Yoann Lemoine

A look back at your ESMA years

WHAT LED YOU TO ENROL AT ESMA?

I wanted to study animation cinema and ESMA had just opened its doors in Nantes, where I lived. I went to the open days in Montpellier, and I really liked what I saw, so I enrolled.

WHAT DID THE TRAINING BRING YOU? WHAT HAS MARKED YOU DURING YOUR YEARS AT THE SCHOOL?

When I entered ESMA, my knowledge of CG was close to zero. The training allowed me to learn everything I needed to know to enter the animation and special effects industry. I learned the main trades, several software programs, how to organize myself better and even how to draw.

The last year spent making our short film Groovity will remain the one that marked me the most. So many memories of groove, difficulties, teamwork, the pleasure of seeing the project come to fruition as we went along…

YOU WORKED ON GROOVITY, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT ROLE YOU HAD AND HOW IT WENT?

My main roles were to make the character rigs and the various FX for the film. I also participated in the modeling of the heroes, the script, storyboard, compositing and the organization of the different tasks.

As with all projects there were ups and downs, and I remember a disastrous test screening in the cinema where the film was completely unreadable. But all in all it was an amazing year, we’re doing Groovity 2 whenever you want the GroovyTeam!

DID YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO WHEN YOU LEFT SCHOOL ? IF SO, DID YOU TRY TO SPECIALISE IN THAT FIELD(S) OVER THE YEARS AT SCHOOL?

It was from the second year onwards that I felt attracted to the more technical fields (FX, rigging, compositing…) but choosing one was still difficult. It was during the last year, the year of the film, that I really specialised in these fields and that I found the one I liked the most, combining technical and artistic aspects, the FX.

Your career path

HOW DID YOU ENTER THE PROFESSIONAL WORLD?

Shortly after graduating from ESMA, I started in Paris at the TeamTO studio as an FX artist. It was a very good experience, I met a lot of great people and I quickly got some responsibilities on the project I was working on. A few months later, I flew to Montreal, to join the MPC studio and work on big projects like Xmen Dark Phoenix or Pokémon Detective Pikachu.

YOU’VE MOVED AROUND A LOT SINCE YOU GRADUATED. WHAT MADE YOU TRAVEL SO MUCH?

With my partner, we try to make the most of being able to travel thanks to the studios located all over the world, to discover new countries, new cultures… Recently with Covid we had to leave Australia to come back to France and work remotely. But now that the situation is improving, we can’t wait to leave for new horizons!

WHAT POSITIONS HAVE YOU HELD?

I’ve always worked as an FX artist, either as a salaried employee, a freelancer or as a freelancer. Since I started working for Weta Digital, I’ve been working as an FX TD (Technical Director of Special Effects) which is a similar position but can require more technical knowledge, like knowing how to code for example.

WHAT DID YOU GAIN FROM GOING ABROAD?

I was able to meet a lot of people from all over the world, to discover different cultures and ways of life. I was able to visit many places, try new experiences, learn a lot… It’s not always easy to live far from your loved ones, but it’s worth it!

WHAT EXPERIENCE(S) HAS (HAVE) MADE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU SINCE GRADUATING? WHY?

It’s hard to say, probably my arrival in Montreal. It was the first time I had gone so far from home, alone, and to work in a studio where almost no one spoke French. It really did feel like I was getting into the swing of things! But each place I went to made its own mark on me.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO CURRENT STUDENTS WHO WANT TO GO ABROAD?

Take courage and jump at the opportunity! The hardest thing in my opinion is really to dare to leave your comfort zone and go. You don’t need to be completely bilingual in English to be able to go, but a good foundation is a big advantage. Once you’re there, you’ll improve quickly! Finding a job before you leave also helps a lot, most studios take care of everything: visa, plane, etc.

WHERE DO YOU WORK TODAY? WHAT IS YOUR JOB? WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE ON A DAILY BASIS?

With the current pandemic situation, I am telecommuting from France. I work for the Weta Digital studio, based in New Zealand. I am the FX Technical Director.

My job is to create simulations of various physical effects (explosions, destruction, flames, water, magic…), which I then apply and adjust in the different shots of the film that are assigned to me.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR WORK AT THE MOMENT?

The satisfaction of seeing that children and adults alike are amazed, escape and forget their problems for the time of the film. The magical aspect of cinema that allows us to give life to new universes, imaginary characters…

Then, more concretely and in relation to FX in particular, since I was little I love logic puzzles. And each effect is a new puzzle for me to solve. Finding the most efficient way to get the best possible result. I also like the fact that I use very technical and mathematical tools for artistic purposes.

AS YOU HAVE WORKED IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, CAN YOU TELL US IF YOU HAVE NOTICED DIFFERENT WAYS OF WORKING? WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST?

So far I have only worked for studios in countries with a more western way of life. The culture and mentality may have changed but the way of working was basically the same. The main differences between the studios were not, in my opinion, related to their location, but more to their size, the type of project or the way they treated their employees. If anything, the different laws of the countries could vary the overtime policies or the way pensions are handled for example.

WHICH PROJECT DID YOU ENJOY WORKING ON THE MOST? THE ONE YOU ARE THE MOST PROUD OF?

I really enjoyed working on Pokémon Detective Pikachu, where I had to destroy a whole forest in a rather apocalyptic scene. What a pleasure it was to work on this licence that rocked my childhood! I’m also quite proud to have worked on the sequel to Kubrick’s masterpiece The Shining, namely Doctor Sleep.

To conclude

FINALLY, TELL US YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE? HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN A FEW YEARS? DO YOU STILL PLAN TO GO ABROAD?

I have some plans to go to New Zealand early next year (2022), but there are still some things to work out. I’d like to stay there for a while, I like the Weta Digital studio. In the next few years I’d love to try the Lead FX experience to see if I like running teams and if so, why not continue to work my way up.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO STUDENTS TODAY, TO SUCCEED IN THEIR DEGREE?

Don’t give up, stay curious, always try to have fun with your projects! Everything is possible, you have to go for it! You have the right to make mistakes, the important thing is to get up again.

WHAT CAN WE WISH YOU?

The possibility to go to New Zealand next year! 🙂