Member Profile: Junliang Chen
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I’m a Technical Artist, constantly working between research and production. My main interests focus on character animation and image color. I’ve been doing this for ten years now! Currently, I’m pursuing my PhD at Victoria University of Wellington while also working as a visiting researcher at Wētā FX.
2. What was your first job?
My first job was as an Image Engineer and Technical Director. I was mainly responsible for researching emerging image technologies, working on color science for film projects, and developing production pipelines.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I completed my Bachelor’s degree in the Department of Film and TV Technology at Beijing Film Academy, and later earned my Master’s from the China Film High-Tech Research Institute at Beijing Film Academy.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I first heard about SIGGRAPH through my university professors, and it honestly opened up a whole new world for me. I started out as a Student Volunteer (SV), and over time, I became a presenter and a reviewer. It’s really such a fascinating community to be a part of.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
Hands down, SIGGRAPH 2019 in Los Angeles! The Computer Animation Festival (CAF) took place at the Microsoft Theater, and they showed a massive selection of amazingly crafted animations. To this day, I still remember so many of them: Pixar’s Purl, the student short Stuffed, and a music video, “Final Chapter” by Mayday. Sitting there under the projector lights with everyone, cheering and tearing up together… it was just unforgettable.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
I’ve worked on quite a few fun projects throughout my career, but one I’d love to share is Moon Man, a Chinese sci-fi comedy film. I hope everyone gets a chance to check it out，especially with how busy life gets, it’s just a really fun story about a cute kangaroo’s space journey!
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
James Cameron, without a doubt. His films have had a huge impact on how I understand both the real world and the future. The Abyss and Terminator were some of my absolute favorites back in middle school. Moreover, Avatar’s groundbreaking 3D tech, lifelike performance capture, and advanced CG imagery were huge reasons why I fell in love with film technology in the first place.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
Even though I grew up in a region known for pretty mild food, I actually love trying unique and quirky dishes, especially anything sour or spicy!
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
I’m deeply grateful to my professors. They taught me how to strike a balance between being an artist and a researcher, and how to relentlessly pursue what I love without feeling limited by my surroundings.
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
That would be Shuyi Yang, a great friend I met during my very first SIGGRAPH. Over the years, she’s constantly encouraged me to explore different possibilities within this diverse community. Thanks to her, I’ve gotten to know SIGGRAPH on a much deeper level and made incredible friends, collaborators, and mentors across so many fields.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
Honestly, working in such a creative industry, I’m lucky to have so many proud moments. Every time I finish an award-winning short film with my team, wrap up a movie project, or publish an industry-driven paper, I feel immensely proud of what we’ve accomplished together.