5 Minutes With... VFX Compositor James Naud

Can you tell us a bit about how you got into VFX?

I studied 3D animation but it was only in my last year of school that I decided I wanted to work in VFX as a compositor. After I graduated from Bart College in Quebec City five years ago, I moved to Montreal and started as a roto paint artist at Atomic Fiction. I made the jump across to comp in 2018, working in a number of studios including Rodeo FX, Framestore and Method Studios.

If you didn’t do composition, what other VFX discipline would you like to do and why?

I had a real passion for rigging before I decided that I wanted to be a compositor. I can’t exactly pinpoint why, but I remember enjoying rigging 3D creatures or characters and creating tools to help the animators.

Is there a project or particular shot are you most proud of?

My first project in the industry was Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. I have good memories of this project; the work was exciting and challenging, but I was working with a great team of artists which made the experience all the more enjoyable.

What brought you to Outpost?

I came to Outpost because I wanted to try something new and work with a team that prioritizes people without compromising on the quality of the work they produce.

How would you describe the atmosphere and culture at Outpost?

There is a really good work-life balance at Outpost and projects are well managed which avoids a lot of last-minute tasks and the accompanying rush. We also all share the same goal to make visual effects beautiful and fun, but most importantly our work and time is appreciated.

What’s been the biggest challenge in your career?

The step from roto paint to comp was probably my biggest challenge, but I was lucky enough to work with fantastic people that made the transition a lot smoother.

What’s the best piece of compositing advice you’ve ever been given?

The best advice I have been given is to not be scared of starting over. Sometimes it’s better to restart something new and fresh rather than trying to fix something that's broken.

How has your working style changed over the pandemic and with working from home?

Personally, not much has changed. I’m still doing what needs to be done to the best of my abilities. The only real difference is that I wear sweatpants now instead of jeans.

What’s your favourite kind of show to work on and why?

I prefer to work on TV shows as there tends to be more variety between shots.

Do you have any tips or tricks for Nuke?

When Nuke is getting sticky, do a quick roto shape in the viewer. I’m not sure why, but this always seems to fix my issues when Nuke is acting up.

Finally, some quickfire questions:

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

Caffeine

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

Sushi

What would be your superpower?

Time travel

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

Twitch

What are you currently learning?

How to cook

Any pets?

Two cats: Tornade & Guimauve

Favourite way to relax?

Video games

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

Japan

What irritates you?

Loud people

Guilty pleasures?

Scotch whisky

Favourite song?

Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

Last present you bought yourself?

Nvidia 30 Series