Santa Monica Studio’s Post

The #vfx bus has been parked on the side of the road for the past 8 months. Tires are flat. Doors creak. Someone left a window open. Battery is dead. It's a bit of a mess. But as the lights start coming back up on the movie and television industry - folks are starting think about what it is going to take to get that bus back up and running. Fill those seats with artists. Pump up the tires. Dust off the pipeline. Get the engine to turn over and start humming again. I've been calling it the Great VFX Ramp Up. And we've been fortunate enough to help a small handful of VFX studios start to map out various "what if" scenarios. Projects. Award sizes. Start dates. Tax credits. Capacity planning and revenue forecasts. There are literally hundreds of different possible outcomes. VFX studios are starting to bid out future projects but there are so many unknowns and "what ifs". Is everyone going to undercut each other? How soon can they start to rehire staff? What if they get the full award? Or a partial award? Are all of these projects going to hit at the same time? Sharing a video sneak peek at how VFX 'R Us (our fictional VFX studio) is planning and preparing for this ramp up. We've modelled out three projects - House of the Dragon, Stranger Things and the next season of Orphan Black - and included simulations for different award amounts, imported in actual bid days per department, and factored in delayed turnovers, possible reshoots, and artist needs. Just scratching the surface but enjoying the opportunity to help companies better forecast the future and make timely, well thought out strategic decisions. Let's get that bus back on the road and fill up those seats. https://lnkd.in/gcAsxq5P

Effective Direction in VFX-heavy projects is pivotal. Godzilla Minus One production underscored how solid direction and communication can streamline complex workflows, making challenging projects more manageable for artists. It's a testament to the power of collaborative environments in fostering creativity and efficiency in the demanding world of visual effects. For a deeper dive into this topic, I recommend checking out the article. P.s Great example is Denis Villeneuve’s team work on Dune. #director #vfx #Teamwork

The entertainment industry is facing a challenging period with the recent SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and WAG (Writers Guild) strikes. While these actions seek to improve the rights and working conditions of actors and writers, they ripple through the entire industry. As a professional in the VFX (Visual Effects) sector, I've witnessed firsthand the impact on our jobs. Production delays and uncertainty have caused a shift in project timelines, affecting VFX studios and professionals. Despite the challenges, resilience and collaboration are the industry's strengths. Let's adapt, support our colleagues, and continue creating captivating visuals that enrich storytelling. Together, we'll navigate these turbulent waters. 🎥💪 #vfx #entertainmentindustry #SAGWAGStrike #vfxartist #vfxstudio

The Great VFX Ramp Up. In the shadow of the recent writer's strike, the #vfx industry faces a period of unprecedented uncertainty and challenge. Studios, from giants to smaller outfits, to even brand new companies inspired by the opportunity, are all bracing for what we're calling "The Great Ramp Up"—a period of production activity and rebuilding expected to follow the current stagnation. And it has been rough. Many studios expanded rapidly during the boom times, taking on considerable debt with the expectation of continuous growth. Now, faced with the reality of the strike's prolonged effects, these studios find themselves struggling to "pay the mortgage." The inevitable result has been a scaling back of teams—far more than many would have preferred—to maintain solvency. The other concern? Studios and VFX Producers worry that when production does resume, it will all start at once. Instead of overlapping shows at different stages of post, instead the risk is multiple projects overwhelming the early stages of production while leaving downstream departments idle, awaiting their turn in the production pipeline. When to hire? How long will the ramp-up last? What about training and leadership? In this video, we highlight how a fictitious VFX studio, VFX 'R Us, uses our tech to project out various award, schedule, staffing and capacity scenarios for the upcoming season of House of the Dragon, Stranger Things, and Orphan Black. The key to navigating this landscape lies in strategic planning and adaptability. Instead of looking at a single scenario, we give you the ability to look at dozens, if not hundreds, of possible "what if" outcomes and better plan and prepare you, your team, and your cash flow, for the inevitable surge. https://lnkd.in/gVhNKEnz

# BLOG POST 01 🎬Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes in VFX Production? Here’s a glimpse into the day-to-day activities of our dedicated department! 🌟 📧EMAILS & SCHEDULING: Start the day by managing emails and scheduling meetings. 🗄️TASK MANAGEMENT: Prioritize and tackle daily tasks while overviewing weekly tasks and priorities. 💻BRIEFING WITH LEADS AND SUPERVISORS: Kick off by briefing the art and visual effects requirements for shots and assets. 📽️PRESENTING DAILIES WITH ARTISTS’ SHOTS/ASSETS: Gather a playlist in Flow Production Tracking (Formerly ShotGrid), introduce shots and take action notes respectively. 🙌🏻INTERDEPARTMENTAL COORDINATION: Facilitate communication and problem-solving between various art departments. 👩🏻💻CLIENT MEETINGS: Prepare for client meetings with shots and assets for client reviews, ensure alignment and be attentive to address any issues. 📈PROGRESS TRACKING: Monitor and update tasks by updating task statuses and deadlines. 📝To learn more about how a VFX Production Department functions to fuel huge productions - Join my VFX Production Career Bootcamp : https://buff.ly/4efj6we ⁉️Feel free to reach out to me for more questions. . . . #VFX #VisualEffects #Filmmaking #BTS #ProductionLife #MovieMagic #TeamWork #CreativeProcess

I am excited to share my VFX Compositor Showreel! 🌟 It emphasizes my journey in visual effects. Diving deep into the realms of visual storytelling, I've selected my best work that demonstrates my enthusiasm for producing immersive visual effects. #VFX #VisualEffects #Compositor #Nuke #AfterEffects #Showreel #CreativeCommunity"

Absolutely! There's more to it and cost implications to both sides of course but ultimately, VFX supes are here to help. Our job is to help SAVE THE FILM MONEY by ensuring things are done in such a way that you don't end up with a huge vfx bill at the end. Something as simple as moving that cable in the bg 1 foot to the right.... or shifting one tracking marker on the background that's behind that actress's hair...could save you $$ in cleanup. You have to weigh up the costs both ways but yes often... doing a small tweak could ultimately save you $$. (Larger stuff can sometimes have large cost implications on set so there has to be a balance)

🎥 Life in VFX: Where's the Next Adventure? Chatting with my dad today, he was stoked to hear the strikes were wrapping up and threw a classic dad question my way – "So, how do you get your next VFX gig?" Honestly dad, I don't know, it's different everytime. As a VFX Supervisor, the 'where' and 'how' of landing the next project is a bit of a mixtape – different tune each time. 🌴 LA Showrunners & The Vancouver Vibe: Sometimes (and almost always preferably) you get brough on early in the prep of a series of feature directly at the studio level. Being based up here in Vancouver while the showrunners are soaking up the sun in LA can be a bit like shouting across a canyon. But hey, it's all about making sure your echo carries. 🤝 Old Pals, New Gigs: Sometimes it's the local PMs or those cool (and almost always attarctive) post supervisors that I've worked with before. Getting the band back together. 🔄 The Referral Boomerang: Most often it seems to be those solid gold recs from other VFX pals who are too swamped to take on more. Of course thats just Production Side, not even counting the Vendor side which is its own wooly animal. So, what's the secret sauce? A little bit of who you know, a sprinkle of right place-right time, and a whole lot of just rolling with it. Curious about how you all find your way through the VFX jungle – hit me up with your stories! #VFXLife #CareerPaths #Networking #BehindTheScenes #VFXCommunity