Worldbuilding with Ludicrous Energy ft. Ian Hubert
Oct 17, 2024
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Ian Hubert, a legendary VFX artist known for his work on the short film series Dynamo Dream and directing Tears of Steel, shares his creative journey. He discusses scaling production, revealing the challenges of managing larger crews while maintaining artistic depth. Hubert explores the impact of technology on creativity, emphasizing authenticity amidst AI influences. The importance of embracing failure and the beauty of the mundane in art are highlighted, alongside his insights on mastering Blender's geometry nodes for worldbuilding.
Ian Hubert discusses the decline of spontaneous creativity among filmmakers today due to the pressures of social media and self-doubt.
The importance of hands-on learning and embracing failure is emphasized as essential for growth in art and filmmaking.
Creativity should prioritize narrative intent over technical prowess, ensuring that technology like AI enhances rather than overshadows storytelling.
Deep dives
Inspiration and the Creative Landscape
The conversation delves into the evolving nature of creativity and inspiration in the film and animation industry. Ian Hubbard shares anecdotal evidence of a past era where young creators thrived in a collaborative environment, experimenting with various projects and tapping into their creative potential without the hindrance of self-doubt. He notes a shift in this dynamic, where many aspiring filmmakers now seem deterred by the fear of producing 'bad' work due to the omnipresence of social media, leading to a decline in the spontaneous, experimental projects that characterized earlier artistic endeavors. Hubbard emphasizes the need for a space where creators can produce and embrace their imperfect works as a critical part of the growth process in the creative realm.
The Importance of Hands-On Experience
The discussion underscores the importance of hands-on learning and the necessity of 'failing quickly' to innovate and improve skills in art and filmmaking. Hubbard recalls his own experiences where the process of creating allowed him to stumble and learn, contrasting it with today's context where many individuals avoid such experiences for fear of public critique. He argues for a return to an incubation period where creators can experiment, embrace failures, and grow in their craft rather than solely seeking perfection from the outset. Ultimately, this hands-on engagement is vital for cultivating a creative mindset that prioritizes growth over immediate success.
Exploration of Artistic Intent
The episode emphasizes the notion of artistic intent, wherein creators should focus on what they genuinely wish to convey through their work instead of getting lost in the technicalities. Hubbard and the hosts discuss how today's tools, like AI and Blender, can streamline processes but may inadvertently shift the focus from creativity to merely producing visually appealing results. He shares insights on the significance of creating narratives that resonate emotionally with audiences rather than simply relying on stunning visuals. The conversation advocates for a balanced approach where technology serves as an instrument to elevate storytelling rather than overshadowing the creative vision.
Creative Limitations and Innovation
The importance of creatively navigating limitations is a recurring theme in the dialogue. Hubbard shares his experiences of managing resources and improvising during film shoots, indicating that such constraints often lead to unexpected innovative solutions. He discusses his method of prioritizing essential elements in each shot while allowing the audience's imagination to fill in the gaps, thereby enhancing viewer engagement. This approach not only fosters creativity but also highlights the value of resourcefulness in filmmaking, encouraging creatives to view limitations as opportunities for innovation.
Understanding the Balance in Filmmaking
The podcast reveals the delicate balance between cinematic execution and storytelling. Hubbard discusses the significance of audience experience while working on sets, clarifying that while technical aspects like visual effects are crucial, they must serve the larger narrative goal. He highlights his transition from low-budget setups to more organized environments with professionals, emphasizing that although higher budgets can provide better resources, they do not guarantee creative quality without thoughtful direction. Ultimately, Hubbard advocates for a mindful approach to filmmaking where both the art and practicality coexist to elevate the overall impact of cinematic storytelling.
Ian Hubert is a legandary Blender VFX artist who is best known for directing the Blender open movie project, Tears of Steel, authoring the Lazy Tutorial series on YouTube, and creating the mesmerizing dystopian sci-fi short film series, Dynamo Dream.
Lampel and Kent caught up with Ian at BCON LA to find out what it's been like to scale up his productions, where his inspiration comes from, the one time he used AI, and a weird shift he's noticed in the creative landscape.