In Week 10 of Advanced 3D Computer Animation, Professor Ting Liu introduced the professional interview assignment that would be completed during the break. The objective was to contact an industry professional, conduct an interview, and reflect on the insights gained from their experience. Before reaching out to professionals, we discussed how to write a formal email and how to approach industry contacts professionally.
Step 1: Choosing the Industry Leader
I decided to contact Namit Malhotra, CEO of DNEG, because of my interest in mythology-based storytelling and his involvement with large-scale visual effects productions. I drafted a professional email explaining my interests and reasons for requesting an interview.
Step 2: Drafting the Email
Hi Namit Sir,
I am AVI, 3D Animation student from UAL,
I have been following yours and DNEG’s work for a long time especially your recent collaboration with Indian Cinema to produce the Grand Ramayana. I really like DNEG’s vision to develop mythological and larger than life stories as it happens to be similar to my interest and career goals.
I would really like to interact with you and discuss further on this genre of Art and Cinema, Additionally I would love to know more about your personal experience on these projects including your initial days in this field, your vision for the future and how Me as a junior artist can choose a career direction.
It would be really nice of you if you could take out some time in the upcoming few weeks to schedule a meet and have a conversation with me.
Thanks in Advance!
Also we are waiting for Ramayana!
AVI KHARE
Student UAL
Step 3: Receiving the Feedback
After submitting my email draft, I received positive feedback from Professor Ting that:
“The email is very strong and professionally written. You can add a little more about your personal interest and research area, but overall it is well structured.”
Step 4: Drafting the Interview Questions
After drafting the email, I developed interview questions together with other students and discussed what types of questions would generate meaningful responses. While many questions were created collaboratively, I also added several based on my own interests in mythology, storytelling, animation, and visual effects production.
I divided the questions into 7 categories:
a) Early Journey
- How did your journey begin in this industry?
- What were the key decisions that shaped your path in the early years?
b) Building at Global Scale
- What helped you take DNEG from a growing company to a global leader?
- What skills do you look for in artists working at that level?
c) Indian Stories in Global Cinema
- What made you invest in projects like Ramayana?
- What challenges come with adapting mythological stories for a global audience?
d) Creative Vision
- How did your journey begin in this industry?
- What were the key decisions that shaped your path in the early years?
e) Industry Reality
- What does the day to day role of someone in your position look like?
- What are the biggest challenges in leading large creative teams?
f) Advice for You
- As a student focusing on 3D and visual storytelling, where should I focus my efforts right now?
- What mistakes should young artists avoid early in their careers?
g) Future Direction
- Where do you see the future of VFX and storytelling heading in the next 5 to 10 years?
- What opportunities do you see for artists from India working globally?
Step 5: Compiling the Interview
The interview lasted approximately thirty minutes. After completing it, I prepared a written summary reflecting on the discussion, key insights, and lessons I learned from the experience. This assignment helped me understand how industry professionals approach large creative projects and how important communication and preparation are when engaging with professionals. It was a valuable experience that strengthened both my professional confidence and understanding of the 3D animation and VFX industry.