The VFX Process

In this episode, we sit down with 3D artist Trent Fortune to explore his innovative work in recreating a scene from X-Men '97 using Unreal Engine. Trent shares his expertise on how this project, designed as a Previs exercise, demonstrates Unreal Engine's potential for revolutionizing Previs in animation and filmmaking.

Trent’s animation software of choice is Maya, where he modeled, rigged, and animated his X-Men character. He explains the process of importing a 3D character from Maya into Unreal Engine.

We’ll delve into the essential role of Previsualisation (Previz) in the filmmaking process, discussing its significance in the 3D pipeline and how it enhances creative decision-making and production efficiency.

Trent Fortune, a 3D animator based in Atlanta, Georgia, began his career in finals animation with notable projects like Cats and Finch. He has since transitioned to the realm of Previs and Postvis, contributing to major Marvel productions such as Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Doctor Strange, The Marvels, and She-Hulk. Join us as Trent offers a behind-the-scenes look at his career and the future of Previs in the industry.

The VFX Process Podcast #48

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, we sit down with Christopher Rutledge, an innovative CG artist and filmmaker, to explore his unique approach to creating stunning animations. Known for his exceptional use of SideFX's Houdini, Chris takes us behind the scenes of his creative process, showcasing the making of several of his captivating short films. While Houdini is typically recognized as a go-to tool for blockbuster VFX, Chris explains why it's his software of choice for animation, proving that Houdini can do so much more than just big movie effects.

Chris delves into the future of Houdini, sharing insights on how the software is positioning itself to revolutionize the entire CG pipeline. With proceduralism at its core, Houdini is not only a powerhouse for creating complex simulations but also a versatile tool that’s set to dominate the animation and CG industry. Chris's perspective offers a glimpse into the potential of Houdini as it continues to expand its influence beyond traditional VFX into all areas of 3D content creation.

Currently, Chris is collaborating with a group of talented artists and SideFX to create an animated short film entirely in Houdini 20.5. This ambitious project is designed to stress test Houdini for the entire filmmaking and animation process, pushing the software to its limits and exploring new possibilities for the future of CG production.

Don’t miss out on this deep dive into the world of Houdini and discover how Chris is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in CG with Houdini.

The VFX Process Podcast #48

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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AJ Jefferies (MOONJAM) is a multi-disciplinary digital artist, illustrator, retoucher, character designer, animator, and director. He has been creating images, characters, and animations for the advertising, gaming, and entertainment industries since 2001.

In this episode, AJ dives into making his 3D animated short films Peas and Horse, fueled by wacky ideas and a desire to learn new 3D animation technology.

AJ, a versatile 3D Generalist, explains the chaotic yet creative nature of the job. We also discuss his involvement with The Monster Project, which helps children recognize the power of their imaginations and pursue their creative potential.

And don't miss AJ's story about making a tiny Ryan Gosling from The Fall Guy, which started as a 3D illustration for Empire Magazine and escalated into physical versions.

This episode offers great insights into working as a 3D Generalist, making animated short films, and having fun as a 3D artist.

The VFX Process Podcast #47

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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In this episode, Julian Glander dives deep into the making of Boys Go to Jupiter. Self-produced and self-financed, the film was animated entirely using Blender 3D software. Julian explains why Blender was the perfect software for this project and praises the Blender 3D community for their support. He shares the highs and lows of producing a feature-length animation in Blender over the course of five years.

Julian Glander is a 3D artist and animator who uses Blender. He has directed projects for Adult Swim, Disney, HBO Max, and Cartoon Network. He is also well-known for his cult hit video game ART SQOOL and his 3D illustrations, which frequently appear in the New York Times and New Yorker. His debut feature film, Boys Go to Jupiter, recently premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.

Boys Go to Jupiter is billed as a surreal animated coming-of-age story, brought to life in Glander’s trademark 3D visual style and sonic palette. The film follows a week in the life of a teenager in suburban Florida as he hustles through a series of bizarre gig economy errands.

The film features a voice cast of comedy and musical talent, including Jack Corbett, Elsie Fisher, Tabi Gevinson, Julio Torres, Sarah Sherman, Joe Pera, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Miya Folick, Chris Fleming, Cole Escola, River L. Ramirez, Eva Victor, Demi Adejuyigbe, and Max Wittert.

The VFX Process Podcast #46

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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Vikki & Niels discuss starting YONK, an animation studio utilising VR sculpting with Blender to create unique and playful character designs and animations.

