Member Profile: Yelyzaveta Davydenko
1. What do you do, and how long have you been doing it?
I have been working in the film industry since 2015, but decided to pursue a full career in the industry after a small derail in 2020. Since 2020, I have been studying at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg/Animationinstitut in Germany, focusing on VFX Producing. In a few months, I will graduate and hopefully transition into the (Client Side) VFX Industry.
2. What was your first job?
My first job in the industry was a 2nd AD job in a German TV Show called “Rosenheim Cops”, mostly taking care of extras and their contracts. I was only 17 years old, and it was also my first time moving out of my parents’ place. I am, until today, very grateful for the opportunity, Jörg Schneider provided me.
3. Where did you complete your formal education?
I have a BSc in Economics from the University of Heidelberg in Germany (and Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul). After that, I decided to get back into the film industry, and I have been studying since 2020 at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg.
4. How did you first get involved with ACM SIGGRAPH?
I started my Student Volunteer Journey in 2023 while still doing a production traineeship at RISE FX. I found out through a RISE FX Employee that she was joining SIGGRAPH, and there is a Student Volunteer Program. I applied and was lucky to join SIGGRAPH ASIA in Sydney as a Student Volunteer. Since then, I have been volunteering yearly.
5. What is your favorite memory of a SIGGRAPH conference?
As a Team Leader in the Student Volunteer Program, I had the chance to connect with different people around the world who also share the same passion for film and technology. Last year, I got the chance to talk to people in the industry who mainly impacted my decision to pursue my career in VFX Producing. It is always very exciting to learn about the industry’s history and how technical innovation is important for it.
6. Describe a project that you would like to share with the ACM SIGGRAPH community.
Don’t have any right now…
7. If you could have dinner with one living or non-living person, who would it be and why?
Steven Spielberg, I would love to get his insights on his life and career.
8. What is something most people don’t know about you?
I wanted to be a deep-sea diver for quite a while as a child, but decided not to after my parents told me that there are scary animals in the ocean, and my eyesight was not the best. In 2022/2023, I picked up that dream and obtained my Open Divers License in South Africa/Australia.
9. From which single individual have you learned the most in your life? What did they teach you?
I would say my parents. They are immigrants from Ukraine and started a new life in Germany in the 90s, and studied Medicine
10. Is there someone in particular who has influenced your decision to work with ACM SIGGRAPH?
Definitely my student volunteer team from 2023. They are the reason why I love to come back to the conference.
11. What can you point to in your career as your proudest moment?
So far, my first credit as a VFX Production Assistant. It was a long dream of mine to be in an international movie, and this dream became true in 2024.