We were lucky to catch up with Chase McGill recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Chase thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I’ve been interested in art ever since I could hold a pencil, but it was never more than a hobby until about 6 years ago. Everything from oil-painting and drawing, to live-action film with VFX I loved doing. I started out making little action movies in my backyard, compositing explosions and muzzle flashes onto toy guns. I then moved onto more traditional media to hone in on the fundamentals of visual design. However, I knew pursuing a creative career came with risks, and for most people, with not much (financial) reward. For this reason, I chose computer science as a major when applying to colleges. I had an interest in computer software, and the jobs were very in-demand with attractive salaries. It was a low-risk play that could have cornered me into something I wasn’t passionate about.
There was one program, the animation program at USC, that really interested me. It combined my love for 3D graphics with filmmaking, and I heard people say USC has the best film program in the world. I told myself, if I happen to be accepted into this program, I’ll forget computer science, because getting in here suggests I may be able to make a career out of this. This was the only school where I applied for something creative, so I was not anticipating going down this path.
I received a phone call one day and a man told me I’ve been accepted into the animation program, and it was on the spot I made my decision to attend. I am so grateful for this, because I cannot imagine being a programmer. I know for sure now that I don’t have that in me.
Chase, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a 3D generalist who has a passion for making characters, animations, and stills. I strive to make my creations as lifelike as possible, pouring as much detail as I can into every project. Over the years, I’ve developed an obsession with creating gritty, scary medieval characters. I really enjoy all the possibilities with armor design.
For the past 8 years, I’ve dedicated myself to the art of 3D. This journey has been very rewarding, allowing me to continually push the boundaries of my creative and technical skills. I’ve recently finished my first *serious* animated short film, “Wracu,” which showcases my love for detailed and immersive storytelling as well as the scariness of a fantastical medieval environment.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I think having full agency over your work, and it having the ability to be enjoyed by anybody is the most rewarding thing. As an artist, every choice you make during the process is your own, and they directly influence the final product. This collection of creative decisions is then cemented forever, and anyone in the future will be able to experience them through your work. I think it’s very fulfilling to think there’s a small chance that someone 100 years from now may come across one of your works. Even if it may be for a very brief moment, you get to move them in some way.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I think 99% of people misunderstand what NFTs are. The typical counter to NFTs is “I can just screenshot it.” NFTs are not images. NFTs are unique, digital tokens. Images, music, or anything really, are able to be attached to these tokens, solidifying into the blockchain.
In other words, NFTs are the certificate, or the artist’s stamp of approval on a digital work. I think NFTs are a great way– the only way–to distribute digital art. Art collectors don’t want to just enjoy art, they want to own art. This is in parallel with physical collectors who have art on display in public spaces. Anyone can see it and enjoy it, but there can only be one owner.
I think art is the simplest and most natural first use case of NFTs. The robustness of the blockchain can be very useful for any digital asset that benefits from being immutably unique. House deeds, passports & visas, concert tickets, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Chasemcgill.net
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/miqgil
- Linkedin: https://Linkedin.com/in/chase-mcgill
- Other: https://Wracu.net
Image Credits
N/A