"Hello there! We are YONK, the 3D animation studio that specialises in using Virtual Reality Sculpting software to craft visually striking artworks, animations and character designs. Our innovative approach to this technology has resulted in a unique style that seamlessly combines raw, childlike sculpting with polished, vibrant veneers. Our goal is to break free from traditional 3D norms and craft work that's playful, maximalist and delightfully strange." - YONK ONLINE

In this episode, Vikki Young and Niels van der Donk discuss starting their Netherlands-based animation studio, YONK, and their decision to use VR sculpting as the cornerstone of their creativity.

Discover how YONK produces unique and captivating animations with VR sculpting in Blender, accelerating their creative process by tenfold.

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how they crafted a puppet rig in Blender using VR and designed an innovative car rig powered by geometry nodes and an Xbox controller.

This episode offers great insights into using VR as a creative tool, the power of Blender 3D, and developing a unique artistic style.

The VFX Process Podcast #45

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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SouthernShotty is widely known in the 3D community for his unique character designs and his Blender tutorials on YouTube. Shotty started teaching Blender skills to the community four years ago and is now one of the go-to content creators for those wanting to make 3D animated films.

In this episode, SouthernShotty shares the process of creating his animated short film "Watermelon Girl," made using Blender with a little help from After Effects and the Adobe Substance suite. After failing many times to complete this project, Shotty reveals how he finally made it to the finish line, covering the creative process of producing a 3D film in Blender. He focuses on scalability, character design, asset reuse, and the importance of feedback from the Blender community. He also delves into the challenges, learnings, and advice for aspiring artists and filmmakers.

Produced by a single animator, "Watermelon Girl" tells the story of a girl born from a watermelon seed in a departed king's stomach. A stunning journey begins, with an art style inspired by hand-made arts and crafts.

Looking to create your own films in Blender? Check out this ultimate guide to solo filmmaking. Learn about animation, production, design, and all the tips you need to create animated short films by yourself with the help of SouthernShotty.

The VFX Process Podcast #44

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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Jess Wiseman, a 3D animator and designer based in the UK, shares her journey from painting portraits to working with brands and individuals to bring their creative ideas to life. She started by entering competitions and cold emailing potential clients, offering her work for free to overcome her lack of experience. Her strategy paid off when she received a reply from YouTube superstar KSI and went on to create artwork for him to promote his boxing match with Logan Paul.

Jess shares her experience of learning animation and 3D design through real projects using Blender. She talks about how she took on a job to create animations for Pop Smoke's album visuals, even though she had no prior experience in animation. This forced her to quickly learn Blender and overcome beginner struggles. She also discusses her journey of working with brands like Notwoways, KSI, The Sidemen, and Vandy The Pink, among many others, creating photorealistic visuals of their products using Blender.

Jess is using her Blender 3D skills to create a brand called Figuregot. The brand combines digital collectible art with physical products. She explains the process of creating animations and visuals for the brand and discusses her process of creating shaders and materials in Blender, emphasising the importance of paying attention to real-world objects and references. She also talks about the potential future directions for her brand, including animations, streetwear, and digital/physical collectibles.

This episode provides great insight into building a portfolio as a young artist, using Blender to create photorealistic visuals, the controversy behind NFTs, and how to start your own brand with no start-up cost, utilising free 3D software.

The VFX Process Podcast #43

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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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=shared

Josh’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 #42

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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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 #41

Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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Hollywood Stunt Coordinator Dave Macomber discusses previsualising a fight sequence for David Fincher's 'The Killer' and his latest Unreal Engine project.

Meet Dave Macomber, an award-winning stunt/fight coordinator and second unit director in the film industry. With a passion for Visual Effects (VFX), Dave seamlessly incorporates VFX elements into his stunt visualisations, providing a comprehensive template for the crew.

Having worked on iconic blockbusters like Transformers, HBO's Watchmen, and numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe films, Dave's expertise shines through. Just a glance at his IMDB page showcases his impressive portfolio.

In his latest project for David Fincher's 'The Killer', Dave coordinated a gripping 6-minute fight sequence shot mostly in darkness. Join him as he shares insights into collaborating with David Fincher, labelling it 'the most intimidating thing I've ever done in my career'.

'Killer vs Brute' exemplifies Dave's mastery in delivering high-impact action sequences.

Venturing into Unreal Engine filmmaking during his spare time, Dave's creativity knows no bounds. Last year, he unveiled 'The Ronin', his first Unreal Engine short film, showcasing a fight scene performed entirely by himself, using Rokoko motion capture technology. Now, with 'The Widow: Assassins Highway', Dave enlists a team of MARVEL stunt performers to help him capture the stunts and elevate the action.

This episode offers a captivating glimpse into the VFX pipeline, Hollywood stunt process, and Unreal Engine filmmaking.

The VFX Process... Getting Intimate With Your Industry!

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