#72 HIRED STEEL: How TMC are Pushing VFX & Storytelling With UNREAL ENGINE

We sit down with three members of TMC — James Dower, Constantin Kormann, and Bernhard Engstler — the indie filmmaking collective behind the incredible BattleTech fan film series HIRED STEEL.

In this conversation, we focus on HIRED STEEL - A Mech Machinima – Episode 4, the first project where TMC integrated Unreal Engine (UE5) into their filmmaking pipeline. They reveal how they combined Blender for modeling and animation with Unreal Engine for rendering and VFX, unlocking new levels of cinematic storytelling.

TMC began as a group of competitive BattleTech gamers and has since grown into a powerhouse team of artists, animators, and filmmakers. From hobbyists to AAA game developers, their combined skills have brought HIRED STEEL to life, earning recognition from fans worldwide — and even from the creators of BattleTech themselves.

We also dive into:

🎮 Staying true to BattleTech lore as fans

⚙️ The challenges and opportunities of switching to a UE5 pipeline

🤖 How their work led to collaborating on MechWarrior 5: Clans cinematics

Whether you’re a BattleTech fan, a filmmaker, or just passionate about indie animation, this discussion is packed with insights into the future of fan-driven storytelling.

VIDEO PODCAST: WATCH HERE