Space Careers: Planetarium Shows and Immersive Media

CGI Art

CGI stands for “Computer Generated Imagery”, and it’s how the film and game industry create their alien worlds, talking animals, flying superheroes, and terrifying monsters. But the application of CGI isn’t limited to popcorn flicks and games consoles - NSC Creative’s shows take you into orbit around majestic planets, allow you to witness the birth of stars, or even shrink down to ride on an astronaut’s blood cells! Combining CGI technology with the unique 360 degree shape of the planetarium allows them to visualise science in a way never seen before. But none of these spectacular images would be possible without a dedicated team of CGI artists.  I spoke to Liam Wardle, and Ian and Neil Smith (yes they are related) who all work on the team that crafts those stunning visual effects.

Hi guys, thank you for taking the time to answer some questions. To start us off, could you let us know your favourite thing about working as a CG Artist at NSC Creative?

Liam - Unlike a lot of studios, at NSC I get to be involved at all the different stages of making a CG film. I get to help plan how a shot might look, through to production where I will make 3D models, textures, lighting, and animation. Then in post-production I'll bring all my final cg renders together into a compositing software where I will make any final adjustment to colours, brightness and add any extra fx to really make the film pop.

Ian - Yeah, for me it’s getting to work on a large variety of projects, each offering a fresh challenge. There is always something new to learn! Working on projects that inspire and educate young audiences is also very rewarding. 

It must be gratifying seeing all that hard work coming together in the final film.  What do you think a path to CG Artist might look like?

Ian - I studied Computer Games and Visual Effects at University and then joined NSC Creative as a Junior Artist. 

Neil - Yes, the first job for anyone new to the industry is usually going to be a junior position. In my experience, the most important thing for that role is that you don’t need to know everything there is to know. As a junior member of the team, there is an expectation that you will need to learn as you go.

Liam - My path was also fairly traditional: A-levels, an art foundation degree, and then a degree in Character Animation and Special FX.  I do feel like there are a lot more paths open to people now though. There are a few great specialist online schools which might be a better route for some.  If you fancy giving CG a go you can download some free 3D software called Blender. There are plenty of beginner-friendly tutorials on youtube, so just give it a go!

That’s great advice, thanks guys.  Do you have any more tips for young people who might be just starting to think about their careers?

Ian - Like Liam mentioned, for aspiring artists today there are many great resources on YouTube, Artstation and Gumroad to learn 3D software. When starting out, find the niche that you enjoy; animation, modelling, etc… and begin learning the basics before branching out and learning new skills.

Neil - And for those looking to get into a creative job, a portfolio that demonstrates an understanding of the skills required for the job. But the best people show an enthusiasm for learning new skills as they go, and a willingness to step outside their comfort zone to do things they're not quite sure how to do.

Liam - Speaking of learning, one thing I would say is that I have dyslexia and I used to think this might hold me back, but I found what I loved doing and as a result I came out of university with a good qualification. So I'd say learning disabilities don’t necessarily have to stand in your way. Often when you're passionate enough about something you will find a way to succeed at it.  And definitely try to find a career in something you’re really interested in or love doing. That way it will never really feel like work.

Production

Artists and developers are obviously a vital part of creating immersive experiences, but a production typically needs someone to pull all those specialists together. A producer orchestrates the collaboration between CGI artists, writers, and voice-over actors. They track progress and budgets using specialised software, and work to quickly resolve any issues the rest of the team may have.

While everyone else is focused on their specific responsibilities, the producer ensures the individual parts all come together to make the final film. I spoke to Ben Squires, NSC Creative’s Producer and Office Manager, to find out more.

Hi Ben, can you tell us your favourite things about working as a Producer at NSC Creative?

Sure, working for NSC Creative allows me- and all the team, to engage in a variety of projects; some of those are our films and exhibitions, others are a wide variety of often technically challenging projects which push us into new creative areas. But my role is meaningless without the great skills and creative thinking that the team members bring and apply to any given project. The greatest satisfaction is seeing a project from the drawing-board stage through to a fully-fledged immersive experience. Knowing that this is always well-received by whatever audience engages with our work is of course all-important, and adds another level of satisfaction to my role.

Getting so many differently talented people to work effectively on a single project must be an interesting challenge.  Could you tell our readers what a path to becoming a Producer might look like?

My own path is from years working in the TV and film industry. I’ve worked in visual post-production, audio post-production, and also in TV and film production both on location, in studios, and on green screen stages. I think a wide understanding of the practices of film production, especially post-production, helps a lot in working in CG/VFX.

It relies on understanding both traditional and contemporary approaches to media development and creative workflows to create a final ‘product’. The goal when working toward the final product should always be to maximise enjoyment, engagement and impact on the audience, whilst understanding that efficiently working to a budget is a perpetual factor. 

It sounds like getting as much experience in as many areas as possible is the way to go for aspiring producers, do you have any other career tips?

Yes, learn and experience as much as you can. Formal education is only the first stage; ensuring you remain open to new techniques, practises, and tools (be they a 3D/ CG application or a planning spreadsheet) throughout your career, regardless of whether that’s at the start of it or well-progressed into it, will enable you, in time, to confidently tackle most roles and projects.