The VFX Artists Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this conversation with Desiree, a VFX executive at Amazon MGM Studios, we speak about her journey from FX artist to industry expert, insights into VFX production, vendor management, and industry trends including AI and industry shifts post-COVID and the strikes.

Topics covered: 

- Career progression in VFX from artist to executive.

- Vendor selection and management in VFX projects.

- Impact of AI and industry shifts on VFX workflows.

- A day in the life of...

- Experience as a working mother in the industry.

Links: 

Desiree's LinkedIn Profile 

The Studio (TV Series)

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The Art of Observation in Animation & VFX, with Jahirul Amin, founder of CAVE Academy | TVAP EP63

Summary

In this conversation, Jahirul Amin emphasizes the significance of real-world observation in the field of animation. He advocates for practical experiences, such as watching people walk or observing natural light and shadows, to enhance understanding and skills in animation. This approach encourages animators to engage with their environment to inform their work, rather than relying solely on theoretical resources.

Takeaways

The simplest way to learn animation is through physical observation.
Real-life examples, like bouncing balls, enhance understanding.
Observing people walking provides better insights than books.
Going outside helps in understanding light and shadows.
Asking questions about observations deepens learning.
Practical experiences are crucial for animators.
Engaging with the environment informs animation work.
Understanding color in light is essential for rendering.
Observation leads to better animation techniques.
Real-world experiences can inspire creativity in animation.

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In this episode with Matt Merkovich of The Matchmoving Company, we talk about the importance of 3D tracking/matchmove in the VFX industry and what it means to be a matchmove artist.

Matt is an expert user of Syntheyes and has been a great influencer in getting it where it is today.  He also uses it for almost all of his work, spiralling almost three decades in the VFX industry.

Matt believes #Syntheyes is by far the best 3D tracking software out there and has by far "the best 2D tracking system in the world!", so in this episode, I sit him down to find out why he believes so.

Being a Matchmove artist myself, having been a user of PFTrack in the past and an ongoing user of  3DEqualizer I was very curious to hear why Matt thinks so.

3D tracking or Matchmove as you may call it, ties perfectly with all the other departments in the VFX pipeline, to complete VFX shots in the biggest visual effects movies out there, making this episode an important one, to gain insights from an industry veteran like Matt.

Matt's filmography spars from Minority Report, Star Trek Voyager, Doctor Dolittle 2, The Amazing Spider-Man and more. Here's Matt's IMDB.

Matt's company The Matchmoving Company provides 3D tracking services globally and can currently be reached through https://www.mattmerk.com/

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

Listen to all episodes on our website


Watch our other videos
📣The Importance of Matchmove within the VFX pipeline | TVAP EP54 (P-1)
📣Inside VFX Recruitment with Melissa Blakey, Global Head of Talent at Crafty Apes | TVAP EP53 (P-1)
📣Inside VFX Recruitment with Melissa Blakey, Global Head of Talent at Crafty Apes | TVAP EP53 (P-2)
📣Behind The Desk with Hugo Guerra | TVAP EP47

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Chapters
00:00:00 Coming Up  
00:02:19 Introductions  
00:03:54 Who is Matt Merkovich  
00:07:17 Where my interest for film originated  
00:14:59 From Lightwave to Matchmoving on Minority Report  
00:23:28 Minority Report Matchmoving Pipeline in the 2000's  
00:26:24 Evolution of Aspect Ratios
00:30:18 Comparing Syntheyes, 3dequalizer, Boujou, PFTrack and more  
00:35:13 Good & Bad Tracking Markers  
00:38:54 Staying relevant in an evolving industry  
00:44:36 Being a VFX artist in the mid 90's  
00:46:45 Shot talk - Challenges  
00:48:38 The future of 3D tracking  
00:53:41 Comparing 3dequalizer and Syntheyes  
01:01:01 Matchmove Artists - The underappreciated department  
01:03:53 About The Matchmoving Company  
01:04:11 Unionize the VFX industry  
01:04:11 Conclusion 

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Inside VFX Recruitment with Melissa Blakey, Global Head of Talent at Crafty Apes | TVAP EP53 (P-1)

For many VFX Recruitment is a bit of a black box - we send off our reels and CV and then hope for the best. This week we go behind the curtain with Crafty Apes, Global Head of talent, Melissa Blakey.

We cover Melissa's own fascinating career - she started working on-set before moving into post and then worked for almost 20 years in VFX Production before moving into Recruitment! We discuss why she decided a career on set was not for her and start to unpick the way recruiters and VFX houses select candidates.

Next we laser in on her best practices for candidates as well as the Crafty Apes philosophy for hiring and retaining staff.

WFH resumes, showreel interviews, changing departments we will be discussing all this and more.

Unusually for many VFX Houses, Crafty Apes tends to focus on Generalists and on permanent positions so we go into what that means in a market largely dominated by specialists and freelancing.

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This is a hot topic with "No AI" trending on Artstation and pending court cases we spoke to Director, Filmmaker and Game Designer Alvaro García Martínezwho has been heavily engaged with this topic.

Alvaro worked as VFX Artist for 10 years at London's top studios before founding Mayhem Mirror, his own Game Design studio. So he has experience as an employee an independent creator and as an employer of artists.

As Alvaro says, "I am not against AI, but against the unethical use of AI". But what does that mean? Tune in and join the debate!

As always, if you liked this episode, please like, comment, subscribe and share!

Listen to all episodes on our website
https://www.thevfxartistspodcast.com/

#vfxpodcast #compositing #motioncapture

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In the first episode of 2023, we felt it quite important to start the year right, by bringing you some much necessary tips from a VFX recruiter, should you be looking to take on a new role.

We are therefore pleased to have Sophie Maydon, former VFX Global Head of HR, Recruitment and PR at DNEG (Double Negative), and Director, VFX Talent & Recruitment Consultant  at her firm PXL Talent

Sophie has over a decade's experience recruiting 100's of VFX and animation artists across many levels and departments.

In this episode, we discuss many topics to do with recruitment, focusing on the perspective of a VFX recruiter, as well as the applicant. We discuss and find out about the best practices and ways one could go about successfully coming on top in an interview, the do's and don'ts, try to understand if there are recruitment prejudices and more.

This is a very insightful, useful and long awaited episode, and we hope you find it so.

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 leave us a comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

PXL Talent on LinkedIn

Connect with Sophie Maydon on LinkedIn

Listen to all episodes on our website

Watch our other videos
📣What does it take to be a lighting artist? with Jasmine Katatikarn | TVAP EP49
📣Behind The Desk with Hugo Guerra | TVAP EP47

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Chapters
00:00:00 : Coming Up    
00:00:29 : Intro    
00:01:48 : Overview    
00:02:21 : A bit about Sophie Maydon    
00:05:59 : Sophie's background as a recuiter at DNEG    
00:10:32 : Power comes with pressure, as a recruiter    
00:12:42 : Are generic applications a good idea?    
00:14:57 : Going through job portals vs LinkedIn DM    
00:17:41 : Are Resume's necessary in the VFX industry?    
00:21:19 : Showreel advice from a VFX recruiter    
00:27:37 : Showreel advice for returning mothers into the industry    
00:31:17 : Flexible/Part-Time hours for Mothers in the VFX industry    
00:33:41 : In-person vs remote interviewing advice    
00:35:25 : Salary expectations - How to respond    
00:41:39 : Budget vs experience    
00:44:39 : Artists demand by studios    
00:47:26 : Should I go to university before working in VFX?    
00:52:48 Discrimination in recruiting    
00:59:33 Leave a question in the comment section    
00:59:55 How to get in touch with Pixel Talent    
01:01:28 What not to do, as an applicant    
01:03:19 Conclusion

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 This week we catch up with a rising star in the industry, Rishabh Laheja, a Junior Digital Compositor at MPC. 

Realizing that a career in IT was not for him. Rishabh began studying nights and eventually putting together a compositing showreel with the help of working industry teachers and mentors he reached out to via Linkedin.

Launching his new career exactly in the middle of the Covid lockdowns. Rishabh won a remote role at MPC Bangalore and has already worked as a compositor on huge shows such as Prehistoric Planet and HBO's House of Dragons.

As he says in the opening, "It's a rollercoaster ride, you may want to buckle up!"

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

You can click on up below links to get the courses of some brilliant instructors.

📣 Keagan Harris Patreon: patreon.com/keaganharris
📣 Josh Parks Masterclasses: https://www.compositingpro.com/nuke-masterclass-courses/
📣 FXPhd: https://www.fxphd.com

Our own interview with @joshvfxify :  https://youtu.be/tgqlS2BswZ0

Listen to all episodes on our website
https://www.thevfxartistspodcast.com/

Watch our other videos
📣What does it take to be a lighting artist? with Jasmine Katatikarn | TVAP EP49
      https://youtu.be/ikFiHXeDP1M
📣Behind The Desk with Hugo Guerra | TVAP EP47
     https://youtu.be/jGJruJHOx2g

Follow Us 👍👍📌📌
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevfxartistspodcast/
◉ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfxartistspod
◉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-vfx-artists-podcast/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVFXArtistsPodcast

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◉ Amazon Misuc: https://amzn.to/3UrOrSn
◉ Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fWyuog
◉ Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3EjHUmY

#thevfxartistspodcast #vfxpodcast #compositing #careerAdvice #NewEntrants #HouseOfDragons #India #PrehistoricPlanet #MPC #WorkInIndia


00:00:00 : Intro - What to Expect
00:01:24 : There's a Tipping POint for Every Artist
00:02:19 : I Didn't Know How to Get into VFX
00:02:45 : Why Compositing?
00:03:20 : Getting in Touch via Linkein, Josh Parks
00:03:47 : Online Courses
00:05:18 : Keagan Haris Patreon and Marseile
00:07:42 : Studying While Working in Another Industry
00:09:51 : London Siggraph , Bring Your Own Comp
00:12:10 : First Freelance Job
00:13:31 : Finally Getting Into The Industry
00:15:03 : The Rookies: Dragon Personal Project
00:17:51 : Bangalore and Mumbai
00:22:58 : Work Life in India
00:26:43 : Being Creative in School
00:34:38 : Indian Work Culture
00:42:00 : Advice for Other New Entrants

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What does it take to be a lighting artist? with Jasmine Katatikarn | TVAP EP49

This week we catch up with Jasmine Katatikarn, lighting artist and co-founder of the Academy of Animated Art.

We discuss finding your career path at any stage in life, what it takes to be a lighting artist, what makes a successful lighting application to top VFX, and animation studios, working in the VFX and animation as a woman and POC, diversity in the industry and more.

Without a doubt, we also go on to find out about Jasmine's career path in the industry, as well as how she co-founded the Academy of Animated Art, and what her academy teaches lighting artists.

Jasmine has over two decades of industry experience as both, being a lighting artist in the VFX industry, and the feature animation industry. Jasmine has gone to work for studios such as Blue Sky Studios (Disney), The Mill, Framestore, and many more incredible studios, stamping her signature on shows such as Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs,  Rio, Rio 2, Spies in Disguise and more.
 
Enjoy!

◉ Academy of Animated Art
◉ Academy of Animated Art Courses
◉ Diversity Action Program

Social Media:
◉ Instagram
◉ LinkedIn

Connect with Jasmine on
◉ LinkedIn
◉ Instagram

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

Listen to all episodes on our website 🔊🔊🎧🎧
https://www.thevfxartistspodcast.com/

Watch our other videos
📣The Effective Freelance Compositor, with Shonda Hunt | TVAP EP31
     
📣Becoming a mother made me an efficient VFX Animator - Part 1 | TVAP EP35
     

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Subscribe

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This week we caught up with Courtney Pryce. The industry veterans know him from his years as a Creative Specialist at Foundry.

We cover a lot of ground, beginning in the "Rock&Roll" years of London VFX in the early 2000s. Also covering the role of the Creative Specialist and the secrets of financial stability as a Compositor. Courtney worked with UK Film and TV industry Union, BECTU, to put together a suggested rate card for freelance and contract staff in VFX. We get to engage with the methodology and consequences of open disclosure of the often taboo subject of the pay scale.

Courtney also engaged strongly with the industry-wide discussion of racism sparked by the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020. We don't shy away from tackling the issue of racism and nepotism in the workplace and there is a forthright but ultimately optimistic discussion.

