"Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment"- B.L
From the start of my learnings at the Dave School, there was a guy that always stood out to me with the crazy socks, his tall height difference between myself and him and oh those pink shorts.
Actually if you have not figured it out already this is about the mystery man behind those pink shorts …. my dear friend Jeremy Brouwer
He was one of the first students to talk to me on our day 1 orientation for school. I remember sitting across from him while making short talk before the class started. He was college graduate from Colorado, searching for a new career path in visual effects. His love was for teaching and he left his job to come down to Florida to learn a new trade. Now you are probably thinking why I am writing about him. I am a true believer that the people who influence you are meant to be the one's remembered. We remember those who makes us feel. Jeremy inspires me everyday to become the best artist possible with working hard even when the deadline is due.
I figured I would interview him on what he is currently doing and picked his brain. One of the biggest hurtles that every junior visual effects artist experiences is the scary transition from school to the work world so I figured I would share with you a little bit of his story to inspire others.
Christina: What projects have you worked on?
Jeremy: I was one of the lighting artist who worked on Nutcracker, Aquaman ,Maleficent 2 trailer, Dumbo.
Christina: Where and how long have you worked there?
Jeremy: I have been at MCP for over a year.
Christina: What is your position at MCP?
Jeremy: Lighting Artist, 1 out 150ish people in my department
Christina: Generally what do you do on a typical day while working on a project?
Jeremy: They usually separate us into small groups and are assigned different shots. The last project there was 5 of us and I worked on 45 shots.
Christina: What made you decide you wanted to become a Visual Effects Artist?
Jeremy: Well I always wanted to become a teacher but mid way, my interest changed after taking some art classes. It took me 2 years after college to finally get the courage to leave home to go to DAVE School.
Christina: Would you say your job is pretty stressful? If so, how do you destress?
Jeremy: Drink a lot through the stress, lol. It sometimes important to gain work relationships with the people you work with. I sometimes go out on the weekend with work friends, oh and play a lot of video games.
Christina: Being creative is hard to do in a full time job, what drives you ?
Jeremy: Waiting for that approval. I sometimes work overtime to make that deadline, but nothing feels greater than having a supervisor's approval on a shot that you been working so hard on.
Christina: In what ways has The Dave School prepared you to transition to the work floor?
Jeremy: Pipeline defiantly prepared myself and learning to report to a lead and coordinators.
Christina: What would you say is your best skill?
Jeremy: Lighting ( and chuckles) I wouldn't say I have a skill better than the other but I enjoy working in the lighting department. I also enjoy 3D visual effects, transitioning 2d to 3d is fun and interesting.
Christina: How would you describe what a lighting artist does?
Jeremy: You make a light track in a scene that is saved in a render folder, waiting to be approved. You take grey models and make it look real. Then once approved, you deliver all 3d assets to the compositors and at the end we can transition 2d to 3d.
Perception is major. When I am working, as a team we are given notes that they look flat all the time … … make asset not look boring ….. needs to have depth , multiple values of shadow, more than one dimension grey models you take stuff and make it look real deliver something to look realistic is the goal.
Christina: Last question, are you happy with where you are and any advice?
Jeremy : Yea, I am pretty happy where I am. It is easy with the repetitiveness. The key is to be prepared that you are not done. Be ready 9- 5 to work with overtime and know how to balance day to day. As far as advice goes, don't let your fears stop you from what you want to do. Taking a jump with the unknown is sometimes the best reward.
It still amazes me that the boy that I sat with in school, the top A student is working in one of the world's most famous studios, creating the amazing work that I remember se He was hired practically after graduating and over the past year, he has accomplished so much. All those late nights and working on the weekend really payed off for him and it was a good lesson for me . I want this blog to help encourage others that anything is possible with hard work, dedication and a little bit of fun with motivation!
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