How VFX changes your view of the World, with Arpita Venugopal, Head of FX at One of Us | TVAP EP22

02/02/22 • 68 min

In this episode we meet with Arpita Venugopal, Head of FX at One of Us and a highly accomplished Houdini Artist.
We talk about her career in FX and how it has increased her appreciation for the beauty in the World. She gives advice for showreels and applications based on her role as a Head of Department and in recruitment. We discuss managing artists, her favourite projects, her plant-based Instagram @platefulofbliss and what makes SideFX Houdini so powerful in the field of FX in particular.
You will not want to miss this one and if you are an FXTD or aspiring FX-TD you may want to take notes!
Timestamps:
00:00 : What to expect and intro
02:19 : Meet Arpita, career outline
03:55 : Bollywood movies and VFX
08:53 : Getting into 3D and Houdini
10:10 : First job at MPC - Voyage of the Dawn Treader
11:35 : Why FX is so rewarding
12:10 : Research process for film FX
14:46 : Does working on FX change your perception of the World?
16:05 : A feline digression
17:20 : How Arpita broke into the industry
18:28 : Showreel advice and showing good attitude
20:00 : What is a technical reel?
21:41 : Do Houdini artists need to be science experts?
23:56 : The place of FX in the pipeline
27:40 : Show based vs department based organisatoin
32:26 : Work from Home and blended workflows
36:36 : The role of the Head of Department
38:42 : Specialities within FX
40:27 : More does and don'ts in job applications
44:56 : Favourite shows
46:58 : Important new developments in workflow and software
49:21 : Bringing people in for specific experience
49:54 : Marker 23
52:04 : A Plateful of Bliss: plant-based cookery
57:40 : Houdini is like a recipe book
01:01:29 : FX Artists use of Nuke
01:01:58 : I wish every artist got to spend a week in every department
01:03:55 : Houdini's tools for helping comp
01:07:05 : Goodbyes and outro
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Links:
One of Us: https://www.weacceptyou.com/
A Plateful of Bliss: https://www.instagram.com/platefulofbliss/
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#vfxpodcast #compositing #motioncapture

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Previous Episode

From Matchmove Lead to Lighting TD - How I did it - Maik Pham Quang | TVAP EP21

In this episode we chat to Maik Pham Quang, a Matchmove lead at Framestore London, about his career progression, as a runner, through to becoming a matchmove lead, with a decade's experience, to transitioning and changing departments to pursue his interest in the lighting department as a lighting TD.
Maik tells us about how it is leading and managing teams, managing pressure and expectations, fitting into a new department, and more.
We hope you enjoy the show!
Maik's IMDB
Chapters:
00:00 - What to expect in this episode
03:19 - Guest intro
05:19 - Entry into the industry
14:40 - Getting into the matchmove department
19:18 - Seniority progression through the matchmove department
21:33 - Watch Maik's 2021 Lead Matchmove reel
24:50 - What artists think about you as a lead
25:41 - What are the common mistakes matchmove artists make
27:33 - What do matchmove leads and supervisors expect to see in showreels?
29:42 - Which matchmove tasks are requested more lately on shows?
33:46 - Switching from matchmove to the lighting department
38:50 - Do you see yourself transitioning to another department in the future?
44:43 - What advice would you give to the aspiring artists?
48:10 - Conclusions
48:52 - Should artists work at different studios to validate their skills?
51:26 - Extras
Listen to all episodes at https://www.thevfxartistspodcast.com/
#vfxpodcast #matchmove #lighting

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Next Episode

How Animation Changed My Life - Michael Morgan - Part 1 | TVAP EP23

In this episode, we chat to Michael Morgan, a U.K. based senior character animator and animation mentor about his journey into the industry and working with some of the most highly respected studios in the world.
Michael has over two decades of experience in the VFX industry, and has contributed to some of your favourite movies and characters on the big screen, ranging from Marvel's Black Panther, Guarians Of The Galaxy: Vol 2, Star Wars: Clone Wars, Venom, Pacific Rim: Uprising and more!
In this episode, we discus his journey into the industry, his experiences leading and supervising teams. We also go on to discuss what qualities he looks for in animators, as well as the common practices and mistakes animators do, showreel advice, motion capture, and more
As always, if you liked this episode, please like, comment, subscribe and share!
You can find Michael on Linkedin
Chapters:
00:00 - Pre roll and what to expect in this episode
03:24 - Welcoming Michael on the show
05:28 - Did you always want to be an animator?
07:10 - Journey into the industry
14:20 - Doing 3D animation at home in the late 99's and 2000's
15:43 - Getting into the industry
17:07 - Preference between being a senior animator and supervisor
23:20 - Best way for animators to get in the industry or transition into, from different departments
27:05 - Traits you see in those who go on to be successful
28:31 - Qualities you look for in animators on your team?
29:52 - Why has 2D animmation mostly become redundant
37:31 - Will Maya remain the industry standard for animators?
39:05 - Would you hire an animator, if you liked their work but had never used Maya?
40:10 - Parents thoughts about your career choice
44:25 - Preference between animation for VFX and full animated feature
49:27 - Achieving realism in animation with/without motion capture
53:34 - Approaching a new sequence or shot
57:08 - Confidence with filming your own references
59:45 - Managing stressful days
End of Part 1
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#vfxpodcast #animator #vfxanimation