Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, CG Spectrum’s Chief Creative Officer Jeremy Chinn interviews Emmy-nominated VFX Supervisor and CG Spectrum alum Charlie Lehmer. Charlie shares his inspiring journey from aspiring filmmaker to a VFX career working on major projects like All the Light We Cannot See, Avengers: Endgame, and Deadpool & Wolverine.
Discover how Charlie’s unrelenting commitment set him apart—whether it was flying across the country to demonstrate his commitment to a gig, learning advanced tools like Nuke and Maya while working full-time, or simply making the best sandwiches to show his dedication to craft. He reflects on the challenges and rewards of his career, the critical role of mentorship, and his advice for aspiring VFX professionals looking to break into the industry.
Charlie reflects on his early days, crediting CG Spectrum’s flexible, mentor-led training in 3D Modeling and Nuke VFX for helping him bridge the gap between production and post-production, and allowing him to stand out in the industry. Through hard work, perseverance, and a deep love for the craft, Charlie rose from entry-level roles to becoming a lead VFX supervisor. With his success story, he wants to encourage more professionals to explore specialized learning as a tool for career growth.
This episode is packed with practical tips and inspiration for aspiring VFX artists and film professionals looking to carve their path in a competitive field. Don't miss it!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Hubert: https://www.bonjam.ca/
Learn 2D Animation: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/2d-animator
Maxine speaks with Hubert Lapointe, Online Educator/Creative Director and Founder at Bon Jam Animation, about how to work as a freelance animator, including how to determine your rate, whether to charge hourly or daily, and marketing yourself on social media. Plus, Hubert gives some great tips on how to succeed in e-learning. This episode is chock-full of actionable tips and is not to be missed, especially for those who are considering starting to work as a freelancer!
Hubert Lapointe is an online educator, Creative Director and Founder at Bon Jam Animation and mentor of 2D Animation at CG Spectrum. His experience ranges from Toonboom software instructor to animation supervisor, to director and finally studio founder at Bon Jam Animation. He has worked at studios like Oasis Animation, Bardel Entertainment, Shed, and Happy Camper Media and has credits on shows like Rick and Morty, The Ollie and Moon Show for Netflix, and primetime children TV series Jon Le Bon.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/freelance-animation-hubert-lapointe
00:00 Intro
01:24 Hubert’s background, starting as an animator in Quebec
03:26 Failing the animation test, Hubert’s first job
05:10 Getting into the industry through side roles, finding your path
9:20 Becoming an Animation director
13:50 Benefits of freelancing versus working in a studio
18:34 Getting started as a freelancer and online exposure
24:02 How to make content more interesting for social media
30:10 Producing consistently and creating engagement
36:09 Knowing the audience for your demo reel
42:30 Qualities Hubert looks for when hiring juniors
48:00 How to set your rate and other practical tips
53:16 Hourly versus daily rates
55:45 Starting at a discounted rate
59:15 Negotiating your rate
1:05:10 Tips for e-Learning
1:10:40 Where to find Hubert
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Hubert:
📍 https://www.bonjam.ca/
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/hubert-lapointe/
📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8153335/
📍 https://www.instagram.com/bonjam.ca/
📍 https://www.instagram.com/bleu_ecarlate/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Azra: https://www.azralkan.com/
Learn Real-time 3D: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/virtual-production
Maxine speaks with Azra Alkan, Compositing Supervisor and Real-Time Look Development Artist, about how to determine your worth as an artist in film and games. Hear about Azra’s career journey, from moving to the United States from Turkey to study computer programming, getting into compositing supervision and then real-time 3D virtual production. Azra breaks down why authentic networking is so valuable and how important it has been in her profession, including landing the highly competitive Epic Games Unreal Engine Fellowship in 2019. Plus, practical tips like how to research to create opportunities for yourself!
