Featured Member - Fabio Passaro

[bmckain]

Hi Fabio, thanks for your time to do this interview. I'm pretty sure most members will know who you are but for the record would you mind introducing yourself and tell us something about you, your hobbies, favorite movie, where you work, that sort of thing?

Hi Bob, Well I'm a Welsh Italian, born raised and still living in Wales UK . I'm mainly a Freelance Artist who works from home for most of my projects. Although I specialise in hard body modelling I can turn my hand to pretty much any modelling job.

As far as the Internet is concerned I have pretty much been involved in the 3D Scene from the very beginning - when the apps first became universally affordable and small forums and communities started growing on the web. I have administrated one forum or another on the web for almost the last 12 years!

My real world hobbies include Sea and Fly fishing; Clay Shooting, Target Shooting, Motorcycles and Photography. I have recently turned my hand to home based herpetology too!

When did you decide you wanted to be an artist and what inspired you to that end?

When I was just a wee kid I was collecting and feverishly reading through all manner of Graphic novels - mainly the Marvel ones imported to the UK from the US. They were my first introduction to cool story telling and inspiring artwork. Then in The UK a graphic weekly called 2000AD was launched and I was hooked on that too. Many hours were spent drawing characters from these books. Finally 1977 came and Star Wars rocked my world and my mind - Science Fiction and the related artwork was going to be a significant part of my life from then on - being artistic by nature - it was just the catalyst required to develop my skills as now I had a endless multitude of things to draw!.

At what point did you get involved with the 3D medium and what motivated you? ?

In the early nineties PC's became more affordable and I acquired one. Being intrinsically artistic I needed a drawing package so I purchased an early version of Corel Draw. It came with a 3D package that was basically Corel's development of Ray Dream Studio. I delved into it and discovered I just had a natural talent for it - I found it easy to master and understand and I was hooked. I needed things to model however to sharpen these new found skills and Babylon 5 was on the TV at the time with a wealth of cool ship designs - so I started modeling them. Which led to the B5MG and then the rest is history as they say.

Did you go to school for a 3D/CG degree and whether yes or no, what do you recommend to those entertaining the idea of working in a studio? ?

Personally myself - no I didn't however I had done some further education in Art, Photography and Engineering. When it comes to 3D all those things definitely help! - when I first opened Lightwave (it was version 4 back then) I must admit I absolutely hated it. But when version 5.6 came out and I had to model in it out of necessity, I discovered just how powerful the modeler app was and I soon specialized in it.

I think if you have no artistic background in you what so ever then going to a Uni' or College would be an excellent idea as it will give you a broad based foundation in all of the multimedia aspects of the field - you won't be taught to be a specialist - although that may come as a side benefit if you love what you're doing and you practice at home.

Having a degree will not automatically make you good or employable - but it does show you have a basic knowledge of everything and a willingness to learn. Not to mention the plethora of contacts you will glean in the duration and after you graduate - which can sometimes be just as important.

So I wouldn't say it was an absolute pre requisite for success - but it can't hurt either. If you're young and single and willing to travel - and have a talent for it - then the world can indeed be your oyster as they say.

Many members will know that you have done work in the industry so how about telling us where you got your first 3D/CG job and how the progression has gone ?

My first job was making concept models to be used in miniature die casting for the Babylon 5 Agents Of Gaming range. Although the designs were simple enough my ability to do them quickly and efficiently came to the attention of a studio Near London in the UK and they contracted me to help with a big Educational Project. My first break In the TV/Film industry came after I was asked to model the USS Reliant for the front cover of Star Trek magazine which ultimately led to the BSG mini series gig and the rest thereafter.

What was your most enjoyable project?

It would have to be the re imagining of the Babylon 5 Space Station. I worked with a great bunch of guys at Atmosphere who basically let me have free reign when it came to designing the details that were never there before. Of course I didn't have it all my own way!! I made a few different solutions to the problem at hand and they then had the final say - but when chosen, I developed it and they either said yes / no or more / less! LOL!

This was the show that started it all in 3D for me so I tried to do my best to do justice to it, and sort of repay it for all the success I have had career wise; as a result of that initial inspiration. I can honestly say that that job was a lot less like work and just all fun!

What is your favorite of all your 3D work? ?

Aside from B5 mentioned in the last answer It would probably be the Reliant. It was the first model I made that I personally thought looked pretty Photo real when rendered and I was very happy with it at the time - so it's a favorite because it a personal landmark for me in my own eyes.


I've had the pleasure of seeing several shots from scenes or models you've worked on and quite enjoyed them btw. I wonder if you can share one members haven't seen and expound on it and why you particularly like it? ?

