About Inksect Studio : A synergy of driven individuals living, eating and breathing creative designing is what best describes the minds that nurtured the germ off creativity until it metamorphosed onto Inksect. A pure simple and honest thought is what defines Inksect. From its inception in 2009, this thought has shaped our designing process and has been among our guiding principles, which have grown with the various projects we have undertaken.
Our Services include:
>TV Commercials
>A/V for Corporates,
>High end VFX,
>3D Models,
>Motion Graphics,
>Dynamic Simulations,
>3D Animation,
>2D Animation,
>Storyboards,
>Matte Paintings
Business type:
Advertising Agencies, Animation Production, Graphic Design, Post-Production Services, Pre-Production Services, Visual Effects Production
Animation Speciality:
2D / Traditional, 2D Computer Animation, 3D Computer Animation, Digital / Visual Effects, Live Action, Rotoscope
Projects/Deliverables:
Animated Characters, Commercials, Feature Films, Interstitials / Logos / Bumpers, Music Videos, Short Films, Title Sequences
Alright then, our readers would like to know about the history of Inksect Studio?
Inksect studios was initiated in 2009, and the whole idea then was to provide vfx solutions primarily to the advertising and branding sector. Today we are more diversified in terms of services that we offer right from conceptualizing till the final execution. So basically we have expanded our scope from being just a post house to a one stop shop for your brand/idea. we are constantly evolving
You all 4 are the partners of Inksect Studio, can you brief us about your background before Inksect Studio in this industry?
We all come from varied backgrounds both academically and culturally.Ashish is a certified pharmacist , Rohit was pursuing aeronautical engineering. I am a commerce graduate and Pankaj has done his masters in mathematics.But the one thing common to all of us is the drive to create something unique and profound, which strengthens the bonding, Essential to perform as a team.
At one stage you all were independent artist in production what gave you thought of starting your own firm as Inksect Studio?
Well the process of course was gradual and inconspicuous, there were lots of factors which over a period of time encouraged us to reach a consensus and initiate inksect, the most important was the place where we all met and evolved as a team and as a strong unit , this was way back in 2005-2008 at Sciclone motion graphics and we would like to give credit to our ex-boss and mentor Akash reddy for recognising and honing our skills. Being a part of a mid level studio helped us majorly to work as a unit , to interact with clients, agency and directors, so of-course this exposure was tremendously helpful for our growth as individuals and as a team. Giving us that edge to think differently and take this leap towards starting our own setup.
Since June 2009 , Inksect Studio has been an active participant of this industry, how was the overall experience till date ?
Well honestly we are just a six year old company and are still young and growing each day, the experience was enriching though. We had our share of success and failures, but its fun not to give up and embrace reality. The demand for CG, VFX , Designs and most importantly better ideas have shot up manifolds in the last 4 to 5 years giving scope to more studios and artists to participate in the creative process, Generating a very healthy competitive environment, which makes this whole journey even more challenging. It inspires us to be more creative everyday. We are happy to be at the right place at the right time.
What kind of work does Inksect Studio do ? Could you please elaborate ?
As i had mentioned earlier we started as a Vfx studio catering primarily to the Advertising industry, but thanks to the increasing competition which urged us to be more proactive and increase the scope of our work. So today we are a one stop shop for any brand or idea, We constantly promote our selves as a design house with sub categories ranging from pre – post production. To elaborate further , our scope of services include- concept designing, scripting (story,plotting), pre-production, production services, and post production -which includes 2d , 3d and hi-end vfx apart from offline and online editing. Summing up our scope in to a single term is a bit difficult and would constraint our abilities as a studio, but more or less we are a design house.
What kind of protocols you follow when any project falls in ?
In the last 10 years having handled numerous projects one thing i can definitely say is that confirming to a specific protocol is not viable for a mid-level studio. Every project requires a unique approach based on the level of complexity. The basic goal is to achieve the best quality within the given budgetary and creative constraints. At the end of the day to have a smile on your client’s face is what counts.
How do you approach a client with your own concept and what steps are needed in order to do so ?
Well most important is to be realistic which is something that we have understood from our past experiences. A responsible approach is most likely to be accepted by any client. When i say responsible i mean being accountable for the concept. With the flourishing Digital media platform it has become easier to reach your audience and potential clients , so if someone is seriously planning to launch their series or comic strips, movie etc, A 360 degree market research and survey is necessary apart from a very good concept. But if you are very passionate about your idea and don’t want any external creative interference, i guess, start your own digital channel and go for it.
What is the most important for Inksect Studio: The amount of sum the client offers or the quality for which the client demands for ?
well thats a tough one to answer , but of course money is important if you have to sustain in the long run. That doesn’t mean quality is unimportant, But budget is something that defines the qualitative parameters of any project. The higher the complexity the more infrastructural expenditures and vice versa. But in the past there were instances where we took up a project at low costs only because it was quite challenging and unique. Something we hadn’t done previously.So as such we don’t have a fixed set of rules and regulations when it comes to accepting or rejecting a project, it should be crazy enough to tease your creative intellect.
