Get to Know | Christophe

In this release, we are pleased to introduce Christophe Robert, one of our FX leads at the Montreal studio, whose passion and skills contribute to elevating the quality of our visual effects.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT FOLKS?
I'm currently one of the FX leads in the Montreal studio, which means I'm involved in the early discussions about the different effects we will be creating and give my technical and creative input on what is at hand. Then, I create elements to jumpstart the technical aspect of things, which will be passed on to other artists whom I hopefully will guide in the creation and uniformity of the desired looks. In short, I develop looks and set up the basis for a project, effects-wise.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE FIELD OF VISUAL EFFECTS?
Although I've always been a big consumer of movies and games, I kind of fell into visual effects. I randomly applied to a VFX school in Quebec with some of my most prized drawings, got accepted, and learned the basics of the craft. Then I discovered Houdini/FX in my spare time, learned it from scratch after school, and here I am now! I've always been drawn to creative outlets and knowing that you can make a living crafting images sounded very appealing to me. The complexity and challenges of VFX work are always rewarding and fulfilling, no matter how rocky the path.

WHICH ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING A CAREER IN THE VFX INDUSTRY?
Trust the process! Getting there takes time and dedication, and as long as you put the work and are nice and kind to the people you work with, things will fall into place and people will gladly share their knowledge with you.

WHICH ONE OF YOUR COWORKERS INSPIRES YOU MOST AND WHY?
Ever since I started at FOLKS, Charles Gariepy, who I met here 7 years ago, and I have followed a similar path. It's impressive to see how differently we have evolved over the years, doing the same job. The calm, patience and love for CGI this guy has is impressive. I'd like to mention another artist who inspires me: Jonathan Laborde. To me, he's one of the most knowledgeable people I know.

THE FIVE MAIN VALUES OF FOLKS ARE CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, EXCELLENCE, SIMPLICITY AND KINDNESS. WHICH ONE DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?
I'd choose two: simplicity and kindness. FOLKS is truly people-oriented, and from my experience here, I've always felt listened to, creatively and personally, supported and engaged with the various teams. I have a deep appreciation for the leadership at FOLKS, for the connection and openness they offer.

YOUR FAVORITE SHOT?