RSS
 NATASSJA BRODIE INTERVIEW by Ryan McGennisken Tassj is someone whom when I first met, I thought of three things. She’s very friendly, has an ambition to ride bmx and is very small. Small she may be, but she’s conquered some large ambitions. Read on to find out more about Natassja Brodie, the short, very friendly, 3D character designer that’s shredding her bmx at your local park. Ryan: How bout we start off with your name, location, occupation, and your choice of medium? Natassja: Natassja Brodie, Melbourne, 2D/3D artist for video games, medium of choice is either biro on paper or photoshop/digital Ryan: Does that mean you're working in 2D/3D game design? Natassja: Mostly working as a 3D character artist but do the occasional 2D work Ryan: That's awesome; I didn't know that you were actually working doing this! Who employs you? Natassja: Haha, yeah I love it! I'm working for a company called Infinite Interactive, which I’ve been doing for about a year and a half now. Ryan: Nice work! Did you have to have any formal training, Uni, TAFE, internship, apprenticeship, any kind of ship? Natassja: Yup, studied for two years in a super expensive course at the AIE (Academy of Interactive Entertainment), sold my self on the streets and lived off rice and honey, you know how it goes. Ryan: haha sounds about right, the life of a student. Was the course full time? Natassja: Yeah, it was roughly 20hrs a week and was good because it was all practical work. Although in the first year I was the only one in my class without a computer, apparently that was the weirdest thing anyone had heard of, like I'd been living in a cave or something. Ryan: haha Oh really, that sounds like it could have made things a little difficult given that most of the work is computer based. Natassja: It was a little, but soldiered on and came in to uni on my days off work (the streets). Ryan: The school had facilities that you could use then? You didn't have to render everything by hand? Haha. Though, that's a good way of doing things. Keeping it simple. I guess it doesn't work that way in a 3D digital gaming world though does it? Natassja: haha Unfortunately not. But the school let me use any spare computers and the tutors were pretty good too. I'll admit they had to have a lot of patience with me that first year! Most of the concepts were done with trusty old pen and paper though. Ryan: So outside of the gaming world of Infinite Interactive, do you get up to much else art wise? Natassja: Definitely. I try to spend a little bit of time each night these days getting back into a lot of 2D work, also getting back into painting! I also do some occasional commissions too which has been a lot of fun. Ryan: Very nice. Commissions are always good! Natassja: haha Definitely doesn't hurt! Ryan: Going back to the character design, when was the time that you took a long hard and deep look into the mirror and realize that that was what you were going to do? Did the idea spawn from a long childhood in front of the TV playing the old Commodore 64, Sega's and Nintendo's of the world? Natassja: Well, to be honest I hadn't considered getting into video games until I had to choose the screen or games path in my second year of uni. I remember being about 5 years old and watching Looney Toons and saying to my mum; "that's what I'm going to be doing one day...making cartoons.” It was either that or an acrobat but that idea was boring. Ryan: hahah Acrobat's are great! Natassja: True...but they're all has-beens after 12 Ryan: Yeah yeah. So what comes next for Natassja Brodie? You've completed school, you took on the challenge of riding BMX, snowboard and work in the gaming industry.. do you have any other plans to take over something else? Natassja: hmm good question. I'd like to say next will be the world but I'm gonna be content and keep in the games industry...but also have plans to open up a little gallery/studio as a side-project! Would be awesome also to get like a black belt in karate or something. Mini ninja. Ryan: Never too young to start I guess! Well that all sounds amazing and I'd like to be the first to wish you good luck with any of your future endeavours. Do you have any last words you'd like to lay out before we hit the cut off point? Natassja: Thanks kindly. Just like to say to all the little guys out there who get a bit scared getting their work out there, take the plunge! People will love it, people will hate it...but usually they’ll give good feedback. There's good art sites out there too... Ryan: Good words of motivation there. Any thanks or anything else to finish up with? Natassja: Thanks to all the people who've encouraged and supported me over the years...(mostly Mum). Also if people wish to check out some of my stuff they can find me on facebook, Myspace or check out my website.
|
