Ask An Artist

A job that you love and enjoy can give you the extra motivation to meet all the goals. It keeps you feeling more fulfilled, productive, and accomplished.

For this episode, Luke welcomes Clinton Jones. They talk about pursuing new opportunities and what keeps Clinton inspired to move forward. He also mentions the different roadblocks he faced when he just started and how he stepped out of his comfort zone to where he is now: Building and helping his community, sharing tutorials, and creating content and art.

Highlights

• Experience doing live action shorts. - 1:48
• Clinton’s backstory: His general interest in visual effects and moving to the NFT space and Unreal Engine.- 3:11
• The biggest roadblock. - 9:58
• Finding comedy in the action - 13:52
• Did he see some of the stories he’s creating as the medium? - 20:26
• Is it challenging to stay true to the IP when directing or creating? - 26:24
• Clinton’s long-term goal. - 29:09
• Understanding human behavior to help people achieve their goals. - 33:42
• Stayingorganized. - 37:06
• Where to find Clinton Jones and his next projects? - 38:41
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Clinton Jones
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWIfzAYHyNSyHmT2AO-54yg
• https://twitter.com/_pwnisher_
• https://www.instagram.com/_pwnisher_
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/clinton-jones-2595b315
• https://www.facebook.com/PwnisherTV

In this episode of Ask An Artist, host Luke Thompson introduces guest Dustin "DJ" Johnson. DJ is the award-winning founder, CEO, and Creative Director of Undertone FX, a studio specializing in real-time visual effects for video games and VR/AR. DJ describes how it all started: From working on big titles like Call of Duty, to leading a team and building his own company.

He also discusses the latest projects their team is building, as well as the Ultimate Fire Pack—their collaboration project with ActionVFX.

Highlights

• Scope of topics to be discussed today. - 0:33
• What drew DJ to another form of art. - 2:32
• Starting his own company: Undertone FX. - 10:14
• Where are virtual effects next going to be after the launch of affordable and high-quality virtual reality? - 18:49
• Some of the most impressive real-time effects DJ has seen in games. - 28:10
• The Ultimate Fire Pack: What makes it so special? - 33:43
• Real-time products that are in the works and things that he wants to do that are not in production. - 39:15
• Where to find DJ and Undertone FX. - 42:00
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with DJ Johnson
• https://www.undertonefx.com/
• https://realtimevfx.com/t/discord-server/3430

Passion and creativity are vital fuels for living. However, people have different approaches to retaining motivation and moving forward with work.

In this episode of Ask An Artist, host Luke Thompson welcomes guest Sam Gorski to talk about maintaining passion and creativity. Sam is one of the founding members of Corridor Digital Youtube Channel. Constantly having a hectic schedule can slowly fade that spark over time. Sam shares how he perseveres in his work to keep the fire of creativity and passion burning. He also shares how unique Unreal Engine is as a production tool with his team's projects.

Highlights

• Welcoming and catching up with Sam Gorski - 0:56
• What does Corridor Digital do?- 3:05
• How to maintain passion and creativity amid hectic schedules - 5:37
• Leveraging technology: benefits and downsides - 11:27
• Pulling off a big project - 14:03
• The assets used: motions, living elements, and other effects - 20:09
• Why is Unreal Engine a unified system? - 24:23
• The crossover with video games and filming with virtual sets - 30:14
• Is the volume stage visual or special effects?: The intersection - 35:46
• A common approach or method applied for each project - 44:51
• Sam's favorite project with Corridor Digital - 47:30
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Sam Gorski
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/mechaforce
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-gorski-43a4b21a
• Corridor Digital: https://www.youtube.com/c/Corridor

Indeed, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving purposeful work in freelancing. However, systems created by individuals who came before us can be an effective tool for guiding us on our journey.

In this episode, Luke welcomes Hayley Akins to talk about finding meaningful work. Hayley is the founder of Motion Hatch and a motion designer and animator. She has nine years of motion design expertise and has worked with high-profile clients like Google, the BBC, the United Nations, and the Gates Foundation. Hayley wants to be a part of projects that positively impact the world. As a result, she founded Motion Hatch, an online learning hub for motion designers and animators that provides training materials, resources, community, and podcasts to help them do better business.

