Inside ILM | To be a Generalist 

I've been a generalist for most of my career, you can learn so much. The saying that a generalist is a master of nothing is missing the point. Glad to see ILM have this work ethos 👏

"It's a lot easier to teach an artist how to use a tool than it is to teach someone who knows a tool how to do art" The best digital art quote ever!

"Become a generalist, be a generalist, it's the right decision", I've waited 10 years to ear that from a big studio, thanks you Falk Boje

I've been Sr. CG Generalist in most of my career. My extensive experience allows me to seamlessly transition between different mediums, techniques, and styles, enabling me to approach projects from a holistic perspective. This versatility not only fosters innovation but also enhances problem-solving abilities, as senior generalists can draw upon their multifaceted expertise to find effective solutions. Moreover, their well-rounded skill set often makes them invaluable collaborators, capable of contributing to every stage of the artistic process, from conceptualization to execution. In a constantly evolving creative landscape, the adaptability and proficiency of senior generalist artists position them as invaluable assets in any artistic endeavor.

Its a pleasure to see ILM praising the generalist race, the industry outcast, "the wrong way to go" that I've been listening my whole life but there are always people inspired to learn a new thing everyday and create a broader repertoire of technics to ease it's artistic expression

18 years of my life i dint know what to become when i grow up ....always had a thing for art 3d modeling and editing, Now AFTER THIS VIDEO i choosing the path to be a *Generalist* at ILM. Thats my future in the next 5 years!!

You guys are the real superstars of the movie industry⚡

Awwww maaaaan. This is SO what I wanted to do when I was a kid. This is heaven for creative people!

I've been doing this for almost 20 years and this just confirmed that I chose the right path to learn multiple disciplines instead of just specializing in one. Thank you ILM for this!!! Really needed to hear it, but it means more coming from you.

Generalist throughout the 90s and into the early 00s. Being able to do shots and even entire sequences on your own - from initial planing & budgeting to final delivery - might sound like a crazy amount of work, but in the end it's also incredibly liberating.

When I interviewed for a job at ILM in 1998, they told me I should specialize my portfolio more. I'm still a professional generalist, maybe it's finally time for ILM to hire me.

This reminds me of the old days where it was the regular way. Back at Terminator 2 most of the leads did model, matchmove, animate etc. At that time, those guys and gals could truly say: THAT is my shot! That aside, ILM`s groundbreaking work in T2/Jurassic Park/TheMask/Jumanji and so on made me go into VFX. But instead of landing in Film (sorry, but 16 weeks for one shot is just too long for me ;-), I went for high end commercials (Mercedes, BMW, Porsche etc.) and I`m as happy as I ever could be. Nonetheless: Thank you for the inspiration, Dennis Muren, Steven Spaz Williams, Mark A Z Dippé, Stefen Fangmeier, Geoff Campbell, Andrew Berton, Annabella Serra, George Joblove, Eric Armstrong, Ellen Poon, John Knoll and many many more...in short, the troop also known as "I L M"

Excellent and inspiring piece that recognizes what is like to be a Generalist. This makes me proud to be a CG Generalist and puts in perspective artist like myself that get bored easily when only focusing on one task. I think generalist are a very special breed of people who are always wanting to learn new things to help solve complex problems.

Amazing work and amazing cinema history. Love ILM and what it stands for.

The best video that explains everything.. i always loved being generalist but never had the opportunity to work on a real production. Thank hou guys fo this amazing video

Generalist have been taunted so much in the past for being a Jack.. but thing is, humans are created differently... Generalist have a passive knowledge acquisition, they get bored and tuned off when focusing on only one thing.. they are naturally curious minded people... good side of a generalist is they have expansive thinking... they can think out things you'd never have imagined.... and they dont have a specific path to an output, they can take plenty other routes to achieve same result...

As a generalist I'm glad that big studios talk about the proficiency of this. I believe you must be able to handle all basic aspect of visual effects in your career

The fact that we even get to be generalists is a huge testament to how far VFX software has come. VFX is one of the art types most closely tied to the tools and technical execution, and for a long time each discipline required the mastery of such complex tooling that it left very little room to understand much else, let alone entire other disciplines. So not only did the tools get a lot more intuitive and accessible, but also I think we’re approaching a time when we’ll be able to just create and art direct while AI produces final images from our input.

1:26 Indonesia represent. So glad to have one of ours to be working at one of the best in the industry. Superb work bro Johanes!

What a fantastic group of people!

