Today we’d like to introduce you to Alwin George.
Hi Alwin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My life took a different course as I was born into a fortunate family in India, which set me apart from many other children in my surroundings. But still, there was an unwavering expectation that I would follow the well-trodden path of becoming an engineer or a doctor. Initially, I thought along with my family that this was the sole path to success, I enrolled in engineering coaching classes, striving to gain admission to those prestigious institutions, and invested countless extra hours in preparing for the entrance exams. However, I made the life-altering choice not to sit for the exam the day before it was scheduled. This decision marked a pivotal moment in my journey.
I’m from Kerala, a beautiful small state nestled in the southern part of India. Growing up in this tranquil setting, far removed from the bustling urban landscapes, I was deeply influenced by the unique elements that define Kerala – its vibrant colors, history, and rich cultural heritage, art and craftsmanship, cinema, delectable cuisine, and music. I can confidently say that my place of origin provided me with all the inspiration an artist could ever desire. This inspiration led me to choose a career in art and design. For my undergraduate degree, I pursued communication design with the aim of promoting and sharing all the exceptional aspects of my homeland with the world.
Things were going great for me in India, and my passion for cinema and art flourished along. I recognized the importance of expanding my horizons to reach my aspirations. I always wanted to see what’s outside the country and experience other cultures too. And that’s what brought me to the United States my curiosity. I moved to the US in 2019 just a couple of months before the pandemic to pursue my master’s in Animation and Visual Effects. During the pandemic, I made my first debut short-animated collage-film; KANAVU, showcasing the colors and visuals that strongly evoke the feeling of belongingness and nostalgia in me. Soon after completing my MFA program at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I was presented with a remarkable chance to fully immerse and learn the entire process of filmmaking at the award-winning stop-motion animation studio LAIKA. I view my current role as a VFX Artist at Laika Studios as an invaluable learning experience that brings me closer to my goal.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For me, more than challenges were realizations. Growing up as a kid in a place like India, whatever offered to me here was more than luxury. After moving to the US, I realized that it takes guts and time to get adjusted to a new culture, and the main challenge was to learn to unlearn. It took me almost my entire school life here in the States to slowly understand that my expectations and perceptions about this place, which I merely inherited from the movies, were completely wrong. Now I think the process of unlearning is tied to my personal growth as I had to challenge my own beliefs, question assumptions, and be open to new perspectives. Over the period, this process led me to greater self-awareness and development not only on my artistic or professional side but also on a very personal level.
On the first day of my college, my mindset was to find someone from my culture or language and be friends with the person. All I looked at on student’s name lists, classes and even in public places was to find that person who came from the same living scenario and culture. Even though I was disappointed at that moment for not finding such a person, I pushed myself to be out there with people from different places, and it helped me to change my mindset for overcoming biases and prejudices that have been ingrained through cultural or societal influences, and it allowed me to challenge stereotypes and embrace diversity. Now, I can proudly say that I have friends from almost all parts of the world. I still continue to hold onto the essence and the creative roots of my homeland, a notion that the young version of myself could never have imagined crossing oceans. Yet, here I am, on a different continent, blending those reflections to create more.
Just like most other international students from India studying and working in the United States, I’ve encountered all those common challenges. The initial adjustment to a new culture, grappling with the demanding academic standards, navigating with a strong Indian accent, and limited vocabulary in English have been significant hurdles. Managing finances, including dealing with currency exchange rates and the overall cost of living, has been a source of stress. Homesickness has been an emotional challenge, especially with the added complexities of never-ending U.S. visa regulations. Understanding the U.S. healthcare system and insurance policies has been quite a task. Securing internships and navigating the job market, along with coordinating with family back in India across significant time zone differences, has presented additional challenges. Even at this moment, I don’t perceive these struggles and challenges as insurmountable problems; instead, I view them as integral components shaping the person I have become.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a visual storyteller with a curious fascination for filmmaking, and I work as a CG Lighting artist for the award-winning stop-motion animation studio LAIKA. During my initial months here in the United States, I called myself a VFX generalist because I loved every aspect of animation and movie making, and I was lucky to explore most of it too. After getting to know more about the emotional aspect of each shot in a sequence from a VFX standpoint, I was able to relate that part to myself more than any other animation production needs, so I decided to work in the department which closely dealt with the look, feel and emotion, and that is Lighting. I have lived in remote villages and also in the most crowded cities in India, living with the poorest to some of the most prosperous. I got to see different slices of life. All the places I stayed in had so many unique colors and emotions around. I believe these experiences have influenced me towards lighting and now I can see that even lights around you could tell stories.
As a lighting artist, I get to play a pivotal role in enhancing the ambiance, dimension, emotional tone, and authenticity of CG shots. Much like the way physical sets use various light sources, I use computer-generated lights, skillfully fine-tuning their color, placement, and intensity to breathe life into a scene, whether it’s in an animated world or a live-action setting. Frequently, I reference photos captured on the live set to ensure that the lighting on CG elements matches seamlessly. When it comes to animated feature films, I get to serve as the final touch, overseeing the compositing process and taking the shot all the way to completion.
Hollywood being the global epicenter of the animation industry, and not being well-versed in its conventions and trends was a significant hurdle as an art student initially. I wasn’t very privileged to watch many Hollywood movies because of the cultural taboo that my society believed that the violence and explicit content would destroy my mind. I was always asked to close my eyes while watching the drawing scene from the movie ‘Titanic’. This is one reason why my inspiration comes from real-life events. The cinematic storytelling, visual narrative, and animation styles in Hollywood differed from what I was accustomed to. To overcome this, I had to dedicate hours to watching a myriad of Hollywood films. Looking back,I regard this as a blessing. It has emerged as a defining feature that sets me apart from other artists, enabling me to integrate my real-life inspirations into visuals that connect with audiences on a personal level.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I believe taste buds can remind a person a lot about the places they’ve been to, the longer time spent there, the stronger the flavors grow. Kerala, being my hometown and with its unique cuisine always makes me nostalgic and especially when it rains. For me, childhood is all about food, lush greenery, and excellent movies… in that order!
As a young boy growing up in the most flavorful landscape of India or also known as the spice capital of the world, my childhood was adorned with vibrant memories rooted deeply in the rich flavors of my culture and its festivals. What I hold most dear are the moments spent watching my mother, the culinary maestro, as she worked her magic in the kitchen. The fragrant symphony of spices, the sizzling of pans, and the tantalizing aroma of her creations filled the air, transforming our kitchen into a heavenly oasis. As a young child, I would stand in awe, captivated by the love and dedication she infused into every dish, and wait for that tapping sound of the wooden spatula on the earthen pot, cause that’s when you know the food is ready. Even now, whenever I ask my mom for a recipe, it’s a great point to start off a conversation on so many things.
It’s such a natural act…to stand by and watch my mom cook, and listen to her talk, about the food she’s making, memories of the recipe, memories of her childhood or perhaps. It was during one such moment that I felt this is something that I wanted to visualize and showcase through my art. This was the initial inspiration behind KANAVU, my very first short-animated collage film, and my aim was to evoke sensory feelings in the audience through the visuals. The project narrates a mixed glimpse about the Indian kitchen and its colorful spices with a focus on synesthesia related to colors and flavors which evokes nostalgia.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alwingeorgedesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/george.alwinn/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alwin-george-9121a317a/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alwingeorge3297
