The VFX Process

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

Jamie chats with Jack Hyde about how his unique stop-motion animations have carved a niche in skateboarding culture.Jack reveals that his career took off overnight after Thrasher Magazine picked up his first skateboarding stop-motion post. This recognition led to high demand from skateboarding brands such as DC Shoes, Vans, Volcom, Primitive, and many more.Jamie and Jack delve into the process of his passion project, Pen Pals, which showcases how collaboration with people globally can still result in producing amazing art. Pen Pals is a joint effort with Chris Ray, the founder of Motion Clubhouse and a legendary skateboarding videographer from California who works for DC Shoes. Chris provides the footage, and Jack works his magic with animation, along with a handful of guest artists, including Poppy Starr Olson, a professional skateboarder and Australia.Jack also touches on the subjects of social media, plagiarism, and burnout.The VFX ProcessGetting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Watch 'Pen Pals' click hereJacks Website click hereFor the video podcast click here

Jamie sits down with Arthur Baum as he candidly shares the highs and lows of transitioning to Unreal Engine from the perspective of a Director of Photography (DoP), highlighting how this shift has finally granted him the freedom to tell the stories he is passionate about. Arthur, a seasoned DoP, has ascended the ranks on film sets, embracing any role that came his way.We delve into Arthur's Unreal Engine film, 'Voyage' – a short that takes you on a daydreaming adventure with visuals that are truly out of this world. We also get a glimpse of Arthur's upcoming Unreal Engine series, 'How To Kill a God,' in which he is using AI tools in the workflow to help bring it to life.The VFX ProcessGetting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Arthurs Website click hereFor the video podcast click here

Jamie chats with Jim Geduldick about how Virtual Production and AI technologies are transforming the VFX and Film industry. Jim is a visionary Virtual Production and VFX supervisor whose curiosity for technology has catapulted him from an action sports cinematographer to the forefront of cutting-edge cinema techniques.As a self-confessed tech nerd and even a consultant for AI software, Jim shares his predictions for the future of VFX and Filmmaking. Together, they explore Virtual Production technology, Unreal Engine, how to be a good VFX supervisor, the controversial topic of AI, and even a little bit of skateboarding!The VFX ProcessGetting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Jim's Work click hereorFor the video podcast click here

Jamie sits down with Sam Balcomb to discuss the virtual production process that breathed life into his remarkable short films, 'Evenveil' and 'Metroid: The Sky Calls.''Evenveil' is a fantasy short film that takes place in a vast world but was cleverly shot in a confined space on a small green screen, showcasing the true power of virtual production. 'Metroid: The Sky Calls' is a fan film inspired by an iconic 80s video game that garnered 3 million views on YouTube.Sam is a writer, director, and one of the co-founders of Rainfall Films, a VFX powerhouse based in Burbank, California. He reflects on the challenges of launching his own company back in the early 2000s and reveals the crucial adaptations they had to make to remain relevant in the ever-evolving industry.The VFX ProcessGetting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Sam's Work click hereorFor the video podcast click here

Jamie speaks with Ewald Vorster, a talented video editor from South Africa now based in Portland, Oregon, who made a daring career change into the world of Unreal Engine! Ewald's journey from Red Bull Motorsports video editor to CG Spectrum and ultimately to the creation of his thrilling short film, "Menace," is nothing short of inspirational.We delve into the creative process behind "Menace," an Unreal Engine short film that features a heart-pounding chase scene involving a motorbike and two police cars. Ewald takes us behind the scenes and reveals how he utilised the Unreal Engine take recorder to create this adrenaline-pumping cinematic experience.He shares the challenges he faced and discusses the creative freedom that Unreal Engine offers to artists like him. He also shares how he became a teaching assistant for CG Spectrum while studying there.The VFX ProcessGetting Intimate With Your Industry!Accompanying media:Ewalds Work click hereorFor the video podcast click here