About Rashad Redic

Rashad is currently working in the game industry on Playstation 2 and next generation console development, while running Explosive Creativity Works, a freelance animation studio. Rashad is currently working on Ultraviolent, and developing internal studio projects with an eye towards commercial releases in the future.

Interview

Rashad Redic is an internationally renowned 2d/3d animator. Rashad currently works in the game industry developing for the Playstation 2 and 3 platforms and also dedicates much time to working on his independant feature film UltraViolent. Rashad, also known as Shade01, on many of the Lightwave 3d forums, is very well known for his cel shading expertise and the support he gives to the cel shading community at large.

We spoke with Rashad about his independant film, the CG industry, and what it is like to achieve cel shading demi-god status!

Q: What is it about computer graphics that holds your interest, and how did you manage to break into the industry?

A: I used to want to be a traditional artist, either in the comic book or animation industry. Then one day someone showed me Lightwave running on something called a Video Toaster on an Amiga. Seeing the power to realize an animation and I didn’t have to draw every frame opened a whole new world to me. I was hooked from then on.

Q: Tell us a bit about your independant film UltraViolent.

A: Ultraviolent is a supernatural science fiction thriller. The catalyst of the story is a spiritual disease and how people deal with their power of faith and overcoming their fears. It’s an odessesy of filmmaking that began a little over a year ago and will probably have it’s own twists and turns before it’s completed.

Q: What, for the love of Pete, would inspire you to want to produce an independant film? Usually major feature films require hundreds, if not thousands of people to make it all work.

A: A good film no longer requires a lot of people, just dedicated people. Anybody with the desire and skill can pull off a film. The power of todays software totally levels the playing field with regards to what can be produced, and you don’t necessarily have to be constrained by the Hollywood formula to be successful. There has never been a better time to be a filmmaker.

Q: What are the toughest challenges you are finding in producing your film?

A: The toughest challenge to producing my film would definitely have to be financially. A close second is probably emotionally. I really want to see this completed but I could see being burned out by working on something so relentlessly for so long. I feel like I have a good thing though; I’m just as excited to work on it now as when I first thought of the idea. That makes me feel like it’s still fresh and will still have impact for the viewer.