An Inspired Chat with Arnav Banerji of Los Angeles

Arnav Banerji shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Arnav, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
I recently got to show a movie I’d worked (Tron: Ares) on to my immediate and extended family. My grandparents had often asked me to describe what I do and while I could explain the nuances of my role or what my day to day looked like, being able to point out sequences and shots I’d brought to life visually was an amazing experience. We all waited through the credits to see my name up on the big screen so I definitely felt very proud then. I’d worked on the previs for this movie with the amazing team at Proof and seeing the result of all the hard work was great!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
For sure! I’m a 3D artist interested in filmmaking, cinematography and storytelling. I went to Carnegie Mellon University to learn how to utilize cutting edge technology in the world of entertainment and worked in teams that explored virtual production techniques, designed AR/VR experiences, made robots dance and created short films.

Since then, I’ve worked in Los Angeles on movies, TV shows, commercials and games. Some career highlights include doing previs and postvis for a ‘Hunger Games’ movie, going to the ‘The Marvels’ premiere and visualizing the last ever shot in the ‘DC Extended Universe’.

Studios I’ve worked at include The Third Floor Inc, Zoic Studios, Halon Entertainment, Proof Inc and Parallax Studios and I’m currently using my 3D skillset working for ‘Nova Sky Stories’ as a designer for drone light shows and have worked on some pretty big shows like the Club World Cup in Miami and a televised show for the NBL in Australia.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Right after high school, I was given the opportunity to intern at a small architecture visualization studio. I’d never seen a 3D program before, but I was immediately hooked and blown away by the possibility of being able to create anything I could imagine. The head of the studio, Kumar, had a background of working on Hollywood movies and was extremely generous with his time and knowledge. Each day I would work on 3D modeling and texturing and learn the basics of CG storytelling. After my internship, I would visit once or twice a week with my latest personal project in hand, and he’d give me detailed feedback and critique. I learned not just the technical skills to work with those specialized programs, but also how to think about an artistic composition and intent. With such a broad approach to art, I fell in love with the storytelling process in general and this kickstarted my career in visualization.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
How to come up with a step by step plan on moving forward. When things are going well, its easy to cruise from one project to another but when things slow down, such as after the dual strikes in 2023, I had to figure out how to network effectively, keep working on personal projects to improve my skillset and learn about new industries that could use my skillset,

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m currently working on a short action film that involved flying creatures, a bloodthirsty army and some retro futuristic vehicles. I started this project as a way to improve my animation skills and what started as simple exercises became a fully fleshed out action sequence. I got a lot of awesome feedback from some of the best previs artists in the business regarding the staging of the cameras and animation and used this opportunity to learn more about real time technology and motion capture for filmmaking. By the end of the year, I’d like to have a full edit ready with temp audio for hopefully a release into film festivals early next year.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
Working on a cool action sequence, preferably involving some cool sci fi vehicles, epic camera moves and tons of effects. I love visual storytelling and feel most at peace when I’m working in 3D and flexing those creative muscles whether for work or for my own project.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arnavbanerji.com