Daily Inspiration: Meet Neil Masiclat

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Masiclat.

Hi Neil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to be an artist working in movies and games. Growing up, I was either in front of my computer screen, watching sci-fi and fantasy movies on repeat, or drawing with my older brothers and friends. After graduating high school I didn’t know where to begin, so for a few years I attended community colleges while working odd jobs along the way. I soon realized that most of the classes in the community colleges didn’t offer the programs I was interested in. As a result, I made the decision to move to LA and attend the Art Institute of Los Angeles in Santa Monica where I received my Bachelor of Science Degree in Media Arts and Animation. Upon graduation, I found work in small studios where I was able to gain experience in production pipelines as a storyboard artist, an environment concept artist, a VFX generalist, a texture and lighting artist, and a pre-viz background designer. After a few months, I was fortunate enough to be offered a position as a lighting artist at Activision Treyarch where I worked on the Call of Duty franchise for the next 10 years. I eventually switched roles during that time going from a lighting artist to a full time matte painter. That role allowed me to establish a team and help manage it while working on skyboxes and vistas for various levels within each of the games.
One day, a good friend of mine that I met early in my career offered me a role as an in house matte painter for BOND Creative – an award winning advertising agency based in Hollywood, CA. I decided to leave the video game industry to venture out into a completely different one, and for the next 5 years I worked at BOND as a matte painter where I learned different pipelines and processes. Each came with its own unique challenges that were different, but yet similar, to the video game and VFX pipelines I was accustomed to. It took some time to adapt, but once I did, it became a very rewarding experience. Not only did I get to work with some of the best creatives out there, I was also able to learn a great deal from them as well.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It wasn’t a smooth road along the way by far. Each company I worked for had its difficulties. What I learned quickly working in the industry was the amount of sacrifices I had to make in order to get to where I wanted to be in my career. Some of these included working late nights and weekends for months on end in order to meet deadlines, missing out on important events, constantly pushing myself to learn new programs to keep up with evolving technologies, and navigating through the uncertainties of the industry with studio closures, strikes, and layoffs. Being in high stress environments for years eventually takes a toll on one’s mental and physical health, and it happened to me on some occasions. However, because I love what I do and I’m passionate about it, I find ways to decompress without burning out. Even if that means stepping away for a little bit to focus on personal projects, going out for a solo hike, or spending time with family and friends, I try to balance out what is important and what is needed to be done. Although the industry has its challenges and uphill battles, it can also be highly rewarding and a whole lot of fun.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a digital matte painter that specializes in creating high quality environments, set extensions, and backgrounds to be used in games, movies, or marketing campaigns. Throughout my career, I’ve been known for working on four Call of Duty Black Ops games, including most of its DLCs, multiplayer, and Zombie maps. Although I am proud of the work I’ve done and contributed with those games, I’m most proud of the work I did for BOND, specifically Mass Effect and Star Trek, which I won Clio Awards for in 2022.

I love working in team based environments. Although I am passionate about my work and what I do, I find that my best work comes from collaborating with others. Utilizing each other’s strengths while learning new things and solving problems together has always been the type of environment that I enjoy working in. My extensive experience in different pipelines also allows me to readjust and adapt to whatever role I’m given within a team. In addition, I have fun doing what I do, no matter what the project is or who I’m working with. Whether it’s mentoring others or working on something that is exciting and fresh, being fortunate enough to work in the industry and having opportunities to collaborate with world class artists has always been one of my greatest joys.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Working in a team has always worked well for me. I’ve met many creatives who were masters of their craft, and being able to work alongside them has helped my career immensely. I would take the time to get to know others that inspire you and learn from them. Many people I’ve met were happy to show me their artistic processes and thinking, and it went a long way when trying to grow as an artist. I also still keep in touch with many artists I’ve worked with in the past. Some have recommending me for jobs and opportunities, and in turn, I have recommended many of them as well. One of the best pieces of advice I still hold dear to my heart was from a VFX supervisor I worked with when I first started out – “always get to know the people you work with and try to form good working relationships, because you never know what you can learn from them.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ndmasiclat.artstation.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattesiclat08/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neil-d-masiclat-bab8752/

Image Credits
Enrique Torres
Gerardo Navarro
Electronic Arts
Paramount
HBO