Very nice to see this! A generalist inspired me into the path I took and I became one myself. It's just so exciting to explore and develop new ways to reach the end result

As a generalist working in the commercial industry, I love that moment when my artwork finally released on social media and gained millions of views - I could proudly tell my family and friends that I did almost everything on my own. That's the biggest motivation to keep me going under pressure (which is quite common in the industry... ), and of course, I got paid well xD

I never heard about beeing a generalist. I have so much different skills learned in the last years. Different crafts and thought that this kind of work has no place in modern business where everything is so specialized to one thing. Thank you for showing me this

I like every steps of creating a shot. Reference, Model/sculpt, rigging, texturing, look dev, lighting, rendering, programming, Compositing, editing, even struggling and so on. It’s just like magic to see your shot becoming alive and you’re eager to appreciate the final result that others will see and hopefully, enjoy too 🤩 And then you go for the next one. Definitely love this better than specializing in only one area. Even if I know specialists are also impressive talents, it’s just not for me 🙏

Thank you for sharing this! I feel so frustrated as "bosses" try to force me into a small box. They want me to react frenetically on something I was trying to show them two years ago. I learn in depth, but only through the freedom to take deep dives. To me it is all connected. Making it a group project slows my value down in the short term and the long run.

Super inspiring for someone about to turn 40 and looking at a career change!

This makes me really happy. I’ve always been a generalist because its all too interesting! Man, I might have made some of that 3D Studio Demo he was talking about a third through. Thanks ILM

Extremely encouraging, especially since ILM essentially created the whole industry!

A very much appreciated statement from an industry giant. Especially this one 5:57. Cheers cheers

LOVEEEE this! Always be curious, always be driven by passion and enthusiasm over software! Learning never stops :p Thanks for sharing this, I feel inspired!

as a generalist myself this was lovely to know :)

Yes, I'm actually a generalist for the videogame industry (UE5, Maya, Zbrush, Substance) and it is great to help in many areas for the specific tasks of making a game, where the workflow is different and requires a lot of planning to handle FPS vs great quality, considering that each different console can potentially force you to downgrade quality and how to avoid it, Jurassic Park was definitively a trigger and still is, but now working in the videogame industry is more likely: Ready Player One and two, thanks for the video 🙂🙂🙂

I wonder how many generalists are such just because they get bored easily. The brain craves novelty and working on something different every now and then is the only that keeps us motivated. I teach high school and I love it simply because you do something different nearly everyday

That's awesome, i'm clearly a generalist too and never even heard about this position before.. I'm a generalist because i absolutely crave learning, testing and experimentation, can't stop myself !

I love that people are supporting being a generalist. I’ve been told that I can’t be a generalist but I ignored that. Honestly was worried of not getting a job but happy to see studios are open to it!

I don't know if I'll end up in film & practical-digital effects yet, but as an aspiring design & prototyping engineer I do know that more and more intellectual professions will require flexible, multidisciplinary skillets :D I do know that music, media, and marketing will be part of my workflow so we'll see life takes me!

I've always questioned the larger VFX studios mentality towards Generalists.. I think a lot of filmmakers could be classed as Generalists, they want to develop a shot from start to finish and that only makes you more adapt and driven.. 'master of many trades' and therefore financially valuable. That's been my ethos my entire career and I'm glad ILM see's the potential and isn't afraid to have a more open sandbox to play in.

This is really interesting I assumed every single person was an absolute specialist on only one thing!

One of the biggest questions in the industry, answered by the best!

Films nowadays are just enormous compositions of artists work. I'd LOVE to see a scene that is similar, like the scene @ 6:50 but different generalist's takes on one scene. It's crazy how much work is done by just a single person.

Wow I’m so glad that ILM is appreciating the generalist!! Been one myself I live in a constan struggle with myself to know if I should specialize as is sometimes easier to market it but I really love having my hand in all sort of different areas.

Thanks for being a LightHouse for US.

This gave me a hint of motivation, as i liked every aspect of 3d but many other artists asked me to focus on one

I dropped by because of two uploads. One, youtube is showing Carrey's A Series Of Unfortunate Events with ads, and another version is up with no ads. There's so much concept realized in the look of that film, from lens choices to lighting and effects, to production design, that just fascinates me. It has a unity in style all the way through. So, I'm here. One of ILM supervisors had a comic book in development, and his lighting in his illustrations was brilliant. I forget his name, and would love to know if this "comic" was ever released. I remember his figures on horseback in forests...

Most children want to be astronauts. I wanted to animate astronauts at ILM.

This is really nice to see as most people that I talk to insist that you need to pick one discipline and master it so you’ll have a better chance at landing a job in the industry.

Man, VFX are so hard. I work in post audio and the stuff you make constantly blows my mind.

Pay your artists more. They deserve it.

I've been a generalist for 25 years. There is no other way I would want to work in 3d. Studios in Australia don't believe in the Generalist, so I started my own business 18 years ago. Love every day of work. One week I'm working on a shot with 747's and f14's, then the next I'm compositing a barge in the Thames river. I use about 3 to 4 different programs a day. Synth Eyes, Anima, Lightwave, Maya, Photoshop, Fusion, Resolve, Meshroom, Real Flow, Maxwell Render, Gaea and then some days I'm out and about with a cinema camera (BMPCC). Friggen awesome, 25 years on and I love every day of it. I spend about 1 month a year learning new software.

