Tiago Santos, Double Negative

Had you always wanted a career in the industry?

I always knew I wanted to work in the movies though I wasn't sure about the exact job I'd end up doing. I finally decided 3D wasn't something I enjoyed so I started trying to learn more about compositing and the 2D side of post-production.

How did you find out about Escape, and what was it like?

I had read good things about Escape when I was still looking for 3D training, so when I changed my mind, it seemed like a good place to start.

What happened after the course?

I went back to Portugal for about a month to work on my showreel since it was expensive being in London without a job. When I came back, I had some help at Escape to polish my reel and I started sending it out to the companies. At the same time Escape helped me get an interview at Framestore CFC where I ended up doing rotoscoping for the movie 'Goal 2'.

Where do you work now?

While I was working on 'Goal 2', I got an interview with Double Negative and they offered me a job. I took it and have been here since August 2006, working on 'Harry Potter and The Order of the Pheonix'. There are quite a few Escapees around here, including one of my classmates, and even our class tutor!

What advice would you give any prospective students?

First of all make sure this is what you want to do! It is not an easy industry and if you don't love doing what it is you're doing, you'll get burned out pretty quickly. Other than that, just keep on practicing and studying, read lots of books and be friendly to everyone you meet.

[Images - Top: Vet Hard/Seamless Effects , Right: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire/Warner Bros.] Goal 2/Milkshake Films