We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Santhosh Koneru a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Santhosh thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

What started as a drawing contest between one of my sisters and I, soon turned into a passion at a very young age. But never knew that there was an entire industry based on art when i started college in Mechanical engineering.

That sparked an immense joy in my heart, the kind that only happens very few times in life that will lead you to a path that will change the whole fabric of your journey in life. It was then i knew i was going to pursue a career visual effects and film making.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

After the day i discovered my passion everything started falling in place as if the universe was trying to help me kickstart this new journey of mine. From my sister accidentally coming across an animation institution in my home town, to meeting a good friend in that institute who introduced me to digital art and informed me of a Visual effects institute in Hollywood, which also happens to be the best in the world.

I then spent couple of years perfecting my skills in drawing and digital art software basics to apply for Gnomon school of Visual Effects, the visual effects school in Hollywood.

Gnomon played such an influencing role both in my life and career. So much so that when i look back i can basically categorize my life as before and after Gnomon. Its not just the best in class education i received there but the very talented and insightful instructors i had the privilege of learning from and the exposure we got into the industry even before graduating.

There were few instructors that changed the way i look at art and filmmaking, which helped me push my skill to a level that got me hired at BLUR Studios right after graduation.

Through the years since graduation I got to work with some of the most talented artists and major studios that i immensely enjoyed working with and at, which also helped further my skills even more.

It is always such a nice feeling to work on movies and Tv Shows that you love watching. Because now im not just watching them but im in the making process as well, which feels very rewarding when seeing the final result on the screen.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Growing up with Sci-Fi Movies and Indian mythological stories I grew a fascination towards film-making. But the theater experience is what solidified my passion towards it. Just to see how picture on the big screen from moving celluloid frames could bring out emotions in audience is nothing short of magic to me.

I later realized that VFX is a great tool to narrate other worldly stories. So, i embarked my journey in the field of animation and 3D visual effects with the goal of directing my fictional stories and entertain as many people as possible around the globe.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Around the time when i was learning digital art, there was a brief period i questioned myself if whatever i learned for around a year is worth making money. Back then YouTube was at its infancy and video tutorials were very expensive, so written tutorials were a popular thing. So, i sent out my work out to the tutorial webSites, not hoping for a paid offer but to get a constructive criticism. What better way can you get an honest criticism than from a recruiter and rejection.

Haven’t heard from any for few days, but i finally heard back from one website editor asking if i would like to write a tutorial for his website. Took the offer, which in return gave my work such exposure, i started receiving more offers of the same kind. So, without my notice i kinda became an online educator.

All that work eventually presented me with a Graphic Design and branding opportunity. That offer eventually pulled me into the world of Branding and UI Design for websites and app designs. It was a lucrative work. But eventually one day it hit me that i wavered way off course from my goal, which is film making.

So i immediately put together a portfolio with the skills i attained in a 4yrs time and applied to Gnomon School of Visual Effects. Since then i made sure i didn’t deviate from the goal.

Contact Info:

• Website: santhoshkoneru.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koneru.santhosh/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santhosh-koneru-23808215

Image Credits
All the images provided are my own property. So, i guess you can credit them to my name @koneru.santhosh.