to turn each project into the start of the next $5k opportunity.
1. You use the work to start better conversations with potential clients.
2. Those conversations lead to your next freelance project.
3. You use that project to improve as an artist, and better plan stronger projects.
Then you repeat the cycle.
That’s how you grow from one spec project to better projects, better clients, stronger proof, more confidence, and eventually a bigger body of work that can support higher project fees (yes, even $50k+, although my goal I’m still working towards is $100k+ myself).
We’ll already started officially in May with Phase 1.
Where you’ll get prepped on your freelance positioning, hit the ground running, and get you ready to land your first $5k project by the end of the 10 week program.
Over the program, you'll go from...
“I’m competent in Houdini, but I don’t really know how to scope, sell, manage, or deliver full client projects.”
to...
“I can plan, pitch, produce, deliver, and present a $5k+ client-ready Houdini project, with the pipeline to support it, and the proof to land $5K projects.”
What you'll finish with:
- A finished $5k Client-Ready Houdini project
- A polished case study
- A complete client pitch plan
- A full Freelance Positioning Plan
- A repeatable project pipeline
- All documents, plans, and prep needed to pitch, plan, produce, deliver, and present client projects.
- The framework and proof to talk to clients about full project work
- A clearer path toward project-based freelancing or building your own mini studio
Why this works:
I’ve used this same Houdini project pipeline to deliver client projects worth $10,000 to $50,000+.
This cohort is built around refining the real process behind those projects: from pitching, scoping, story boarding, managing revisions, building production files, coordinating with artists, presenting the work, and turning the finished piece into a case study.
You’re not just learning how to make better Houdini work.
You’re learning how to run the kind of project clients actually pay for.
And I'll be doing it with you to show you exactly how.
Bonuses (stuff you get for free)
Bonus 1: The $5K Houdini Project Pipeline Pack
You’ll get my real project briefs, pitch docs, storyboard templates, revision docs, client frameworks, and project planning templates.
This gives you the admin, client pipeline, and structure to run the project properly, not just make cool renders.
Bonus 2: Live Studio Build-Along
I’ll complete my own Houdini project live during the program, and am documenting the whole process, showing how I plan, build, problem solve, revise, and present the work in real time.
You can follow my thinking, model your project structure after mine, or work on shots in parallel if you want a clearer path.
Bonus 3: Freelance Project Positioning Framework
Not sure how to positing yourself or your skills? This framework will help you determine where you work best, how you like to work, and your ideal client type.
Bonus 4: Complete Houdini Project Files
I’m also completing my own full project during this time (I'll be making a big cinematic for Level 7 of Level Up: Houdini)
You’ll get my pipeline, my files, my workflow, my plan, and my whole process for making it happen,
Bonus 5: Social Media Portfolio Templates
Remember how I told you I'm also launching my studio again? And doing this whole process with you? Well I'll be documenting it all on Instagram and creating content on how I did it, so you'll get my files, my templates, and my strategy for strategic social media positioning + posting. The exact files, hooks, content formats, and templates you can use to launch your own studio.
How to join
We kicked off the cohort in May inside Level Up: Houdini. If this sounds like something you're interested in, then you can join below and follow at your own pace.
Pricing: FREE!
This curriculum is currently included for free for Level Up: Houdini students.
After this cohort it will likely be sold as it's own program.
And if you're not in the program yet, the button below is how you can join Level Up: Houdini to follow along with The Studio Squad™.
See you inside,
Will Hendrickson
