[FRAMED]: Tom Ferstl, Creature Supervisor, LDN

[FRAMED] exists to shine light on Framestore’s most fascinating cast of characters: its people. Presented with a probing list of questions and a demandingly short deadline, this feature puts the hopes, dreams, and desktops of our MVPs on the digital wall, for all to see. Welcome to [FRAMED].

What are you guilty of?

Drinking too much coffee.

What was your last brush with danger?

Boating on a crocodile river in Australia.

Your last brush with greatness?

My neighbour looks like Boris Johnson, does this count?

Your worst character fault?

Meandering.

Your most shining quality?

My curiosity.

You’re on the run from the law, where are you headed?

Galapagos! Will get some dives in with those crazy lizards before they catch me.

Who’s your partner-in-crime?

My wife Iris and my son Hektor.

Fantasy cellmate?

Rick Sanchez - I won’t be in that cell for long!

Your greatest achievement?

Following my dream.

Most valuable skill?

Being able to communicate between artists and TDs / software developers.

Go on, say something bragging:

Was going to say something about my beard, but that has looked better in the past.

Name your vice/pet peeve?

When edge-loops are interrupted by bad skinning. It needs to flow! Runner up: Ticking clocks at night.

The DREAM project would entail:

Building a character starting from CT-scans.

Your career highlight to date:

Becoming a Creature Supervisor.

This week I learnt that:

Cornflakes have more genes than people do.

What’s your current view?

Bouncing between staring at my wardrobe and a lovely view over the Walthamstow Wetlands.

Give us a desk tour!

Anatomy figure by Andrew Cawrse, bluetooth speaker, Artiphon Orba, anatomy books, Maya.

What do you need to work, on the daily?

Enough sleep, coffee and a good lunch.

Framestore is, to you, in three words:

My second family.

Best thing about your work environment?

My colleagues.

Framestore is great at:

Creatures, company, culture.

Favourite artform?

Music. (Does Speedrunning count?)

Favourite image?

Carina Nebula’s ‘Mystic Mountain’ taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Fictional character you’d like to hang with?

Having ridiculous fun, travelling the Multiverse with Rick Sanchez.

Happiness looks like:

Scuba Diving with my family.

If not here, then where?

Somewhere diving 40m below the surface in a deep dark lake.

What do you think of too often?

Currently, thinking about what’s going to happen in the next Naruto episode.

And not enough?

Doing Yoga.

Couldn’t live without:

Magnetic Shoe Laces. You gotta be efficient right?

If you ruled the world:

Everything would be running on blockchains and DAOs. Who knows, maybe it would actually work?

Tom Ferstl, you’ve been [FRAMED].