Interview with an Visual Effects Artist

Satish Babu Ratakonda is a famous Visual Effects Artist based in San Mateo, California. Born in Khammam, Andhra Pradesh, Satish’s career grew organically in Television, Gaming and Feature Film Visual Effects. Today he works at Sony Interactive working on Product design as well as cutting edge imaging technologies like Virtual Reality and HDR.

What are Visual effects? Where do we use Visual effects?

Visual effects are the cool tricks and processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of live action. Visual effects are mostly used in film making and it is these visual effects that help make imaginations come live.

Some of the works I did were used in the films Pirates of the Caribbean, Harry Potter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Avengers: Age of Ultron etc

Can you tell me little bit about childhood or may be your school life?

I was an above average student, if not the best in school. I have always been interested in science and especially physics. As a child I was very observant (I was told) and as I came to realize that I was more interested in observing visually than doing anything else. For example, I was more interested in how the Fire looked and how it moved visually then the technical science and reasoning behind that. My parents or teachers never gave it enough importance to my thinking, in fact I did not know at that time that it was my way of interpreting things and that there could be any meaningful outcome to that. The only known outlet for me was to express it in Drawings, but I was not interested in traditional art, so I would draw more than detailed and shaded illustrations in science records than a required simple outline illustration, which was again mostly overlooked. I now realize that at that point of time, there was lack of emphasis on visual science or 'art of science'.

When and how did you get into Visual Effects Artist?

After my Bachelors in Arts & Science, I have thought about going for higher education in Genetics and one day I met my uncle working in CCMB (Center for Cellular and Micro Biology) to get some guidance. He was in the middle of preparing a presentation and he asked me to help him with few designs and pictures for the presentation. To my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed drawing designs, and pictures I did a good job on the work.

Then I choose to join a Multimedia Institute (Training or technical/vocational center) and enrolled myself in Photoshop course. During this training and with the tool - Adobe Photo Shop, my interest and attention to details were put to use and was able to bring my art projects to life. I worked on few assignments, made a profile with few random designs and ideas and went on looking for a job carrying my profile and I found my first job in Ramoji Film City as Digital Compositor.

Was it easy finding a job after taking a course in Multimedia Institute?

No. It was not an easy task. I didn’t have any mentor/ guide throughout any phase of my life and I had to go find information and get updates in my career and path. It was not simple like I learn a technology/software and do the same task every time in each project. I learned about what’s trending, what companies do Visual Effects, what skills are required at every stage of my life and I assigned a goal for myself.

Can you please explain your work and what it’s like?

My projects/tasks start with visionary/ my directors explaining how they want the picture. I am responsible for bringing some one’s imagination to life and this process can be some visionary just using words and explaining it or it could be some pictures on paper/story boards.

I work with multiple technologies and techniques every day to bring imagination to life. I don’t get to use same technology/technique on every project and it all comes down to how well I brought an imagination to life on screen. Some of the Software / programming languages I use are Autodesk Maya, Autodesk Flame, Foundry Nuke, Adobe after Effects, Adobe Photoshop, Houdini, Cinema4D, and Python.

Learning the fundamentals of commercial art (television/films) , learning the craft of motion picture visual effects, which involves color theory, cameras, lenses, film, film procession adding computer graphics, all the way to the process of delivering to the big screen or a television broadcast, needed a lot patience, foresight and hard work. While the above mentioned were fundamentals which would never change and are key to one's survival, the software and other tools are just mere tools which you would keep up with as the technology evolves.

What advice can you give to our readers?

To build a career in Visual Effects, you don’t need to have high level degrees. However, formal education is strongly recommended because course work is designed to gradually develop your skills and give time to develop your own vision, style and approach towards the career and industry.

Top Vfx artists are generally very observant, have a keen ear, respectful of others and their ideas, work well in team environment and ok to work long hours. Ask yourself what your dream as a Vfx Artist/Animator, try to find out what’s the most inspiring to you and if you think you have it in you to emulate / chase or even do better. Have a plan with open mind. Keep smiling :-)

To learn more about Satish Ratakonda, visit http://www.animationmagazine.net/vfx/the-artists-toolbox-tools-of-top-animators/