You never know who's going to come and introduce you to a person, piece of software or career that's bound to change your life forever. For Bart Reszelski, an incredibly eclectic designer, director and animator, it was an architect friend, introducing him for the first time to Cinema 4D.
Ever since getting his first job in the post-production industry as a motion designer (which happened not long after discovering C4D, to be fair), Bart has been treating his career as the most beautiful hobby there is, and he has much similar recommendations for all the creative professionals out there.
In this Member Spotlight, we are learning all about Bartek Reszelski and his fascinating creative process.
How did you get into the industry?
After graduating from Art School and then cutting my teeth for ten years in the entertainment industry as a professional VJ, I got introduced to Cinema 4D by my architect friend. Not long after that, I cut my first reel and got a job in a post-production house as a motion designer.
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I live in a small coastal town south of Sydney called Bulli. In the local Aboriginal language, the name means honey. I work directly for clients and studios based in Australia and sometimes internationally.
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
I would be a musician. I'm a synth obsesionado so that would make total sense!
Can you explain your creative process? What makes it unique?
I use all available tools to bring technically-challenging stories to the screen. I try not to limit myself to one particular medium - the creative process is all about experimenting and making the right choices.
I think what people like about my work is the mix of Eastern European melancholy and a minimalistic approach to composition. I'm a big fan of good storytelling too.
How would you describe your style?
Pretty eclectic (hehe).
Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
I have more music heroes, for sure. But when it comes to visual arts, to be honest, the more I scroll on Instagram, the more confused I become, and sometimes I lose confidence. So following other artists is a bit of a trap. I prefer to draw inspiration from nature and my personal experiences as a human being. However, I often listen to Ash Thorp Collective Podcast. Very inspiring.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
Always treat your work as your hobby - with passion! Trust your intuition, never stop learning, and be open for collaborations. Also, know your worth and value your time!
What tips would you give to other professionals to get more clients?
Wow, this is a tough one. I still sometimes struggle with that. For me, a professional, visually-appealing portfolio is the key. Equally important is the ability to do networking both on social media and in person. And lastly, charging more in order to cut down toxic clients :)
What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?
Redshift - GPU based render engine - completely changed my perception and ability to enjoy making 3D graphics again. The instant feedback received while compositing, lightings and texturing is crucial. I wouldn't be able to get so deep into the details without it.
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
The key is to be well-organised while tending to good work and life balance. I'm lucky enough to live by the ocean. I can go for a surf during my lunch break. So in a sense, to get focused, you have to stay healthy!
What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?
I had the pleasure to work on the Alien franchise for Audible Studios UK and director Dirk Maggs under the supervision of the movie studio 20th Century Fox. They have turned Out of the Shadows, Tim Lebbon's book, into a brilliant audio drama. I was brought on board to design & direct a couple of video promos. I still get emails from people who had loved what we did - and it was in 2014!
What is the one thing that you would change about the industry?
The male ego-driven attitude among creative directors. Very not cool and discouraging for young designers.
Any websites, books or resources you would recommend?
As I mentioned before, the Collective Podcast is the one I often come back to. I also recommend a cool, arty blog with curated content called synapticstimuli.com. As an inspiring read: The Mastery by Robert Greene would be a good choice. It's a compelling book filled with awesome ideas, highly recommend!
