You see those glorious commercials? The ones that could be confused for big-budget films except they're selling soda or shoes? And then you wonder, do I need a Hollywood production to make my brand sparkle? The answer? Absolutely not.
BACKGROUND
Who are you and where are you from?
Gabriel: Hi, I'm Gabriel Fuentes Fillippello. I was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The neighborhood of Floresta was and still is my favorite playground in the world. I am a 3D artist.
Do you remember how you started as an artist?
Gabriel: Since I was a boy, I have always loved cartoons and video games. I was surprised by the new graphics, the environments, and the different ways of telling us stories, in which the image represented everything. So I started exploring traditional drawing and design programs and continuing with the fantastic world of 3D.
What is your favorite part about working on projects?
Gabriel: Working on new projects is my favorite part of the job. Create objects, scenes, environments and then move them, test, animate them, try again and so on. I like to experiment until I find what I am looking for or even move that point and end up in an unexpected one. This whole creative process is like a challenging game for me. I love it!
What motivates you and the work you do?
Gabriel: As I said, my main motivation is understanding my work as a daily creative challenge. I also feel motivated by the work of other artists and the news. When I like something, I want to learn it and add it to my work tools, waiting for a future project in which I can apply what is new. And when that happens, it feels like a conquest!
Working at a 24/7 video company is what makes it so exciting! When someone finishes work, another one starts it!
WORKING WITH MILE 80
What challenges have you faced so far?
Gabriel: The most challenging thing so far has been changing the local way of working to join a global team spread worldwide, with different languages and time zones. At Mile80, someone is always finishing work when someone else is starting :)
Second of all, I found diverse projects that need to be worked on in different styles and with various tools. That variety and that need to be on the go all the time makes the job much more fun.
What do you like best about working at Mile 80?
Gabriel: Apart from feeling very comfortable with the diversity of the projects that, as I said before, make the work not repetitive and less boring for me. What I like most about working in this team is seeing how the work is enhanced every time it passes through the hands of another team member. Personally, I am fascinated by seeing how my work ends after the work of my colleagues (editing, retouching, audio, etc.).
What's your favourite project you worked on at Mile 80 and why?
Gabriel: We recently made the "Go Beyond" project for Autodesk, which was a big challenge as we had little time to make a full 3D short. To achieve this, we combined different tools that were out of our comfort zone in a very creative way. This was the key to meeting the goal and ending up very happy with the result.
Another work that I would like to highlight was the "Argo" project. I enjoyed working on it, mainly because I love video games, and this project allowed us to create an environment in a game engine to explore.
FUN FACTS
What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
Gabriel: In my free time, I like to hang out with my friends. I like soccer. I play it and also go to the stadium to support the team from my city, “All Boys.” Also, since I was very young, I have been a fan of video games, and although the years have gone by, it is still one of the things that I like to do the most in my free time. Finally, I love to travel, I have been lucky enough to do it, but it is never enough!
Is there any special place you would call it ‘your dream vacation’?
Gabriel: There are so many! I love combining cities or towns on a trip that allows me to discover history and culture with relaxing natural experiences. This is why my ideal vacation is when I carry my backpack on my back.
Is food part of your culture? Tell us your favorite.
Gabriel: Street food is my favorite! Maybe I shouldn't feel proud, or perhaps I'm not the healthiest, but good street food at the right time is poetry for me!
