5 Minutes With... Layout Artist Jerome Joncas

Can you tell us a little bit about how you got into your current role?

I studied graphic and motion design in Quebec first so when I started working I was doing visuals more on the mograph side as well as the music side. But once the pandemic hit and jobs slowed down I did an intensive beginner formation of Nuke for four months at NAD.

At the end I met Richard Clegg where I decided to present a 3D reel instead of compositing like the other students. I was offered an internship and then a job as a Junior Layout Artist!

Do you feel you were destined to be in the Layout department?

I don't know about being destined to join the Layout department, but I will say there was always a strong chance of me ending up in the VFX world. Movies were always something I loved dearly and I always wanted to be able to create in one capacity or another.

As a Layout artist, you need a strong artistic eye for arranging elements in a way that is visually appealing. Was this a talent you had when you were younger?

I think it's something that grew in me subconsciously to a certain point. I was always a visual person and kind of an odd kid. I used to daydream pretty much all the time. I was captivated by movies when I was younger and then live visuals once I grew up and started going to music shows. I was hypnotized by all these colours and motions. So I think when you keep observing and and try notice the details in stuff, your eye and brain both starts developing a sense of artistic arrangement.

What have been some of your career highlights so far?

Before Outpost, I would definitly have to say doing the live visuals for Pusha-T and Freddie Gibbs when they came to Mural festival here in Montreal.

As far as my time here at Outpost, I think it's been joining an awesome team and being able to grow within it and help on a ton of projects. Being happy on a day-to-day basis is a career highlight as well!

What would be your dream project to work on?

A dream project for me is a project where we are having fun and I enjoy the team I'm working with. It's a project where I can grow as an artist and learn.

What does the day-to-day of a Layout Artist involve?

On a day-to-day basis, a Layout Artist can do an array of things. First and foremost, checking your calendar and tasks when you start your day so you can organise. Depending on the task at hand, you might need to be in communication with other artists such as animators or FX artists for example.

Making sure artists have everything they need in order to do their job is essential. This is where it's equally important to keep Production in the loop as they oversee pretty much everything.

Is there any advice you’d offer to someone looking to get into this role?

Be open to what your colleagues have to say, everybody working on the project has the same goals: to deliver the best work possible. It is a role that is as much technical as creative, so this is also something to keep in mind as some people might want to go in a role that's more one or the other.

Outside of the studio, how do you stay creative?

All my friends are DJs and music producers so I like to feed off their work and create visuals alongside their music!

What brought you to Outpost?

Richard Clegg's excitement when he was presenting the company. I really like the way he was talking about the culture at Outpost, the people working at the company and the projects they were working on. To me if felt like, if this is an indication of the type of people that I'll work with, I was ready to dive in head first – it's been a great adventure ever since.

What enables you to feel your most productive and creative in the studio?

The feedback from my peers; it's quick and precise. Whenever I reach out to someone for some help or some clarification, everything becomes clearer and it really speeds up the process. Sometimes when you are lost in your tasks, it might be a good thing to check with your Supervisor / Production to get back on track quickly instead of wandering too long.

Also, music!

What was the last thing you watched that left an impression on you?

Succession.

Quickfire Round:

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

Headphones

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

Pizza

What would be your superpower? 

Being able to focus easily and instantly.

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

Boxing fights

Any pets?

No, but I'd love to get a dog eventually

Favourite way to relax?

Listening to music

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

Brazil

What irritates you?

People with no curiosity whatsoever

Guilty pleasures? 

Candies

Favourite song?

It's too though to pick only one, so I'll say anything Charli XCX. I love pop music.

Last present you bought yourself?

A ZOIA Empress, a modular pedal for music