The CG Spectrum Podcast CG Spectrum

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/

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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/

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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

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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/

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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/

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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/

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