bmckain
16th March 2009, 10:17 AM
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219725_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219725.jpg)
1. Hi Greg, thanks for your time to do this interview. I’m pretty sure most members will know who you are but for the record would you mind introducing yourself and tell us something about you, your hobbies, favorite movie, where you work, that sort of thing.
Hi there. Most places/people around the web know me as mikala. I'm a professional hobbiest or freelancer using Lightwave to model organics/creatures. CG has pretty much taken up all my time hobby wise because, well I love doing it. If I'm not playing/working I'm usually out walking. I love to walk and the walks usually end up being miles/km in length. 2D art has always been a great diversion for me as well. Right now I work out of my home/studio assisted by our Bengal cat Chi. She is not that much help but does make sure I take break to rub her belly and feed her. Favorite movie? Hmm that's an easy one Star Wars. It made me want to do all the fancy stuff we see on screen today. That huge Star Destroyer made my jaw hit the floor and my mind imagined what can be.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-218904_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-218904.jpg)
2. When did you decide you wanted to be an artist and what inspired you to that end?
I would say it started as soon as I could hold any writing utensil I could find...so around 4 or 5 years old. I was sneaky too. I would draw on the underside of tables with my crayons and only got caught when we moved! Inspiration came from a few places. My Dad drawing an Indian chief with a full head dress in a couple of minutes, Boris, Frazetta, Lucas, the big cats and the rest of mother natures amazing creatures. A ton of comic books drawn by John Buscema and or Ernie Chan. Conan the Barabarian, Werewolf by Night and Moonknight were must haves for me.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219502_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219502.jpg)
3. At what point did you get involved with the 3D medium and what motivated you?
Well I found the internet around '94/95 and saw all the cool stuff being made by guys like Ed Giddings, Ralph Shoberth, Tobias Richter and said "I have to learn how this gets done." Sadly I did not have a computer that was capable enough to do anything more than simple renders. Even those took a week sometimes. My brother ended up giving me an old computer of his when he upgraded, a P75 and I was really off to the races. I downloaded everything I could off sites like the LWG and tried to figure out how things were made. Not being a technical person most of what I looked at went right over my head. Finally some of it stuck thankfully.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219114_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219114.jpg)
4. Did you go to school for a 3D/CG degree and whether yes or no, what do you recommend to those entertaining the idea of working in a studio?
I went to school back in 99/2000 on a 2 year course in 2D/3D.I will not name the school as I believe they were are a puppy mills of sorts. If I can give anyone one piece of advice about 3D schools is talk to former students. Find out what they think of the education they got from the institution they went to. Never ever believe the glam the schools put on at the open houses. Especially the job placement or links to the industry garbage. Those of you wanting to work in a studio I would say love and I mean love what you do, have a thick skin, be as flexible as a double jointed belly dancer and learn early on that things are and will be changed just when you think everything has been finalized. Oh ya did I mention loving what you do?
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219280_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219280.jpg)
5. Many members will know that you have done work in the industry so how about telling us where you got your first 3D/CG job and how the progression has gone.
Well by chance or luck I met a fellow that worked on Battlestar Galactica up here in Vancouver and he asked why I had not tried out at the studio for Vancouvers' role in the show. Well I did not have a lot of confidence in my work and said I did not think it was right for me to go and take someones money to learn. Well about a year or so later he got back to me and asked if I'd like to try out for a TV movie. I said yes and went from there. The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon epic began. It was fast and furious. I worked with several talented people like Al Rivard. Tim Albee and Kelly Myers. I found out quite quickly that in a small house you need to be able to do or want to do many different things. I was asked to do concept drawings, story boards as well as building 3d stuff. All I can say was that I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone. Sadly I believe the last work I did for the studio didn't get used as the work went somewhere else. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if any of my concept work got made into 3d. Right now I'm in search of the next project. In the mean time I have started sculpting.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219408_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219408.jpg)
6. What was your most enjoyable project?
I have to say it would be a volunteer project on the old LWG. The Star Wars gig. A ton of extremely talented people coming together and pushing each other to do even better stuff. Anyone reading this...you are surrounded by really talented people don't be afraid to ask questions. None will bite your head off. I still have mine!
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219599_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219599.jpg)
7. What is your favorite of all your 3D work?
I can't really say I have a favorite. I just make things and hope people like them. If they don't that's okay too as I still get to learn and create with each project.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219647_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219647.jpg)
8. Many members have seen your work I wonder if you can share something members haven't seen and expound on it and why you particularly like it?
Sadly no. I pretty much let people see it all here. Anything else is usually covered by an NDA. Pesky but necessary nowadays.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219678_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219678.jpg)
9. You've been around a long time now. What advice would you give the serious hobbyist regarding 3D in general?
Yes. LOVE IT as it will be what takes up the majority of your waking hours. Treat the people working with you with as much respect as you would like to get yourself. Even if they don't give it back. You'll have less stress on internal job politics that way. Do the best that you possibly can given time constraints given you and try to be better than the next guy in line as there are a ton of people out there looking to do the job you are. They would love to have your job! Be ready to take some heavy duty criticism as it will come your way. If you can't don't bother with this business. It is a given. Also have other interests things that take you away from the monitor now and then. Or you'll go blind!
