Interview with Sushant Dholakia
Hello Sushant, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
 Hi there! Everything in nature including animals, the kaleidoscopic forms and wondrous hues around me, the marvel and beauty that life occasions for me, greatly fascinates my impressionable young mind and fires my imagination. It is this love for creativity which led me to pursue my lifelong ambition. CG, I found, was the perfect blend of all that encompassed my creative side along with my love for computers, and animation is what enabled me to put life into those thoughts and ideas.
I am currently living in Canada, working at SOHO VFX on a live action feature film. I am originally from India and moved to Canada in September 2005 for Digital Character Animation Program at Sheridan College. Before coming here, I was working at Moving Picture Company India Ltd, New Delhi as a CG Artist. I was multi-tasking there on ‘Jungle Tales’, the first animated series from India, broadcast on Cartoon Network, Asia.
You recently completed your Animation Program from Sheridan College, so what’s the reason of choosing Sheridan over others and how do you rate the overall teaching atmosphere?
I chose Sheridan mainly because of two reasons. Firstly, Sheridan is one of the most reputed institutes across the globe. Secondly, my very close friend who did the same course in 2005 spoke highly of its curriculum and the instructors. And now that I’ve graduated, I realize this was one of the wisest decisions I ever took in my life.
Your animation film ‘Lolly Poo Lee’ has been selected for the TELETOON Canadian Student Animation Scholarship ‘06 and is going to be screened at the Ottawa Internation Animation Festival in the ‘Most Promising Student Category’. So how do you feel and what’s the future plans?
I don’t think there is more joy to life than to see your hard work pay off. Ottawa International Animation Festival is providing me the platform to showcase my film to the CG community. What a great opportunity to share all that work with people! I wanted to send my film to other film festivals too, but my new work is keeping me too busy. Hopefully after September, when I am done with this project, I shall be able to send it to other festivals.
From where you get the idea of creating a ‘Lolly Poo Lee’ and how much drawing skills is essential for any 3d artists?
Lolly Poo Lee is based on a poem by Bruce Burrow. Many students have benefited from the huge reservoir of his poems. Even though my film is based on his poem, what’s actually happening in the film differs from the actual narration. This was done to add twist and gags to the whole short.
As far as drawing skills are concerned, I think they are a great foundation and are very essential for every 3D artist. Although I regret not to have any formal training in 2D, I also think that its never too late to do something in life that is of vital importance.
What software program(s) do you use for your CG and why?
I used Maya, Digital Fusion, After Effects, Photoshop and Premier. I was working on 3Ds MAX before I came to Sheridan, but switched to Maya because its in their curriculum. Digital Fusion is a powerful post-production tool and definitely enhanced the look and feel of my film.
|
|
|
