In this video I talk with Martin Klekner, director and CG artist from Prague, Czech Republic. During his professional career he has worked in the CG industry and now he is working on a personal 3D animated short film, made with Blender, besides running a YouTube channel.
In this interview we will learn how he got into the CG industry, working for VFX and game companies, how he is making a living as freelance CG Artist and why creating your personal 3d projects is so important.
Here’s what we will cover:
- How did you get into the world of 3D? (02:20)
- Was there a CGI class in film school? (04:57)
- Was the connection to the VFX company the reason you started your professional career? (06:27)
- Why did you decide to go to film school? (07:58)
- How was your professional career from your first job till today? (10:50)
- How did you get your freelance gigs? (18:14)
- What part of “Kingdom Come: Deliverance” you’ve worked on? (21:05)
- How did you go on making a living while working on your personal project? (28:18)
- When and why did you started to use Blender? (33:53)
- What was your experience on building a course for CG Boost? (37:39)
- Any other projects you are working on right now and what are your future plans? (41:07)
- What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned while working as a professional CG artist? (42:49)
- Which books, YouTube channels, courses etc. influenced you the most? (45:16)
- If you could learn a new skill right now instantaneously, what would it be? (53:20)
- What was the best purchase you have made? (56:48)
- How do you inspire yourself and how do you keep inspired? (59:27)
- How do you manage your time? (01:01:02)
- Any advice for people that want to start with 3D? (01:03:09)
Resources mentioned in this video:
Courses
- Substance Painter Launch Pad course
- A Guerrilla Filmmakers Guide to After Effects Course
- Space VFX Elements Course
- Mastering Sculpting in Blender Course
- Creating 3D Environments in Blender Course
(New updated course)
Books
- 1984 By Goerge Orwell
- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
- Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
- Gates of Fire: An Epic Novel of the Battle of Thermopylae by Steven Pressfield
Tools
YouTube Channels