We recently connected with Mahshid Sadoughi who has been a leading visualization artist on some of the biggest theatrical releases of this year such as : The Flash, Haunted Mansion, Shazam! Fury of the Gods and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem.
Mahshid , thank you so much for making time for us today. We’re excited to discuss a handful of topics with you, but perhaps the most important one is around decision making. The ability to make decisions is a key requirement for anyone who wants to make a difference and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your decision-making skills.
I believe brainstorming is a good technique to have in terms of decision making and I am very open to seeking advice from people I trust. Our work is very collaborative and it actually helps in regards to that as well. I think that everyone’s perspective and views can add another angle to your thought process and help you make better decisions. So I prefer to talk to those who I know that can have a good input or brainstorm with me, then process it on my own and make the best decision possible with the information I have. Of course sometimes you need to make decisions under pressure and don’t have the luxury of time to go and do all that, so I try my best to consider all aspects when it comes to that and calculate the possible outcomes.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am a senior visualization artist, and I have been professionally working in visual effects and the film industry for almost 7 years now.
We are the first team of artists who help bring the vision of the director on the screen using softwares like Maya and After-effects. That requires a broad spectrum of creative and technical skills in story telling, because we are involved in the process of the film making from the first steps of pre-production all the way to the end and post-production.
I have always been greatly passionate about films and animated movies. And I am so excited and happy that I get to do something I always dreamed of doing since I was a child. It is very fulfilling to watch your hard work finally on the big screen in the theater and see your name rolling in the credits.
If I want to explain more details, I can summarize my career and focus into two stages: Pre-vis & Post-vis:
During previs stage, I do character animation, camera layout, compositing and rendering, all using CG elements. We create the shots of the movie in a virtual environment, with CG characters and virtual camera that we can then render and watch. This is basically a blue print of the movie. The director then looks at that and sends us the feedback. Now, Postvis stage is when the film has already started shooting and they send us raw footage (aka plate) to composite, edit and add/remove elements. For example: removing the green screen and replacing it with a CG background, adding effects to the characters of the movie, painting out objects from the screen that shouldn’t be there which is all part of the process of compositing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Attention to detail
Eye for cinematography
Having an appetite to learn/watch more
I remember I was always complimented for having a good attention to detail and that quality has served me well in my career. I would notice and pick on the smallest things as a child to the point it was annoying to my parents and friends. But it is paying off now! So never underestimate little quirky things about yourself that may actually benefit you. Take advantage of them.
For film making you have to have an eye for cinematography or at least be very open to learning it and understand it well. We are all visual story tellers and thats our main fundamental job to tell a story through lens of cinematography in a way that engages the audience.
I encourage everyone who seeks this career to be deeply invested and interested in studying the work of others and really be into learning the style of different directors/filmmakers. Art and cinema is all about getting inspired and influenced by each others work and bringing our own version to the table. So watch A LOT of movies, good or bad. Go read or watch youtube videos about it, watch the interviews and behind the scenes… these were all my personal hobbies and regular habits during college and even today.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I try to center myself and take some time to meditate. We get so lost in our busy life and schedules that we barely put time for ourselves to slow down. My advice would be to also try journaling or writing down thoughts or problems. Breaking it down and writing it on a paper gives you better perspective. But sometimes simply even asking for help would bring a lot of relief. I have had instances were I was stuck and overwhelmed with something at work and a quick consultation with a trusted colleague went a long way. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm10279865/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mahshid-sadoughi-y/
