It's what you make of it.

Michelle Blok

MDS Diploma of 3D Computer Animation Grad Michelle Blok is in the business of digital story-telling, and has been involved in all aspects of the creation of shots and sequences for an impressive array of major motion pictures.

As a Previs Artis for London-based Nvisage, the UK’s first independant previsualisation company, Michelle has played a key role in the pre-production period for such feature films as The Dark Night,  Sweeney Todd and The Quantum of Solace.

Previs Screen-Shot from The Quantum of Solace

“Previsualisation (Previs)  incorporates a very wide scope of work, its not only used by film makers as a problem-solving tool but more importantly as a digital story-telling tool,” says Michelle.

Previs encompasses any technique that attempts to visualize scenes in a movie before filming begins – Nvisage utilise full 3D Animation and Modelling in their Previs services. 

Previs Screen-Shot from The Dark Knight

“I work closely with the director, vfx departments  and others such as storyboard artists and art departments. My work has included everything from modelling characters and environments, to rigging, animation, camera work, lighting and in some cases, basic compositing.  Previs requirements can vary so much.”

Michelle orginally started as a modeller and texturer, but now carries out all tasks; “I particularly enjoy the technical side of previs such as digital set modelling and shot analysis but also love the opportunity to have creative input from the very beginning of the creation of a sequence.”

Previs Screen-Shot from Sweeney Todd

Michelle started at MDS with a background in Landscape Architecture, and was “hoping to gain 3D skills in order to create architectural previsualisation or fly through animations for various design projects.” After graduating she decided to change track and started working in Previs.

“The 3D animation course at MDS gave me an excellent starting point to enter into the film industry.  The course taught me all the necessary skills required for work in Previs and I left the school with a reel that showed a good all round understanding of 3D at a level that was expected of by the industry.”

Previs Screen-Shot from Fred Claus

Working for such an established  facility as Nvisage has also given Michelle the opportunity to work in pre-production as well as on-set during filming;  “I have just recently returned from working on a film based in Morocco, so travel is always a bonus.”  Current projects include the film Gulliver’s Travels where she is working as a Previs Supervisor managing a team of up to nine artists, mainly working on previs sequences including some technical previs.” A big big future beckons.