Nevertheless, we never lost sight of Courtney's key skills as a solid professional compositor and reactive as he shares a wealth of knowledge that will benefit artists of all levels and from all backgrounds.

You won't want to miss out on this discussion!

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

Listen to all episodes on our website
https://www.thevfxartistspodcast.com/

Watch our other videos
📣The Effective Freelance Compositor, with Shonda Hunt | TVAP EP31
      https://youtu.be/Ggz82uk6KxI
📣How I manage being a VFX artist and a mother of two - Rebecca Holdstock  | TVAP EP41
     https://youtu.be/D6zzhlay_Ac

Follow Us 👍👍📌📌
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevfxartistspodcast/
◉ Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfxartistspod
◉ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-vfx-artists-podcast/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheVFXArtistsPodcast

Listen on 🔊🔊🎧🎧
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◉ Amazon Misuc: https://amzn.to/3UrOrSn
◉ Google Podcasts: https://bit.ly/3fWyuog
◉ Stitcher: https://bit.ly/3EjHUmY


#thevfxartistspodcast #vfxpodcast #compositing #FoundryNuke #vfxartist #Freelancing #financialliteracy 


00:00:00 : Intro - what to expect
00:18:17 : The Role of  a Creative Specialist at Foundry
00:20:06 : When you're too comfortable
00:24:00 : Freelancing "Year Zero"
00:27:01 : Having kids as a freelancer
00:31:01 : Burnout
00:34:52 : VFX Rate cards: methodology and controversy
00:43:41 : Black Lives Matter and Racism in the Industry
00:54:25 : Projects most proud of

Chapters by [Chaptered.app](https://Chaptered.app)

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Behind The Desk with Hugo Guerra | TVAP EP47

Hugo Guerra, Director,  VFX supervisor, and creator of Hugo's Desk.

In this episode, Kofi chats to Hugo about his career in the VFX industry. Uncovering decisions and steps that have made Hugo the Director and Supervisor he is today.

With an incredible industry footprint, Hugo has a huge voice across the VFX industry, and I felt it quite relevant to learn more about the man behind the glasses, or as our title says, 'Behind The Desk'.

In this episode, we discuss the creative and VFX industry in Portugal, and Sweden, remote working, industry overtime, Hugo's VFX journey in London during his time at The Mill, mistakes VFX artists to make when looking for work, steps they could take to protect themselves from being taken advantage of, best video games, movies, series of 2022, industry-wide issues, how we could tackle them, and many more.

It was a packed and insightful discussion worth listening to the end, as well as one to be shared!

A massive thank you to Hugo for his time and for being such a gem to the industry.

As always, if you liked this episode, please 👍 like, 📝 comment, 📢 subscribe, and 📣 share!

Listen to all episodes on our website

Watch our other videos
📣Building the Biggest VFX Asset Library in The World! ActionVFX CEO Rodolphe Pierre-Louis | TVAP EP46
     
📣Share Knowledge - Keep Learning with María Carriedo | TVAP EP43
   

You can find Hugo on the following platforms:
Hugo's Desk
Befores & Afters
Hugo's Desk LinkedIn
Hugo's LinkedIn
Hugo's Twitter
Hugo's Desk Twitter

Listen on 🔊🔊🎧🎧
◉ Apple Podcasts
◉ Amazon Misuc
◉ Google Podcasts
◉ Stitcher

#thevfxartistspodcast #vfxpodcast #hugoguerra #hugosdesk

Chapters
00:00:00 Coming up...    
00:01:32 Introductions    
00:03:11 Who is Hugo?    
00:10:24 The Portuguese creative industry could be better    
00:16:30 Reminiscing the London, Soho VFX industry in the 2000's    
00:19:27 The unhealthy traits of the VFX industry - Overtime work    
00:32:16 Chasing The Goal    
00:37:05 How I ended up in the VFX & creative industry    
00:39:37 Love-Hate relationship with the VFX industry    
00:46:37 What I teach Nuke Compositors    
00:49:49 What Junior compositors need to know when job seeking     
01:02:41 Achieving targets on a creative journey    
01:05:25 Films on Hugo's list for 2022    
01:09:29 Where to find Hugo!    
01:10:46 Thank you for watching! Subscribe!

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