Highlights

• Who is Hayley Akins? - 0:01
• How do you find impactful work as a freelancer? - 1:42
• Three ways to niche down - 3:49
• There is no one way to get clients: building systems and testing them out - 5:26
• Four A’s Freelance Funnel - 8:00
• How Hayley got into podcasting, motion design, and Motion Hatch - 12:52
• The game plan for launching motion hatch original videos - 22:17
• Accountability: getting the work done and making SMART goals - 26:29
• SMART goal vs. DUMB goal - 28:50
• Keeping things organized: utilizing a project management tool - 31:33
• Productivity is a practice - 39:12
• Resources from Hayley’s website - 41:09
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Hayley Akins
• Free 5-day Course: https://www.motionhatch.com/actionVFX
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/motionhatch
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motionhatch/
• https://www.hayleyakins.com/

Cinematic explosions are way more than what meets the eye. They only last for minutes or even seconds on screen, yet the process of making them is mind-blowing!

Luke welcomes guest Urban Bradesko to launch the first episode, all about CG explosions of the new series Anatomy of Segments. Urban is an ultra-talented 3D & VFX artist. With many years of experience in the creative medium of VFX, Urban has carved out a particular set of skills that elevates him as an expert in the industry. Because of his expertise, Luke reached him through LinkedIn by asking his thoughts on Netflix’s Red Notice explosion sequence.

Tune in to this episode to know more about Urban’s work on Rebelway and what it takes for an explosion to indeed boom its blow on screen and its audience.

Highlights

• Introducing Urban Bradesko from Rebelway - 1:58
• An astonishing explosion sequence from Netflix’s Red Notice - 2:36
• Urban’s background: from CG simulations to Rebelway - 6:59
• What makes a good explosion? - 14:38
• Subcategories of explosion - 17:12
• The most popular explosion: the gas explosion - 17:45
• The impact explosion - 20:08
• The spark explosion - 21:53
• Aerial explosion: shifting to zero gravity - 27:04
• Mushroom cloud explosions: making nuke shockwaves - 28:13
• Tips on making realistic and convincing CG explosions - 32:26
• Explosion fun facts - 37:11
• Mixing compounds, filming explosions, and leaving impact - 40:34
• Key Takeaways - 51:46
• Additional fun facts for explosions - 53:29
• Improving the work culture through equipping people and building tools - 54:57
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Urban Bradesko
• www.rebelway.net
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BradeskoUrban
• LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/urban-bradesko-ab159064
• Website: https://www.urbanbradesko.com/
• RED NOTICE | Official Teaser | Netflix
• Autobots Vs decepticon || the town battle || transformer the last knight | #FailedDragon
• SPECTRE | Guinness World Record Explosion

Creativity is never ending: just because you quit working on a certain project or company, doesn’t mean that you’ll stop being creative.

For today’s episode, Luke welcomes Mary Poplin to talk about her work, the makers, and Boris FX. Mary is not only a Senior Product Specialist at Boris FX, she’s also a VFX artist, a trainer, and a content creator. Together, Luke and Mary discuss the importance of being a maker and the other makings that Mary creates outside of Boris FX.

Mary also shares the things that she learned while working for the FX studio as well as the other things that people should look forward to: Including her quest to learn taxidermy.

Highlights

• The theme of today’s topic? - 1:34
• How important is it to be a maker? - 2:18
• The other makings that Mary creates outside of Boris FX. - 4:46
• How it ties together: The thematic elements to be able to create - 9:00
• What she learned while working for Boris FX and the core principles that she was able to carry through. - 14:56
• The visual effects industry really is small. - 23:33
• You're gonna make sure that you are growing with the market that you have. - 25:02
• One of the best things to learn. - 25:54
• What’s next for Mary and Boris FX? - 28:34
• The next things that are on Mary’s radar to create. - 31:19
• Where can people find out more about Mary and Boris FX? - 36:26
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Mary Poplin
• http://marypoplin.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/marypoplin
• https://borisfx.com/
• https://store.steampowered.com/app/638990/UNDYING/
• https://www.facebook.com/PlayUndying/
• https://undying.vanimals.net/

Ian Failes joins Luke to talk about building meaningful relationships in the VFX industry. Ian has written for magazines such as FXGuide, Cartoon Brew, VFX Voice, 3D Artist, 3D World, Thrillist, Syfy, Inverse, Digital Arts, Rolling Stone, Polygon, and more.

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he traveled to different studios, events, and conferences across the globe and built relationships with various people. Now, due to restrictions, he shares how virtual space broadens his horizon when it comes to building relationships.

