April 24, 2025

Episode 2x13 - Austin Baur | The Intersection of VFX & Storytelling

59 minutes

Welcome to Trilith Institute Talks! In this episode of Trilith Institute Talks, host Hunter Barcroft discusses the intersection of storytelling and visual effects with guest Austin Baur, a filmmaker with experience in VFX, animation, and color grading. Joined by film students Andres and Baker, the conversation covers practical filmmaking on a budget, the evolution of visual effects technology, and the future of the film industry in terms of smaller, more efficient teams. Austin highlights his career journey from a VFX artist to a director, emphasizing the importance of creativity and decisiveness in the filmmaking process. Episode Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Trilith Institute Talks 00:50 Meet the Guests: Austin Baur and Film Students 02:06 Austin Baur's Journey in the Film Industry 05:21 Challenges and Growth in Visual Effects 07:46 Innovative VFX Techniques and Practical Effects 10:12 CT Cantina and Taqueria: A Culinary Experience 22:10 Andres' Thesis Film: Ambitious VFX on a Budget 27:02 Future of Filmmaking: Technology and AI 31:57 Unexpected Career Shift: From VFX to Color Grading 32:46 Challenges of Color Science and Display Technology 33:44 Practical Effects vs. Digital: A Filmmaker's Dilemma 36:12 The Evolution of Visual Effects in Filmmaking 43:25 The Rise of Small Teams in High-Quality Productions 53:31 The Future of Filmmaking: Technology and Collaboration 57:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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