What is your name and your current occupation?
Shéelu Jefferson Nah, Designer for Renovatio 3d.
What are some of the crazier jobs you had before getting into animation?
I had couple of jobs two during high school my first job was in a del making sandwiches in my first and second year of high school I also was taking extra course on business so my day was high school early, then mid day business school then work. My second job was a retail store Macy’s working as casher and stocking and folding cloths during my third and fourth year of high school. Couple of months to graduating I encounter a health problem send to the hospital for one month with that I couldn’t work. I also work as a Security officer during college, Grocery stock employee after college for a three years , after a while carrying these eggs boxes that weight like 80 pounds I said to myself this is not helping my health.
What are some of your favorite projects you’re proud to have been a part of?
The last project I worked on was Powermat portable wireless charging system and Summer Sport Paradise Island for the Wii, The Wii game I’m really proud of because I was able complete a environment working form concepts within one week including texture map, and also most recent digital sculpture that I was able to complete within a short amount of time at renovatio3d.
How did you become interested in animation?
I was always good at drawing different object and I love water colors painting, I experimenting with colors allot when growing up. But I wasn’t sure yet until my third to fourth year in high school I really didn’t wanted to do anything with business I hated it at the time and I thought college should be fun so with that I enlist in college for Animation.
Where are you from and how did you get into the animation business?
Born and raised in Monrovia Liberia came to the United State with my father at age twelve 1997, my first class was six grade middle school in Hamilton, New Jersey , growing up in Africa my parents was able to teach me some basic education it really help. Getting into animation was a decision I only had to make I grow up watching Star Trek the original series and being here with more option like The Secret of NIMH and Disney animation I was really hook.
What’s a typical day like for you with regards to your job?
A normal 9-5 most of time more, meet up with clients, go to jobs meeting, the past year I have been working with clients just providing services on project, during my spare time I work on improving my abilities to do more, I learn new materials that can help improve work flow and bring work such as script and programming languages at the same time I work on my portfolio my artistic abilities that I always had.
What part of your job do you like best? Why?
The creating process. I really get excited when work on new designs, kind of like working with water colors you really can’t make too much mistake as it is easy to make mistake, to break it down when your mind is clear the final result can’t wait to see, this drives when I work or coffee breaks.
What part of your job do you like least? Why?
Last minutes Changes and overtime.
What is the most difficult part for you about being in the business?
Working with clients,landing a project, making necessary late changes, putting time into a project for days just to have it cancel, making deadlines, and most of all cash flow a huge problem. This part of providing service is very important I am just starting understand a bit more than before.
What kind of technology do you work with on a daily basis?
Mostly Autodesk Maya, and Adobe, Zbrush sometime for normal maps
In your travels, have you had any brushes with animation greatness?
No not yet hope sometime soon Leonard Nimoy Spock in Star Trek.
Describe a tough situation you had in life.
Growing up was a quite a journey and attending college was like a boot camp that went so fast that I felt I was introduce to animation and over the years with self motivation I was able to learn new materials on my own as well improve on what I knew .
Any side projects or you’re working on or hobbies you’d like to share details of?
Working on my show reel animate short during my spare time, contain materials from past work as well new development content , my hobbies are listening to music keane, cold play, enya some of favorite artist when I work, movies science fiction, I spent allot swimming to improve my health, and reading books.
Any unusual talents or hobbies like tying a cherry stem with your tongue or metallurgy?
Not sure!
Is there any advice you can give for an aspiring animation student or artist trying to break into the business?
Self Motivation is very important don’t gave up always stay strong, work hard toward where you want to be, and try to network as much as possible.
Really great to see an african been interviewed for the first time…im NEXT on the line!…wishing greater lucks sheelu jeff nah
Hi Sheelu! trust me I’d post more interviews with Africans if they’d be willing. It’s very hard to get responses from anyone there. Are you a professional animator? If so I would gladly interview you.