Highlights

• Building meaningful relationships in the VFX industry - 3:37
• VFX Journalism is niche and continuously changes - 6:31
• A small industry providing space for people - 10:04
• Creating camaraderie virtually - 13:38
• Ian’s background and transition into his career - 19:31
• Sending out magazines across the globe - 24:54
• The cover of the issue III - 27:14
• Huge shows, lots of stories untold - 28:45
• Challenges in VFX journalism today - 31:31
• Ian’s podcasts for VFX - 35:56
• Always carry the “newbie mindset” - 39:00
• There will always be enough content - 41:13
• Where to find Ian Failes - 42:52
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Ian Failes
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfxblog?lang=en
• LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/ian-failes-17154b4
• Website: https://beforesandafters.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ianstafailes?utm_medium=copy_link
• Podcast: https://beforesandafters.com/category/podcasts/

What does it take to be a filmmaker? Do you need to have the right connections, the budget, and the skills?

For today’s Ask The Artist episode, Luke welcomes filmmaker Andrew Donoho. Andrew talks about how he started out young, watching directors make and directing music videos of his own. He also shared different stories about his experiences with high-profile videos and artists to his dreams as a director and his next trajectory with what he wants to eventually work on.

Highlights

• How does he find himself effectively collaborating with other artists as an artist himself? - 1:05
• Andrew’s background in VFX and transitioning to music videos. - 8:36
• Is there anyone questioning his skills or taking him seriously because he’s young? - 13:59
• Did he ever lie about his age, just to avoid the whole age conversation? - 16:09
• His first high-profile directing gig. - 19:03
• Initial thoughts and experiences with working on the video with Paul McCartney. - 23:19
• Is it difficult to make the transition? How was he able to find the balance? - 31:59
• His next trajectory with what he wants to eventually work on. - 36:51
• Piece of advice to someone who wants to follow his career path. - 40:11
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/

Luke talks with Niko Pueringer of Corridor Digital. Niko has done a really great job over the years providing some educational VFX content, filmmaking tips, and more about visual effects! In their discussion, they covered things like the art of telling a story as well as getting into the history of Corridor Digital and how it got started.

Highlights

• Balancing content creation and growing as an artist - 1:26
• Having the wrong mentality - 5:31
• The different projects that they have - 10:18
• Perspective always matters - 11:17
• Having emotional reactions to the things you’re creating - 22:19
• Finding an audience that is passionate - 26:37
• The process of creating - 39:40
• Having a lot of cool projects to do - 42:27
  
  
  Episode Resources
• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Niko Pueringer
• https://www.corridordigital.com/

Luke talks with Chris LeDoux in episode nine of Ask An Artist! Chris is the founder of Crafty Apes VFX, a widely successful FX studio producing high-quality FX. We talked not only about how you can scale in the FX business but also about the healthy culture while scaling. Chris shared his experiences working with different people from different fields, as well as the importance of taking care of your people, and a sneak peek of what’s next for him and the Crafty Apes.

Highlights

• How does Chris stay creative? How is it possible to balance creativity between all of his roles? - 3:44
• There should be a balance in the relationship between producers and artists. They need to understand more about each other. - 8:13
• Making a creative call. - 10:58
• Where he is sitting now, is it where his headspace was 10 years ago? - 20:08
• The one who gets on the mat the most wins in the end. - 21:58
• Having an innovative mindset and starting to move things around: Who we are isn’t going to take us to where we want to go. Our systems and processes that got us here aren’t going to get us to where we need to go. - 25:23
• To get to the next level, you have to try new things. - 35:49
• Movies and TVs have so much budget and corporate power behind them that they can’t afford to take a risk. Because if they fail, then there is massive punishment in financial loss. 36:54
• It’s such a level of healthy curiosity that leads to all the other discoveries of recognizing something. - 40:00
• We’re problem solvers. We’re finding new ways to do things. - 44:48
• The question might change people’s view of him for the rest of his life. - 50:00
• What’s next for Chris and the Crafty Apes. - 52:52

Episode Resources

• Connect with Luke Thompson
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-thompson-97281555/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethompsonfilm/?hl=en
• ActionVFX Instagram:
• https://www.instagram.com/actionvfxofficial/?hl=en
• https://www.actionvfx.com/blog?category=podcast
• https://www.actionvfx.com/
• Connect with Chris LeDoux
• https://www.craftyapes.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crafty-apes-llc
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craftyapesvfx/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craftyapesvfx/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CraftyApesVFX