Nicolas Drum

Age 13. Started drawing — the first sign of an urge to make and create things visually. The medium didn't stick forever, but the impulse behind it absolutely did.

Got seriously into photography — less about casually taking photos, more an obsession with understanding cameras, lenses, and light from the ground up. First camera was a used Sony A7R II. The technical side of optics and image capture became a foundation that still informs how I approach rendering and CGI today.

Founded a side business and cut educational videos for a personal trainer certification academy. First money from a camera-related skill.

Set myself a challenge: post one short video every day and finally start building something on social media. Started with day trips through Cologne, then everyday life content. A short of me changing tires on my VW Polo went viral — 1.8 million views.

Months later, I deleted the whole channel. If I kept going, the audience would be built around content I didn't care about. Took the hit deliberately and started over with a topic that actually mattered to me.

Started posting tutorials on After Effects tricks and motion effects in the evenings — topics I actually cared about. The deliberate restart after deleting the viral channel.

@Nicolas_Drum

Co-created a 2D animated short with fellow trainee Oliver Paul for the Holocaust remembrance festival in Saarbrücken. The film followed a spoon — a real family heirloom — carried across borders during wartime and eventually passed down to her children.

Entered a major international render challenge in the evenings alongside my Ausbildung. Combined a Houdini RBD car crash simulation with Unreal Engine 5 and landed in the Top 25 worldwide.

Landed a Houdini TD position at an advertising agency straight out of training. The studio had to cut drastically right as I arrived — before I could touch a single project. I assembled my desk, and then almost everyone was let go. Back on the market before the week was out.

Won a 1-year contract in the graphics and motion design department of the SR after starting as a freelance cutter. Public broadcasting, real deadlines, real output — every day.

Contract ended. Wrote a business plan. Started freelancing full-time with a focus on Houdini food CGI, product visualisation, and 3D scanning — under nicolasdrum.com.