The VFX Process

Duncan Rudd, a seasoned CG animator, rigger, and generalist with over 25 years in the industry, shares the story behind Deep Rooted—his fourth animated short and his first created entirely in Blender. Duncan dives into how Blender, Geometry Nodes, and pure passion helped him bring this 10-minute 3D film to life.WATCH DEEP ROOTED: click hereWe explore Duncan’s creative process, from character and rigging to scene construction and rendering—all powered by Blender. He breaks down why personal projects are essential for freelance 3D artists, offering a chance to express your unique voice and stand out in a competitive animation landscape. His insights are gold for any aspiring freelance 3D generalist or animator looking to grow their career and creative skills.Duncan also shares his perspective on the shifting industry landscape, with the collapse of major VFX and animation studios opening new doors for small 3D studios and freelancers. Whether you're into indie animation, Blender workflows, or building a sustainable freelance 3D career—this episode is packed with real talk and valuable advice.The VFX Process Podcast #62Getting Intimate With Your Industry!For the video podcast: click hereConnect with Duncan: click here

Caleb Worcester, a Kansas City-based illustrator and animator, blends traditional and 3D art to create striking, immersive visuals. In this video, he takes us behind the scenes of his stunning stylized 3D short film, Under The Thicket. We explore his creative process, from developing the story and characters to refining the film’s unique style to his rendering techniques in Blender. Caleb also walks us through a few key Blender scenes, offering insight into how he brings his vision to life.Beyond the technical side, we dive into the inspiration behind Under The Thicket, discussing how nature influenced its design and how he crafted an emotional story without dialogue. As an independent animator, Caleb shares his thoughts on the growing impact of Blender in the animation industry. With its powerful tools and accessibility, Blender is leveling the playing field, allowing indie creators to produce high-quality films that rival those of major studios.We also discusses Flow, the independent Blender-animated film that recently won an Oscar—beating out giants like Pixar, Disney, and DreamWorks. Directed by Gints Zilbalodis and created by a small, passionate team, Flow proves that with vision, creativity, and Blender, indie animators can compete at the highest level. This win marks a turning point for independent animation and the power of open-source tools.The VFX Process Podcast #61Getting Intimate With Your Industry!For the video podcast: click hereConnect with Caleb: click here

Is Unreal Engine the #1 filmmaking tool? According to Charlie Driscoll, it just might be. As a cinematographer, Charlie first saw UE5 as a wat to practice real-world filmmaking techniques—but it quickly became a game-changer for crafting professional-level cinematics. Through his YouTube channel, The Darkest Age, he’s pushing the limits of Metahumans, AI motion capture, and real-time rendering to create stunning short films and animation tests.In this episode, we break down why UE5 is revolutionising filmmaking, diving into Charlie’s fight scene cinematic, a masterclass in virtual action storytelling, and his zombie horde animation, where he brings large-scale crowds to life. We also discuss Move AI, a cutting-edge motion capture tool making high-quality animation more accessible than ever. With Unreal Engine 5, indie creators can now achieve high quality cinematics and tell stories without a massive budget. Charlie also shares his belief that if you’re a good filmmaker in real life, you’ll be a good one in Unreal Engine too, emphasising how the skills transfer seamlessly into the virtual world.If you’re passionate about the future of digital filmmaking, this episode is packed with insight. From crafting photo-realistic Metahumans to harnessing AI-driven animation, Charlie shares his process and why he believes Unreal Engine 5 is the most powerful tool for filmmakers today. Don't miss this deep dive into the future of virtual production!The VFX Process Podcast #60Getting Intimate With Your Industry!For the video podcast: click hereConnect with Charlie: click here

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Craig Caton-Largent, VFX artist and Chair of 3D Animation & VFX at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles, to discuss his incredible 45-year career in the VFX industry. Born in Portland, Oregon, Craig has contributed to over 100 films and collaborated with legendary directors like Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron. His journey began with creating animatronics and puppets for Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, Terminator 2, and other iconic blockbusters, working alongside industry icons like Stan Winston.Craig is most famous for bringing some of the most iconic creatures in Hollywood film history to life, including the Slimer ghosts in Ghostbusters (1984), the penguins in Batman Returns (1992), the raptors in Jurassic Park (1993), and the beloved E.T. puppet, which he cared for from 1994 until its retirement in 2010.As CGI began to revolutionise the industry, Craig thought his career might be over, but instead, he embraced the change. Thanks to his strong relationships with Stan Winston and James Cameron, Craig became the first employee at Digital Domain, the pioneering CGI studio. He co-founded the company and helped create one of the earliest performance capture stages. Later, Craig worked for Disney and DreamWorks, developing digital animation and character rigging systems.In this interview, Craig shares his experiences working on groundbreaking films, his thoughts on the rise of AI in VFX, and the creative process behind some of the most memorable characters in cinema.🔥 Topics Covered:➡️ Craig’s transition from practical effects to CGI➡️ Behind-the-scenes stories from Ghostbusters, Jurassic Park, and Terminator 2➡️ The founding of Digital Domain and his role in its success➡️ How AI is changing the VFX industry➡️ Craig's impact on VFX education and his work at NYFATune in for a fascinating conversation with a true VFX legend and a deep dive into the evolution of visual effects in Hollywood! 🎥💥The VFX Process Podcast #59Getting Intimate With Your Industry!For the video podcast: click here

In this episode, Jamie sits down with Rasmus Poulsen (aka Technouveau), a Copenhagen-based Art Director in the AAA games industry. With an impressive resume working on titles like Hitman, Kane & Lynch, and the upcoming Project 007, Rasmus has also built a name for himself as a sci-fi artist, crafting stunning Blender renders of futuristic ships and worlds.As a lifelong Star Wars and sci-fi fan, Rasmus began cyber-tuning vehicles, creating concept art, and photo-bashing before discovering Blender through tutorials by Jama Jurabaev and Ian Hubert. He later contributed to Big Medium Small, creating asset packs. Now, he shares his creative process, focusing on visual storytelling over technical mastery—inspiring 3D artists of all levels to push their creativity further.🔥 Topics Covered:➡️ How Rasmus approaches sci-fi world-building➡️ The balance between artistic vision and technical skill➡️ His journey from Star Wars-inspired projects to original creations➡️ Practical advice for Blender artists of all levelsDon’t miss this deep dive into the world of Technouveau and the power of Blender! 🚀The VFX Process Podcast #58Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Rasmus click hereFor the video podcast: click here

Jamie sits down with VFX artist and director Santiago Menghini to discuss the making of his incredible Unreal Engine short film, RALLY. This suspenseful, action-packed film marks Santiago's debut in Unreal Engine, showcasing his transition from traditional live-action filmmaking to the world of real-time animation.Originally intended as a live-action project, RALLY was shelved due to unforeseen circumstances—until Santiago discovered the power of Unreal Engine. With no prior animation experience, he dove into the software, determined to bring his vision to life. The result is a stunning film that has captivated audiences, racking up nearly 1 million views on YouTube.Thanks to Unreal Engine’s cutting-edge Metahumans and Santiago’s expertise in directing and cinematography, RALLY comes alive with cinematic realism and intense visual storytelling. This conversation dives deep into the challenges and triumphs of learning animation from scratch while pushing the boundaries of VFX and filmmaking in the digital realm.The VFX Process Podcast #57Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Santiago click hereWatch RALLY click hereFor the video podcast: click here

Join VFX artist and filmmaker Calvin Romeyn as he takes you behind the scenes of his ambitious Unreal Engine short film, Firmware. This groundbreaking project, which took two years to create, marked Calvin’s first time using Unreal Engine. Despite being new to the platform, Calvin utilised advanced tools like Metahumans for lifelike faces and motion capture with actors to create thrilling action sequences—mastering techniques that challenge even seasoned pros.With a career that includes working as a VFX artist on four Star Wars films and many other blockbusters, Calvin brought his expertise to Firmware, which was picked up by the YouTube channel DUST and has since garnered over 1.6 million views. The film also earned recognition, winning Best Sound at the Leo Awards in British Columbia.Now the founder of his own company, Niche VFX, Calvin is sharing the highs, challenges, and creative insights from this incredible journey. Whether you’re passionate about Unreal Engine, VFX, or filmmaking, this is your chance to learn from one of the best in the business!The VFX Process Podcast #56Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Calvin click hereWatch FIRMWARE click hereFor the video podcast: click here

In this episode, VFX artist MX Bell takes us behind the scenes of his incredible work as a VFX art director on Deadpool and Wolverine! Working alongside acclaimed director Shawn Levy and visionary production designer Raymond Chang, Martin utilised the power of Unreal Engine to revolutionise the creative process.We explore how Unreal Engine helped visualise the stunning sets of Deadpool and Wolverine, turning ambitious ideas into cinematic reality. Learn how MX Bell collaborated with the team to bring their concepts to life, pushing the boundaries of technology and storytelling. Whether you’re a fan of VFX, Unreal Engine, or the Marvel universe, this is an episode you won’t want to miss!The VFX Process Podcast #55Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Support GIBLETS: click hereConnect With MX Bell click hereFor the video podcast: click here

Join Nikodem Bredlich, also known as DemNikoArt, as he shares his insights into Blender 3D filmmaking and the secrets behind his efficiency in creating high-quality animations. In this video, Niko breaks down the process of crafting his latest Mega Man 3D fan film, Mavericks Episode 5, offering an in-depth look at how passion and careful planning come together to bring his vision to life. Whether you're a seasoned animator or just starting in the world of Blender, this video is packed with inspiration and practical tips.Fresh off his talk at Blender Con 2024, Niko dives into the key strategies that keep his filmmaking process smooth and efficient. From time-saving workflows to his favourite go-to Blender add-ons, he reveals the tools and techniques that have helped him save hours on production without compromising quality. His insights are invaluable for anyone looking to optimise their process while maintaining creative integrity.Niko shares his journey, reflects on the challenges and joys of creating fan films, and provides actionable advice for anyone wanting to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Blender. Whether you’re here for filmmaking tips, Blender tricks, or a love of Mega Man, there’s something for everyone in this breakdown of Mavericks Episode 5.The VFX Process Podcast #54Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Niko: click hereSupport Niko: click hereWatch Mavericks Ep 5: click hereFor the video podcast: click here

In this episode, VFX graduates Sondre Fagerborg and Sebastian Sveen, who attended Kristiania University College in Norway, take you behind the scenes of their ambitious bachelor project, Cryo Odyssey—a fully CG sci-fi short that showcases their mastery of Hollywood-level VFX compositing. Sondre and Sebastian dive into the challenges and creative choices involved in bringing Cryo Odyssey to life, exploring the techniques they learned in their VFX Bachelor course and applied with advanced Nuke software to achieve cinematic results.In addition to their collaborative work on Cryo Odyssey, each shares insights into their individual university projects. Sondre discusses The Suit, a live-action project enriched with VFX compositing to create stunning visual effects, while Sebastian reflects on The Cannon, another live-action production transformed through high-level VFX compositing.Discover how their university projects not only refined their skills but also prepared them for success in the VFX industry. Their hard work paid off—Sondre and Sebastian both landed their dream VFX compositing jobs right out of university, ready to tackle Hollywood-level projects. If you're a VFX student, a compositing enthusiast, or just curious about the power of visual effects, this deep dive into their journey will inspire and inform you!The VFX Process Podcast #53Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Connect With Sondre: click hereConnect With Sebastianl click hereFor the video podcast: click here