Tabula Rasa : Illumination - James

Hometown
Marshall, Michigan

Favorite games
CoH, Star Wars Battlefront, Battlefield 1492

Favorite books
Anything by Jim Hightower, Russ Kick, Dean Koontz or Stephen King

Favorite movies
Fight Club, Reservoir Dogs, Empire Strikes Back

Favorite websites
www.google.com

Favorite bands or songs
System of a Down, Bill Hicks (comedy) and Opie & Anthony (radio)

Favorite quote or personal mantra
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Previous projects
Area 51, Maximum Force, Site 4, Earth and Beyond

Describe your job
I create character and creature animations along with the other animators on the team. A bulk of the animation is when the character is in battle, so I create particles that correspond with that action and the various weapons that will be used in the game. I also work with the programmers, concept guys, character modelers and texture artists to coordinate a smooth workflow from start to finish.

What advice would you give to someone with aspirations to do what you do?
First, you really need to be persistent if you find a position or a company you want to work with. Put together a great portfolio and show people around you. It's better to show your work to people other than family and friends (since they tend to be biased). There are lots of web forums that really do a great job critiquing and guiding people with this stuff. When you first start out, don't be afraid to take a lesser position to get your foot in the door. If you get in, opportunities always arise plus you will be learning along the way.

Second, artists are notoriously sensitive, especially about their artwork. Get over it. If people tell you need more practice, do it without question. Don't take it personally because it isn't personal. Take time to learn from your co-workers. This business is extremely competitive and you need to be on top of your game. The hardest lesson at first is that you need to learn that everything you create is not "precious" and that a lot of stuff you do will be thrown away no matter how hard you worked on it. Don't think of things as being wasted if they are not used; think of it as more valuable experience. Always keep in mind that it's not about you or your art/animations - it's not even about the team - it's about creating the best damn game that you can no matter what it takes.