Meet Chen Tang

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chen Tang.

Hi Chen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The journey into the world of CG started during my undergraduate years as a Biology major. Despite this, my childhood passion for painting drew me towards digital art, particularly in 3D. Exposure to CG through elective classes and captivating animated movies like “Zootopia” and “Coco” intensified my interest. This led me to pursue a Visual Effects and Game Development degree at SCAD, where my first encounter with Houdini’s capabilities in creating large-scale environments sparked my enthusiasm for procedural techniques.

Diving deeper into Houdini, I yearned to master its FX potential, prompting me to self-teach programming languages like Mel, Vex, C++, and Python. Delving into various solvers within Houdini, I honed skills in generating natural effects such as fire, smoke, water, and destruction. Additionally, my experience with the Houdini Engine enabled me to craft real-time FX.

Entering the professional realm at the Monk Studio marked my initial stint as an FX artist, offering me the opportunity to contribute to animated feature series. The most exhilarating phase occurred at Scanline VFX, where my involvement in “The Gray Man” involved creating explosive effects and conducting extensive research and development (R&D). Collaborating with talented artists to forge tools and an FX library while learning in-house software amplified my interest in acquiring new skills.

As an FX artist, I acknowledge the perpetual learning curve within the CG field. I am committed to continual self-improvement and exploring novel techniques to further advance my expertise.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey into the world of CG has been a challenging and uncertain path. Starting without a clear understanding of what skills were needed to enter the field, I faced the daunting task of learning entirely new concepts. This bold decision was clouded with doubts about whether my aspirations would come to fruition and what my career might hold. Additionally, studying abroad for the first time brought its own set of challenges, requiring adaptation to a new environment and education system. Despite these uncertainties and obstacles, I’m grateful for the resilience that allowed me to persevere and grow along this journey. Looking back, it’s evident that the road wasn’t easy, but overcoming these challenges has been rewarding, contributing to personal development and achievements.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Specializing in FX within the CG field, I’ve gained expertise in developing various natural effects like pyro smoke, explosions, rain, splashes, as well as abstract effects such as magical particles. Additionally, I possess skills in procedural modeling and tool development for both film and gaming projects. Collaboration with other skilled artists has been pivotal in my learning process, allowing me to expand my knowledge.

The period when I worked at Scanline VFX. I worked on “The Gray Man” project from the beginning to the end. It was the first feature once I joined the film industry, creating lots of explosions in the show. I delved into extensive research and development, crafting diverse types of fireworks for the production. Collaborating closely with a talented team, I contributed to the development of essential tools and an FX library, adding to the complexity and visual depth of the project.

This entire experience was both challenging and intellectually stimulating, particularly when tasked with creating FX rigs from scratch. Embracing these challenges has always sparked my interest and fostered personal growth. Ultimately, being part of “The Gray Man” project stands as a valuable and fulfilling accomplishment in my journey as an FX specialist in the film industry.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I’d love to watch different artists’ websites like Artstation, Pinterest, Behance, Instagram, etc. There are a lot of amazing works I can find there. I can learn a lot from them. And luckily, when I was in school and in work, there are a lot of talented people I can learn a lot from them too.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://peterctang.artstation.com/projects/18kDZ2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peterctang/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chen.tang.5095/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tangchenpeter/