I recently had a gig where I had to make a architectural visualization for a theme park pitch in the Middle East. I had to make literally 75% of everything involved in the scenes and texture them up and optimize the rest. It was of a theme park and a surrounding countryside and golf course. It occupied so much memory that only some heavy duty Mac's could handle it even though the individual models were by any standard low detailed - there was just so many of them! The theme park alone was populated with over 1100 people!! But it was enjoyable and a challenge as every step of the way successful solutions had to be found for problems that sort of crept up daily when it came to finalizing shots - optimizing models - texturing animating rides ..etc.. You need to love pressure and deadlines and have a knack for problem solving for jobs like this and I thrive on that so I found it particularly enjoyable to do that project.

You've been around a long time now. What advice would you give the serious hobbyist regarding 3D in general?

There's always room for more talent!! - You've got to be good if you want to make it a business - so practice is very important - lots of it. Make sure you know your tools - know the ins and outs of them and exactly what each tool can do and what you can use it for. Know all the elements of surfacing - diff spec etc.. know exactly what effect they have in a surface and why and how you should use them. Keep pride out of the equation - a 3 million polygon model does not necessarily make it a good model. efficiency is the key - learn how to acquire the level of detail required with the most efficient use of the tools at your disposal. Learn your graphic app well - knowing how to make a good texture is just as important as being able to pull points around. Learn how the surfacing tools work in your app's - how to use alpha maps and procedurals - all of it.

When you finally start charging for your work - never undersell yourself or your abilities - they are paying you because they don't have time or the ability to do it themselves - so never cheapen your work and always make it good quality so the customer always gets good value for their money.

You've been very busy with a new nurnie pack from what I understand. Can you tell us about it and how members can get it? ?

I have just launched the Ultimate Nurnie Collection Volume TWO - which is the culmination of 3 months full time work and went on sale on 1st Dec 2008. It is available - along with its sibling - from my web site www.meshweaver.com in the store/products section.

Editorial Note:

More details about the Nurnie Collections can be found in a recent interview here:

[CAClark]

Nice one mate, all good solid stuff, and good interview.

Cheers!

[Taranis]

Great interview .. B5 and the Reliant look awesome .. what episode / Movie was B5 used in

[Meurig]

Nice one Fabio

[Rigel]

Good stuff Fabio. It's nice to learn a little more about your history in the 3D industry/community.

I also never knew, the day I was looking at that issue of the Star Trek magazine, that I would ever meet the guy who built the Reliant. Small world sometimes.

[Lewis]

Fabio rules SF world .

[Davide_sd]

great interview! Fabio is one of my favorite artists! Thank you!

[Elowan]

Fabs has been an inspiration for me even though I'm just a hobbyist.

[3D_CG]

Awesome

Well Deserved

Have a great day

[today]

About time.... I think it's safe to say Fabio influenced a lot of people...

[Kionel]

Awesome interview, Fabio. Good advice all around.

[al3d]

Nicely done mate... always nice to see members who can pay the bills while doing what they love..

[Treybor]

Great interview. You've always been and inspiration to me.

[deg3D]

Very cool and inspiring my friend. Good to see your work, and see it and your thoughts featured in a great interview.

deg

[JackN]

Good Show Fabs!

[HawkHart]

Great interview Fabs

[keithd203]

Great stuff!!!

[JVogel]

Excellent renderings!!

[PeterRama]

Wow! Its images like those that make me want to keep doing more myself...

[sparton534]

is there anyway your ever going to release these models i really injoy the battle ship looking one.

[Syntrifid]

Great interview, Fabio! Always good to hear from knowledgeable folk. I've picked up quite a few worthy tips from your Meshweaver site.

[Tenement 01]

Fabio's work is always amazing and the amount of detail that he puts into his meshes is astonishing.

[streetdeacon]

All good work keep it up Fab.

[nemo]

When I first started with LW some seven years ago, your name was one of the first I discovered. It seemed that everywhere I turned, you had excellent images and great models available for tinkering. I dissected your Klingon D7 to learn how to build one, along with several of your other meshes. And I still use your planet recipe to this day as a basis for any planet I make. And don't get me started on both nurnie collections!

Thanks for sharing so much stuff, Fabio. A frustrated newbie was very grateful.

[Titon]

Congrats on a nice article Fabs.

And also for taking someone else under your wing so many many years ago.

[jose680]

Keep up the good work!!!!

[RenderFx]

Beautiful renders.

[baldhobbit]

I like your work.

[ClubTepes]

Amazing work.

You've definatly inspired me for a long time.

[ricktu]

Nice interview Fabs. Would you believe it is now over 10 years since the B5MG site took off??? Man doesn't time fly.