JOHN ROBSON: Creative Director
John Robson, Creative Director/Digital Artist
John Robson, an Emmy-nominated Creative Director and Digital Artist, has made a significant impact in the advertising, music video, and live concert visual industries. With a passion sparked during a transformative era in filmmaking, John has honed his craft through self-taught techniques and hands-on experience. His journey from the early days of digital filmmaking to embracing the latest technological advancements showcases his dedication to pushing creative boundaries and storytelling.
Q: How did it all start for you? What drew you toward your department? What was a major influence in your life?
A: I was in film school around the turn of the century, and films like the Matrix were revolutionizing storytelling with vfx in a way that wasn't possible a few years prior. Around this time motion graphics exploded due to the accessibility with home computers. It was this sort of transitional period from analog filmmaking which had major limitations to digital filmmaking where the sky was the limit. I had little money but I had time and interest, and suddenly I realized I could learn and create at home what would have taken lots of money and an entire crew to create in past generations.
Q:Where did you receive the majority of your training? School? On-the-job experience? Self taught?
A: When I went to film school, it was still using archaic equipment and teaching old techniques, so all of my training was self-taught, either through tutorials (all books at the time!), exploration, and a ton of it came from working alongside incredibly talented colleagues and learning from them.
Q: What advancements in technology are you most excited about, and how do they impact your work?
A: I've always yearned to be a character animator but never had the chops for it. Over the last few years I've been working more and more with captured data and manipulating that with libraries of movement to create my own films without having to do much keyframing. This opened a world of new storytelling possibilities for me that I would have otherwise avoided. It's not nearly the same as professional character animation, but it has its own style, almost its own genre, that I think we'll see more and more of as technology and AI assist continues to improve.
Q:What final piece of advice would you give to someone aspiring to enter your department?
A: Don't go into it looking for money. If you have a passion for storytelling, creating content, design, etc, follow what makes you happy. The money and career will follow. When I started learning I did it for me. I had nothing and knew nothing, but I was inspired by others and set out to learn as much as I could. When I make my own films, I do it for me. It's something that still gives me incredible satisfaction. People notice this passion. They respect it and want that kind of energy on their team, and as long as you keep creating things for yourself, the paid work will come naturally. It will never be as rewarding as what you can make for yourself, but it can pay the bills. There's that saying that if you love what you do then you never work a day in your life. That's half true. There are definitely some awful jobs, but everything is a learning process that gives you tools for the next project, and that's an amazing feeling to keep building on all that knowledge and experience.
John Robson's career is a testament to the power of passion and continuous learning in the creative industry. His advice to aspiring artists is clear: pursue what makes you happy, and the rest will follow. By staying true to your creative passions and constantly evolving with new technologies, you'll build a fulfilling career that reflects your unique vision. To explore more of John's work and insights, be sure to follow the links provided below.
Website: http://johnrobson.tv
Email: jbrobson@gmail.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/latelunch
Threads: www.threads.net/latelunch
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-robson-a2754312/
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