We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Win Leerasanthanah. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Win below.
Win, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
I was unemployed during the writers’ and actors’ strike. Even though I have lost my main source of income, I did not lose my confidence and self-esteem. I knew that losing my job is something that is outside of my control since I have already done my best at work.
I used this down time to do the things I wanted to do when I couldn’t when I was working – I get to travel for extended periods, I take drawing classes, try out new hobbies, and learning new tools to get back in the industry. The key is to make the best out of the circumstances and not let the circumstances bother you.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am animator from Bangkok, Thailand, and based in Los Angeles. Graduated with MFA in Animation at SCAD, I have been involved in several animation organizations, including ASIFA-South and SIGGRAPH. I worked for The Third Floor Inc. and Day for Nite as a Previsualization Artist. During my time at The Third Floor, I was a Previs Artist for several of big Marvel titles, including Avengers: Endgame, Antman: Quantumania and The Eternals. What landed me in the industry was my animated short, The Fallen Swan, which has been screened in dozens of film festivals around the globe.
One of the coolest things about working in previsualization is that I get to see the edits before they make it to theater, since I focus mainly on pre-production. We get to conduct shots, helping directors visualize what the shots would look like but with roughly-made CGI. And aid them through the filming. I have worked with big name directors, artists and other professionals who made the work experience rewarding and challenging. It is amazing to see how much visual effects is involved in major film productions to make audiences watch in awe.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Around this time, staying open. There are times when I wonder whether I should change my career since the writers’ strike has left me unemployed for a while. However, by staying open to connections, reconnecting with my co-workers, it gave me a sense of community that we’re in this together, and encouraged me to persevere. Even if things do not work out, I can always pick up the mouse and animate again in the future. I know that my colleagues are rooting for me.
Second is adaptability. With so much time on my hands, I decided to take training online courses since the industry is shifting to use video game engine as part of the visual effects production. I learned the tools so that I can get ready once the industry is in motion again.
Third is resilience. Keeping calm is the key to survive this unemployment period.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Develop connections and asking for help from your friends and colleagues. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to land the next gig or taking classes while collecting unemployment benefits. I am very thankful for their support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.winanimates.com/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/win-leerasanthanah/