Azra Alkan is an Unreal Engine Artist, Visual Effects Compositor, and Filmmaker. She has been predominantly using traditional tools such as Nuke, Maya, and Houdini to work in the film industry for over 10 years. After being selected for Epic Games’ Unreal Engine Fellowship in 2019, Azra has been trying to unlock new ways that bring power to the traditional VFX pipeline with the addition of real-time tools.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/real-time-3d-look-dev-artist-azra-alkan
00:00 Intro
01:14 Azra’s background, growing up in Turkey
04:58 Studying computer programming
07:48 Getting a sign, moving to the States, and starting film studies
11:54 The value of going to school vs. self-guided learning
14:32 If it’s not the right job for you, there is something else
19:55 How to overcome the challenge of not working in a studio
22:30 How to network authentically
26:35 Moving from compositing supervisor to virtual production in real-time 3D
31:32 Epic Games Unreal fellowship
36:18 Advancing by combining skills and talents
42:29 Knowing your boundaries
47:30 Prioritizing your health and keeping perspective
52:08 Making a liveable wage
55:55 How to give helpful critique and feedback
59:44 Listener questions: staying current with software, creative applications for software
1:07:10 Where to find Azra
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Azra:
📍 https://www.azralkan.com/
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/azralkan/
📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6784875/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Ian: www.ianspriggs.com
Learn 3D Modeling: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/3d-modeling
Digital Portrait Artist Ian Spriggs catches up with Maxine to unpack the creative process behind his mind-blowing realistic 3D character portraitures. Learn how Ian approaches creating his digital portraits, including how he chooses subjects, tricks for lighting and workflow, and the importance of practicing your craft. Ian also discusses the difference between hyperrealism and photorealism, how digital portraiture compares to traditional painting, and finding inspiration in art history.
Ian Spriggs is a digital portrait artist creating believable digital humans. He has also worked as a lead character 3D modeler with credits including Bloodshot, Mulan, The Mandolorian (Chapter 1), Spiderman: Far From Home, and John Wick 3. He's been creating digital art in the industry for over 16 years, working at studios such as OatsStudios, ImageEngine, ILM, Mr X, and is currently at Unity Labs.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/create-3d-character-portrait-ian-spriggs
00:00 Intro
01:15 Ian’s 3D Portraiture
03:38 Finding passion through a self-portrait
05:37 Ian’s background in VFX
07:57 Working at ILM and Oats
10:10 Working in small versus large studios
12:01 How Ian selects portrait subjects
16:11 How digital portraiture compares to traditional painting
20:33 Ian’s art shown in galleries
23:06 Ian’s process for portraiture
26:08 Hyperrealism vs. photorealism
29:36 Ian’s portrait of Kim Jung Gi
31:28 Feedback and attention to detail
35:35 Leonardo da Vinci portrait
38:24 Personal work versus professional work
42:03 Finding inspiration in art history
43:50 Lighting models
45:50 Tricks Ian has picked up from the industry
47:35 Following your passion and practicing
50:02 How many hours Ian spends working
53:20 Listener questions: recommendations for realistic sculpting, preferred workflows
55:50 Where to find Ian
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Ian:
📍 https://www.ianspriggs.com
📍 https://www.instagram.com/ianspriggs
📍 https://twitter.com/spriggsian
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Alex: https://beddowsdesign.carrd.co/
Learn Environment Art: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/environment-artist
Justin interviews Alex Beddows, a Senior Environment Artist at Respawn Entertainment, about how to get ahead in the industry and his pragmatic perspective on career advancement. Alex shares how personal projects like his podcast 'Game Dev Discussion' helped him to network and land jobs, and how his background in sports (rugby) has been a pivotal asset for building leadership in the studio. He shares practical tips about how to research for a position you want and determining the scope of a project, and answers listener questions about inspiration, mental bandwidth, and preferred software for environment art.
Alex is an environment artist with nearly 10 years of experience in varying sectors of the game industry, from mobile to AAA, on titles including Returnal, Scavengers, and Godfall. He also worked at ArtStation as a consultant. Alex currently resides at Respawn Entertainment as a Senior Environment Artist. As well as being an artist, Alex hosts the ‘Game Dev Discussion’ podcast dedicated to the games industry, where he speaks with people from all aspects of games with a strong focus on environment art.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/environment-art-repawn-entertainment-alex-beddows
00:00 Intro
01:12 Alex’s Background from rugby to game art
03:25 Starting the GDD podcast
06:29 How sports helped Alex in the games industry
09:15 Communication and delivering bad news in a positive way
11:54 Progressing with soft skills rather than hard skills
16:28 Doing the research
19:35 Alex’s pragmatic approach to his career
23:45 How knowing what you don’t want to do helps you figure out what you do want to do
26:30 How far is far enough?
