In this episode of The Generalists Jack the Generalist chats with Paulina Miciulevičiūtė (a Senior VFX artist). She started in QA at Unity and worked on projects like Valorant. We dig into practical advice for getting into VFX, why node-based tools (Shader Graph / VFX Graph) are a great starting point, when to learn HLSL, and why understanding optimization will save your career.

What you will passively learn listening to this episode:

- How Paulina moved from QA to VFX

- Start with node tools and slowly learn HLSL / shader code

- Remote work, team culture, and avoiding burnout as an artist

SUPPORT THE CHANNEL

- Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW

- Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop

Find Jack on These Links

https://discord.gg/jC7YEsvwWp

https://www.instagram.com/jackthegeneralist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-gutmann/

Find The Guest on These Links

- Paulina on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-miciulevi%C4%8Di%C5%ABt%C4%97-6b340b11b/

- Paulina's portfolio: https://paulinavfx.com/

In this episode, I’m joined by Grayson Cotrell, technical artist and destruction specialist, to break down how real-time destruction actually works in modern games.

Grayson shares how he builds AAA-quality destruction systems, how to make game effects feel alive, and why blueprinting might be the most important skill for technical artists today.

If you’re a game dev, technical artist, VFX artist, or someone curious about real-time procedural systems this one is packed with insight.

We dive deep into:

• Houdini to Unreal Engine workflows

• Importing simulations (FBX, VDB, VAT)

• Blueprint systems for interactive destruction

• Niagara particle layering

• Real-time vs pre-simulated effects

• Cinematics for game VFX

• Mentorship vs recorded courses

• Time management for large creative projects

• How to stay consistent (even 20 minutes a day)

_________________ COURSE AT DOUBLE JUMP ACADEMY ______________________

The Real-Time Destructiom Course: https://doublejumpacademy.teachable.com/a/aff_gg65yh1h/external?affcode=1768064_qhpnr4-x

_______________________One On One Mentorship at Vessel Forge _______________________

https://vesselforge.com/services/technical-art-mentorship/

_________________ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL ______________________

- Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW

- Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop

________________ Find Jack on These Links ______________________

https://discord.gg/jC7YEsvwWp

https://www.instagram.com/jackthegeneralist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-gutmann/

_________________ Find The Guest on These Links ______________________

https://www.linkedin.com/in/grayson-cotrell-00400a1bb/

https://www.artstation.com/graysontheplug

______________________ Timestamps ______________________

00:00:00 – Introduction

00:02:00 – Building a complete destruction course

00:06:30 – 20 minutes a day philosophy

00:12:00 – Mentorship vs recorded courses

00:18:00 – Blueprint systems in Unreal

00:24:00 – Houdini to Unreal pipeline

00:30:00 – VDBs, VATs & optimization

00:38:00 – Real-time vs cinematic VFX

00:46:00 – Multiplayer destruction challenges

00:55:00 – Making effects feel alive

01:02:00 – Why VFX is the ultimate generalist role

In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Candell, creator of BunderKin talk about what it really takes to build an original IP across TV and Games.

We dig into Stephen’s creative process, the realities of turning a personal vision into a scalable project, and the hard decisions that come with building something outside the traditional studio system. This conversation is for game developers, game artists, and anyone curious about how worlds are built from the ground up.

If you’re interested in game development, #gameart , #indiegames , worldbuilding, or creative ownership, this one’s for you.

_________________ SUPPORT THE CHANNEL ______________________

- Donate: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=3VHRDYNMFJ3KW

- Get one of the Courses: https://linktr.ee/jack.the.generalist/shop

________________ Find Jack on These Links ______________________

https://discord.gg/jC7YEsvwWp

https://www.instagram.com/jackthegeneralist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-gutmann/

_________________ Find The Guest on These Links ______________________

Bunderkin

- https://www.studiozubio.com/bunderkin

- https://www.instagram.com/bunderkin/

- https://www.youtube.com/@bunderkin

Stephen Candell

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scandell/

______________________ Timestamps ______________________

00:00 – Intro

02:10 – What is BunderKin?

08:45 – Building an original IP

18:30 – TV vs GameDev

32:15 – Scope, ambition, and sustainability

48:00 – Advice for game artists & devs

______________________ Tags ______________________