Author: BOT VFX

 

The addition of Senior Executive Sheeba Joy as the new Business Head of Delivery Centres has injected fresh energy into BOT VFX’s offices in Pune and Coimbatore. Originally from the serene town Coonoor surrounded by the picturesque hills of Nilgiris, Sheeba brings with her a rich blend of knowledge in economics and technology. Her professional voyage commenced in 2007 as a Junior Economist at UBS – Hyderabad, and she distinguished herself while simultaneously pursuing a Ph.D. in Economics. Afterwards, she embarked on a new journey with UBS in Singapore for two years researching the US economy and trading dynamics.

Her illustrious career path eventually brought her to Cognizant, where she assumed the role of General Manager and relocated to the vibrant city of Coimbatore. During her tenure, she orchestrated a groundbreaking deal that yielded a remarkable 45% benefit for clients over a span of five years. Impressive, isn’t it? But this is merely the opening chapter of her narrative. Embracing fresh opportunities, Sheeba has now ventured into the realm of VFX, driven by her passion for innovation and AI. Her thirst for knowledge and quest for limitless possibilities are a perfect match for the magic we create.

A true inspiration, Sheeba is admired for her empathy and nurturing spirit, empowering those around her to flourish. At BOT, her values align seamlessly with our commitment to fostering growth and collaboration. Beyond her professional prowess, Sheeba enjoys Netflix binges and is a devoted reader. With two adorable cats at home and a soft spot for dogs, she’s all heart when it comes to furry companions.

Sheeba Joy’s favourite quote, “I was born in an unjust world, and I am determined not to leave it how I found it,” echoes her unwavering determination to make a difference. Inspired by Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged, She believes in taking ownership and being a catalyst for change.

As we warmly welcome Sheeba into our creative family, we can’t wait to embark on a remarkable journey together and make magic happen at BOT VFX.

 

If you’ve been in the visual effects industry for the last several decades, it’s unlikely you’ve not come across the name Natasha Anne Francis. With a career spanning 30 years and 3 continents, much of it as a VFX producing powerhouse, Natasha has made the rounds on countless shows both from the facilities side as well as client-side. She’s credited with major shows like “Hugo”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin”, “Tron: Legacy”, “Cosmos A Space Time Odyssey”, “The Orville”, “Suicide Squad”, and the more recent “Peter Pan & Wendy” among countless others.

On the facilities-side, she has worked with industry majors like Framestore, Digital Domain, Scanline, Pixomondo, Animal Logic, and Zoic. Natasha’s client-side experience has been with Fox, Starz and MRC, where she also built on-set experience in both television and film projects as both a VFX Producer and VFX Supervisor. She’s even had exposure to the software side of visual effects – her foray into the industry was with Softimage out of Montreal before it was purchased by Microsoft. Natasha has lived and worked in the US, Canada, Germany and Australia, giving her a global perspective that is essential to an industry that is deeply steeped in multi-geography workflows and multi-cultural collaboration.

Beyond the roster of projects that speaks to her show-cred, she brings amazing “street-cred” as a business woman who knows how to manage complex projects, be they shows, new office openings, or infrastructure builds. In her numerous prior roles, she’s been asked to open new offices or see through an infrastructure expansion projects where she amply applied her “grab the bull by the horns” aptitude for getting the job done.

“Adding someone as seasoned and multitalented as Natasha onto our Executive Producer ranks was central to our growth ambitions” commented Hitesh Shah, BOT’s CEO & Founder. “We couldn’t be more excited about having her on our team as BOT continues to expand in size and capabilities”.

Natasha’s ability to block and tackle situations goes beyond the metaphorical – she is a seasoned practitioner and trainer in the Martial Arts. She also finds joy in the art of cooking, and being with her two dogs. Natasha is a native of Montreal, Quebec, where she currently resides.

We are thrilled to announce our expansion to the city of Nizams, after setting foot in the vibrant city of Pune. Hyderabad’s unique blend of cosmopolitan culture, comprehensive ecosystem, and ever-growing pool of domestic and international VFX artists make it a perfect destination for our growth. As our Head of Business Growth, Sukumar Sreenivas, notes, Hyderabad is a distinct linguistic and cultural destination that amalgamates the best of India’s diversity. The vibrant city of pearls, with its talented workforce, global presence, and passion for filmmaking, provides a strategic destination to cater to the high-end demand in VFX.

