Member Profile: Boyan Georgiev
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I’m a CG Lighting & Compositing artist, photographer, filmmaker, wearer of many hats for anything related to creativity.
2. What was your first job?
My first job was as a Lighting & Comp artist at Blue Zoo Animation Studios in London straight out of university. I worked on a really fun BBC kids show called Go Jetters which had a sparkling unicorn called Ubercorn!
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I went to the University of Hertfordshire in the UK and I completed the 3D Animation course. I had lots of fun there, met some of my best friends and grew so much as a person.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I started going to the events that the London Chapter was organising while I was still at uni, going to the TechTalks conference and all the Bring Your Own Animation. I got to know the organisers very well and shortly after I joined the chapter as a volunteer. Now I’ve been part of the London Chapter for 10 years and have some of my best friends through it. I have countless amazing moments with this amazing group of people!
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
I only went to my first SIGGRAPH (SIGGRAPH Asia) last December in Tokyo and I finally got to experience the conference. I was both blown away by Tokyo and Japan as my first visit, but also the scale of the conference itself. My favourite memory was that 2 hours after landing in Tokyo I had already met friends that I knew because of SIGGRAPH. Even halfway across the world I had someone to hang out with moments out of the airport!
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
Our continuous work at the London Chapter, and particularly the mammoth task of organising our very own conference – Rainbow Conference. It’s now in its third year and we’ll have our best one yet! I’m so proud of our team and all the passionate people that help us put together a free event for our community in London.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
Edna Mode, does that count? Edna is my favourite character, person, whatever and I feel like if she really existed, we would get on incredibly well. They wouldn’t be able to close the restaurant because of us.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I’m an open book! I’m very honest and direct so there’s nothing to hide.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
It’s my mum. She is the strongest person I know and thought all about being an honest and decent person. It’s the best gift she could’ve given me – to be honest with everyone.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Kate Gabriel has been my mentor, and I have picked up the Chair position for the London Chapter and I’m doing my best to make her proud as she did such a great job in her position and is now continuing to be an absolute star in her career.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
I’m incredibly proud of our work on Nimona at DNEG Animation. That film was special like no other and we all put so much love and passion into a film that almost didn’t get made. It was such an important film in animation and will continue to be in these times of division.