careers talk about how to get into the VFX or visual effects industry. Some signposting to resources, useful contacts and films to illustrate opportunities

1. Careers in Visual Effects (VFX) – where
art and technology collide
Yen Yau
Talent Development Manager
Into Film
With
Professor Jeff Baggott
Arts University of Bournemouth
3 September2014
Cambridge Film Festival

2. Into Film is an education charity
that seeks to put film at the heart
of children and young people’s
learning and cultural experience.
www.infofilm.org

3. What is VFX?
Visual effects is a marriage of art,
science, maths and technology
• VFX
• Feature animation
• Games
• Virtualisation

4. Film Full Value Chain
• Research and Development, including Writing,
Pitching, Finding Finance
• Pre-Production: Production is definitely on and
preparations are made
• Production or Shoot: Filming
• Post-Production or Post: Editing of sound,
vision and visual effects
• Distribution and Exhibition, which may be the
crucial part of the process -marketing the film;
getting it shown and watched.

5. The Gen Report
Visual effects, the fastest growing component
of the UK’s film industry, grew at an explosive
16.8 per cent between 2006 and 2008.
The annual revenue of the British VFX industry
is expected to reach £600 million in 2014
A recent introduction of tax incentives from
the European Commission will see a £188
million investment for Britain’s games
development sector
Since 2007, tax relief has provided more than
£800 million worth of support for more than
800 British films with a combined production
value of £5.5 million

6. VFX and SFX

7. Getting on – the VFX skills spectrum
.

8. Where is the science?

9. Developing a Portfolio
2D Compositing
• NUKE – The award-winning tool for visual
effects and the industry’s standard software
• Adobe Photoshop – For matte painting and
compositing for accurate image editing.
• Adobe After Effects – A digital motion
graphics, visual effects and compositing tool,
used in post-production for film and television
production.

10. 3D VFX
• Autodesk Maya – 3D computer
animation, modeling, visual effects and
rendering software tool.
• Autodesk Mudbox – Computer-based
3D sculpting and digital painting tool.
• ZBrush – 3D/2.5D modeling, texturing
and digital painting tool.

11. Other resources
• The Core Skills of VFX
http://www.skillset.org/animation/qualifications/article_8377_1.asp
• Breakdown showreels
http://www.artofvfx.com/?p=6591
http://www.moving-picture.com/showreels/vfx-breakdowns/
http://vimeo.com/milkvfx
• Individual Career Profiles and Case studies
• http://www.dneg.com/career_profiles/

12. The VFX Core Skills Primer
1. Where are you on the VFX SPECTRUM?
2. VFX is a TEAM SPORT
3. VFX: Where efficiency and creativity meet
4. It’s not about you, it’s about the PIPELINE
5. Deadlines really are DEADLINES
6. Somewhere, there is a CLIENT
7. Criticism is a request for CHANGE
8. Explain YOURSELF
9. VFX and the PHOTOREAL
10. That doesn’t look RIGHT!
11. Plan and DECONSTRUCT
12. The best VFX tool is PAPER

13. The VFX Core Skills Primer – cont’d
13. Don’t wait to be TAUGHT
14. 13. Don’t wait to be TAUGHT
14. You’re surrounded by EXPERTISE
15. The VFX LEXICON
16. VFX is cinematography and MATHS
17. Yikes, what kind of MATHS?
18. Know your tool: THE COMPUTER
19. Film THEORY
20. VFX is not NEW
21. The art of the EDIT
22. Style and VISION
23. OPTICS
24. SURPRISE us

14. Creative Skillset http://
creativeskillset.org/
• Job Profiles
• National Occupational Standards
• Ge$ng
Personal
Careers
Advice
• Career
Resources
(templates,
videos,
case-­‐studies,
etc.

15. What are your options when you leave
school and university?
q Degree courses
q Next Gen Skills
Academy
q Trainee Finder
q Runners
q Producer

16. Useful Websites
• BAFTA Guru
• Double Negative
• Escape Studios
• Televisual
• Screen International
• Broadcast
• Art of VFX
• The CG Society
• FX Guide

17. Getting in Touch
yen.yau@intofilm.org
Second Light Labs
Skills Fusion
@yenyau
@getintofilm

18. Crea<ve
Skillset
–
careers
film
hBp://crea<veskillset.org/crea<ve_industries/vfx/ways_into_the_industry
Gravity
Breakdown
showreel:
hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCm3FYp4hdI
Beans
(made
by
Cinesite)
hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WoM2bHfr48
Making
of
Beans
(great
show
and
tell
film
of
how
this
42sec
film
was
conceived
and
executed)
hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzOzDyXZ3jw
The
Box
(one
of
the
places
where
technology,
robo<cs
and
crea<vity
are
mee<ng)
hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX6JcybgDFo
Making
of
The
Box
hBp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4ajXJ3nj1Q