Tell us how Inksect Studio artist deal under pressure ?
Well its an Art in itself, and it is something you deal better with years of experience, if you had asked me this query say a couple of years ago my answer would have been far fetched, but over the years you develop a better understanding of handling a difficult situation from a more mature perspective.I don’t deny the existence of pressure, it still exists but if you are clear about your target , then achieving it isn’t a difficult task.
Can you describe your management style ?
Well ours is a adaptive style , management being a very essential aspect of any business whether big or small demands a very rational approach. How we deal with clients, artists, freelancers holds a lot of importance in the long run. It is something we are trying to improve in the coming years. So currently you can say we are still defining a perfect managing style and we are getting good at it.
You 4 had worked in production house on various project with different disciplines, how different was discipline on projects before and after Inksect Studio ?
Well it hasn’t changed much as we still work with same passion and vigour, but the only difference being the change in priorities , when you are an employee your whole focus is just on the deliverables, But running your own show adds a lot more to the plate. Now it is more about finding a perfect balance between client and the artist, proper communication between all the departments becomes essential for the best results.
Could you describe Inksect studio’s environment for us ?
We have tried and maintained a very informal and friendly environment, We love to meet people with new ideas and are open to suggestions at different levels. Creativity is unpredictable and resides in even the most obnoxious places, so we invite inputs from everyone from our manager to our marketing guys to anyone who has a good idea. i think it also gives you an idea of how we deal in a pressure situation, by dividing it, for a better outcome.
What is the philosophy of Inksect Studio towards client(s) ?
Clients cannot be categorised into a single entity , there are a range of different personalities, some are quite understanding, some take you for granted, some are eager to understand your work flow and learn etc. I won’t hide the fact that creative differences are intrinsic to this industry and finding the best road to reach your destination, without hurting many sentiments is in itself a great achievement. So you need to develop a well balanced temperament for a hassle free journey.
Can you give us some examples of your teamwork ?
I can’t remember any single project where we haven’t worked as a team, Every project begins with a thorough discussion right from the budgets to the creatives, Once we guage the amount of work, it becomes easier to assign it to the right people based on their talent and experience. So i guess any project, be it a simple logo animation or motion graphics or a heavy vfx shot, Teamwork is the soul of our work.
Tell us about the dream project you want to do ?
Inksect is working on a couple of in-house projects , right now at the conceptual level and we are hoping that they will materialize sooner.
What qualities do you look when you hire any freelancer for project ?
Working with freelancers can get tough at times. We look for people with the right attitude, it matters so much while working as a team. A self centred person can ruin your project almost instantly. Therefore we look for people who are easy to work with and accept change easily.A perfect attitude matters the most, talent is secondary.
What are the developments you prefer to see in the line of horizon that could affect the opportunities of Inksect Studio in near future ?
These are the best times for any CG studio or a production house to prove their mettle, There is so much work floating around in the market, but unfortunately as a medium enterprise we have to compete with both freelancers and bigger post houses. The costings vary drastically, projecting us as unreasonable and unrealistic. Cost of infrastructure, licences , cost of employees are a few factors we have to consider while budgeting, which a freelancer doesn’t have to bother about while the bigger post houses can offer package deals. That kind of leaves mid range studios like us in a lurch. What we need, as an industry, is cost standardization and a strong union in the animation sector, which will not allow clients to take advantage of the situation and exploit the artists at any level. generating a healthy creative environment.
This industry has changed dramatically from past few years. What change have you seen inside Inksect Studio ?
As i have mentioned earlier that we have always been dynamic in our approach to avoid rigidity . We have evolved from being a CG house to a complete one stop solution to any brand or idea. Also we are trying to focus on some in-house concepts which will add a different dimension to our profile.
What do you think about Indian CG Market ? Please elaborate ?
CG market is teeming with real good talent, which reflects in the quality of work improving by the day. Competitive environment is very inspiring but when it works against the individual or company progress, then its not healthy anymore. I say this because we as a studio have to constantly bear the brunt, prices have dropped down tremendously and to sustain it becomes real hard. So a well organized CG sector is the need of the hour.
Any recommendation to our readers ?
I would like to thank the readers first for being patient enough to read the interview. We would suggest our readers to be aware both technically and artistically and stress more on the art , concepts and designing , Because it is the art that drives technology and not the other way round.
What one piece of advice would you give to starters ?
Well from my personal experience, do something, be it art or anything, because you love to do it, not because you have to do it. The rest will follow.
How was this interview and what rate would you give it to interviewer ?
The interview was great and kind of an eye opener for us , very insightful and thought provoking, hope the readers will benefit at least to some extent from reading this interview.
I would say 4 out of 5 stars,
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