32:39 Scoping your project and maintaining momentum
36:23 The easy way to make a checklist for your portfolio
38:30 Getting inspired through photography
43:30 Making steps toward Art Direction
48:00 Listener questions: inspiration, mental bandwidth, preferred softwares for environment art
57:45 Where to find Alex
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Alex:
📍 https://beddowsdesign.carrd.co/
📍 https://www.artstation.com/alexbeddows
📍 https://www.dinustyempire.com/podcast
📍 https://www.instagram.com/beddows.design/
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-beddows-2a827585/
📍 https://twitter.com/BeddowsDesign
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pullyblank/
Learn 3D Animation: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/3d-animator
Maxine interviews Mark Pullyblank, Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, to talk about his midlife career switch into animation from an entirely different industry -- live music. Mark tells us how he went from starting a new career in animation in his mid-30s with two young kids and zero income to getting headhunted to work on Avatar. He and Maxine discuss why your attitude matters so much, how failures lead to success, and the importance of falling in love with the process. This episode is not to be missed!
Mark Pullyblank spent much of the nineties working as a musician before beginning his animation career. He has been an Animation Supervisor at Rainmaker Digital and Frantic Films, a Senior Animator at Sony Pictures Imageworks, and worked in various departments at Wētā FX. His film credits include Avatar, The Adventures of Tintin, The Smurfs, Night at the Museum, and many others. Mark is currently the Department Head of 3D Animation at CG Spectrum, co-founder of Theia Interactive, Director of Non-Stop Motion Virtual Productions, a Lecturer at a Californian university, and undertakes freelance and consulting work at film and game studios.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/animation-career-change-mark-pullybank
00:00 Intro
01:22 Mark’s background and switching into an entirely new career in animation
04:00 Why starting a new career was a hard sell
06:45 Doing things you’re bad at
10:14 Mark’s experience of going back to school as an animator at 33 with two kids and zero income
12:15 Closing the gap between beginner and skilled through practice
15:44 Falling in love with the process, and the work over the fantasy
20:28 The importance of stories and creating art
22:10 Equal enthusiasm for projects, from Dr. Doolittle 3 to Avatar
25:50 Mark’s mindfulness trick
28:30 Learning how to lose: how failure leads to success
34:38 Focus on the things you have control over
40:48 Building toward responsibility
44:02 Impostor Syndrome and setting healthy boundaries
51:50 What to do on your first day in a studio
56:50 How Mark was invited to work on Avatar
57:45 Where to find Mark
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Mark:
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/pullyblank/
📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1603840/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find J Hill: https://artofjhill.com/
Learn Character Art: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/character-artist
In this week’s interview with J Hill, Lead Character Artist at Turtle Rock Studios, joins Maxine to chat about the success of his eponymous YouTube channel @J Hill , how he got started as a character artist, using YouTube as a creative outlet and a form of accountability, and why encouraging other people to pursue their passions is so important to him. Plus, J shares some practical wisdom about job interviews, what sets applicants apart, and what he looks for when he’s in the hiring seat. J also answers your listener questions about time management, render engines, and more!
