5 Minutes With... Asset Lead Jyoti Prakash Panda

How did you begin your VFX career and what path did you take to become an Asset Lead at Outpost?

Well, I am both a Political Science graduate a Fine Arts graduate. From childhood I loved to make clay sculpture and portrait sketches but my career as a Digital Artist began when I’d finished my BA in Political Science. I wanted to pursue a Master in the same field, and so I travelled to Delhi to study – that’s where all of the students travelled in those days for higher studies.

There I met a couple of people who were very passionate about art and culture. I visited them at the Delhi College of Art where I saw people practicing art and it was there that I fell in love with everything related to art studies and research. 

It was 2006 and back then VFX in India only included a couple of studios. My parents were a bit upset with me since I came to Delhi to do one thing and was doing something else, but I knew that this was the thing I always wanted to do.

I did my 3-year diploma in Animation and filmmaking from Picasso Animation and CG Mantra, New Delhi and by that time I already knew that my field of interest was Modelling / Texturing and Lighting.

I started my journey at a small studio as my first job. It was the time when they were working on their pilot project – an epic storytelling and I was fortunate to be a part of that. After that, I contributed to many CG projects at various studios as a Modeler / Texture Artist / Lookdev-ing, leading and mentoring teams.

I have now been in the industry for over 13 years and I'm always looking for new challenges to gain artisitc and technical knowledge and I believe I can achieve this at Outpost.

What brings you the most joy in your role?

Leading a team of talented people who enjoy working together, and the best part is, besides your contribution to a project, you get to learn a lot from your team. 

What are your favourite kind of assets to create?

I like to create all sorts of CG assets but hard surface / characters and environments are the things I love to work on the most. 

Is there anything you’ve worked on that you’re particularly proud of?

I led an Asset Team where we were working for game cinematics on 'The Elder Scrolls Online’.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to get into the Asset Team?

So far, a lot of really talented people I came across in Assets are good visualisers and love to do sketches. Sketching is one of the best disciplines someone can start with.

How would you describe the culture at Outpost?

Outpost is a place where work ethics and culture is prioritised most, it's a very supportive and organised studio.

What do you think makes a great team?

Mutual respect, being organised, dependable, and supportive; I think that's what makes a great team.

How would you describe the Asset Team at Outpost?

Extremely talented and supportive.

What does your day-to-day look like as an Asset Lead at Outpost?

As a Lead I start with some of scrum calls discussing the issues and challenges with our Sups and Heads of Department. Next I check the allocations and notes on ShotGrid, and allocate shots to artists. I help out artists whenever required and attend team/project briefings with on sites/internal reviews/production calls.

And several cups of coffee is must!

Do you stay creative outside of the studio?

I love to explore new places, taking pictures of landscapes.

Finally, some quickfire questions:

What’s the one thing you always keep on your desk? 

The book that I am reading at time. So that whenever I get a bit time, I take a glance at it

You can eat one thing for the rest of your life – what is it?

Mangoes

You’ve got a couple of hours to kill – what do you watch?

Creative tutorials

What are you currently learning?

Houdini and Unreal

Any pets? 

Not currently, I used to have a Labrador called Rani.

Favourite way to relax?

Visiting hill stations with headset on

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

London

What irritates you? 

Inactiveness

Favourite song? 

Don Williams - Sing me Back Home / I Believe in You

Last present you bought yourself? 

A gaming chair and a large workstation