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SHOWREEL
GET TO KNOW EDWARD
Can you describe the extent of any relevant work experience you might have?
I spent six weeks at Lux Aeterna VFX last summer as a compositing intern. I spent my time learning from their artists and seeing how a professional studio operates. Once I was more familiar with their workflow, I helped work on a few shots for one of their projects, and some pitch work for the bidding they were doing. More recently, I have been working on shots for some short films that I found out about through contacts at Escape. The first of these was Mango, where I picked up some shots to support the masters students. The second is currently unreleased, but I am working hard to bring the director's vision to life through a variety of compositing techniques.
How would you describe your contribution to your group project?
For Set in Stone, I was the 2D Lead, which means I was responsible for the organisation and task allocation for the compositing of the project. I used Flow Production Tracker to follow all the progress for the many shots in the film. It was important to keep these shots consistent, so I created script templates and worked closely with the 2D team, and 3D Lead, to ensure consistent colour management and aesthetics throughout the film. I was also on set, supervising to ensure that our work in post-production would go as smoothly as possible. Aside from the compositing work on the project, I also helped our director with colour grading and sound editing. It was incredibly satisfying to bring new depth to the film with a creative grade and sound effects, all while ensuring that the final film lived up to the director's intentions.
What do you specialise in and what made you choose that specialism?
As a 2D VFX artist, I have practised a variety of skills within Nuke. Synergy throughout the VFX pipeline is essential, so for my specialism module, I created 3D renders to complement my compositing, so I could reinforce my understanding of the 3D VFX workflow. I was inspired by the book Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson; I recreated a scene using official artwork as a reference. To complete this module, I began my 3D work in my spare time before the module officially began. My work involved intensive keying, rotoscoping, and CG integration, and helped to prepare me for any task I might find in the industry. I'm particularly proud of the research I put into accurately representing the lens, from distortion and vignette to chromatic aberration and lens flares.
What would your ideal first role in the industry be?
I'm eager to join this industry, and I want to experience as many projects and styles of work as I can. Feature films, TV, and commercial work all have their advantages, and it would be ideal for me to gain as much first-hand experience as possible to decide which is best for my style of work. I imagine I would start as a roto/prep artist, but I would be keen to move on to working as a junior compositor.
Which of your student projects are you most proud of, and why?
I would say that I am most proud of my advanced specialism, as it allowed me to push all my capabilities to the limit. For my group projects, I have completed some incredibly gratifying work, but they were all restrained by the short film format. As my specialism was an individual project, I could be as ambitious as I wanted, without the risk of letting a team down if I failed to deliver. Luckily, I was able to complete the shot on time, and I am extremely proud of the development and skill that it displays.
What’s a piece of media (film, game, animation) that changed the way you think about your discipline?
I'm most inspired by media that innovates within this discipline, whether by inventing new technologies or utilising tools available in new and creative ways. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was one of the pieces of media that got me interested in VFX in the first place, and it is famous for its innovation. The creativity behind the techniques that were used inspires me to try and think outside the box in finding my solutions. It's also motivating to hear the stories of the passionate hours that were put into the work. I hope that I can work alongside similarly passionate people, on projects that inspire people in the same way.
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