J is a professional 3D character artist in the entertainment industry working as a Lead Character Artist at Turtle Rock Studios, known for popular games Back 4 Blood, Evolve, and Left 4 Dead. J also runs @J Hill where he helps artists pursue their interests in digital art, including 3D character art, ZBrush sculpting, 3D modeling, game art, and rendering.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/create-your-dream-job-j-hill
00:00 Intro
01:39 J’s background and 3D Modeling
09:25 How to go ‘off the beaten path’ to make a living
12:03 How J got started on YouTube and creating personal work
17:54 Impostor syndrome and authenticity on J’s YouTube account
22:24 Creating room for and embracing failure
24:10 J’s first job in the industry
31:01 How J landed his second job as a character artist through a forum post and networking
35:32 Expanding your net and staying open minded with job applications
40:47 Working for a studio vs. making personal work
47:32 Personal projects as a way to show your passion
49:29 Advice for people getting into the industry
57:40 Doing work that speaks to you
1:03:03 Listener questions: time management, environment art, why did J choose character art?, Render Engines, ZBrush
1:13:40 Where to find J
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
J Hill:
📍 https://www.artstation.com/jhill
📍 https://www.youtube.com/c/artofjhill/about
📍 https://www.instagram.com/artofjhill/
📍 https://artofjhill.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Kate: https://www.katexagoraris.com/
Learn Houdini FX: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/fx-simulation
In this week’s interview, Kate Xagoraris, Midlevel Effects Artist at SPIN VFX & CG Spectrum Mentor of Houdini FX, joins Maxine to discuss her popular Houdini tutorials blog, her work on medical and science visualization tools, dealing with impostor syndrome, being pigeon-holed at work and how to break out of that pattern, as well as embracing the fear that comes with working in FX. As always, we dive into plenty of practical and actionable tips for advancing in your career.
Kate Xagoraris is an FX artist currently working for SPIN VFX. She's worked on projects like Nightmare Alley, The Witcher, and Raised by Wolves, Vikings: Valhalla, and The Boys. She also runs a popular science and visual effects blog called More VFX Help, where she covers Houdini and much more, and has her own YouTube channel, @Kate .
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/break-through-imposter-syndrome-fx-artist-kate-xagoraris
00:00 Intro
01:50 Kate’s background in animation and first steps in Houdini
06:30 Introducing science into effects work
07:30 How Kate’s blog started and her most popular articles
12:30 Inside the studio: “Production doesn’t know what artists do”
14:52 Tips for people who want to move up in their career
18:15 Navigating growth in a studio environment
22:22 How to deal with getting typecast or pigeonholed for one skill
25:51 Challenging yourself versus working in your comfort zone, doing one thing a day that scares you
28:48 The story behind Kate’s first Houdini shot on The Boys
35:06 The pressure of being the first woman on her FX team
42:30 How Kate writes her blog posts knowing her colleagues might come across them
45:10 Dealing with impostor syndrome
47:55 The importance of taking time off to process experiences and information
52:12 Kate’s medical and science visualization tools and using Houdini for NASA and Hubble
59:26 Where to find Kate
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Kate:
📍 https://www.artstation.com/katexagoraris
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-xagoraris-237970161/
📍 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbBVDltzL3eoADdraZGuuEg
📍 https://www.katexagoraris.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Chun Chun: https://www.artstation.com/chunchunyang
Learn 3D Modeling: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/3d-modeling
This week, Senior Texture Artist Chun Chun Yang sits down with Maxine to discuss how she got into 3D art, the rewards and challenges of switching careers from film to games, and the lessons she learned along the way. Maxine and Chun Chun also talk about pushing through discomfort to create new opportunities, challenging yourself to find joy in career growth, and much more!
Along with her successful texturing tutorials on Gumroad, Chun Chun has worked as a 3D artist for film, contributing to titles like Ready Player One, Deadpool, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. She's worked as a Texture Artist at Digital Domain and as a Senior Texture Artist at Industrial Light & Magic. After being scouted by an art director at Blizzard Entertainment, Chun Chun recently transitioned into games and is now working as a Character Material Artist on Blizzard's Diablo IV. She also has a successful YouTube channel, @Artruism Digital .
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/blizzard-texture-artist-chun-chun-yang
00:00 Intro
01:16 Chun Chun’s entry to 3D art
05:40 What is texturing?
