Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Pethtel.
Hi Jason, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in a small midwestern town. Robinson, IL. just a middle class town in the cornfields. I had a typical, but modest childhood. I always dreamt of being an artist and moving away to “the big city” to pursue my dreams.
I went to college for Cinema/Photography, later pivoting to Graphic Design. I made a career with both, working in Advertising and Marketing throughout the state of Illinois. It was ok, but not what I really wanted. So in 2009, I returned to school to learn CG art as a new medium and new career path.
In 2012, once I felt I had gained enough skill, and had an acceptable showreel, I took the bold step of “couch surfing” with friends in LA, while I tried to land a job in Visual Effects. My wife, our dogs, and all our worldly possessions stayed in Illinois, and I went on to give it a shot.
After a few months of cold calling and emailing, and attending networking events, I finally landed a role at Rhythm & Hues Studios, I went back to IL, and we had a road trip, having our Thanksgiving dinner in a hotel room in Long Beach, with food from 7eleven. 🙂
Once I was in the industry, I was able to prove my worth, and I’ve been working as a digital artist in LA ever since.
Unfortunately, in 2013, the VFX industry in LA reached a breaking point, as most of the work had moved to Canada/UK. When R&H went bankrupt, I was forced to choose between chasing the work, and staying here. I chose to stay in my new home. I love LA, and didn’t want to leave.
So, I pivoted, and began working freelance, working with a variety of studios, and with a variety of brands. From then on, I worked steadily.
I’ve since pivoted a bit. I started as a Matte Painter, shifting into full CG Environments, and then into full CG Generalist work, learning a lot of software along the way,
Besides Rhythm & Hues, I’ve worked at Blizzard Entertainment, DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Animation, ILM, MPC, Method Studios, Paramount, Framestore. I’ve also worked with FuseFX, CoSA VFX (where I was Environments Supervisor), Mirada, Logan, Blur, Zoic, Duncan Studio, Mousetrappe, and a half a dozen more small shops.
I’ve contributed to almost 100 different projects, including Lion King. (I was on the VAD team, we built the environments for Jon Favreau, Caleb Deschanel, and Rob Legato to shoot in), Game of Thrones (my sequence won an Emmy in 2015), Trolls 1 and 2, Boss Baby, Encanto, 3 Body Problem, Resident Alien, Fallout, and many more (list on my imdb and my website, jasonpethtel.com). I’ve worked on countless commercials, music videos, and special venue projects
I’ve worked with Brands like Deloitte, US Navy, Walmart, several Auto companies, Apple, Lotte, Meta, Roblox, and Epic Games.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not smooth at all.
Rhythm & Hues bankruptcy happened less than a year into my role there, leaving me freelancing in a city i was still very new to.
The writers’ strike hurt the VFX world greatly, and we still haven’t recovered. (and we gained nothing by it)
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a VFX artist, specializing in CG.
I have built a career as a Matte Painter, Environment Artist, and CG Generalist.
I am skilled both with the artistic and the technical aspects of my craft, allowing me to be fast, but good.
I’m most proud of the work I did on Game of Thrones, Lion King, and the work I did at CoSA VFX, as Environments Supervisor.
What sets me apart from others is my robust software skillset, problem solving abilities, and high bar for quality. I am also a people person, I love working collaboratively, and genuinely enjoy what I do.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory is just the freedom to be bored. Just lounging and drawing, playing games with friends, or whatever comes to mind.
Contact Info:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonpethtel/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5440728/?ref_=fn_al_nm
