Wade Wilson Talks Growth Within The Company

Name: Wade Wilson
Position: Technical Animator
Team: Feature Film

Q: What was your impression of Rainmaker before you arrived?

A: I heard a lot about Rainmaker through my instructors at the Art Institute. One of the instructors took us for a tour through the facility and I was very impressed. The whole place seemed to mesh together and function as a whole instead of a bunch of individual sections – it wasn’t just an every man for himself sort of deal. The atmosphere of the working environment is what truly drew me to Rainmaker, but I was also pretty excited by the thought of being able to work with a company that produced shows like Reboot and Beast Wars, which were a couple of my favorite shows as a kid. I can’t wait to see some of the new projects coming down the pipeline – it’s going to be fun to see how they turn out. It will be great to see the concepts for style and overall look to each show – it’s pretty awesome seeing a few completely different styles coming out of the same house.

Q: How would you summarize your first project at Rainmaker?

A: It was great! Although, I started working about half way through the project, so I didn’t get to see it from start to finish. We had a staff meeting at a theatre nearby and they showed clips of current and future projects. During the meeting it was really cool to look at the screen and see the shots that I had worked on as they were being shown to the studio. It was the first time that I got to see my own work on a big screen and it felt great. It’s going to be fun to get involved with more projects and to see the process from beginning to end.

Q: How would you describe the person you work closest with?

A: Well, I work closely with the whole Tech team. It doesn’t really seem like work when you look at it. Obviously there are the times when some shot is just driving you nuts, but we are always joking around and helping each other try to figure things out – if a problem occurs you never feel like you’re alone in trying to solve it. The team is great for working together to figure out how to rig something up so it will make all of the shots with that part look the same and make the shots themselves easier to accomplish. It’s actually quite fun going through the process of refining something down so that it works well with the issue at hand.

Q: When you started working at Rainmaker, did you ever think you’d be in the position you’re currently in?

A: To be honest, no. I wasn’t really qualified for the position at the beginning. I had to be trained with cloth simulations and how to use XSI because my primary knowledge was Maya. I appreciate the fact that Rainmaker is willing to help people in their careers by training them and increasing their skill base. I have learned a lot during my time working for Rainmaker and it’s going to be fun to see where this will take me.

Q: When your friends ask you what is fun about your job, how do you reply?

A: I tell them that it’s fun because I get to come to work, learn new things and figure out solutions to problems. I have a good relationship with the team around me and we are always learning from each other. I also get to see what other people are doing around me – for instance, right now I’m in a mixed room with lighters, modelers and compositors. I can also walk downstairs, see how things are going on the feature and talk to a different group of people. So, I’m always learning and it’s just awesome to be around so many talented people.

Q: How has your impression of Rainmaker changed since you started working?

A: I have realized that Rainmaker is a company that supports constant learning and a very positive and supportive working environment. I started off as a PA and then, after a couple of months headed off to Tech Animation. I received quite a bit of training – who wouldn’t want to be paid to learn? It doesn’t matter if you’re learning a new skill or just working out your shot – you’re always learning no matter what you’re doing.