Today we’d like to introduce you to Shreyas Sonwane.
Hi Shreyas, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The seed of my dream and passion was sowed when I was in 6th grade. My parents took me to watch The Incredibles. It was one of the first animated films that I saw. I was really amazed by how it was done, even though I had no clue about the work that went into it. That’s what led me to research about animated films. After high school, I started looking for courses in the field of Animation and VFX. Unfortunately, there was no college in my city that would offer a degree for the same. So, I had to complete my Bachelor’s in Commerce in parallel to my Diploma in Animation & VFX. My Diploma was the point when that seed which was sowed years ago, started budding. I was new to the world of animation and filmmaking. I worked on it around the clock and was happy with the progress that I made. I was so proud of my decision and feel like all the time and effort that I had put into it was worth it.
Soon, I realized that I need to move to a better place which can provide me with the resources and opportunities to harness my full potential. Moving to the US, for my graduate studies became an obvious choice for me, and I started working towards it. It is true that sometimes you find a direction from most unexpected sources. The real reason for my initial interest towards the field of filmmaking was a ‘college crush’ that I had during my undergraduate degree. She was my classmate and an independent filmmaker who was working as a freelance assistant director. We worked together on a short film as part of a filmmaking competition. That’s when I first got to learn about the filmmaking process and started to incline towards it. Hence I decided to pursue this as my major for graduate studies.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the path towards achieving one’s dream is always riddled with ups and downs. Especially if you are pursuing a non-mainstream career, as per Indian society, like mine. It has been an upstream swim for me from the beginning. Initially, my dad was against me pursuing a career in Animation and I had to finish my bachelor’s degree in Commerce. Finding an institute that would offer some kind of lessons in animation wasn’t easy either. I somehow managed to find a diploma course that was relevant to my interests. But I had to put in most of the efforts and research on my own to be where I am today. My family also came around once they realized I was really passionate about my work and I was doing well in it. The love and support of my family and friends give me the strength to go that extra mile. My elder sister has been my biggest supporter through this journey. Some days were tougher than the others, but the light of my passion and the love of people around me have always guided me through my path.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I mainly work as a 3D Generalist and I am also a graduate student in filmmaking at Savannah College of Art and Design. I have worked on projects that involve skills like Film Coloring, Motion Graphics, Filter design, animating 2D stickers, etc… I love doing Night Photography as a hobby and pick up the camera whenever I want to take a stroll at night and relax. I specialize in inorganic 3D modeling and texturing. I am well acquainted with the pipeline and workflows of Lighting, Shading, and Rendering using various industry-level software as well. I like working on Interior and Product designs. I always amalgamate personal touch into my client’s vision. I bring my life experiences into my work. I was an introverted kid, which helped me to keenly observe the world around me. Once you start observing, you’ll realize that you can draw inspiration from even the most mundane things in life. It could be anything like a person you saw on the street or even just a scented candle burning on the top of your organizer at night. These small observations help me in my work and imagination, whether I am working on a 3D model or writing my scripts. You’ll always find subtle nuances of everyday life in my work, which are relatable to my client and make them feel closer to their project.
During my internship with Get Engaged Media, LLC., I got to work with an eclectic and renowned clientele that included the likes of Martin Lawrence, Megan Thee Stallion, Paris Jackson, among others. I am very grateful to my company for the opportunity that I got. It was a very humbling experience for me. I am really proud of how far I have come from that little 6th-grade kid with dreams and awe in his eyes. I have gained professional expertise in Maya, which is one of the most sought-after skills in the industry. I started learning and working on Maya back in 2014 and I am glad that I have invested all these years in attaining this skill. One of my projects that I’d like to highlight was done for Windsor Apartments in Midtown. It was a renovation project for which I had to provide 3D renderings. I am really happy and excited that I’ll be able to see my work become reality and people would be able to appreciate it in real-life.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I think having a mentor and a good network is really important, particularly in my line of work. You can find a mentor in anyone around you, you don’t need to actively go in search of one. I think it is important to be aware of the people around you and be an active listener. Find a mentor with whom you can relate and who understands you the best. It is important that your mentor can point out your short-comings and advise you to improve them. They should inspire you to never be complacent and always strive for more. For me, one of my professors, Mr. Michael Kinney, has been my mentor for the past three years and huge moral support in my life. We should never underestimate the people we meet in our day-to-day life. You never know how the next person can be helpful in your endeavor. Just remember to be kind, affable, and leave a good impression on everyone that you meet. I still remember how a person who once delivered a pizza to me at a shooting location turned out to be the person who landed me my first internship and made a huge impact in my life.
Contact Info:
- Email: sonwaneshreyas@gmail.com
- Website: https://sonwaneshreyas.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designfibble/, https://www.instagram.com/shreyassonwane/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/shreyas_sonwane
