The Allan McKay Podcast

466 - Alex Wang, VFX Supervisor - The Last of Us - Season 2

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Alex Wang, the Visual Effects Supervisor for the acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us, to break down the monumental VFX work behind the show's highly anticipated second season. Alex pulls back the curtain on the incredible challenges and creative triumphs of bringing the post-apocalyptic world to life, from the massive scale of the infected horde to the intricate details of hero creatures like the Bloater. He discusses the crucial balance between practical and digital effects, the importance of building trust with showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, and the seamless collaboration with world-class VFX houses like Weta, DNEG, and ILP. This conversation delves deep into the specific hurdles of Season 2, including a massive battle sequence Alex likens to "Helm's Deep," the complexities of a dramatic stormy water episode, and the creative pipeline from concept art to final shot. Alex shares how the team learned from Season 1 to push the boundaries of world-building and create environments that are both epic in scope and grounded in reality. This is a must-listen for any fan of The Last of Us and for visual effects artists and supervisors interested in the high-level strategy and creative problem-solving required to execute VFX on one of television's biggest shows. Topics Covered: * The VFX of The Last of Us Season 2 * Alex Wang's Role as VFX Supervisor * Creating the Infected Horde and the Challenges of Crowd Simulation * A Deep Dive into Season 2's Massive Battle Sequence * Asset Creation for the Bloater and Other Infected * Balancing Practical Effects with Digital Enhancements (Pyro, Weather, etc.) * World-Building and Large-Scale Environment Extensions * The Complexities of Creating the Stormy Water Sequence * Collaboration with Showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann * Managing Multiple VFX Vendors (Weta, DNEG, ILP, Rise) * The Creative Process from Concept Art to Final Shot Quotes: * On the massive battle sequence: "I thought to myself, 'Craig, this is your Helm's Deep.'" * On designing the infected horde: "These are civilians that became infected... their own story. So repetition is not something that we want." Resources: * The Last of Us on HBO [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hbo.com%2Fthe-last-of-us] * Weta FX [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wetafx.co.nz%2F] * DNEG [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dneg.com%2F] * Rise VFX [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.risefx.com%2F] * Important Looking Pirates (ILP) [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Filpvfx.com%2F] * Naughty Dog [https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.naughtydog.com%2F]

465 – Jason Smith – Forging Middle-earth

In this follow-up conversation, Allan reconnects with Senior VFX Supervisor Jason Smith for a wide-ranging discussion that revisits his recent work on a flagship fantasy series and pulls back the curtain on life at the top of the industry. The two cover current challenges in large-scale visual effects, evolving studio pipelines, and the mindsets that keep artists relevant over decades.

464 - Andy Boyd - JAMM VFX

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Andy Boyd, a seasoned VFX Supervisor, and co-owner of Jamm VFX. Andy shares his extensive journey in the visual effects industry, from his early days breaking into major studios like Framestore and Method Studios to founding his own successful VFX company. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of managing a VFX team, navigating cultural differences between the UK and US VFX industries, and overcoming technical hurdles in high-profile projects like "Brothers" and "Werewolf by Night." Andy also discusses the future of VFX, including the impact of AI and remote work, and offers invaluable insights for aspiring VFX artists and entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the industry. Topics Covered * Andy Boyd's early career in South Africa and transition into VFX * Working at Framestore and Method Studios * Founding Jamm Visual Effects and managing a boutique studio * Behind the scenes of Werewolf by Night and creating Man-Thing * Crafting photoreal creatures, including Samuel the orangutan in Brothers * Transitioning to tools like V-Ray for superior fur rendering * The evolving role of AI in VFX and storytelling * Striking a balance between creative freedom and technical challenges Key Quotes "VFX is the perfect blend of creativity and problem-solving—each challenge pushes you to innovate in unexpected ways." The most exciting projects are the ones where you begin with no clear solution—those moments ignite innovation." You can feel the energy of a passionate team in the final product—great work reflects great collaboration." Resources * Jamm Visual Effects Website [https://jamvfx.com] * Werewolf by Night on Disney+ [https://www.disneyplus.com] 5 Key Takeaways 1. Evolving Through Challenges Andy's career exemplifies the importance of adapting to new roles and technologies, whether transitioning from retouching to 3D or embracing V-Ray to achieve lifelike fur. 2. The Power of Boutique Studios Jamm thrives on the advantages of a smaller team, delivering high-quality work with a collaborative and personalized approach that stands out in a crowded industry. 3. Crafting Creatures with Heart From Werewolf by Night to Brothers, Andy highlights the joy and challenge of bringing creatures to life, focusing on subtlety and realism to tell compelling stories. 4. The Importance of Studio Culture Jamm's success stems from its commitment to people-first management, ensuring employees are supported and projects are properly resourced. 5. AI and the Future of VFX Andy reflects on how AI tools are opening new creative possibilities, streamlining workflows while keeping artistry at the forefront.