“BOT VFX is dedicated to foster a positive work culture and is committed to building a truly global VFX Studio that nurtures our artists and employees. Our Geographical footprint is spread across Chennai, Coimbatore, Pune Atlanta and now to Hyderabad. This is because we recognize the importance of providing a conducive space for collaboration, reliable infrastructure, and adherence to client security expectations.”

As a company that prides itself on its exceptional work and values, BOT VFX is excited to work with Hyderabad’s diverse talent pool with a special focus on Compositing and CG. We believe that our Hyderabad branch will play a vital role in expanding our capabilities and expertise in these areas. “We are super-excited to add the Hyderabad Center to our expanding footprint. The possibilities are endless,” says Hitesh Shah, Founder and CEO of BOT VFX.

Surendra Nath P, our Associate Head of Production, is thrilled about our expansion in Hyderabad and believes that our new center is the perfect place to discover new talent and create exceptional visual effects. He adds, “రండి కలసి అద్భుతాలు సృష్టిదం,” which translates to “Let’s create wonders together.”

If you’re a VFX artist, producer, or engineer looking for an opportunity to join a vibrant and nurturing work culture, look no further! BOT VFX is always on the lookout for promising talent across the country and the globe. Apply now at https://www.botvfx.com/jobs/ to become a part of our incredible journey.

Responding to the ever growing technological complexity of its operation, BOT levels up the tech game by adding a new player to its team – Anoop A.K. who joins BOT as its CIO.  Anoop is a VFX industry stalwart who has worked with renowned companies like Rhythm and Hues, Dreamworks and UTV.  Anoop’s deep understanding of the technology underpinning the visual effects and animation world comes from having played various technical roles from TD to pipeline head to head of technology, spanning both the hardware and software sides of the spectrum. 

“He had some truly proud moments – like contributing to Penguins of Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda 3, Life of Pi and many other notable mentions! What sets Anoop apart is his unwavering curiosity for emerging trends and technologies. He’s always up for a challenge and is constantly learning from every experience”

When he is not busy adding some movie magic to the latest blockbuster, he can be found gaming like a pro (with a special love for action-adventure games like “Ghost of Tsushima” and VR RPG games) reading non-fiction books (knowledge is power, after all), and keeping himself in top shape. His all-time favorite movie scene comes from The Matrix, where Neo is given the choice of taking the red pill or the blue pill. We’re just glad he took the red pill and joined the BOT VFX team! With his extensive experience working with prestigious companies like Rhythm and Hues & Dreamworks, Anoop is the perfect person to lead BOT VFX to new heights.

In January 2022, BOT VFX will officially open an office in Pune, India, recognizing the great talent pool of visual effects artists native to the city.  BOT already has a pool of artists based in Pune who have been working remotely for the last 10 months.  The new office will accommodate these existing employees and new joinees as BOT begins its recruitment efforts in Pune.  “Pune is a vibrant city with great infrastructure, and many trained artists are ready to join the BOT family, so expanding our footprint there seemed to be a very natural step for us,” notes Sreyans Bardia, BOT’s Co-founder and MD of the India Operations.  “This is yet another confirmation that we are truly a global company, with not only global clients, but talent across many cities including Chennai, Coimbatore, Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York, and now Pune.” 

While some companies rely heavily on artists working from home in other cities, BOT has held the belief that there are overwhelming advantages of having office space to have meaningful collaboration, reliable infrastructure and adherence to the security expectations of our clients.  “Operating during the pandemic has reminded us of two things about the importance of having a physical office: it is essential to the collaborative nature of the visual effects work we do, and it is essential for people to have a sense of belonging to an organization,” observes Hitesh Shah, Founder and CEO.  “Our culture has always been a key part of our DNA.” (#More2LifeAtBOT) 

Adding perspective on the role of technology, Sukumar Sreenivas, BOT’s Head of Strategy and Growth, notes that “the current technology has simplified what used to be complex operational factors in integrating the workflows of multiple office locations.  Now we can have both: office footprint in multiple geographies and a tightly knit pipeline.”  

BOT is always looking for promising VFX talent across the country and the globe. If you want to be a part of a vibrant, nurturing work culture, get in touch with us at https://www.botvfx.com/jobs/