How my career makes me love movies more
Since the beginning of time, humanity has been driven by stories. It is amazing to look back and realize how much it has evolved, from oral storytellers to written pieces to incredible films.
In middle school, I decided I wanted to contribute to the film and animation industry. When I applied to SCAD, I had plans of becoming an animator, but soon enough, I discovered that VFX was my true calling. I wanted to become part of “the magic that makes people want to go to the movies,” just like George Lucas said in the documentary Light and Magic. Growing up, I witnessed the magic that makes movies so visually powerful. Every week I would go to the movie theater with my family to watch a new story, a new plot that would either make us laugh, cry, or both. I decided later on that my favorite hobby would have to become my career. But was I prepared to face the challenges that come with it?
As I started my major classes, I began to fear the stigma surrounding jobs. I would hear how people dread going to work and how what was once their passion had become a sometimes dreadful cycle. Deep inside, I feared for my happiness in my career. However, my passion and faith in my skills and the purpose of what I do push me forward. I decided to take the leap of faith and face the challenges of making my passion my profession in a VFX career.
VFX quickly proved to be intimating with the massive learning curve. Initially, my perspective on movies was skewing negatively. However, the more I advanced into my major classes and the more confident I felt with my skill, I realized that my dream job was within reach. I fell further in love with the behind-the-scenes and technical aspects of movies. It was also interesting to think about how VFX only amplifies the plot. I am just scratching the surface of the power behind this digital art, but as I learn more about it, I embrace the meticulous process of recreating reality digitally. One of my favorite aspects of my profession is setting the mood with lighting and creating invisible effects in compositing. Even though I feel they are my strength, there are a lot of challenges involved in this field that I wish to learn from and tackle one shot at a time in each project.
Nowadays, when I watch any film, I can further appreciate the immense work that is put into them. Instead of being intimidated by the skill I see in films, I turn it into an inspiration that helps me strive to improve my own skillset in VFX. For example, witnessing the hard work behind the practical stunts within Top Gun: Maverick leaves me in awe. Making me look forward even more to the Best Visual Effects Oscar nominations. I also feel the same way about the gorgeous digital visuals of The Batman, which had a lot of Virtual Production involved. Having a VFX degree moves me to appreciate every scene and the work put into it. It also makes me a picky critic of films when the effects are not as good as they should be, like in, for example, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness. On the other hand, I also get to divide my reviews based on plot and effects, something that before I wasn’t able to do because I lacked that knowledge. I can definitely say that my degree made me fall in love with films even more than I used to already.
As I continue to grow as an artist, I plan to take advantage of the countless opportunities and connections SCAD provides. I want to help bring a story to life for the audience to be inspired, just like I did growing up watching movies. A good story helps the audience connect with their emotions, so being part of the team that enhances those untold stories is part of my biggest passion. For the greater good, I will continue to follow this art vocation that creates the beauty of storytelling in a magical way.