07:33 Chun Chun’s transition from film to games
11:30 Challenges in moving from film to games
13:37 Talking to managers about new opportunities
17:44 Starting her YouTube channel @Artruism Digital
22:39 Career growth and developing your confidence beyond your job title
26:00 The learning curve for Houdini
28:59 Other procedural texturing artists to look out for
31:00 Challenging yourself and creating joy through career growth
32:15 Practical tips for creating your portfolio and finding a job
35:24 Getting scouted by an Art Director at Blizzard
36:00 People skills and your professional reputation
40:48 Future trends, and Realtime in Unreal Engine
45:30 How to network when you’re working remotely
47:26 Where to find Chun Chun
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Chun Chun:
📍 https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtruismDigital
📍 https://www.artstation.com/chunchunyang
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-chun-yang-175b0515/
📍 https://twitter.com/chunchunyang
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Pedro: https://www.https://www.complairvfx.com/
Learn Compositing: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/vfx-compositing
This week, Maxine interviews Pedro Andrade, Head of Compositing as well as Founder of the Comp Lair podcast and The Next Level training program, a Compositing Supervisor training program he created. They talk about how Pedro started his podcast and The Next Level training program out of a desire to share knowledge, and exactly what tools, skills and perspectives helped Pedro jump from a compositor to supervisor position in only two years. Tune in to hear Pedro talk about embracing your unique perspective, the freedom of letting go of expectations, and the value in being prepared for opportunities that come your way.
As a 2D Supervisor, Pedro has worked at companies such as DNEG, Cinesite, and Milk VFX. As former Head of Compositing at MPC, he managed 100+ people across London, Berlin, and Montreal, from junior artists to supervisors, on both episodic and film projects. Pedro's credits include House of the Dragon, Avengers: Endgame, The Boys (season 3), Doctor Who, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/comp-lair-compositing-supervisor-pedro-andrade
00:00 Intro
01:53 Why Pedro started the Comp Lair Podcast
05:00 The Next Level training program and four skills a Compositing Supervisor needs to master
10:50 How Pedro shifted from music and engineering into Visual Effects
19:20 Freelancing, Star Trek: Into Darkness
20:45 Finding your unique voice and using it to get ahead
26:03 The importance of being prepared
28:32 Practical tips for people who want to get into the industry
31:31 How Pedro learned a new skill in 3 months and the value in being proactive
37:38 The state of VFX and compositing and what to expect in the future
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Pedro:
📍 https://www.youtube.com/c/CompLair
📍 https://www.complairvfx.com/
📍 https://www.complairvfx.com/thenextlevel
📍 https://www.facebook.com/complair
📍 https://www.instagram.com/comp_lair/
📍 https://discord.com/invite/Tkhtau8
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Aaron: https://www.aaronsimscreative.com/
Learn Virtual Production: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/virtual-production
This week, Justin sits down with industry legend Aaron Sims, VFX Concept Artist and founder/CEO of Aaron Sims Creative, to talk about the industry’s evolution from practical effects to visual effects, Aaron’s latest venture into virtual production, and practical tips for succeeding in the industry.
ASC is an award-winning Design, VFX, and Game Studio with over 30 years of experience working on some of the biggest titles in the business: Stranger Things, Wonder Woman, the Planet of the Apes trilogy, and more. Tune in to hear how Aaron transitioned from working as a practical makeup FX artist in the 80s, to working on iconic films like Gremlins 2, Batman Forever, Men In Black, and Artificial Intelligence: A.I. with industry greats like Steven Spielberg, Stan Winston, and Rick Baker, and now breaking boundaries by embracing Unreal Engine as the next great innovation in storytelling.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/aaron-sims-storytelling-virtual-production-vfx
00:00 Intro
01:18 Aaron’s start as a makeup FX artist in the 80s
03:04 Practical vs. Visual effects
5:42 Working with Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi
7:20 How the visual effects industry has evolved
10:10 What made Aaron get into VFX
13:14 Why certain movies effects hold up better than others
17:10 Inspiration from Jurassic Park, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars
19:12 Developing Stan Winston Digital
21:18 Designing robots for Steven Spielberg’s AI
24:53 Experimentation, innovation, and transitioning to Unreal
28:57 Learning Unreal and its applications for virtual production
30:25 Aaron’s short The Eye Calanthek
36:45 Metahumans and Realitycapture
42:22 Creature work on Gremlins 2 and Men in Black
44:45 Aaron’s favorite creatures he’s worked on
47:11 Practical tips for getting into the industry
53:49 Is new software and technology helpful or hurtful?
