Member Profile: Seth Holladay
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I am a faculty member at Brigham Young University, teaching for the animation program. I teach 3D animated film and game making, particularly in the areas of environments, characters, FX, lighting, and rendering. I have been teaching here since 2009
2. What was your first job?
My first job was at Pixar Animation Studios, where I was an FX artist.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I have a graduate degree from Brigham Young University.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I worked as a research assistant in computer vision and computer graphics and started attending the SIGGRAPH conference in 2003 to get up to speed on the latest research, then got more involved with animated filmmaking and then education from there. In order to give back, I reached out to the SIGGRAPH Education Committee 3 years ago to get more involved.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
I remember my awe realizing the magnitude and wide effect of computer graphics during my very first SIGGRAPH. It’s always wonderful connecting with so many great people in the community. I also remember the exciting work in fluid dynamics in the early 2000s that inspired me to do research in fluid dynamics.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
Our students put their hearts and souls into their short animations. One they finished recently is Salt, a sweet little film:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0TR_D_Yhes
7. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
Excluding my parents (who taught me all sorts of stuff).. Brent Adams, who co-founded the BYU animation program mentored me as both a student and faculty.
8. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Parris Egbert, a great professor of computer graphics and one of my mentors here at BYU.
9. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
Deciding to go into education. I often miss working in the animation industry, but the impact it has on students trying to get their foot in the door is way more than worth it.