1. Hi Greg, thanks for your time to do this interview. I’m pretty sure most members will know who you are but for the record would you mind introducing yourself and tell us something about you, your hobbies, favorite movie, where you work, that sort of thing.
Hi there. Most places/people around the web know me as mikala. I'm a professional hobbiest or freelancer using Lightwave to model organics/creatures. CG has pretty much taken up all my time hobby wise because, well I love doing it. If I'm not playing/working I'm usually out walking. I love to walk and the walks usually end up being miles/km in length. 2D art has always been a great diversion for me as well. Right now I work out of my home/studio assisted by our Bengal cat Chi. She is not that much help but does make sure I take break to rub her belly and feed her. Favorite movie? Hmm that's an easy one Star Wars. It made me want to do all the fancy stuff we see on screen today. That huge Star Destroyer made my jaw hit the floor and my mind imagined what can be.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-218904_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-218904.jpg)
2. When did you decide you wanted to be an artist and what inspired you to that end?
I would say it started as soon as I could hold any writing utensil I could find...so around 4 or 5 years old. I was sneaky too. I would draw on the underside of tables with my crayons and only got caught when we moved! Inspiration came from a few places. My Dad drawing an Indian chief with a full head dress in a couple of minutes, Boris, Frazetta, Lucas, the big cats and the rest of mother natures amazing creatures. A ton of comic books drawn by John Buscema and or Ernie Chan. Conan the Barabarian, Werewolf by Night and Moonknight were must haves for me.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219502_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219502.jpg)
3. At what point did you get involved with the 3D medium and what motivated you?
Well I found the internet around '94/95 and saw all the cool stuff being made by guys like Ed Giddings, Ralph Shoberth, Tobias Richter and said "I have to learn how this gets done." Sadly I did not have a computer that was capable enough to do anything more than simple renders. Even those took a week sometimes. My brother ended up giving me an old computer of his when he upgraded, a P75 and I was really off to the races. I downloaded everything I could off sites like the LWG and tried to figure out how things were made. Not being a technical person most of what I looked at went right over my head. Finally some of it stuck thankfully.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219114_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219114.jpg)
4. Did you go to school for a 3D/CG degree and whether yes or no, what do you recommend to those entertaining the idea of working in a studio?
I went to school back in 99/2000 on a 2 year course in 2D/3D.I will not name the school as I believe they were are a puppy mills of sorts. If I can give anyone one piece of advice about 3D schools is talk to former students. Find out what they think of the education they got from the institution they went to. Never ever believe the glam the schools put on at the open houses. Especially the job placement or links to the industry garbage. Those of you wanting to work in a studio I would say love and I mean love what you do, have a thick skin, be as flexible as a double jointed belly dancer and learn early on that things are and will be changed just when you think everything has been finalized. Oh ya did I mention loving what you do?
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219280_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219280.jpg)
5. Many members will know that you have done work in the industry so how about telling us where you got your first 3D/CG job and how the progression has gone.
Well by chance or luck I met a fellow that worked on Battlestar Galactica up here in Vancouver and he asked why I had not tried out at the studio for Vancouvers' role in the show. Well I did not have a lot of confidence in my work and said I did not think it was right for me to go and take someones money to learn. Well about a year or so later he got back to me and asked if I'd like to try out for a TV movie. I said yes and went from there. The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon epic began. It was fast and furious. I worked with several talented people like Al Rivard. Tim Albee and Kelly Myers. I found out quite quickly that in a small house you need to be able to do or want to do many different things. I was asked to do concept drawings, story boards as well as building 3d stuff. All I can say was that I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone. Sadly I believe the last work I did for the studio didn't get used as the work went somewhere else. I'll have to keep my eyes open to see if any of my concept work got made into 3d. Right now I'm in search of the next project. In the mean time I have started sculpting.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219408_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219408.jpg)
6. What was your most enjoyable project?
I have to say it would be a volunteer project on the old LWG. The Star Wars gig. A ton of extremely talented people coming together and pushing each other to do even better stuff. Anyone reading this...you are surrounded by really talented people don't be afraid to ask questions. None will bite your head off. I still have mine!
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219599_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219599.jpg)
7. What is your favorite of all your 3D work?
I can't really say I have a favorite. I just make things and hope people like them. If they don't that's okay too as I still get to learn and create with each project.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219647_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219647.jpg)
8. Many members have seen your work I wonder if you can share something members haven't seen and expound on it and why you particularly like it?
Sadly no. I pretty much let people see it all here. Anything else is usually covered by an NDA. Pesky but necessary nowadays.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219678_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/private/2009/03/2-16-219678.jpg)
9. You've been around a long time now. What advice would you give the serious hobbyist regarding 3D in general?
Yes. LOVE IT as it will be what takes up the majority of your waking hours. Treat the people working with you with as much respect as you would like to get yourself. Even if they don't give it back. You'll have less stress on internal job politics that way. Do the best that you possibly can given time constraints given you and try to be better than the next guy in line as there are a ton of people out there looking to do the job you are. They would love to have your job! Be ready to take some heavy duty criticism as it will come your way. If you can't don't bother with this business. It is a given. Also have other interests things that take you away from the monitor now and then. Or you'll go blind!