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Aaron:
📍 https://www.aaronsimscreative.com/
📍 https://www.instagram.com/aaronsimscreative/?hl=en
📍 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn12Sq3F4wgqEqYtkyVyJ5Q
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/company/aaron-sims-creative
📍 https://twitter.com/_ascreative?lang=en
📍 https://www.artstation.com/aaronsimscreative
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Sean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amlaner/
Learn VFX Compositing: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/vfx-compositing
Justin catches up with Compositing Supervisor and CG Spectrum Head of Compositing, Sean Amlaner, about what a compositing artist really does, the burgeoning demand for compositors in the industry, and they go behind the scenes of CG Spectrum's newly-released Dune-inspired commercial, which Sean worked on as a Compositor and VFX Supervisor!
Sean has worked as a Compositing Supervisor, Senior Compositor, and Senior Artist Trainer for studios such as Technicolor VFX, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Rhythm & Hues, among others. He has worked on over 100 feature and episodic television post-productions including Star Trek: Picard, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Black Panther, Frozen, Westworld, Thor: Ragnarok, and Avengers: Infinity War.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/understanding-vfx-compositing-sean-amlaner
00:00 Intro
01:15 What is a compositor and where is compositing used?
04:15 Who does a compositor work within the project pipeline?
08:27 Which software Sean uses for compositing and what it takes to master it
12:41 What other softwares to learn to gain an edge in compositing
15:15 How is virtual production going to affect the compositing industry
18:32 How much compositing work shows up in the final product?
20:53 Sean’s background, switching from engineering to animation to compositing
23:53 Tips for getting into compositing
27:00 The virtual production pipeline used on the CG Spectrum Dune-inspired commercial
32:50 The different stages involved in creating the commercial
Watch the CG Spectrum Dune-inspired commercial: https://youtu.be/MCA8lZwh7ks
Go behind the scenes on our commercial shoot: https://youtu.be/M4HeJQ5SV-8
Watch our VFX breakdown: https://youtu.be/R6B1peE0cZ8
Read more about our VFX breakdown: https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/vfx-breakdown-dune-inspired-commercial
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Sean:
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/amlaner/
📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2154997/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Marcella Brown at https://thevfxclub.com/
Learn VFX: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/visual-effects
Marcella Brown, Senior FX Artist at Wētā FX and founder of @THE VFX Club Podcast , joins Maxine in studio to talk about her VFX career, including working on Encanto at Disney, the power of networking and mentorship, dealing with failure and burnout, and how her own family background has been a motivator in her career. Marcella's credits include Encanto and Godzilla vs. Kong, and she is is currently working on the highly anticipated upcoming Avatar: The Way of the Water.
The VFX Club Podcast is a space where artists from all backgrounds, creeds and colours can express through their own words what VFX means to them, with episodes focusing on what’s current in the industry straight from the artists' point of view. More at: https://thevfxclub.com/podcast/
The VFX Club's The Inception Project (t.i.p) recognizes the need for greater diversity and addressing representation, with a goal to reach the next generation of young artists that grow up in marginalized and hurting communities. Learn more at https://thevfxclub.com/the-inception-project/
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/diversity-vfx-industry-marcella-brown
00:00 Intro
1:43 Marcella’s background
5:41 Crowd simulation work
7:41 The value of supportive colleagues and the importance of relationships
8:54 Working in Canada as a Black artist
11:34 Marcella’s work on Godzilla: King of Monsters and Dumbo
14:44 Motivation for work
16:20 Getting laid off
19:30 Having the opportunity to make a great reels
20:30 Marcella’s move back to the States, networking, dealing with failure
27:25 How Marcella got into Disney, and the interview process, working on Encanto
30:15 Marcella’s current role at Wētā FX
34:10 Burning out, how to identify it, and motivate yourself
37:34 Marcella’s family background
43:05 Where to find Marcella
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Marcella:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cella_brown/?hl=en
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcella-brown-3180bb5a/
📍 https://thevfxclub.com/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Sarah Spiers at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahspiers/
Learn Game Development: https://www.cgspectrum.com/game-development
Maxine chats with Forbes 30 Under 30 in Games, Sarah Spiers, the Interim Executive Director of the IGDA Foundation, and Development Director at EA Games. Sarah details her strategy for breaking into the games industry, including how to create a great portfolio, networking, and the value of mentors. Plus, she and Maxine share crucial practical tips for crafting your resume (including one common mistake that could be costing you interviews!), the only three stories you need to prepare for a job interview, and how job recruiting *really* works.
