Member Profile: Henry LaBounta
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
Previously, I was Art Directing video games and VFX Supervising movies for 35+ years until last year when I retired to pursue my own art and environmental work. CG was a key part of my career, from early days doing TV animation work in NYC, LA & Atlanta, to VFX work at Industrial Light & Magic, PDI & DreamWorks to games work at EA and other game studios. I have also chaired the Vancouver and then the San Francisco SIGGRAPH chapters over the years.
2. What was your first job?
Just out of art school I was a studio manager at National Video Center in NYC where Tootsie was filmed. I was a gaffer, scenic artist, camera, teleprompter, costuming, whatever needed to be done really.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
BFA at Minneapolis College & Art and Design, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was very influential with early analogue and digital video art classes. I also later took classes at NYIT and NYU.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Richard Hornor in NYC told me about SIGGRAPH ’84 being in Minneapolis where I was from, attending my first conference was a life changing experience.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
Those early days where we were dazzled by Chromosaurus, Tin Toy, Kawaguchi, Karl Sims, Craig Reynolds and the work of so many more talented visionaries. It was so new it seemed magical. The parties in the VFX heyday of the 90’s were legendary.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
Early in my career I experimented with odd things like inverting camera perspective. It resulted in these really interesting mind bending images. I’ve never seen anyone do this and never found a project it would work for. If you’re interested in exploring this let’s talk.
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
DaVinci, at the risk of being too obvious I would be curious how he thought and the source of his boundless curiosity. An artist and inventor, a Renaissance pioneer who embraced art and technology – if he was alive today he would be doing CG. Also Kandinsky is a long time favorite artist and a pioneer of abstract art, his work inspired me.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
My real passion is fine art. After many years looking at screens doing CG related work I’m very happy now working with real materials, painting, drawing and sculpting. I’m also enjoying leading environmental work in my area and have been awarded grants to support it. See my Instagram @hlabounta for some of my recent environmentally inspired artwork and Friends of Lake of the Isles on Facebook for some of my environmental work.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
Learning to see was literally eye opening, working with John Knoll, Dennis Muren & Steven Spielberg made me realize how much I wasn’t seeing. Glenn Entis has been a mentor for many years, his workshops, leadership, organizational talent and advice has made a huge difference to me and my family.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Early in my career some people would take the time to talk and share. For many years now I’ve been motivated to give back. I hope the work our SF ACM SIGGRAPH chapter does inspires a young talent in a life changing way like I experienced.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
I’m most proud of the talented people I’ve worked with that have gone on to become VFX Supervisors, Art Directors and more. If I had any hand in helping them with their career or work that is very fulfilling. I’m also proud of the work I was lucky enough to create including Twister, Star Trek Generations, Minority Report, SSX 3, Need for Speed, and much more. Winning a BAFTA, Emmy and being nominated for an Academy Award was pretty good as well!