Willi G.
About me
| Willi G. | |
| Computer Science | |
| Computer Science | |
| Undergraduate | |
| Derwent | |
| 1989 | |
| United Kingdom |
My employment
| Computer Graphics Supervisor | |
| Industrial Light + Magic | |
| United States | |
| Creative arts and design | |
| Large business (250+ employees) | |
| 2001 | |
| 2014 |
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A day in the life of a Computer Graphics Supervisor in the United States
Supervising visual effects computer graphics production for Hollywood movies.
My career goals when I graduated
I always wanted to combine my love of the arts with my love of technical problem solving.
My career history
Early in my career I tried both straight software engineering and TV post-production, before eventually finding a way to combine these things (computer graphics).
What has helped my career to progress
Finding a niche I loved and was good at. And friends.
Courses taken since graduation
Went through the BBC's training program. Started, but never finished, a PhD.
How my studies have helped my career
By far the most useful thing I ever did was my Computer Science BSc at York.
What surprised me about my career so far
Ending up in San Francisco working on Hollywood movies.
Where I hope to be in 5 years
Leading a team at Google/YouTube (where I am now).
My advice to students considering work
Dream big! Cultivate friendships and personal connections.
My advice about working in my industry
Start somewhere small and work up to bigger companies. You'll have a much more rewarding experience starting somewhere small where you can develop a wider range of skills and have more impact.
Other advice
Love what you do. You only get one life to live.
Contacting me
I'm always happy to answer questions on anything and everything.
What I do
Lead R&D and develop the production pipeline during the pre-production period of the visual effects for a movie. Produce key shots. Supervise the team of digital artists during visual effects production.
Skills I use and how I developed them
This job was a great combination of the computer science knowledge gained during my degree at York with my love of the arts and film.
What I like most
Working in a fast-paced creative environment.
What I like least
Visual effects production is becoming less technically challenging and more financially squeezed.
What surprised me most
The modesty and humility of the artists at ILM, who are amongst the most talented in the world.
Next steps...
If you like the look of Willi’s profile, the next steps are down to you! You can send Willi a message to find out more about their career journey. If you feel you would benefit from more in-depth conversations, ask Willi to be your mentor.