Enrique De la Garza hit the ground running immediately after graduating from university in 2019, and he hasn't stopped since. With seven years under his belt at Frame48, the company where he not only interned, but grew into his role of CG Supervisor, he leads his team by building efficient workflows, solving technical challenges and delivering quality CGI to clients.
At Frame48, Enrique has led CGI on work for top brands and artists, ranging Lenovo, SanDisk and Shimano, as well as Muse (see below) and Melanie Martinez, among others. And when not in the office, he's still honing his craft. Whether by creating digital snapshots of anything that catches his eye outdoors, or sculpting his own 3D characters with Zbrush and Houdini.
If he's indoors, he's likely not far from his work. That's a big "if," though, because to say Enrique is the outdoorsy type would be an understatement, and he has the portfolio to prove it, with many of his personal projects being inspired by experiences had while hiking or camping in the woods (among other things).
The Howler managed to squeeze some of Enrique's time, presumably before his next big journey, to find out how he spends his Golden Time. Here's what he had to say.
Where do you live? What do you like best about where you live?
Enrique De la Garza: I’ve been living in Los Angeles for around six years now, specifically close to the Koreatown, Melrose, and Hollywood areas. One of my favorite parts about living here is the cultural richness and diversity. A quick walk takes me to my favorite taco spot, a five minute drive, and I am at the best Galbi-jjim restaurant in town, or if I head up northeast, my favorite Lahmajun.
Briefly, tell us how you got into the business. And how long have you been in your current role?
Enirque: I was always into computers growing up, and started messing with VFX and CG software when I was 12 years old. My interest kept growing and led me to come to America to pursue a degree in Film and Animation at Chapman University, where I met Tom Teller, founder and ECD of Frame48. One internship and almost seven years later, and here I am.
How often do you end up working on the weekend? How much time do you spend on work-related stuff from Friday night to Sunday night?
Enirque: It’s not very often that I have to work on the weekend; however, part of my job is to stay curious, and sometimes that curiosity carries me away. For example, when I figure out the solution to a problem I encountered during the week, I can’t wait to fix it until Monday. There is also the occasional “let me remote real quick” to take a peek at a render on the render farm.
What’s your favorite weekend decompression activity? How often do you get to do it?
Enirque: My favorite activities to decompress include rock climbing, camping, and discovering new restaurants to eat at. I’ve found that exercise and rock climbing are a must for me to maintain good mental health, so I try to do it at least three times a week. Camping, I only get to do a couple times a year, but it is something I want to attempt bimonthly.
It’s a three-day weekend. How do you spend that bonus day?
Enirque: Depending on my energy levels, it can range from doing a quick road trip or starting a new personal project to doing deep cleaning of the apartment.
How much time do you spend on your phone/tablet/laptop on a typical weekend?
Enirque: Lately, I’ve been trying to reduce the amount of time spent on electronics to only a few hours during the weekend, since I found it allows me to be more present and recharge my battery for when I’m back at the office on Mondays.
What have you been watching lately?
Enirque: I consume a lot of animated content. I recently finished this animated show called “Samuel.” The show is about a kid journaling in his diary, recalling his day-to-day activities, and is probably one of my favorite things I’ve ever watched.
What do you listen to? What’s on your playlist?
Enirque: My music taste varies wildly, from Japanese indie rock to Argentinian folklore. Recently I’ve been playing Milo J on loop and can’t stop.
Best weekend live experience of the past year: concert, sporting event, gallery visit, movie? What made it special?
Enirque: This year I've been lucky enough to attend a few concerts. “Bôa” and “Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso” were definitely the highlights; the crowd energy and being able to enjoy these experiences with my partner made them super special.
So it’s Sunday night already! How do you get ready for Monday morning? What’s your Sunday night routine?
Enirque: Usually starts with cooking dinner and meal prepping for the week. Then, a couch session to watch a movie or catch up with any shows I am currently behind on.
