3DTI STUDENT SUCCESS STORY:
From RESEARCH DOCTOR to ANIMATION DIRECTOR
DR. RAJEEV DOSHI (background: PhD. in
Cancer Research), flew in from London to take our 12 week project based course.
Currently he is working as an animation director for a medical and pharmaceutical
creative agency in London. Below is a brief interview with Rajeev, and we hope
that it will provide inspiration to those who are looking to make a career change
into 3D animation.
Q. Why did you choose 3D animation as a career
choice, in spite of having a medical background and how did you manage to get
a break in this field?
Dr. Doshi:
This specialization is not an accident since I have a medical background, having
studied and received a PhD in the field of Cancer Therapy. Even though research
beckoned, I felt that I wanted to combine medical science with another love
of mine at the time, computer graphics. An opportunity arose to study at 3DTI
and gain this skill set. Within 6 months of completing the course I had landed
a job developing all the science A-level animations for a large publisher, Dorling
Kindersley who were preparing a series of 3 study CD-ROMs. Following this I
had an opportunity to set up the 3D studio in the creative division of a medical
communication agency, ReGraphica, now called AS&K Skylight.
Q. How would you describe the course you took
at 3DTI?
Dr. Doshi:
The course provided me with my first experience of 3DS MAX. Over the period of 12 weeks, the sheer range of different projects kept me very interested in
the field and allowed me to gain a far more rounded view of the industry. As
a result, the reel that I produced at the end of the course was very varied,
I have found that potential employers have been very impressed with this aspect
showcasing my flexibility and the range of animation techniques I am familiar
with. This reel has now led to the offer of a full time position with a company
specializing in medical animation only a month after finishing the course !
Overall a most highly recommended course.
Q. What are you currently doing, and what
is your area of specialization?
Dr. Doshi: Currently
I am working as an animation director at AS&K Skylight, and we specialize
in the creation of very high end 3D animation for medical and pharmaceutical
companies. For the last 6 years we have been developing some
of the most advanced 3D animation possible to illustrate what goes on in and
around the human body when we become ill or take drugs to alleviate symptoms.
For this we use 3D Studio Max and Brazil for all rendering work. Another essential
tool is Combustion which allows us to carry out the incredibly complex compositing
work that is required to achieve the results we do. Most recently our animation,
Fragmin Mode of Action was a finalist in the Eurocom, European Computer Graphics
Awards 2005 and we can currently be seen on the Splutterfish (makers of Brazil)
client show reel alongside ILM and many others!
Q. Could you describe your typical day at work?
Dr. Doshi:
My typical day can involve many elements, for instance I might start by
reviewing the rendering outputs from the previous night for shots or R&D
tests, then I might brief the animators on the next batch of shots to work on
or discuss how to improve existing shots.
On a good day, I’ll have time to sit down and work on R&D test myself or
crack on with some shots from ongoing projects or an edit. Otherwise I might
be involved in writing animation outlines for new projects, troubleshooting
problem scenes, researching new techniques we can utilize on projects and the
general admin that’s needed to keep things moving and working.
Q. What do you look for in hiring animation
talent in your company?
Dr. Doshi:
The most important thing that I look for in an employee is someone who has an
‘aesthetic eye’ and so knows what looks good – its something you have or don’t
and I don’t think it can be learned – everything else can. Such people are a
rarity and I try to snap them up or at least try to work with them whenever
I can. Such is the nature of our work, you’ve got to be a generalist, able to
model, texture (procedurally for the most part), animate, know your Particle
Flow, light scenes and composite since you would be in charge of complete shots
from story boards to final composite.
Related Topics:
To view examples of medical animations, click
here
