Bio

Michael McCarthy is an accomplished 3D artist and trainer from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Character and FX animation along with 3D software design are a few of Michael’s passions. His experience on projects such as Spiderman 3, Nim’s Island, Treasure Quest, and Sims keeps him engaged in all nuances of film, broadcast, and games production. Michael has taught many Siggraph and EUE Master Classes as well as trained artists at studios such as CafeFX. He is an Autodesk Certified Instructor and teaches at The New England Institute of Art. Michael has been an author and contributor to many 3ds max publications and created training and documentation for 3ds max as well as many of its most popular plug-ins.

Q&A

1. How did you get involved with 3D computer graphics?
   
   

   I got involved with computers at an early age, playing with hardware and building PCs in the basement with my father. Computers and hardware interested me and I have always been an artist and painter. Around the time 3d Studio DOS came out, I started combining these two technical and artistic passions. At that time, 3D graphics was more technical to get involved with. Today, there are still plenty of technical areas in 3D graphics but it's much easier to start out with software like 3ds max. Once I realized I could create 3D objects and even worlds, I was hooked. I started applying my artistic skills to create CG artwork and never looked back.

2. What are some of the projects have you worked on?
   
   

   I have worked on many projects as a production artist, technical director, and visual FX lead including Spiderman 3, Nim's Island, and Treasure Quest. I enjoy working in film, broadcast, and games as they all offer different opportunities. In film, you get a few shots to work on and usually a good amount of time to create the best quality shot possible. In many cases, you are isolated to a specific task like lighting or shading the scene. This is great because you can really focus on the details. In broadcast productions like Treasure Quest for the Discovery Channel, the timelines are a lot tighter and there is much more to do. I really enjoy being able to come up with effective solutions that will work within fast paced deadlines.

   Over the last 7 years I have been working on developing 3d software as a product designer. I really enjoy coming up with new and innovative tools with talented developers. Currently I am working at Ephere on products like Zookeeper for 3ds max and the latest Ornatrix which is hair creation software.

3. As an Autodesk Master, for what do you use the 3D software? (For example: modeling, texturing, lighting etc.)
   
   

   I have always been a 3d generalist and I love working in all aspects of 3D. Over the years, I have focused on areas like character rigging, visual FX animation, and rendering. Particle FX is one of my passions because I enjoy making order out of chaos and the fact that even though you are directing these effects, they have a life of their own too. On top of that, who doesn't like to make things explode or burst into flames?

4. What makes this industry so exciting to you?
   
   

   The 3D industry is so exciting because it is always changing and pushing technology to the limits in order to achieve the most beautiful and interesting artwork possible. The other thing that excites me about this industry is the people in it, and their passion for the art. 3D artists are truly some of the most amazing people and it is so great to be part in this community.

5. Where do you see the industry going in the next five years?
   
   

   I see the industry moving back from extremely specialized artistic positions to more general ones. Visual FX artists need to understand how things are working in post production and post artists will start working more with 3d assets. I think there will be more unification in many ways for the CG industry. Software is also moving in this direction. Isolated tools and complicated pipelines are getting streamlined. People want to be more involved in the entire process of creating artwork and have the tools that allow them to do that seamlessly.

6. What words of wisdom do you have for anyone interested in entering the professional world of 3D computer graphics?
   
   

   3D computer graphics is a field of artists and artwork. Keep your focus on the basics and creating great artwork. Ask many questions and answer more for others that need help. Lastly, always do your best work and be kind to everyone you work with even in stressful situations. The CG industry is small, relatively speaking, and made up of a lot of wonderful people.