Talent In Action

Jamie Jasso
Visual Development Director at Tencent Games VES Member: 7 Years
VES Section: Los Angeles
VES benefit most enjoyed: Networking events

Jamie Jasso, born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, was about eight years old when he became fascinated with Star Wars and filmmaking. Alien and Blade Runner also got him hooked. Jasso has a partial major in Industrial Design, but he dropped out and taught himself 3D and early compositing in After Effects.

His career started in Mexico, working at local production companies doing TV commercials while simultaneously building his personal portfolio with his own concepts and ideas that later helped him get his opportunity to move to Los Angeles. “I had the chance to meet Craig Barron and he kindly invited me over to Matte World Digital back in 2001, where I had my first approach to a real Hollywood visual effects studio and where my interest for digital matte painting techniques started. From there, and thanks to what I learned, I got my first official job at Blur Studio in 2006. Three years later, I finally got a job at ILM where I had the chance to meet my heroes and work alongside them.”

Jamie has been part of numerous movies over the years, and he is most proud of his work on Avatar (2009) as well as his childhood dream projects, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015), Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017).

His advice to fellow young aspiring artists: “Create your own opportunities, knock on doors constantly and be willing to help people behind you.” On what distinguishes Jamie’s and his work in VFX: “My personal style, my own vision, is trying to always work on the minor details that will bring complexity and reality. I say I have a filmmaker’s eye rather than a shot maker. I try to use the least resources to create a complex-looking shot.”

In his free time, Jamie loves writing, producing and directing and is currently working on his personal “indie” horror short film, pursuing more dreams.

Pramita Mukherjee
Senior CFX Development Artist – DreamWorks Animation VES Member: 6 Months
VES Section: Los Angeles
VES benefit most enjoyed: VES Awards and networking

Pramita was born and raised in Kolkata, India. She started in India’s animation industry at the age of 19. “Back then, our industry awareness on that side of the world was really very low. For any young girl to even step into animation and VFX was just a dream. When I started I never thought someday I would get the opportunity to move to L.A. and be part of making the kind of movies I grew up watching. It still feels surreal.”

The animated Spider-Man series and Good Morning, Mickey! in the early ‘90s enticed Pramita to join the animation industry. She started as a character rigger at a studio in Mumbai, India in 2007, and after working there for a decade, she moved to London in 2017 as Creature FX Lead at DNEG. She eventually joined DreamWorks Animation in L.A. to work on The Croods: A New Age (2020).

Her advice to other up-and-comers: “I have worked globally starting from India to London and now in L.A. Honestly, I would say surviving in this industry can be tough at times, but if one is really passionate about moviemaking and open to possibilities, then with time, they will find success.”

When not working, Pramita likes to learn new skills and loves mentoring young aspiring women who are trying to break into the industry. “I have been a WIA (Women in Animation) mentor for the past three years, and so far I have mentored more than 40 young women, many of whom have successfully stepped into the business.”

The films she is most proud of are her latest animation movie Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) along with Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), The Croods: A New Age (2020) and The Boss Baby 2: Family Business (2021).