The SAE Melbourne grad sat down with us to chat about how he went from studying animation to being part of the production for Spider Man: Far from Home, and working on one of the pandemic’s biggest blockbusters, Godzilla vs. Kong.

After a whirlwind two years at SAE, Jaymes graduated with a Bachelor of Animation in 2018. It was this fast-paced environment, Jaymes said, that prepared him for the industry. “SAE facilitated the right work ethic for me – there’s a lot to be said for getting out what you put in.”

During his studies, Jaymes was given a work placement opportunity at Ignition Immersive, where he was immersed in virtual reality environments. “It was a great experience, especially for my professional development, where I got to work alongside some of the pros at Ignition.”

Shortly after graduating from SAE, Jaymes was picked up by world-renowned animation studio, Luma Pictures; where he’s been working at their South Melbourne branch for the past two and half years.

“When I first started at Luma, I was production assistant on Spiderman: Far from Home. Getting a foot in the door for such a huge production was a real eye-opener.”

Following further successful stints as a production assistant on feature films like Jojo Rabbit, and Birds of Prey, Jaymes got his big break as a Junior Asset Artist, and a chance to showcase his skills on the highest-grossing blockbuster during the pandemic to date, Godzilla vs. Kong.

“I loved every minute working on that film, as I got to make a heap of environmental art; which is where my skills and passions lay.”

Having been at Luma Pictures for the past two and a half years, Jaymes said it’s a privilege to work with an inclusive and collaborative team on films like The Tomorrow War and Marvel Studios’ Eternals. “Being surrounded by other like-minded people and creatives every day is really special. Everyone wants you to grow and get better – it’s like a big family.”

Before we leave Jaymes we quiz him on what he’s got coming up. “Unfortunately I can’t tell you that. All I can say is I’m working on some really cool stuff!”