10 years ago this would have been my dream job, I was a generalist doing the best 3d in all Mexico for commercials but that was way long time ago, I've always wanted to keep doing 3d

After 15 years as 3D Generalist , I was sure that I had spent years in vain. Until now, I was sure that it was better to be a specialist in one area. Thank you for showing me that it was not all in vain

Crazy to me that this is a major part of ILM, mostly coming from the videogame industry where some of our most efficient work is done by cramming 3-5 specialists into a mid-sized office and having them collaborate on a scene, or a monster or the player's avatar. Granted if it's only one part of their artist staff, I suppose they could've learned that in their business there are just certain types of scenes that are produced smoothest if driven completely by one person.

I'm applying to ILM jedi academy for so long but wont give up!! I am so curious about VFX and movie magic. See u next year in submissions as well !

people with this ability are the glue to get shit done = generalist in any industry

Love this!

The best in the business!

Greatest video job post for recruitment in history

I would so love to be a generalist. Hopefully in the near future.

The full quote of jack all of trades is: “Jack of all trades master of none, is better than master of one”

What's cool about generalists is that no two are the same. It's a wide range of skills and skillsets. That said, they should be paid at least two times the normal amount for all they have to juggle.

The Mandalorian looks amazing

The best of the best!

All the other CG channels upload at 1080p. Thanks for going higher than that.

Just applied.

what a great spotlight

I hope in the future to be part of ILM

If I was a young person today, this video would have me drooling to get into ILM.

The only way to be a valuable generalist is to learn good taste, very few in every creative industry have that ability. It comes from an open mind, curiosity, good mentors, industry recognition, AND a level of comfort at taking risks where the less practiced are fearful to tread - that all validates the right paths to build that 'taste'. If you can't do that, stick to a specialism so you can lean on others who have it.

I'm totally jealous. I'm trying to learn Blender (hard surface modeling and effects). My background is mostly landscape painting. Studied B&W photography back in the day (real development and printing) in a commercial design graphics class setting. Also, studying Unity and C#. I know I need to narrow things down to what I am (still discovering) better at. I knew when seeing A New Hope my Sophomore year in High School that effects were going to get a million times better as time went on.

pretty cool!!

Love my job!

this channel is epic

Amazing company

If only I've seen this video when I was a child, I know right away what I want to become!

It is surprising how many humans do not feel they have the divine right to experience an abundant life. This is so sad, when you consider that true abundance isn't something bought, or given, it is something that is shared. Till at last we rise forever in the arms of perfect love.

Inspiring :)

I have 20 years of graphic design experience, then leaned 3d modeling, lighting, and rendering on top of that. What are some portfolio pieces I should have to be considered as a Generalist?

At the heart of every Generalist is a Film Director.

As long as they pay fairly for all the jobs we provide, otherwise, you're asking me to do 10 jobs and paying for 1

I'm studying so hard to get into this company, 2.5 years already and a lot more to go, but i'll be there one day!!

Yes, but you still have to be an amazing artist. All of the "early work," is miles beyond anything I could ever do.

I have always wanted to work at ILM.

Awesome!!since 1976

Fascinating

the type of video that makes me wanna move to LA

so cool

I got told off by my lecturers for wanting to be a generalist, 'because big studios dont want that'. And if they see generalist on your app, it just means you dont know what you want to do. Now I work as a Generalist/Td, and I love it. Everyday is something totally different. You never get into that 'factory worker' mindset (spend all day doing the same thing over and over and over).

Always gets amazed seeing Rohit's work!

I'm trying hard to be a generalist. So much to learn

this is my dream job

I have been trying to create special effects since I was 12 years old. I still enjoy doing it today. But cinema is not developed in my country. And unfortunately I can't work with this job, I just enjoy it.

I wish this video had been shown to me 20 years ago.

Sounds like the soul of young George presides over that dept. 🌌

comming to get my chair !

Thank you for this! Been teaching myself for a bit and now I’m going to study Animation and VFX next year at college, and have been considering the generalist path, but kept seeing so many different people heeding to become a specialist in a certain area. Thanks for this, it definitely reinforces my initial choice!

My dream company ilm .. one day I’ll join in Fx TD

I'll fulfill that role someday!

i am far, but i hope to learn and work with you guys someday

I've been using Blender for 15+ years, just as a hobby, and sometimes small works, currently planning on findig a job in the industry (or going freelance). ILM and similar large companies are really far from my level of skills, but it's nice to know that being a generalist is not necessarily a bad thing.

One day I’ll work there