The CG Spectrum Podcast - Leadership and Goal-setting with DNEG Lead Modeler David Cunningham

Nov 30, 2022

From Compositing to Virtual Production in Real-time 3D with Azra Alkan

Find Azra: https://www.azralkan.com/ Learn Real-time 3D: https://www.cgspectrum.com/career-pathways/virtual-production Maxine speaks with Azra Alkan, Compositing Supervisor and Real-Time Look Development Artist, about how to determine your worth as an artist in film and games. Hear about Azra’s career journey, from moving to the United States from Turkey to study computer programming, getting into compositing supervision and then real-time 3D virtual production. Azra breaks down why authentic networking is so valuable and how important it has been in her profession, including landing the highly competitive Epic Games Unreal Engine Fellowship in 2019. Plus, practical tips like how to research to create opportunities for yourself! Azra Alkan is an Unreal Engine Artist, Visual Effects Compositor, and Filmmaker. She has been predominantly using traditional tools such as Nuke, Maya, and Houdini to work in the film industry for over 10 years. After being selected for Epic Games’ Unreal Engine Fellowship in 2019, Azra has been trying to unlock new ways that bring power to the traditional VFX pipeline with the addition of real-time tools. 🔗 Episode notes: https://www.cgspectrum.com/podcast/real-time-3d-look-dev-artist-azra-alkan 00:00 Intro 01:14 Azra’s background, growing up in Turkey 04:58 Studying computer programming 07:48 Getting a sign, moving to the States, and starting film studies 11:54 The value of going to school vs. self-guided learning 14:32 If it’s not the right job for you, there is something else 19:55 How to overcome the challenge of not working in a studio 22:30 How to network authentically 26:35 Moving from compositing supervisor to virtual production in real-time 3D 31:32 Epic Games Unreal fellowship 36:18 Advancing by combining skills and talents 42:29 Knowing your boundaries 47:30 Prioritizing your health and keeping perspective 52:08 Making a liveable wage 55:55 How to give helpful critique and feedback 59:44 Listener questions: staying current with software, creative applications for software 1:07:10 Where to find Azra Connect on: 📍 https://www.instagram.com/cgspectrum 📍 https://www.linkedin.com/cgspectrum 📍 http://www.facebook.com/CGSpectrum.Film.and.Game.School 📍 https://www.twitter.com/cgspectrum Azra: 📍 https://www.azralkan.com/ 📍 https://www.linkedin.com/in/azralkan/ 📍 https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6784875/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1 hr 9 min