Featured Member: Rakesh Malik

How many years have you spent studying and/or working in the Vancouver Post Production industry?
10+ years

What is your favourite project that you’ve worked on, and why?
Super-Anon. I got an opportunity to be both a DoP and a VFX artist on this film, which is currently in post. Now that I’ve graduated from the InFocus VFX compositing program, I’m getting started on VFX for Super-Anon while I look for work.

Where/how did you get your start in the community?
It took me a while to find my niche in compositing, where I can put my skills in lighting, programing, photography and compositing together all in one spot.

What do you see as the biggest asset to your sector, relative to the industry in Vancouver?
The post community here has been very friendly and supportive, and I’ve been able to make connections pretty easily through the VPA.

What do you see as the biggest hurdle for your sector, relative to the industry in Vancouver?
Between the pandemic and the two strikes followed by a slow recovery, the fact that there has been very little room for newcomers to get their feet in the door has been the biggest obstacle. The strikes began just as I received my permittee welcome letter from ACFC for lighting technicians, and sent me back to training for VFX.

What support does the Vancouver post community need most now?
Those of us who are new need help finding areas where we can contribute and improve our skills so that we can become full-fledged industry workers.

Why did you join the VPA?
I moved to Vancouver during the pandemic shutdowns, and knowing no one here I didn’t know where to start networking. A few members of the LiftGammaGain colorists’ forum mentioned the VPA, so I checked it out and joined in the hopes of getting my foot in the door

Who was/is your mentor/inspiration/idol?
The VPA matched me up with Ana Sofia M De A Pereira, a veteran compositing lead at Framestore who gave me quite a bit of feedback on my reel while I was working on it at InFocus, and gave me some pointers about companies to look for jobs with.

If you could have worked on any series/film ever created, which one would it be, and why?
“The Three-Body Problem.”

The series looked great and has great storytelling, and I’m really excited about seeing some of the more exotic physics and cosmology that is in the books later come to life.

In one sentence, what advice do you wish someone had given you five years ago, relative to your career today?
Learn Nuke and Houdini, and move to Vancouver.

What is your favourite pastime outside of work?
Backpacking. Hopefully with my cat.