Hey Reader,

Today we get to Interview Martin Klekner to talk about storytelling, the changing creative landscape, and why we decided to expand our Master Cinematic Storytelling Course with new lessons focused on Blender's Video Editor.

If you don’t know Martin, he's the creator of the Heroes of Bronze Short Film, and has been pushing the envelope in CG Filmmaking in Blender for years.

He’s also the creator of the CG Boost Master Cinematic Storytelling course and has his own YouTube channel focused on his creative and short-film process.

If you want to create CG films, he's the guy to talk to.

In today’s interview, we discuss some of the challenges and opportunities facing 3D artists today, how to stay focused in an increasingly noisy world, and why meaningful storytelling still matters.

We hope you find it encouraging and that it inspires you to keep creating with fun and passion.

Q: You've taught cinematic storytelling for years. What feels different about artists today compared to five or ten years ago?

Martin: "It feels like there are fewer people eager to learn art from the ground up. Which is completely understandable. Automated tools are making everything feel much easier, so that it sometimes looks like we don't even need to learn the fundamentals anymore.

In my experience, however, it was only when I really dove deep into learning essential skills, from value to colour, composition, and so on… only then was I able to produce results that made people interested in my art.

If you don't know these basic elements, it really shows. Tools may change, but the underlying principles of good art remain the same."

Q: What does that mean for someone learning Blender?

Martin: "It really depends on your goal. If it is to master a specific technical skill, art fundamentals probably aren't a pressing concern.

If, however, you started using Blender to be able to tell animated stories, then I think that being a well-rounded artist is an absolute must.

For most Blender users, it usually means spending time not only on modeling, UVs, rigging, and rendering, but also on learning what makes a good image, what makes for a compelling cinematic shot, and what makes an animation sequence click."

Q: Why add more focus on Blender's Video Editor to the Master Cinematic Storytelling course?

Martin: "Generally, Blender has been slowly becoming my main (and only) 3D tool for years now. I first started using it for texturing, then sculpting, and more recently for animation.

With each new update, it seems like there are more and more reasons to abandon overpriced subscription-based tools and use Blender instead. So, naturally, when I learned that Blender 5 had brought an update to the Video Sequencer, I knew I had to test it out. The result? I think it's an AMAZING tool for developing your animations, and a very capable video editor."

Q: Many artists spend years learning 3D, yet never turn their skills into a finished film or story. Why do you think that is, and what helps artists cross that finish line?

Martin: "I think it comes down to two things:

First, we 3D artists rarely get the opportunity to learn and experiment with creating actual moving shots.

Second, we seldom have the cinematic fundamentals to guide us. It's understandable. Putting together an animated short film is usually a much longer process than creating a single good-looking model, so most 3D artists get stuck making still renders and struggle to venture into the realm of animated content.

Having some sort of playground for creating animated shots is immensely valuable. And that's exactly why I created my Master Cinematic Course."

Q: What storytelling mistakes do you see most often?

Martin: "Students are often very capable of creating a beautiful-looking still image, but when it comes to adding movement, animation, and camera work, it starts to fall apart.

There are general guidelines for putting together animated sequences, rules that are not well-known to 3D artists, often only taught at film schools.

Line of action, cinematic continuity, jump cuts, camera angles, the psychological effects of camera movement… all of this can be taught and trained. You only need the opportunity to learn the basics and room to experiment."

If you're struggling to turn great renders into compelling sequences, our Master Cinematic Storytelling course provides the framework, exercises, and Martin's expert guidance to help you think and create like a seasoned filmmaker.

The course is currently 20% off until June 4th (23:59 CEST), celebrating its newly added video editing chapter.

Coupon: SHORTFILM20

Q: What would you tell an artist who feels overwhelmed by changes happening in recent years?

Martin: "The changes feel scary, that's for sure. But the beauty of the creative process is not something that can be taken away.

I think there will always be great worth in it, no matter how the technology changes. And the more people rely on automated tools to do the work for them, the more valuable actual artists can become.

So I'd say, now is a perfect time to strengthen your fundamentals.

My belief and hope is that once the automation novelty fades and audiences grow tired of the mediocrity it produces, being a well-rounded artist will be a very sought-after skill."

What is our conclusion after interviewing Martin?

No matter how much changes, stories and craft remain one of the most powerful ways we connect with real art and feel something meaningful.

We hope this conversation encourages you to keep learning, keep experimenting, and most importantly, keep creating.

Thank you for reading,

Jarosław, Zach & Alan (the CG Boost Newsletter Team)