Meet the Magnopians: Sarah Hudson-Semple
Sarah Hudson-Semple is a lead artist at Magnopus, and has worked on groundbreaking projects like Expo 2020, virtual production for Westworld and Fallout, and the Fortnite Remix cross-reality concert. With a Fine Art degree and experience studying sculpture in Florence, Italy, Sarah blends artistic finesse with technical expertise. Before joining Magnopus, she honed her skills as a 3D generalist in the VR department at Method Studios.
Tell us more about your role at Magnopus
I’m a lead artist on the US side of Magnopus where I’m currently working on a virtual production project. In addition to contributing art to the project, I also manage and mentor the artists on my team.
What has been your proudest/standout moment while working at Magnopus?
Each time we successfully complete a project, it’s an incredibly rewarding moment for me. I truly enjoy seeing the reactions from my team and the rest of Magnopus to the experiences we’ve created. It's such a supportive environment and everyone is super enthusiastic about the work we do.
What attracted you to Magnopus?
I had heard through colleagues and friends about the excellent culture at Magnopus and was also interested in the wide variety of projects worked on. I was and still am really inspired by the way that Magnopus tackles the intersection of art and cutting edge tech.
Sarah, and the team, on the set of Fallout, while 8 months pregnant!
What made you decide to pursue a career in this field?
I have a background in Fine Art but struggled to find a way to support myself with my sculpture (the starving artist life is no joke!). My friend who works at ILM suggested that I could try to translate my physical sculpting skills into digital, so I rolled up my sleeves and taught myself how to 3D model. This decision has been one of the most fulfilling I've ever made!
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not working?
I love to curl up with a cup of tea, good book and Dragon (my cat)! Or when the weather is warm here on the East Coast, I love to take my kids on new adventures outdoors!
What would be your specialist subject if you were on a game show?
My husband likes to joke that I have approximate knowledge of many things, which is very useful for pub trivia! But if I have to pick just one subject, I bet I would be pretty good at questions about sci-fi books/movies/tv.
How do you want to leave a mark on the world – personally or professionally?
Professionally, I want to be able to pay it forward to the next-gen of artists. I got a good start in this industry because I had some really great mentors and friends and I really hope to be able to fill that role for others someday!
How do you approach challenges and setbacks?
During tough times, I remind myself that everything is solvable. There’s always a way through or, sometimes, around any obstacle in production. I’ve found it helpful to approach a project with the mindset that the trajectory may shift or something might break—and that’s not always a bad thing!
If you had unlimited resources and funding, what project or initiative would you launch?
I would love to create a mentorship program for new 3D artists and introduce this amazing career to more people. If I had unlimited funding, I'd include free access to the tools of the trade, programs that we use daily, as sometimes they can have a steep price tag which may be a barrier to entry to many aspiring artists.
What is something you think everyone should do at least once in their lives?
I think everyone should travel somewhere new, whether that is somewhere they've never been local to their home or to a far-away country. Exploration and curiosity are so important to being open minded and creative!
