Q&A With New US Advisory Board Member, Mike O'Neal of Rhythm and Hues Studios

Mike O'Neal is currently with Rhythm & Hues Studios in Los Angeles, California where he serves as both Digital and Visual Effects Supervisor and is involved in several R&D activities. His recent work includes Yogi Bear, The Golden Compass, Happy Feet, Superman Returns, X-Men II, and Alvin and the Chipmunks 3. Mike recently joined our Advisory Board and will be sharing his insights and experience with us from time to time.

We caught up with Mike and posed a few questions that we thought might be of interest to newcomers and those well enmeshed in the industry. Here’s what he had to say:

What can VFX newcomers do to land that first job or progress their career?
Have an interesting, original reel. Make it fun to watch. Have a good breakdown in it, to show you understand the process. And in an interview, show your willingness to work with others and learn from others. No one wants to hire a newcomer who already knows everything.

What’s the most innovative and exciting thing happening in the VFX industry right now?
15 years ago, digital effects were pretty new, and everything was exciting. 10 years ago, they started to become more commonplace, and every movie started having them. 5 years ago, we knew enough about how effects should work, that we started to notice the limitations of our tools, both for simulation and rendering, so we knew what we wanted but we couldn't make it. Now the tools are catching up, in hardware and software, so we are able to create today shots we could just dream about 5 years ago. The evolution is happening at a fast rate, and we are able to accomplish so much more and cheat less. So, 5 years from now - where will we be?

Why are training schools like Escape Studios important?
Anyone can learn software on their own. But, in VFX, knowing the software is just a small part of the puzzle. And, any software you learn today will most like be pretty different 3 years from now.

What a training school can provide is actual production experience, to know what really happens and to know what you have to do and what is expected of you. So, when you get your first job, which they can also help you get, you will make that very important good first impression. They will help you start your career on the correct path, and teach you what you don't even know that you need to know.