Ivan Baranov
SEVAfx
Creative Director
Ivan
Baranov
SEVAfx
Creative Director
What’s your job title? And your company name?
Creative director, SEVAfx
Where are you originally from? Where do you currently live?
Minsk, Belarus. Warsaw, Poland.
What does your company do?
We create cinematics, locations, and other virtual production-related stuff using Unreal Engine.
Describe your role in 1—2 simple sentences.
Unreal Engine virtual production combines real-time rendering, filmmaking, and technical artistry, making it a multidisciplinary field. My role is to make people with these skills successfully work on a project together.
What do you really do at work?
Testing new technologies and workflows, developing UE tools, and guiding the creative process.
What hard skills are needed to perform your job? What soft skills are needed to perform your job?
Hard skills:
- Unreal Engine proficiency,
- Camera and cinematography knowledge,
- Motion capture and animation,
- Programming and scripting.
Soft skills:
- Creative thinking,
- Problem-solving,
- Adaptability
What’s the best thing about your job?
Every project brings new challenges, allowing me to learn fast and not get bored.
What’s the worst thing about your job?
Few people understand what I really do.
What are the most challenging things about your work, that other people may not realize?
Combining knowledge from fields that, until a few years ago, operated independently of one another.
What is your biggest professional goal?
Taking part in big Hollywood productions and developing a helpful set of virtual filmmaking tools.
What is closest goal (big or small) that you are currently working on?
Finishing a short done completely with Unreal Engine.
What is your favorite mistake that shaped your further vision or taught you a lot during your career journey?
Always have a piece of paper to back up your words and agreements.
What do you think is your unique talent?
I am not afraid to learn new things.
On the scale from 0 to 10, where are you on your career path right now?
5
What skills do you need to improve or develop that will bring you to the next professional level?
Communication and sales.
What was your biggest eye opening since you started this job?
Old-money pros don't want to hear any kind of advice from you.
What tools/apps do you use at work? How do you use them?
- Unreal Engine,
- Embergen for particle and fire sim,
- Marvelous Designer for cloth sim.
Share your tips and tricks for better planning, staying focused, and being productive.
Having multiple projects without a strict timeline keeps me from getting bored.
How important is networking for doing what you do? Any networking tips?
10/10.
Tip: don't be afraid to reach anyone you want to talk to.
Do you believe at work-life balance? How does it work for you?
No, sometimes it's better to spend a weekend in the office if you feel like it.
If money is not an issue, what would you genuinely love to do in life?
Same stuff, but on a bigger scale.
How much money a year would make you happy and comfortable? What’s your freedom number?
120.000 EUR NET
What piece of advice have you been given or picked up somewhere that never worked for you or your career?
Nothing comes to my head.
What advice would you give to your 20-year-old self from your current perspective?
Study filmmaking instead of accounting.
What advice would you give to somebody who wants to do the work you do?
Be ready not to be afraid of other people criticizing your work.
What’s one trend or development in your field that excites you now?
Spreading of UE into every field they can reach.
Name 3—5 products (digital or not) that you really like?
Nike shoes, Apple iPhone, Unreal Engine, Blackmagic Cameras.
Got any favorite books, podcasts, or movies you’d recommend?
What 3 people would you like to hear from in this Q&A?
More awesome people: