
By Barry de Silva
Public Relations ManagerThe 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!”