Meet our alumni
Jevon Tsen - VFX for Film & Television
Original program: VFX for Film & Television
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver/Dubrulle Culinary Arts
Grad Year: 2009
Program of Study: VFX for Film & Television
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Mechnology Visual Effects Studio
Location: Vancouver
Job Title: Visual Effects Artist
Primary Responsibilities: Compositing, lighting, look development.
Describe a typical work day:
Delivering, dividing sections of animations; giving critique to animators; receiving notes from a client and making sure it gets tackled by animators. Coffee in the morning, beautifying shots, rendering and troubleshooting any problems that may arise.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
My 2009 demo reel is a big one. It taught me all I had to know about the industry and what needs to get done. After graduation, I’ve just been learning so much and taking in all I can. I have met a lot of people from many different studios and they have all taught me so much. So far I have worked on Girl Vs. Monster (Disney – Movie); Escape From Planet Earth (Weinstein Company - Animated Feature); Sleeping Dogs (Square Enix and United Front - live action trailer); Prototype 2: Red Zone (Activision and Radical Entertainment - Game cinematic); Deus Ex: Human Revolution (Eidos Montreal and Square Enix - In game cinematic); Prototype 2: Homecoming (Activision and Radical Entertainment - Game cinematic); Mortal Kombat: Legacy (Warner Bros - live action mini series); Medal of Honor (EA - Game Cinematic); and Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (Activision - Game cinematic).
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
My creative inspirations could be from anything; movies, a day well spent at a coffee shop watching people, commuting, etc. My mom and God are my heroes. My daughter, Shanice. She has taught me to see the beauty in all things. My heroes are the pioneers of visual effects and the forward thinkers who believe that nothing is impossible.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
The feeling when your ideas and solutions can contribute to a shot or a team and be used by others down the road. Developing a look or a style of a shot, whether it be in 2D or 3D, and getting it approved is very rewarding.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
From learning the production of film to post production really gave me a better understanding of how certain elements develop into what they are. Learning a bit of everything painted a picture in my mind that I will never forget.
What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?
Immerse yourself in the industry, have the thirst for creating, and push yourself when you need to. Take responsibility of your own shot and make it yours. Don’t be afraid to speak up and put in the time you need to once in a while. Keep learning and most of all, have fun!
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
Being well versed in 2D compositing and lighting in 3D will be very useful in the future. I’m predicting that there will be an industry standard working software that will handle both and will be a prerequisite if you want to be in the lighter role.
