From Banking To Blockbusters

 

Growing up, Mohammad Firdaus had always had an ardent fascination for doodling, movies and games. Unable to land a job in the animation industry with his Diploma in Multimedia Computing, he took to the finance sector and stayed there for 5 years.

Little did he expect, that going for an upgrading course with the bank he was working with, would turn into a pivotal moment that reignited his passion for animation.

Realising that his true passion in computer graphics had never left him, his uncle, Mr Affandi Salleh, introduced him to the WSQ website, opening a whole new world of opportunities for him to enter the animation industry.

Mohammad Firdaus

He signed up for the WSQ Diploma in Digital Visual Effects and Animation at 3DSense Media School, a move that leapt him from a deskbound banking job to animating for Hollywood blockbusters.

Reigniting The Passion - With Midnight Oil

Firdaus knew that life in school would be challenging. He learnt multiple new subjects on a daily basis and had assignments to submit every two days, a routine that resulted in sleepless nights of assignments, practices and research.

“Striving for excellence was a personal choice of overcoming the initial challenges of the work-to-school transition. The school adopts an industrial immersion program where it emulates how life in a real studio would be in terms of deadlines and expectations. As such, they were preparing us mentally for what was to come,” he added.

Through the course, he picked up relevant industry skills such as traditional drawing, animation and visual effects. The busy nights slowly eased up as he became more proficient in his technical skills.

Pillars of Support

Firdaus appreciates that the staff at 3DSense were warm and approachable throughout the whole curriculum. He even had a chance to chat with the CEO and advisory board for career guidance, an experience that guided him in his career goals.

He remembers teachers, Chiu San and Gary Wee, who were instrumental in nurturing his animation skills. “They were like my best friends: always approachable, pushing the bar higher, giving tons of insight and encouragement, and always being there – even after office hours.”

Recalling his busy school days, he is thankful for the encouragement from his family, especially his mother, Mdm Jamilah, who put aside her reservations and supported his return to school. He shared,” My family has been awesome and they cheered me on every step of the way. They even gave critiques on how to improve my work. But the ‘Biggest Pillar of Support’ award goes to my mum.”

He knew the decision for a career switch was unsettling for his mother especially when he was due to be engaged. “My girlfriend had to sacrifice the dates and long phone chats during this stint. Despite that, we were engaged during the course of study and married in 2011!”

A digital illustration of his mother by Firdaus

Fruits of Labour

For daring to dream and taking the leap of faith to retrain, Firdaus is now reaping the rewards of his hard work. He is a 3D Artist with Double Negative, a leading international visual effects studio, where he puts his training to good use in box-office hits such as Captain America, John Carter, Total Recall and Bourne Legacy. One of his proudest achievements to date is seeing his name in the credits of Hollywood blockbuster, Snow White and the Huntsman.

He attributes his easy assimilation into his current workplace to his time at 3DSense. “Working at Double Negative is like being back in school: you are surrounded by like-minded individuals striving to be the best, your supervisors are your best friends and to top it off, you're getting paid to do what you like!”

Advice For The Like-Minded

Apart from nurturing his 3D skills, Firdaus feels that the diploma cultivated in him a strong eye for detail and the mentality needed within the industry.

For his like-minded peers, Firdaus has this to share, “The learning journey never ends. Focus on what you want to do, have the mentality to accept criticism and work on strengthening your weaknesses. Remember that it is your choice to pursue what you have always wanted, so forge through the fire with a big smile.”

A digital illustration assignment during his diploma days.

 

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