Why Its All in the Preparation with Nicholas Smith
Nicholas is a talented CGI artist and animator from London. Since his childhood, he has immersed himself in animation, dedicating his free time to drawing his favourite characters, creating Lego stop-motion animations, and even making small animations using PowerPoint. After completing his studies in animation at university, he focused his skills on becoming a character animator and gained experience working on various commercials and music videos.
Currently, Nicholas thrives as a CGI artist on television shows, excelling in a multifaceted role. With expertise in lighting, modelling, animation, and rigging, he skilfully employs a variety of techniques to find optimal solutions for each task at hand. Looking ahead, Nicholas eagerly anticipates taking on larger productions and further evolving his artistic skills.
Q> How long have you worked for JAM VFX?
Nicholas> I started at JAM as a freelancer for six months and have now been a full timer for a little over a year.
Q> What’s your position at the company?
Nicholas> I’m a junior 3D artist.
Q> There are two ends to the VFX spectrum - the invisible post and the big, glossy 'VFX heavy' shots. What are the challenges that come with each of those?
Nicholas> It is really difficult to generalise them, and I wouldn't say that one is more challenging than the other. Usually, they all come with a long list of challenges.
Q> As a VFX person, what should directors be aware of to make sure you do the best possible job for them?
Nicholas> When working with VFX, it's important to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and to prepare properly for the effect you're going for. It can be tough for artists to produce high-quality results when they don't have all the prep work and information needed, so make sure to provide as much of that as possible. That way, you can avoid any potential issues and ensure that the final shot turns out perfect!
Q> Think about the very, very start of a project. What is your process for that? Do you have a similar starting point for all projects?
Nicholas> I usually do a lot of research and prepare as much as possible for the challenges I expect to come up. However, there may be unforeseen challenges that arise, which can either be a fun learning experience or a complete nightmare.
Q> Is there a piece of technology or software that's particularly exciting you in VFX? Why?
Nicholas> I've been using one of the latest plugins from Keen Tools. Their face builder/tracker is incredible. With new software and plugins being developed all the time, I try to learn at least one new tool for each job I work on.
Q> VFX is a craft that relies on you really looking at nature - how light works, how gravity works, the mannerisms of a kind of creature, how crowds work, skeletons, explosions… whether it's animation or compositing or anything else… So how do you like to approach the research side of your job? What’s the most random or intriguing thing you’ve learned from working on a project?
Nicholas> My first project at JAM was animating the crows for Worzel Gummidge. I had never animated a bird before, but I was excited to give it a shot! I spent a bunch of time studying their quirks and unique movements. One thing that really stood out was how they move their heads first and then their bodies follow, especially when they walk. It was a fun task to come up with some creative techniques to achieve that movement.
Q> How did you first get into the industry? What was your very first job in the industry and what were the biggest lessons that you learned at that time?
Nicholas> I got a freelance animation job thanks to a good friend from uni who recommended me. The project involved animating a puppy for a kids commercial, which was a fun challenge since I had never animated a dog before. The biggest lesson I learned from this experience was not to underestimate the amount of time needed to complete a shot.
Q> What skills do you think you need to succeed in the industry?
Nicholas> Have passion for what you do, be a good team player, be open for constructive criticism, don’t be arrogant!
Q> What advice would you give to other people thinking about working in the industry?
Nicholas> Keep working on your craft and applying everywhere non-stop. Build connections on LinkedIn and make your work available for everyone to see.
Q> What was your first creative milestone in the industry – the project you worked on that you were super proud of?
Nicholas> I guess it would be the work I did for some Barbie animations on their YouTube channel as it was my first full-time job in the industry, and even though the music drove me a bit crazy, it was a great experience. I also had a great time animating the reliquary sequence in the Detectorists because I got to lead a project for the first time and the director gave me a lot of creative freedom.
Q> How does JAM VFX support your career progression?
Nicholas> I get to work with amazing artists from various fields and learn from them.
Every job I’m tasked with has different challenges so the work never feels repetitive.
Additionally, I get to go on courses to learn new skills. Recently, I had the opportunity to attend a Houdini course focusing on the USD workflow and Solaris within the Houdini software suite.
Q> Explain a typical day at the JAM the office?
Nicholas> It's always a little different depending on the job and the team, but my typical routine involves logging into my pc, having a brief catch up with my co-workers. Then, I touch base with the job lead to see what needs to be tackled for the day. And if I happen to have a bit of downtime, I like to take the opportunity to learn a new skill and add to my creative toolbox!
Q> What have you learnt since starting?
Nicholas> I had mostly worked on full CG projects before joining JAM, so since I started here, I have been able to learn about the full VFX pipeline and how each department works. I learn new things every day, so it would be difficult to list everything. I am happiest when I am learning and improving, so my current role is perfect for me.
