Passion for perfection

Film buffs who bother to stay for the closing credits of a movie rather than make a bee-line for the exit as soon as they start to roll will no doubt have felt a stirring of pride when they spot an occasional Thai name on a Hollywood film. 

Indeed, for those who work behind the scenes in the industry, getting their names on the end credits is the ultimate goal.

Just ask Hollywood-based Thais Natt Mintrasak and Arut Tantasirin.

“I was thrilled when I first saw my name and it made me realise that there's nothing more validating than the credits,” says Natt who before moving to Disney was employed by Digital Domain. “But I quickly learned that having your name up in lights means nothing. It's the satisfaction of doing the job well that's more far important.

During his time with Digital Domain, Natt was involved in many films including “Iron Man 3” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. His most recent credits include pipeline technical director for the Angelina Jolie vehicle “Maleficent” and animation technical director for “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”.

Arut, on the other hand, works as an animator with Nickelodeon Animation Studios. He is currently attached to the channel’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” series, which airs in Thailand.

Both were in Bangkok recently to take part in a workshop aimed at inspiring young Thais interested in taking up a career in animation and related industry fields. The event was organised at the initiative of Thai Consul-General to Los Angeles, Jesda Katavetin.

Natt and Arut portray two sides of the animation field – the artistic and the technical.

Natt is now working as the technical director for Walt Disney Animation Studio, a job he describes as “invisible on screen”. He is responsible for providing the software program and for setting up the computer system that allows the animator to create the whole story. His first project with Disney was this year’s Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature, “Big Hero 6.”

“My job is to serve as a bridge that connects the animation artists and the programmers who create the program for them to use. As they seem to speak in different languages, I explain and facilitate what they requires and ensure that the pipeline system flows smoothly,” says Natt. 

His expertise puts paid to the notion that artistic skills in animation are a pre-requisite to finding work in the industry. 

Natt freely admits he is incapable of drawing a cartoon. A graduate in computer science, he made his way up through the system by working in visual effects for non-animated movies.

“I knew I wanted to be involved in visual effects after watching ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ as a kid,” he says with a grin, adding that he earned his Master’s degree in Electronic Visualisation from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Arut, who graduated from Assumption University’s Visual Communication Arts department, acknowledges that he was lucky that his family supported his decision to pursue a career in animation. 

“My mother taught me to use Photoshop,” he says. After graduation, he worked for a time with BluFairy, an RS subsidiary involved with visual effects that has now closed, then went on to complete his studies in the US and landed a job with Nickelodeon.

Natt, who has lived in the US for more than 27 years, thoroughly enjoyed the recent workshop, which was attended by more than 100 students.

“The kids were not only attentive during our presentation but stayed behind and asked Arut and myself lots of questions,” he tells XP.

“They certainly have a passion for the work, which is great, but I can’t help but wonder whether that passion runs deep enough. To do a job like this, you need to live and breathe it.” 

Arut agrees.

“Real passion means that even when you are exhausted from all the work, you are happy too and willing to give the project several more hours. If you can do that, then you will reach your goal,” he says.

Their words are borne out by Thai animator Fawn Veerasunthorn, who works at Walt Disney Animation Studio. Talking to the Thai press last year about her involvement as a story artist for the 2013 Oscar winner “Frozen”, she mentioned that she carries her sketchbook wherever she goes and regularly sits down to draw the things that impress her in everyday life.

“It is not enough to study hard in the classroom then do something else on the weekends,” Natt stresses.

Arut says he noticed that many Thai students were more focused on the computer programs they have to use rather than the story itself.

“In one way, I understand that. Software comes at a price and they are always concerned about the budget. But it still means their focus is all wrong. They focus on the tools instead of the core of animation work – artistic skill,” he says.

In addition to constantly improving their skills, Natt says the students must also keep a close watch on technological developments.

“Technology in visual effects is changing all the time. It’s vital to keep up to date,” he says.