June 6, 2024
The Compositors Canvas with Jacob Zirkle
Jacob Zirkle, a VFX compositor and YouTuber, shares his journey in the film and advertising industry. He discusses how he started his YouTube channel to share his knowledge and tutorials on Blender and other programs. Jacob emphasizes the importance of being open to learning new programs and not limiting oneself to a single software.
He also talks about the balance between client work and creating YouTube tutorials, as well as the role of creativity in the visual effects industry. Jacob shares insights into his creative process, from ideation to delivering the final piece, and highlights the importance of meeting deadlines and effective time management.
Takeaways
- Being open to learning new programs and tools is crucial for growth and success in the visual effects industry.
- Creativity plays a significant role in visual effects, allowing artists to express their unique voice and create visually stunning shots.
- Balancing client work and personal projects, such as YouTube tutorials, requires effective time management and understanding the needs of different audiences.
- Meeting deadlines and managing time effectively are essential skills for visual effects artists, and it's important to communicate with clients about project timelines and potential challenges. ..
- Motivation and confidence play a crucial role in the creative process
- He advises his younger self to focus on quantity over quality when starting out, and to start sharing his work online earlier.
- Jacob challenges himself creatively by focusing on improving his 3D skills and working on personal projects.
- He emphasizes the importance of building a demo reel and personal brand, and encourages artists to make each new shot better than the last.