Today we’d like to introduce you to Palm Piraban.
Hi Palm, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello, my name is “Palm” Thitaphon Piraban, and I am a CG Generalist at FuseFX, an award-winning Visual Effects Studio providing visual effects services for television, feature films, commercials, and virtual productions. I graduated with a Master’s degree in Visual Effects at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) not too long ago last year, and I am passionate about visual effects and the world of computer-generated imagery (CGI), with a focus on look development, lighting, grooming, and rendering. I am currently based in the US, Savannah Georgia, but I originate from Thailand.
My journey in VFX and the creative industry had early beginnings when I was only five years old. When I was a child, I was a big fan of cartoons and 3D animations, and my interest in the field only grew after receiving a Toy Story (1995) VCD from my father. Back then, I was heavily influenced by Hollywood films, which prompted me to consider a career in the animation industry, and potentially work abroad in the US to make Hollywood films.
This became my dream.
Even though I was not the most “artistic” person and my drawing skills were mediocre, I was undeterred. With my relentless passion in animation coupled with my strength in mathematics, sciences, and computer, I decided to enter the field through a strategic and less traditional way. When I was in high school in Chiang Rai, I decided to learn the fundamentals of programming through a Computer Science program. Then in 2008, I enrolled in a BSc in animation course at the College of Art, Media, and Technology (CAMT) at Chiang Mai University that focuses on the combination of art and science to further my ambition. The movie Avatar (2009) was a turning point in my career, as it sparked my interest in motion capture and I chose it to work on it for my graduate project, which led me to my job as a Motion Capture Artist for two years in Animated Storyboard studio (Thailand). However, I felt that there was more to CGI than just motion capture, I was interested in visual storytelling and bringing my works to life through 3D lighting and look development. As a result, I decided to bring my career to new heights by getting into this field by taking classes outside of work. And later on in 2014, I was recommended by my mentor to work as a lighting artist, and that has consequently brought me to work with three prominent studios in Thailand: The Monk Studios, Flying Monkey Pictures, and Chaya Pictures.
Even a few years of working in the animation industry in Thailand, I was not satisfied because I still wanted to pursue my dream of making a Hollywood film. This made me apply for SCAD in 2019. During my studies, I focused on lighting and look development, and this has manifested in successful projects that garnered me recognition, features, and awards online and on social media. And it was not long before FuseFX recruited me for a CG Generalist role. I’m so close to my dream, and I can’t wait to be there.
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?
Not at all! The quote “life is a marathon, not a sprint” is one of my life’s mantra, and I make an effort to become better every day. After completing my studies at Chiang Mai University, I realized that I struggled to communicate in the English language, which was an obstacle to my dream to work abroad in the US. Hence, I decided to improve my fluency by taking classes funded by my part-time job as a 3D lighting instructor. This took four years!!!
In 2018, I felt lost and exhausted because I had difficulties balancing my full-time and part-time job and my English classes. This often made me considered stopping my English studies and giving up on my dream altogether. Furthermore, the tuition for a master’s degree in the US is expensive, attaining a scholarship was critical for me to study abroad because of financial reasons. Thankfully, I was awarded the Educator Fellowship Scholarship (half-tuition) from SCAD based on my past four years of teaching experience. I had to make a lot of sacrifices, and this meant using all my savings and being reliant on financial support from my parents to attend the SCAD in Fall 2019. But now that I graduated and started working, I’m in a more stable situation in which I get to do good work and live a healthy lifestyle.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my current role as a full-time CG Generalist at FuseFX, I specialize in 3D lighting, look development, and rendering, using software such as Autodesk Maya and SideFX Houdini. I’m currently in the midst of working on a Hollywood feature film and several episodic TV series, one of the projects I completed was for American Horror Story Season 11.
As for my own personal work, I am most proud of my M.A. Project titled “Cozy Cabin”. This was a solo research in 3D visual storytelling using Unreal Engine, the most powerful real-time rendering tool, which was novel for me. Using this Unreal Engine, I fully produced a 3D animated scene featuring a cabin in a forest environment. In a traditional rendering system, the high polygon count in the 3D geometry of the forest and foliage requires high computing resources to render. Unreal Engine can effortlessly realize a visual experience and processes (editing, color grading, compositing) in real-time and without having to rely on other software. I believe it was a crucial skill set that I needed in order to express my imagination and ideas in the most spectacular visual experience! Cozy Cabin was well-received and even gotten an Excellent Award and Draft Selection nomination from the Rookies Contest 2022!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people are unaware that I run a YouTube channel, “PalmCGI”, where I published a series of content ranging from tutorials on 3D lighting and look development, creative professional interviews, and vlogs showcasing not only my growth as a VFX artist but also my journey in the US. This endeavor first began with me making 3D lighting tutorials to develop my skills. These tutorials are conducted in Thai language to make it more accessible to the people of my home country. Today it has become a hobby that I cherish, and I’m excited to continue exploring and sharing my passion through my channel!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.palmpiraban.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palmpiraban
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palmpiraban/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/palmpiraban/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@palmcgi4788
- Other: Discord: palm#9099
