3ds Max Ragdoll and Reactor Water

AN INTERVIEW WITH Sushant Dholakia

Q. Your animation film ‘Lolly Poo Lee’ has been selected for the TELETOON Canadian Student Animation Scholarship ‘06 and is going to be screened at the Ottawa Internation Animation Festival in the ‘Most Promising Student Category’. So how do you feel and what’s the future plans?

I don’t think there is more joy to life than to see your hard work pay off. Ottawa International Animation Festival is providing me the platform to showcase my film to the CG community. What a great opportunity to share all that work with people! I wanted to send my film to other film festivals too, but my new work is keeping me too busy. Hopefully after September, when I am done with this project, I shall be able to send it to other festivals.

Q. From where you get the idea of creating a ‘Lolly Poo Lee’ and how much drawing skills is essential for any 3d artists?

Lolly Poo Lee is based on a poem by Bruce Burrow. Many students have benefited from the huge reservoir of his poems. Even though my film is based on his poem, what’s actually happening in the film differs from the actual narration. This was done to add twist and gags to the whole short.

AN INTERVIEW WITH Sushant Dholakia

As far as drawing skills are concerned, I think they are a great foundation and are very essential for every 3D artist. Although I regret not to have any formal training in D, I also think that its never too late to do something in life that is of vital importance.

Q. What software program(s) do you use for your CG and why?

I used Maya, Digital Fusion, After Effects, Photoshop and Premier. I was working on 3Ds MAX before I came to Sheridan, but switched to Maya because its in their curriculum. Digital Fusion is a powerful post-production tool and definitely enhanced the look and feel of my film.

Q. If you could invent your dream job, where would you work & what would be your job title?

Hmm, interesting! Ideal job?...I guess would be to get paid for making your own short films. ;) I would like to do everything from pre to post production, focusing the most on story-telling and animation.

AN INTERVIEW WITH Sushant Dholakia

Q. What’s the most useful thing you have learnt in 3d?

To be humble. There’s so much to learn and that you can never reach a stage that you can learn no more.

Q. What have been your major influences over the years?

Colleagues; friends; inspirational stuff online on CG portals etc; animated movies from the likes of PIXAR, Dreamworks, Blue Sky, Sony and others. I get inspired and influenced by almost every piece of art around me.

Q. Are you working on any projects currently? If so, what are they?

I am currently working on the live action feature film, The Chronicles of Narnia, as a character animator. We are working on the battle sequence for the extended version (Director’s cut) of the film. I can’t really talk in detail about my current project, but will soon share with everyone all the details once I am given the green signal. :)

Q. What is one piece of advice you would give to any artist looking to get into 3D?

Every form of art is complex, but not so complex that it cannot be achieved. As Marc Chagall aptly puts it - ‘Great art begins where the nature ends’. Give your heart and soul to everything you do and the success will be all yours.

Q. What are your hobbies and please describe your free time, and do you get anytime for your girlfriend?

Did you say Free time? hehe...what’s that? Lately I have been putting in long working hours for this feature film. Apart from animation, I love to travel, hang out with my friends and watch movies. Unfortunately, I am away from my girlfriend who is in India, so most of the time that I am not animating I am talking to her on the phone. :) She keeps me motivated and determined. Being an animator herself, I get all the valuable comments and critiques I need.

AN INTERVIEW WITH Sushant Dholakia

Q. Anything you like to add? It is your chance now to state your opinion about anything

Don’t get into 3D or D because you think it is cool and pays you lot of money. Unless you enjoy doing what you do, you will never be able to achieve greater heights. Make animation your way of life, not just a career.

Thanks a lot Sushant for taking out sometime for us from your busy schedule.

The pleasure is entirely mine. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to reach out to people.