463 - Lux Aeterna - Rob Hifle + Paul Silcox

Overview In this episode, Allan McKay engages in an in-depth conversation with Rob Hifle, CEO & Creative Director, and Paul Silcox, VFX Director at Lux Aeterna. They delve into the evolution of visual effects in the digital media landscape, discussing their journey from early tools like Flash and Macromedia Director to the sophisticated capabilities of modern software like Houdini. The discussion highlights the rapid growth of Lux Aeterna, the challenges of maintaining creative integrity while scaling, and their notable projects including *Eight Days to the Moon and Back*, *Our Universe*, and *Secrets of the Neanderthals*. Additionally, they explore the ethical considerations and regulatory frameworks surrounding the use of AI in visual effects, emphasizing their commitment to authenticity and creative excellence. Topics Covered - Evolution of digital media creation tools from Flash to Houdini - Founding and growth of Lux Aeterna - Key projects: *Eight Days to the Moon and Back*, *Our Universe*, *Secrets of the Neanderthals* - Balancing creativity and technical expertise in a growing VFX studio - Specialization in cosmological and scientific visual effects - Collaboration with scientists and integration of real-world data in VFX - Ethical considerations and policies on AI and generative technologies in VFX - Future projects and the importance of storytelling in visual effects Quotes 1. "We offer a huge sort of creative solution as well as a really efficient and ergonomic pipeline." - **Reworded Version:** "Our strength lies in delivering creative solutions coupled with an efficient and user-friendly pipeline, allowing us to produce high-end visual effects with a lean team." 2. "The toothpaste is out of the tube, right? You know, it's there." - **Reworded Version:** "AI advancements are inevitable and already here, shaping the future of our industry in ways we're just beginning to understand." 3. "Creativity leads technology. We start with creative ideas and then figure out the technology to bring them to life." - **Reworded Version:** "Our creative vision drives the technological innovations we develop, ensuring that our tools serve the art we aim to create." 4. "It's a really, really exciting journey to push the boundaries with our creative technology department and come up with different solutions." - **Reworded Version:** "Exploring new frontiers with our creative technology team is exhilarating, as we continuously develop innovative solutions that redefine what's possible in visual effects." 5. "Maintaining this level of fun and creativity is essential, even as we grow." - **Reworded Version:** "As we expand, preserving our vibrant and creative culture remains a top priority, ensuring that our passion for VFX continues to thrive." Resources - Lux Aeterna Website: [https://luxaeterna.com/](https://luxaeterna.com/) - Rob Hifle on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhifle/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/robhifle/) - Paul Silcox on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsilcox/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsilcox/) - *Eight Days to the Moon and Back* - *Our Universe* - *Secrets of the Neanderthals* 5 Key Takeaways from the Episode with Rob Hifle and Paul Silcox **1. Evolution of VFX Tools and Techniques** Rob and Paul discuss the transition from early digital media tools like Flash and Macromedia Director to advanced software like Houdini, highlighting how these advancements have revolutionized their workflow and creative capabilities in the VFX industry. **2. Building a Boutique VFX Studio** The guests share insights into the founding and rapid growth of Lux Aeterna, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a small, passionate team to deliver high-end visual effects while competing with larger studios. **3. Specialization in Scientific and Cosmological Effects** Rob and Paul explain how their niche focus on cosmological phenomena and collaboration with scientists has set Lux Aeterna apart, allowing them to create factually accurate and visually stunning effects for projects like *Our Universe* and *Secrets of the Neanderthals*. **4. Ethical Use of AI in Visual Effects** The conversation delves into the ethical considerations and regulatory challenges of using AI and generative technologies in VFX. Rob and Paul outline their company's policies to ensure authenticity and respect for artists' work, rejecting tools that compromise ethical standards. **5. The Future of Storytelling in VFX** Rob and Paul highlight the significance of storytelling in their projects, discussing upcoming ventures like the sci-fi short *Reno*. They emphasize the blend of creative vision and technical prowess required to produce compelling narratives through visual effects.

462 - Faruk Heplevent - The Scope

In this episode, Allan McKay sits down with Faruk Heplevent, founder and CEO of Scope Studio, to delve into the intricate world of automotive visual effects and the evolution of CG in the automotive industry. They explore Faruk's journey from his early days as a car photographer in Hamburg to transitioning into computer graphics, ultimately leading to the creation of Scope Studio. The discussion covers the challenges and triumphs of building a specialized studio in a field dominated by established CGI companies, the development of Scope City—a procedural photorealistic city environment—and the strategic decisions behind choosing rendering technologies like V-Ray and Arnold. Faruk shares his insights on maintaining photorealism in car CG, the importance of client collaboration and feedback, and the delicate balance between creative vision and technical execution. The conversation also touches on the impact of emerging technologies such as NVIDIA's denoising tools, Chaos's Vantage Arena, and the potential integration with platforms like Omniverse. Additionally, Faruk discusses the future of virtual production stages and the sustainable practices Scope Studio is adopting in their rendering processes. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in automotive photography, CG artistry, real-time rendering technologies, and the entrepreneurial spirit behind building a niche visual effects studio. Topics Covered: * Faruk Heplevent's background and the founding of Scope Studio * Transitioning from car photography to computer graphics * The development and features of Scope City, a procedural photorealistic city * Choosing and evolving rendering technologies: Maxwell, V-Ray, Arnold * Maintaining photorealism in automotive CG and handling client feedback * The impact of emerging technologies: NVIDIA Denoiser, Chaos Vantage Arena, Omniverse * Challenges and strategies in building a specialized VFX studio * The future of virtual production stages and sustainable rendering practices * Balancing creative vision with technical execution in CG projects Quotes: * "If we can get it in camera, it's always a better picture. What you see is what you get." * "Scope City is essentially a giant procedural photoreal city that we've built for every situation." * "Creativity leads technology. We start with creative ideas and then figure out the technology to bring them to life." Resources: * Scope Studio Website [https://scope.studio] * Scope Studio on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/scope-studio/] * Chaos Vantage Arena * NVIDIA Denoiser [https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/design-visualization/technologies/denoiser/] * Omniverse [https://developer.nvidia.com/nvidia-omniverse]