Without a doubt, my most memorable experience as a director was creating short films with my students while teaching in Sweden. Don’t get me wrong, I love to work with my clients and It was a pleasure to direct commercials, shorts, films and music videos professionally over the years, but nothing compares with the freedom and restrictions of working on small projects. it’s incredible to work with students, they are so eager to learn and are so committed to doing the best work possible. It is also an incredible opportunity to brainstorm and try ideas that normally would not be accepted in a commercial project. I hope I get the opportunity to do this again soon.

My best advice to anyone starting in VFX right now is to ignore all the noise about AI and the so-called ‘end of VFX’. The industry needs artists and everyone should focus on learning core skills like lighting, photography, and composition. You should also learn from the great masters of cinema, art and photography. Go and visit museums, visit galleries, watch classic movies, and listen to audio commentaries of films and TV shows. Go out there and learn as much as you can. Be agnostic in terms of software and embrace AI and Machine learning because it is not going anywhere but it can help you become a better artist.

It’s no secret that I love Horror films so this is an easy answer. I would love to direct a Horror movie, and if I could choose, I would try to direct an adaptation of some of my favourite video games of all time. Silent Hill, Resident Evil, Clock Tower, Project Zero, any of these games would make for amazing films done today. I know that some of them already have adaptations, but I don’t feel like they really transmitted the essence of these games. Alternately I would love to do a racing movie, I’m a huge fan of Formula One so anything to do with that would also be a dream come true.

It’s no secret that I love Stanley Kubrick. I have been studying his work for decades now and have pretty much every DVD, Blu-ray, book or essay in my library. I believe he was one of the best directors that ever lived, his approach to directing, his perfectionism, his themes, and the innovations he brought to cinema made him a unique voice as a filmmaker. Kubrick was a true master of his craft and I miss his films dearly. Having said that, I love many directors and any film from Fincher, Cronenberg, Lynch, Carpenter, Hitchcock, Alex Garland, Mike Nichols, Sofia Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola, Jonathan Glazer, Jane Champion, to name a few would be on top of my list. I have all their films and I highly recommend buying the DVDs and Blu-ray since some of them are masterclasses in cinema with all the commentaries, behind the scenes and extras.

You just have to be better! (this is my quote. I started using this sentence while working at The Mill as a supervisor. I even have a mug given to me by my team as a leaving gift at the time)

I can’t even stress enough how Eye Care has impacted my work-life balance. As someone with optical nerve damage and eye fatigue, it has truly changed the way I work. The monitor’s timer alone has made a huge difference. You’ll be surprised by the amount of times I get up from my desk and rest my eyes because of it. Also, the low blue light profiles are a great way to have less strain on my eyes. I can’t recommend enough for everyone to take care of their eyes and embrace features like this.