[FRAMED] Environment Artist, Emma Wittwer, Melbourne

If you could travel back in time, which film, TV series, advert, or immersive project would you love to have worked on?

‘Your Name’. It is such a stunning film — the art, the effort, the style, the colours! I would have loved to be a part of that.

Which Framestore character do you feel you’re most like?

Paddington — Optimistic, a little out of place, and trying hard to do my best. Although I prefer hot chips/fries to marmalade sandwiches.

What fictional world or place would you like to visit?

Star Wars Galaxy, It would be so cool to fly around Coruscant, see the trees of Kashyyyk and walk the streets of Naboo. So many options!

Your career highlight to date:

My Little Pony: A New Generation (available now on Netflix) I’m a My Little Pony fan, and I adore kids’ films and animation. So when my friend was like ‘Hey, would you like to help me on this project.’ I jumped at the chance, only after the interview did I know it was for MLP, I was so excited! I’ve never done Matte Painting for animation and I was so nervous! I did some amazing skies and beautiful backgrounds, I expanded so much as an artist it was extraordinary! The only way it could have been more awesome is if I got to go to Ireland to work on it. It started just as the pandemic shut the world down and finished before the world opened up again.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in VFX?

I watched Lilo and Stitch when I was younger, it was a really touching film, and while I was emotionally recovering as best as a 13-year-old could, I was watching the end credits and decided “yeah, I wanna be a part of telling amazing stories”.

The DREAM project would entail:

About 90% of how amazing a project is, is due to the crew you’re working with. I have been so lucky to have great leads and that makes so much of a difference. Good inter-department communication is also huge. 5% is the attitude toward the project and then the other 5% is what makes the difference between a great project to a dream project. For me, that last bit of difference would be working on something I’m a huge fan of.

How do you explain what you do to someone who doesn’t work in VFX?

I generally start with “Do you know what blue/green screens are in films?” If they don’t, then explain that, and then go on to explain that “My job is to fill those scenes with cool stuff like, pretty skies, large cities, interesting buildings that have never existed, tall mountains where there are no mountains, more trees, fewer trees, removing modern signs for period films, etc” Like really clear examples of what Digital Matte Painting can do, that would be obvious to a non-VFX person.

Describe your career journey into the exciting world of VFX.

I always loved art, painting, travelling etc, but wasn’t sure how to make a career of it. So started as a swimming instructor because I liked to swim, I then became a Chef because I love food. I loved my job as a chef, but I ended up tearing the ligaments in my feet, something about 80 hours on my feet. I struggled to walk for about 2 years as I healed. I went back to school to do a free art course because it was there. I saw a concept art poster on the wall and was like, “I wanna draw like that”. The teacher explained it was a ‘Game Art’ course. So I trusted them and enrolled and started learning modelling and textures. It didn’t take long for me to work out I wouldn’t learn to draw like that picture, BUT I fell in love with modelling and texturing and such so I was happy.

The teacher at the beginning of the course said “Realistically, maybe only 10 of you will get a job as a Game Artist” I wasn’t amazing at it, but I was pretty good. I calculated I would be 30 years old by the time I finished all the education and would need to get into a job, and I was a bit nervous because everyone else was barely 20 years old. I was feeling really old and overwhelmed. I didn’t have time to only be half-hearted about it. So I put my 110% into everything and said yes to all sorts of opportunities and studies after class. I was going to make it, I had no choice!

After two years of learning things for games, I went to Uni, and did a subject in “Matte Painting” I wasn’t sure what ‘matte’ was but I liked painting, and why not? Matte Painting was everything! A little bit of modelling, a little bit of textures, little bit of photobashing, and it looks so real so quickly! I did some online courses to supplement my knowledge from that one Uni class. This was around my other Uni work, and while also part-time teaching at the same time. Once I graduated, I was able to land a Jr. Position and grow from there.

DMP/Env is the combo of everything I’ve learned and love.
- Getting to work in films from childhood dreams
- Fast deadlines and keeping cool under pressure from being a Chef
- Bit of modelling and texturing from my Games Art knowledge,
- Patience and clear communication from being a teacher,
- My love of art and being creative and doing new things,
I really couldn’t imagine a more perfect job for me, I really love what I do!

What does a day in the life of a MattePainter/Environment Artist look like?

The cool thing about being a Matte Painter is that it changes from day to day!

A Matte Painting task — normally involves taking the image of the plate or CGI elements from lighting or effects to Photoshop. Then editing it as required which could be, photobashing images from the internet to look like something, adding in a sky, or painting out a patch from another section of a plate, adjusting something minor in a render that’s not worth the time and farm space to re-render. Then bringing it back into Nuke, projecting the edit onto geo so it looks like it was always there.

Environment task — I see this as more 3D work, so this could be building an environment or whole scene in Houdini or Maya for an establishing shot, a one-off, or to extend further from what lighting has done. This could be modelling, texturing some smaller assets that are only seen from far away, or adding more lighting. Scattering trees and rocks and buildings. Our work as it is very rarely close to the camera can be built from lighter geo and lighting placement so our renders are generally lighter and faster to do. Once we have a really good render, we can tweak it a little further with some paintovers. To take a shot from almost concept to almost complete is so very exciting.

Framestore is, to you, in three words:

Large, Connected, Innovative.

Best thing about your work environment?

My team is so supportive, not just for work stuff, but a little into our personal lives as well. It’s great to come to work with such a positive team and attitude to the day and the tasks. Even though I am working full-time remotely I still feel part of the team! I’m so thankful for that.

Framestore is great at:

Problem Solving.

Favorite artform?

Comedy.

Favorite image?

I bought this painting and have it hanging above my desk at work. I have 2 others from this Artist ‘Leonid Afremov’ — he did the most amazing bright saturated colours and I love how bright they are!

What’s your favourite movie/ series/ advert/ immersive experience and why?

Scrubs — it is a medical Comedy/Drama that I have watched on repeat for years. It’s the perfect thing for when I need something on the TV to keep me company while I clean, eat dinner, or just have no brain power for something new to watch.

What is the last piece of art that inspired you?

Puss in Boots — The Last Wish. The internet convinced me to watch it, and I was gobsmacked by how beautiful it is! How solid the story was, and just well put together. I loved everything about it.

How do you unlock your creativity?

I don’t think I am that creative, so I am more of a methodical rule follower until the rebelliousness hits, and I’m like, “How far can I push this before it breaks?” And that normally gets me where I need to be!

From where do you seek inspiration?

To do what?!

Pinterest sucks my attention if I’m not careful — so many beautiful images are carefully curated to make me happy. Otherwise, I just am, and just gotta do what I gotta do.

Who in the industry do you admire most and why?

Heather Abels. She was my first Matte Painter teacher. She was able to teach clearly and give clear feedback without being harsh. Her skills and knowledge still astound me! Her passion for females in male-dominated industries is inspiring. She got me my first job! She helped me get another job that turned out to be my favourite project. She is one of the most kind and generous people I’ve ever had the pleasure of encountering. I hope to be just like her one day!

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:

“Everything is okay in the end and if it’s not okay, then it’s not the end.”

What tech/innovation could you not live without?

Internet, followed very very closely by Wi-fi. Without these I wouldn’t have my job or my husband.

What tech/innovation deserves the hype?

Houdini is awesome!

What tech do you need that hasn’t been invented yet?

Instant Transporter. I don’t want to spend 17 hours on a plane every time I want to visit my family! (well more like 30 hours in transit from one home to the other)

Emma Wittwer, you’ve been [FRAMED].