[FRAMED] Digital Matte Painter, Mahesh Desai, Mumbai
If you could travel back in time, which film, TV series, advert, or immersive project would you love to have worked on?
Bambi Disney Animated Film — an all-time hit movie. I would have liked to work as a background artist in this film.
Which Framestore character do you feel you’re most like?
Rocket Raccoon — Funny and an action hero.
What fictional world or place would you like to visit?
Cooper Station from the movie Interstellar.
Your career highlight to date:
Winning an Emmy Award for our work on Ms. Marvel!
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in VFX?
I have been fond of movies since childhood, so I was always interested in working in either pre or post-production of animation or live-action movies. And that’s how I eventually landed a career in VFX.
The DREAM project would entail:
I would love to do artwork for any Marvel or Disney movie
How do you explain what you do to someone who doesn’t work in VFX?
I simply tell people that I work on movies from Marvel, Disney, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures… and after citing movie names of such big banner companies, they get a fair idea of what type of industry I work for and what my day-to-day job entails :)
Describe your career journey into the exciting world of VFX.
After completing my degree in Fine Art, I painted and drew for numerous clients as a side hustle. Soon after, I started working as a background and storyboard artist, which was the first step into my career in VFX. DNEG and The Mill Studio gave my career a boost. After that, I joined Framestore with a far more exciting journey ahead!
What does the day in the life of a DMP Artist look like?
A typical day in the life of a DMP Artist involves a technical approach combined with artistic vision, high-resolution texture, colour sense and appropriate perspective.
Framestore is, to you, in three words:
Technically strong, team-work and familial.
Best thing about your work environment?
A simple medium to achieve most things out of your career!
Framestore is great at:
Having a fantastic line of projects that are challenging creatively and technically supported by a good work environment.
Favourite artform?
Warli Folk Art — a tribal art form of India.
Favourite image?
John Singer Sargent ( Great Portrait Artist )
What’s your favourite movie/ series/ advert/ immersive experience and why?
Movies: Harishchandrachi Factory, A Wednesday, Talvar, Andhadhun and 12th Fail.
Series: Loki, Bodies, Reptile, Uincenzo, Dark, Lupin, Wednesday and Panchayat.
All of these are a must watch. Mind-blowing stuff!
What is the last piece of art that inspired you?
The Netflix series ‘Ripley’. It is a black and white series and the ideal composition photography in all frames in one of the greatest I have seen till date.
How do you unlock your creativity?
Every day when I walk into our office I automatically enter my creative zone because the office environment is such!
From where do you seek inspiration?
By kickstarting my day — you can get inspired just from your daily existence.
Who in the industry do you admire most and why?
Stan Lee, Steven Spielberg & James Cameron — VFX in the film industry is where it is today because of these filmmakers!
Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:
Keep calm and move forward in life with whoever stands by you through it all!
What tech/innovation could you not live without?
The Internet.
What tech/innovation deserves the hype?
Virtual Reality.
What tech do you need that hasn’t been invented yet?
A time travel machine.
Mahesh Desai, you’ve been [FRAMED].
