Today we’d like to introduce you to Ignatius Jonathan Sugijono.
Hi Ignatius Jonathan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My journey began when I was eight years old living in Jakarta, Indonesia. All I know back then were school, TV, and games, that’s pretty much my day-to-day routine; wake up, go to school, go home, watch movies, play games, eat, sleep, repeat. It was fun and being a kid during the early 2000s era was definitely interesting, where all the technologies back then were just starting to get more advanced as the year goes on. One day, my father brought a new computer and PC games home, my brother and I were super excited to use that computer. After school, I would go straight to the computer and watch YouTube and play games until my parents came home because basically were not allowed to use the computer during school days except for doing homework, but my brother and I still keep using it, even though we had been caught multiple times. One time, Toby Maguire’s Spider-Man was playing and it caught my attention. I’m pretty sure there are a lot of kids that were thinking the same thing, imagine becoming a superhero. The movie itself has an amazing visual and story, but imagining that you have superpowers was something else.
In the middle of my addiction to computers, my parents asked me out to a movie date at the theater. I immediately said yes! We didn’t really know what we were going to watch, except that it was a new superhero movie. It ended up being Iron Man. I remember after finished watching it, I told my mom that I wanted to be Tony Stark. From that moment, I love watching superhero movies, either Marvel or DC, I don’t really care as long as it was cool. For the next five years or so, I was also intrigued by the behind-the-scenes of those movies because I’m curious how they could produce amazing movies. That’s where I found out about 3D Computer Generated imagery or CGI, where you could create anything that you want using a computer. I began learning 3D modeling using a free legendary software called Blender! I did my research and was so proud when I made my first 3D donut. I keep learning and I found out that you can create your own animation using the same software.
Fast forward to my senior year in high school, I need to decide what major I was going to take. In Indonesia, the creative industry is still under-appreciated. People have their own speculations and stereotypes, making me re-considered if I should pursue coding that I don’t really enjoy or 3D, something that I can’t take my mind off. Even my parents are a bit skeptical about the creative industry. But due to my high determination and to check off my bucket list, I decided to pursue animation. Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) became my chosen campus after endless research. During my freshman year in Hong Kong, I found out about Visual Effects. The term sounded pretty cool and it rings a bell to me. After some more research and brainstorming with some seniors from that major, I immediately told my parents that I will switch to Visual Effects, also known as VFX. The general idea is to process and create CGI in a movie, integrating all the computer-generated elements into live-action footage seamlessly. I would say that’s one of the best decisions I made in my life!
Even though 3D animation and visual effects go hand in hand, it’s a different process. I transferred to the Savannah campus during my sophomore year as I realized the film industry is leading in the States. There are various kinds of specializations that VFX artists can pursue; naming layout, creature FX, lighting, look development, and compositing. All those things have their own pros and cons. I decided to focus more on compositing because it was the finishing step of VFX before it goes into sound design and all the editing for the movie. Since I was a kid, I always wanted to create beautiful imagery, and being a compositor allows me to produce a high level of imagery that we usually watch in Hollywood movies. Then, COVID hits. I went back to Indonesia and spent 1,5 years learning virtually. With a 12-hour time difference, it was not easy to keep up with all the classes. Started my class at 2 am and finished at 5 am, but I was determined to learn more about VFX, especially Nuke, a node-based software that compositors utilize in the industry. I was looking for tutorials whenever I’m free during the day so I can keep sharpening my skills.
Around September 2021, I went back to Savannah to graduate. I was fortunate enough to spend my last quarter in person rather than virtually. At that time, there were a decent amount of companies that were hiring compositors, but being an international student is definitely a challenge in itself to think about visa. This matter does not hinder me from applying for jobs while still being hopeful that several companies might reached back to me. Two weeks before finishing my last quarter, I got an email from the HR at SPINVFX. I was thrilled to know that I got an opportunity to have an interview with a company. Long story short, I got an offer from SPINVFX and moved to Atlanta in early January 2022.
I have been working in the industry for 1,5 years and I believe there is still plenty of room to absorb knowledge, and I mean a lot, a lot. I’m very fortunate to have an amazing mentor at SPINVFX who would answer all of my questions, even though it’s a simple question that I just happen to forget the answer. I’m currently a junior compositor but I have got the chance to work on amazing movies and TV shows that I definitely not even going to believe if I told myself two years ago. Remember why I started learning 3D? Superhero movie Iron Man, little did I know that it is the first MCU movie. Working on a Marvel movie was just a dream, and here I am, being a part of the “Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania”. My first Marvel credit!! Shoutout to SPINFVX for the opportunity and having faith in my ability. It was extremely challenging working on a Marvel movie, keeping in mind that this is a very fast-paced project and we are expected to meet all of the requirements, even to exceed the client’s expectations. At the end of the day, it is worth all the hardwork, overtime, and endless coordinations. No wonder Marvel Studio is a leading entertainment company in the industry. I’m aiming to be a senior compositor in the next five years so that I can give back my knowledge to all the juniors and working my way up to be a VFX supervisor. Hopefully, you can see my name on a huge-budget movie!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course not, I don’t think there is such a thing called ‘smooth road’ where everything just falls into the right place. Even though you think that all is smooth, trust me it’s not. You are just used to having obstacles that make yourself immune to small struggles. Coming from a not-so-creative family is already a struggle to learn VFX. Being an international student studying abroad is another challenge. To be honest, I hate learning new languages and it’s a hassle for me to face the fact that I’m in the States and English is the primary language here. Also, having to worry about a visa once in a while is quite stressful. Imagine that you can’t pursue your dream anymore just because you got no permission to do so. However, having those struggles along the way helped me shape my mindset in a way. I’m very fortunate to be in the industry and have an amazing community that supports me no matter what. Whatever comes my way, I will try to face it and get back on the road as fast as possible!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialized in compositing. In the world of visual effects, a compositor is like a magician who brings all the different elements of a movie or a video together to create a seamless and stunning final image. It’s like making a delicious pizza with all the toppings! Think of a movie scene where the actors are standing in front of a green screen. My job is to take that footage and combine it with other elements, like computer-generated backgrounds or special effects, to make it look like the actors are in a completely in a different environment. Imagine you have a photo collage where you cut out different pictures from magazines and stick them together. A compositor does something similar but digitally. We adjust the colors, lighting, and shadows to make everything look like it belongs in the same world.
In the end, compositing is all about creating a believable and captivating visual experience. They are like the final touch that brings all the visual effects elements together and makes the movie or video look incredible. Even though I’m still new to this industry, thanks to SPINVFX, I got the opportunity to work on amazing projects, such as Antman and the Wasp: Quantumania, Umbrella Academy Season 3, and The upcoming prequel to John Wick: The Continental. I’m known for my fast turnaround with high-quality renders and I’m very proud of of my team that guided me along the way on these complex projects.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Never give up on your dreams! Even when things get tough, remember that motivation is what keeps you going. It’s the belief in yourself and the strong desire to achieve what you’ve always wanted. Imagine your dreams as a special place you want to reach and the challenges you face as roadblocks along the way. If you keep trying and staying positive, you can overcome any obstacle. Embrace the hard times as lessons and let them fuel your determination to keep moving forward. Remember, success often comes to those who never give up, even when things are difficult. Your dreams are worth fighting for, and with motivation, focus, and hard work, you can make them come true.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ignatiusjonathan.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ignatiusjonathansugijono
Image Credits
Shantaram Antman and The Wasp: Quantumania Big George Foreman Umbrella Academy: Season 3