Sarah currently works as the Development Director for EA Maxis, and serves as the Interim Executive Director of the IGDA Foundation. Her most recent producer role was overseeing feature development for Krafton's PU: Battlegrounds. She has helped clients such as Apple, Scholastic, NBC/Universal, and PBS bring their IP to games.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/magic-the-gathering-art-eric-wilkerson-ovidio-cartagena
00:00 Intro
01:15 How Sarah got started at the IGDA Foundation
04:10 Moving up to her role as a producer at PubG
08:12 Sarah’s advocacy for mental health in the workplace, the importance of sick days
13:27 Sarah’s long-term plan for breaking into the games industry and how it worked out: including portfolio, networking, and mentors
18:10 Crucial practical tips for creating your resume to get hired
26:04 More tips for aspiring game developers to break into the industry, prepare for job interviews
31:00 Sarah’s tips and answers to common job interview questions
33:23 Stop deciding that you’re not good enough for the job before you’ve even applied
35:26 The “Pony List”: how job applications and recruiting systems work
42:35 Self-advocating as a career tool and how Sarah got on the Forbes 30 under 30 list
46:38 Where to find Sarah
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Sarah:
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahspiers/
📍 https://twitter.com/sspiers_k
📍 https://igdafoundation.org/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Eric Wilkerson at https://ericwilkersonart.com/
Find Ovidio Cartagena at https://www.ovidiocartagena.com/
Learn Digital Illustration: https://www.cgspectrum.com/digital-painting
Award-winning Illustrator Eric Wilkerson and Wizards of the Coast Art Director Ovidio Cartagena chat with Justin about their work together on card illustrations for Magic: The Gathering, how an art director chooses artists for the job, and how Eric got his “golden ticket” into card illustration. They also share a ton of practical career tips on preparing and presenting your portfolio, including why it's important to diversify.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/magic-the-gathering-art-eric-wilkerson-ovidio-cartagena
00:00 Intro
1:50 How does Game Card illustration work?
4:30 Eric’s journey into card illustration
9:32 Ovidio’s process for choosing artists
15:00 The advantage of diversifying your portfolio
19:36 How to present work in your portfolio
22:30 Figuring out who you are and honing your focus
26:20 Ovidio’s approach as an art director
27:46 How Eric approaches creative briefs
31:35 The importance of having a clear vision and practicing
35:00 Prioritizing diversity and representation
43:08 Where to find Eric and Ovidio
Becoming a trading card Illustrator: https://www.cgspectrum.com/blog/trading-card-illustrator-career
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Eric:
📍 https://ericwilkersonart.com
📍 https://youtube.com/c/PaintedInColor
📍 https://www.instagram.com/ericwilkersonart
📍 https://www.artstation.com/ericwilkerson
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-wilkerson-0a435b3
Ovidio:
📍 https://www.ovidiocartagena.com
📍 https://twitter.com/ovidiocartagena
📍 https://www.instagram.com/ovidiocartagena
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Find Daniel Pinch at https://www.danielpinch.com/
Learn Game Design: https://www.cgspectrum.com/courses/game-design-course
Justin checks in with his former student, Daniel Pinch, a Senior Game Designer at Airship Syndicate and Game Design Mentor at CG Spectrum. They talk about what qualities made Daniel stand out and succeed as a student, how to create an impressive game design portfolio, the skills Daniel looks for when hiring people, and finding a work-life balance.
🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/airship-syndicate-game-design-getting-hired
00:00 Intro
04:00 Starting at Airship Syndicate
06:16 The importance of reputation, wearing many hats
09:25 How Daniel got into the games industry
16:00 Creating your portfolio as a game designer
20:30 Daniel jumps into his first studio job at Phosphor
25:13 Incorporating feedback on level design
28:10 The skills Daniel looks for when hiring people
30:00 Finding a balance between problem-solving at work and personal life
34:00 Valuing your time
39:00 Coming full circle from student to mentor
44:07 What Daniel would change about being a student - collaboration and taking feedback
49:29 Overcoming self-doubt
52:51 Where to find Daniel
Connect on:
📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
Daniel:
📍 https://www.danielpinch.com/
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpinch13/
📍 https://www.twitch.tv/pinchinator
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
DNEG Lead Hard Surface Modeler David Cunningham joins Maxine to chat about how he got into 3D modeling, taking bold steps to advance his career, how a coaching session altered his path dramatically and shares career tips from his own work as a leadership coach. Plus, why he’s known as “the train guy.”
Learn about our 3D Modeling courses at https://www.cgspectrum.com/3d-modeling
Connect on:
📍 www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
David:
📍 https://www.davidcunningham3d.com/
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-cunningham-18a8b077/?originalSubdomain=uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, AAA game programmer Firas Hosn (Farcry 3, 4, 5 and Assassin’s Creed 3) chats with Maxine about finding his niche in AI in games, moving into leadership roles and developing confidence, and dealing with burnout and focus in your career.
Learn more about our Game Programming courses: https://www.cgspectrum.com/game-development
Connect on:
📍 http://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
📍 http://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum
More on Firas:
📍https://www.linkedin.com/in/firas-hosn-77182412/
📍https://github.com/fhosnCG
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Real-time artist and CG Spectrum Mentor of Real-time William Faucher meets with Justin to discuss. Beyond his successful career in the entertainment industry over the past decade, which includes work as a 3D Modeler in the games industry and VFX/CGI shot credits in Marvel's Black Panther and HBO's Watchmen, William also has his own successful YouTube channel where he shares Real-time tutorials.
In this episode, William and host Justin Mohlman discuss maintaining motivation when you’re largely self-taught, building the life you want (and moving to Norway!), pivoting from games to film and now to YouTube, as well as how his personal hobby - photography - has been a great asset for helping to develop his technical skills.
Find William on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/c/williamfaucher) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/williamfaucher.vfx/) and on the CG Spectrum website (https://www.cgspectrum.com/mentors/william-faucher). Learn more about our Real-time 3D and Virtual Production courses at www.cgspectrum.com/courses/realtime-3d-virtual-production-course.
Connect on:
📍 www.instagram.com/cgspectrum
📍 www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum
📍 www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week, Maxine meets with freelance 2D animation filmmaker, Sykosan. He reflects on his unique career switch from architecture to 2D animation, the portfolio strategies he used to assist in that transition, and recognizes how many skills from his previous career were transferable to the creative industries.
We follow Sykosan’s career — working his way up from assisting animators to creating and directing a Katy Perry music video — and his plans to move more towards directing. Plus, go behind the scenes of Katy Perry’s Cry About it Later music video and hear the cute backstory behind one of Sykosan’s animated characters, and his alternative ending to the video clip!
While Sykosan continues to move towards directing, his expertise covers all stages of the animation process including writing and editing, film directing, character design, background, asset design, 2D effects, and compositing! His distinctive style is a modern blend of western and Japanese influences, but he also demonstrates a strong ability to match a large variety of animation styles.
Throughout his career, Sykosan’s work has been used across all kinds of media — advertising, feature films, video games, and music videos — for a diverse range of clients, including Katy Perry, the BBC, Netflix, Adobe MTV, Samsung, Sony, Adidas, Gucci, and Megan Thee Stallion. He is also a mentor of 2D Animation at CG Spectrum.
To see more of his work, check out his website or follow him on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and ArtStation.
Sykosan
📍https://www.sykosan.com/
📍https://twitter.com/Sykosan
📍https://www.instagram.com/sykosan/
📍https://www.youtube.com/c/sykosan
📍https://www.artstation.com/sykosan
The CG Spectrum Podcast
📍https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast
📍https://www.instagram.com/thecgspodcast/
📍https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/cgspodcast/
📍https://www.facebook.com/cgspectrumpodcast
📍https://twitter.com/thecgspodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.