Get to Know | Bradley

In this release, we are pleased to introduce Bradley Baker, compositor at FOLKS Atlanta, whose love for cinema and storytelling keeps pushing his creativity.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT FOLKS?
I am a compositor. I use Nuke to composite our plates with various 2D and 3D elements to create fully realized shots.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FOCUS ON A CAREER IN VFX?
Some of the earliest memories I have that inspired my career were watching Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and of course Spy Kids 3D: Game Over. During school, some movies that kept me motivated and inspired were Gravity, Arrival, and Annihilation.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE FIELD OF VISUAL EFFECTS?
After high school, I went to school for film studies, but eventually realized my education wasn't quite as focused as I was hoping for. After a year of the degree, I transferred to SCAD Atlanta, where I graduated with a BFA in visual effects. I then began my early career as a compositor for music videos and commercials but eventually made my way into film and television with the FOLKS Atlanta team here.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN VFX?
What draws me most to being a VFX artist is the balance between the left and right side of the brain. I get to use logic to build the scripts, resulting in a beautiful piece of art. It is almost like building a jigsaw puzzle.

IN WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF YOUR WORK?
No One Will Save You was an incredible project for me. It is a creepy, sci-fi horror type, and I got to comp some shots that were very much like the movies that inspired me growing up.

THE FIVE MAIN VALUES OF FOLKS ARE CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, EXCELLENCE, SIMPLICITY AND KINDNESS. WHICH ONE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH? 
Collaboration is one of the most exciting aspects for me. I am such a people person, very extroverted, and am always learning so much from the other artists I work with. We create our best work when we are all able to share our thoughts and knowledge from past experiences.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT ATLANTA?
Atlanta has been a second home to me. It is where I was born, I have always had family in the area, and I have lived here for the last 10 years. I love the art, the live music scene, and I love how green the city is, with trees on every block. I even enjoy the weather here. I am made to live in the heat. I am so lucky for my line of work to be in this great city. If I could work in any other location, I would love to live in Vancouver. I had the opportunity to visit back in 2018 for SIGGRAPH, and absolutely fell in love. Everyone was very kind, and it is so close to some beautiful hiking spots.

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?
I love to spin fire! I have been a flow artist for the past 11 years or so. Although I mostly stick to LEDs, I love to spin fire when given the opportunity.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOT?