The VFX Process

Joshua Toonen discusses his VFX journey and his mission to push the limits of Unreal Engine's filmmaking and visual effects capabilities.Joshua Toonen is a seasoned VFX artist with 8 years of experience in the film industry, contributing to blockbuster films like Alien: Covenant, Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse, and Star Wars, among others.In 2020, Josh embarked on a personal project, creating 'Stay,' a short film/music video inspired by 'The Last of Us.' In this episode, he shares his journey and the creative process behind this remarkable project.Recently, Josh transitioned into the world of Unreal Engine and virtual production. He worked as an virtual production supervisor on the sets of Avatar: The Last Airbender and Star Trek: Discovery, igniting his passion for Unreal Engine. Determined to push its boundaries, he set out to recreate a scene from Dune: Part One entirely in Unreal Engine within 24 hours, documenting the entire process on his YouTube channel. https://youtu.be/-syj6kFf6e4?feature=sharedJosh’s latest challenge is a Godzilla sequence, exploring the question, "How can we achieve everything within Unreal Engine?" He is streaming the entire process live on his YouTube channel, titled The Godzilla Masterclass.The VFX Process Podcast #42Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Discover Joshua Toonen click hereFor the video podcast click here

Olov Burman, a multi-award-winning director, discusses his journey, unique characters, and projects ranging from Cartoon Network to Tenacious D.Olov Burman, an animation director from Sweden, travels the globe while collaborating with networks of artists and clients worldwide. He has harboured a passion for animation and visual storytelling since a young age, and throughout his professional career, he has been involved in over 200 animated film productions, often serving as Creative Director, Storyboard Artist, or Animator.Olov has worked in various techniques such as 3D, 2D, and Stop Motion. Currently, he freelances as a Director, assisting clients in developing ideas and creating pitch material for diverse film productions.In this episode, Olov guides us through a range of projects, starting from his early days animating for Cartoon Network, directing animation for Tenacious D's 'Video Games,' and culminating in his latest personal project: expanding his viral short film 'The Food Thief' into a 12-minute version, as demanded by fans.Join us as we delve deep into the work of Olov Burman and discover how he pushes the limits of animation with his unique 3D character rigs and unmistakable style.The VFX Process Podcast #41Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Discover Olov Burman click hereFor the video podcast click here

Award-winning stunt coordinator Dave Macomber shares insights on pre-visualizing a fight sequence for David Fincher, his work on iconic blockbusters, and his venture into Unreal Engine filmmaking. He discusses the challenges of choreographing complex fight scenes, balancing creativity with practicality, and using motion capture technology in VFX production. Additionally, he highlights the importance of trust and teamwork in executing daring movie stunts.

The VFX Process Podcast #39Jamie chats with THUMBS about building his brand focused on pop culture and how he was commissioned by Mark Hoppus of Blink 182.Nick Thompson, also known as THUMBS, is a West London-based artist who has built his brand through a love for 80's and 90's pop culture. His work includes paintings, prints, apparel, and collectible toys, filled with an incredibly nostalgic feel by breathing new life into his favourite pop culture icons, including The Simpsons, Marvel, DC, Disney and many others.THUMBS also integrates a significant musical presence into some of his designs, combining pop culture characters with artists such as MF Doom, Beastie Boys, Biggie Smalls, and Blink 182.We delve into how Nick built THUMBS Art & Design from stickers in a skate shop to the globally recognised brand and family business it is today. THUMBS has showcased his art in exhibitions around the world and has been fortunate to collaborate with brands such as Virgin Galactic, Xbox, Hello Kitty, Deadmau5, Looney Tunes and even the Chicago Bulls.We discuss how Nick utilises social media as an artist/brand, how he has perfected pop culture characters in his art, and how he navigates copyright issues with his designs, which prominently feature multiple intellectual properties (IPs).As a huge fan of Blink 182, Nick designed a limited edition poster combining The Simpsons with the cover of Blink's legendary live album 'The Mark, Tom & Travis Show'. This led to the bass player, Mark Hoppus, becoming a fan of THUMBS, purchasing a print, and later commissioning Nick to design a bass guitar for their 2023 world tour.The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Discover THUMBS click hereFor the video podcast click here

The VFX Process Podcast #38Patrick 4D shares his 3D process, discusses how he utilises social media as an artist.Patrick Foley is a 3D artist who specialises in creating photorealistic food. Utilising a combination of ZBrush, Cinema 4D and Octane, he has earned legendary status in the 3D world through his daily Instagram reels, showcasing the process behind his remarkable food renders that have claimed him the name 'The Digital Chef.'What began as a 3D artist having fun transformed into Patrick securing high-profile clients eager to feature his photorealistic food renders on their product packaging. Patrick owes all his professional 3D opportunities to social media, emphasising that Instagram functions as a live portfolio and should be viewed as a means of branding yourself online.Showcasing his ZBrush skills daily on social media led to Patrick's invitation to the official ZBrush Summit, and he regularly hosts live streams titled 'Cooking With Patrick' on the ZBrush YouTube Channel.Streaming daily on his Discord server, Patrick creates unique 3D food renders in real time, later showcasing them as his daily Instagram reels. Also... we throw in a challenge! Patrick 4D is tasked with creating one of his 3D food renders within just 10 minutes, and he does not disappoint!This episode provides valuable insights into achieving success as a 3D artist, building an online community, and mastering the art of photorealistic 3D modelling and texturing.The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Discover Patrick 4D click hereFor the video podcast click here

The VFX Process Podcast #37Jamie chats with Faruk Heplevent, the brilliant mind behind The Scope, a ground-breaking fully CGI automotive launch company.Faruk began his journey as a globetrotting car photographer, capturing iconic images for the world's leading car brands, all on traditional film. However, faced with the rise of CGI, Faruk encountered a career crossroads. Undeterred, he founded The Scope, pioneering the creation of jaw-droppingly realistic CGI car renders that have become a staple for high-end automotive product launches.Faruk introduces us to Scope City, an innovative tool that revolutionises the industry by procedurally generating cities. This cutting-edge technology, powered by a combination of V-Ray 6, Maya, and Houdini software, enables clients to showcase their latest cars in meticulously crafted urban landscapes.Dive deep into Faruk's past as a car photographer, as he unveils the painstaking process required to capture a single shot on film. Gain insights into the challenges that paved the way for his evolution into the world of CGI cars.Don't miss Faruk's exclusive reveal of his top 5 tips for creating photo-realistic car renders. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring CG artist, these invaluable insights will elevate your craft to new heights!The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Discover 'The Scope' click hereFor the video podcast click here

TVP Podcast #36 | Jamie chats with Alireza 'Mehran' Fattahi about his viral BATMAN cinematics. Discover how he brought THE DARK KNIGHT to life using the power of UNREAL ENGINE.Ali, also knows as Mehran is an Unreal Engine artist based in Iran. He reflects on his journey since creating his first Batman cinematic just one year ago. Little did he know, the response would be monumental! Now, after a series of cinematics, Mehran is gearing up to make 'BATMAN: GOTHAM RENEGADE', a 15-minute Batman short, unleashing the full potential of Unreal Engine.Get an exclusive peek at Mehran's insanely detailed Batman rig, born from the fusion of Z Brush, Maya and Unreal Engine tools. Dive deep into Mehran's Unreal Engine journey as he reveals how Unreal Engine 4 was a game-changer, shaping and revolutionising his artistic path.Explore Mehran's unique take on Batman and uncover what makes his rendition of The Dark Knight stand out in the vast cinematic universe of Batman. And finally, brace yourself for the ultimate question: 'WHO IS THE BEST BATMAN?' Mehran tackles the controversy head-on, sharing his perspective on this age-old debate.This episode is a unique window into Unreal Engine filmmaking, using your strengths as a creator and how to make a fan film stand out from the rest.The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Watch 'Batman Cinematics' click hereFor the video podcast click here

TVP Podcast #35 | Brent Forrest discusses the creation of 'Samurai Frog Golf,' the award-winning 3D animation produced by the Japanese studio 'Marza Animation Planet.'Brent, a Canadian-born animator currently residing in Tokyo, is employed by the acclaimed animation studio Marza Animation Planet. We delve into Brent's independent filmmaking career, where he has crafted 3D short animations such as 'Crack' and 'Like & Follow,' collaborating with his creative partner Tobias Schlage. (Forrest-Schlage)His latest action packed 3D animated short, 'Samurai Frog Golf,' was acquired by the studio 'Marza Animation Planet.' Brent discusses the differences between producing a film independently and collaborating with a studio.Brent reflects on his early days as an animator in the early 2000s, when he worked for the Canadian animation studio Red Rover. He progressed from the coffee run to instructing all the 2D animators on how to use Maya, ultimately leading to the development of Canadas first Disney 3D TV show.This episode offers a unique perspective on pushing the boundaries as an animator, exploring Japanese animation style, the early days of animation, and contrasting indie filmmaking with studio work.Accompanying media:Watch 'Samurai Frog Golf' click hereFor the video podcast click here

TVP Podcast #34 | Jamie chats with Shane Spence about creating his Unreal Engine short cinematic, 'The View'—an emotional story of love, loss, and closure.Shane is a freelance CG artist specialising in product design, but he has recently started experimenting with Unreal Engine, not only to add another tool to his arsenal but to create something more cinematic.We delve into the process behind 'The View,' which began with Shane following an Unreal Engine tutorial but ended up developing it into an emotional cinematic love story, all set against a mountain view backdrop.This episode is a unique window into filmmaking, perfecting realism and learning Unreal Engine to create cinematics.Accompanying media:Watch 'The View' click hereFor the video podcast click here

TVP Podcast #33 | Jamie sits down with award-winning filmmaker Gökalp Gönen to chat about his unique animated filmmaking process and his vision for a transformative future.Based in Turkey, Gökalp Gönen has made a name for himself with acclaimed short films such as 'Golden Shot,' 'Avarya,' and 'Lal.'He takes us behind the scenes of his latest masterpiece, 'Lal,' unravelling the process of bringing his short films to life. As a dedicated user of Maya software, he opens up about the challenges that come with managing a large animation team and why he finds fulfilment in working with a smaller, more agile group.Interestingly, Gökalp envisions a future where he can embrace solo filmmaking aided by AI, addressing the downsides of prolonged computer use. This episode is a unique window into directing animation, filmmaking, the impact of technology on health, and the possibilities that lie ahead in the world of solo filmmaking enhanced by AI.Accompanying media:Watch 'LAL' click hereFor the video podcast click here