Unreal Engine, Fortnite and Netflix: My Journey to Indie Film Director w/ HaZimation
May 23, 2024
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HaZ Dulull, a multi-award-winning Film and Games Director, shares his journey from VFX artist to indie film director. Topics include winning pitches, funding for original content, networking, utilizing Unreal Engine in filmmaking, and transitioning from indie films to game development in Fortnite.
Transitioning from VFX artist to director emphasizes autonomy in creative process and studio creation.
Utilizing Unreal Engine for pitching projects accelerates decision-making and enhances project presentation.
Deep dives
Transitioning from VFX Artist to Director
The podcast episode discusses the journey of transitioning from a VFX artist to a director, highlighting the speaker's progression from a VFX artist to a VFX executive producer before delving into filmmaking. It emphasizes the importance of starting a studio to create original content and having full autonomy over the creative process.
Utilizing Unreal Engine for Pitching and Projects
The discussion in the podcast centers around employing Unreal Engine for pitching projects, emphasizing the benefits of creating real-time content to accelerate decision-making processes and showcase projects to potential investors. The speaker shares their experience using Unreal Engine for cinematic projects and leveraging it to win pitches.
Creating Original Content in Fortnite
The podcast episode explores the unique opportunity of creating original content in Fortnite, detailing the speaker's experience in developing an island called Mootopia in Fortnite. It underscores the strategic decision to enter the games industry market through Fortnite, expanding revenue streams and exploring transmedia storytelling.
Networking and Relationship Building for Success
The episode highlights the significance of networking and relationship building in the creative industry, stressing the importance of establishing connections at conferences, film festivals, and online platforms like LinkedIn. The speaker emphasizes the value of commenting on potential clients' posts and maintaining consistent engagement to foster long-term professional relationships.
HaZ Dulull, founder of HaZimation, is a multi award-winning Film and Games Director, developing & producing feature films, tv and video games using Unreal Engine. In this episode, HaZ shares his journey from in-house VFX artist to indie film director. We also discuss how to access funding for original content/IP, how to win pitches, and how to start your own studio.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How HaZ went from VFX artist to indie film director/studio owner
Techniques and strategies for winning pitches
How HaZ wrote/directed a fully animated film released on Netflix
The importance of networking at conferences
How HaZ transitioned from indie filmmaking to building a game in Fortnite
How HaZ fully utilised Unreal Engine in his career