Lorène, ESMA graduate in 2014: from lighting to international blockbusters
Passionate about images and fascinated by cinema, Lorène turned to 3D animation and visual effects after high school. Graduating in 2014, she began her career in London before moving to Canada, where she now works as Lead Lighting TD at Framestore. Alongside her job, she cultivates a real passion for drawing and painting.
Choosing the event and discovering ESMA
Now in her final year of secondary school, Lorène is still undecided about her future. Her parents encouraged her to follow a path she would enjoy, even if it meant going to a public school. A few weeks later, when she discovered that the animated short films she was watching over and over again on YouTube were made by students, she had a revelation. The idea of being able to learn how to create this type of film immediately excited her.
When she discovered that these short films came from ESMA, her choice was made. She had already been impressed by projects such as Jungle Jail, Frat, Mon ami Charly and Oracle, and wanted to join the school behind them.
A demanding and structuring training programme
At ESMA, Lorène discovered the world of applied art. Having never really drawn before, she began to practise intensively and developed a real passion for drawing and painting. It was thanks to her drawing teacher, Étienne Eczet, who taught her how to “look” and sharpen her artistic sense. Since then, she has never stopped practising, whether in traditional drawing, digital painting or acrylic painting.
On the computer graphics side, she was fascinated by courses in rendering and lighting theory. It was at this point that she understood the importance of lighting in creating a credible image that conveys visual intent.
The generalist training he received at ESMA gave him a comprehensive view of production, a critical eye and a rigorous approach. The tight deadlines and heavy workload mean that he is accustomed to the realities of the industry, making his transition to the professional world easier.
Rapid integration into the world of work
On leaving the school, Lorène quickly signed her first contract with MPC in London, just three weeks after graduating. The promise made at the admissions interview – a job placement rate of almost 98% within six months – proved to be true.
However, her debut was marked by a difficult episode: two weeks after her arrival, the studio made almost 200 people redundant, most of them juniors. She quickly bounced back and joined Milk VFX, a smaller studio (less than 80 people) where the family atmosphere and versatility enabled her to put into practice the skills she had learnt at school. It was one of the most memorable experiences of her career.
Nine months after graduating, she joined Framestore, where she continues to work today as Lead Lighting TD.
A profession at the heart of the image: Lighting TD
The Lighting TD’s role is to light the 3D scenes, not only to make the elements visible, but also to give artistic and narrative intent. They define the rendering passes, prepare the AOVs required by the compositors and ensure the quality of the final image.
Responsible for the legibility and optimisation of the images, the lighter is also the focal point of the production: he or she takes on the work of all the other departments and must communicate effectively with them in the event of a problem. For Lorène, it’s a demanding but exciting speciality, where technical and artistic skills come together.
Prestigious projects
Lorène has taken part in a number of blockbusters and series, first in London (Geostorm, Beauty and the Beast, Kingsman, Fantastic Beasts 1, Thor Ragnarok), then in Montreal (Christopher Robin, where she has fond memories of the quality of characters such as Porcinet and Bourriquet).
As Lead, she supervised the lighting team on Detective Pikachu, Artemis Fowl, Jingle Jangle (Netflix) and worked as Senior on Tom & Jerry. She also contributed to the animated series Thunderbirds Are Go! at Milk VFX.
Every project has been a learning experience, but some are particularly special: working for Disney, for example, was a dream come true for her, who had grown up with their films. And working on a Marvel project was an extra source of pride, especially for her father, who is a huge comic book fan.
An international career and a parallel passion
Right from the start, Lorène chose to go abroad. France, less developed in the VFX field, didn’t offer the same opportunities. After London, she chose Montreal and settled there permanently.
Alongside her work in VFX, she is pursuing her career as a painter. Initially out of curiosity, she took up painting, which she has never left since. Today, she exhibits and sells her work and continues to progress, while working full-time in 3D animation.
A life in Canada
Lorène particularly appreciates the quality of life offered by Canada, the proximity of the great outdoors and the human warmth she has found there. Quebec, where she lives, retains a strong identity, different from the rest of the country, which suits her perfectly.
A return to France is not out of the question, but not to Paris,” she says humorously.
What about tomorrow?
In her six years at Framestore, Lorène has found a stimulating, human environment that values its artists and builds loyalty. She hopes to continue to develop here, while at the same time developing her own artistic activity.
On the evolution of the sector, she notes that 3D is moving more and more towards real time, a technology that promises to profoundly transform production: greater modularity, live interaction with clients, integration of CG on film sets. For her, the future is already here.