Marta Gambertoglio

Artist Spotlight

Marta Gambertoglio

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2019

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Visual effects is a magic world to me. It's a place where you can create whatever you want. You can even reproduce reality and make people believe that it was real. Then, it is fantastic to look at their faces, shocking for their discovery. It is amazing to be part of this enchanting world and keep exploring it."

- Marta G.

What drove you to pursue visual effects? Did you always know you wanted to become a VFX artist?

Visual effects have always intrigued me, and my curiosity brought me to take the path for this world. Honestly, I have never thought about working in this industry since I started to study Motion Graphics. When I tried to composite my first 3D text into a shot, I had so much fun that I felt a desire to explore more deeply into Visual Effects. In particular, I was fascinated by compositing. I absolutely wanted to know more about what is behind the scenes of a movie and how it was possible to create perfect 2D/3D integrations.

What was the scariest part or challenge about visual effects?

I think that the scariest part is the idea of being stuck in a difficult shot, feeling like not able to work on it. I realized that every shot is different, it is essential to analyze it and find diverse ways in order to achieve the best result. Every shot and every project are new challenges. This could be scary sometimes, but also exciting at the same time. Most importantly, sharing ideas with my team and asking for advice allowed me to improve and have more fun.

What differentiated your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

With Lost Boys I really understood what I am doing in Nuke and why, not just how. This type of approach is essential in VFX because everything changes so fast that having a solid knowledge helps in every situation and it makes me feel more confident and less stressed. Lost Boys also gets used to making you feel like you are in a real VFX Studio. So, when I started to work, I was prepared for what I expected. I also enjoyed meeting people from all around the world with different backgrounds. I think this is a precious value.

What is something you wish people knew more about VFX artists?

VFX Artists have a strong passion for what they do, but I think that sometimes people
underestimate how many hours they spend studying and improving their skills.

What is something you wish more people knew more about VFX/VFX Artists or Compositors/Compositing?

VFX is not a recent concept and it is used in entertainment way more often than I imagined. Only after learning compositing, my eyes were able to spot when a movie or TV show makes use of it. I believe compositors never see entertainment the same way after learning how it is applied.

What are the deep-rooted challenges you face in the industry now that you have graduated from Lost Boys?

One of the challenges is to keep working on a single shot until when it is perfect. Sometimes it could be a little frustrating, but at the end you feel so good for what you achieved and version after version, you are able to notice your improvements.

If there is one advice you can give to people who want to pursue visual effects, what would it be?

I suggest attending a school as Lost Boys in order to have a strong knowledge and deep understanding of how it could be working in a studio. It is very important to keep exploring new techniques, ask for advice and help your team.

Thank you, Marta! Check out her demo reel.

Jayati Mittal

Artist Spotlight

Jayati Mittal

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2019

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What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

Visual effects always attracted me primarily because of the endless opportunities to create something new every day. I decided to specialize in Compositing because it’s very exciting to be the last person to work on the shot before it’s approved. It is a culmination of the efforts of every other dependent department and being the one to final the shot does come with its own powers and responsibilities. Some days you put the cherry on top of the cake and some days you make the whole thing. After graduating from Lost Boys I noticed there is a huge change of culture depending on which studio you work with, so getting to work with a lot of very talented individuals under many different environments is guaranteed. Even though there’s a ton of hard work and many hours involved in compositing, there’s just something fantastic about finally seeing my shot on the big screen.

What do you wish more people knew about working in VFX?

There’s a few things I’d like to touch on in regards to the VFX industry. I would like to warn those who think that this field is all glamour and gold. It’s not! Most companies requires an artist to at some point or the other work Overtime. You will have to sacrifice some time you might normally spend on your personal/social life. I think it’s important to be aware of that reality of our industry.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

DON’T GIVE UP. This industry is a very volatile one to say the least. Companies are pretty casual about the hiring/layoff process so they follow the Miner Mentality in which they would hire a large number of artists to complete a particular project and once that’s done they might not require you anymore. In that case, I would say don’t let that bring you down, because it is very common for an artist to be removed simply because projects have been completed.

The only thing you can do is keep your head up high and keep moving forward (and apply elsewhere). Luckily for us our industry is a very small one, so the bonds we form during our journeys are usually ones that last. That’s why I would suggest being cordial to your peers at the studio as you never know how they could help you out tomorrow.

What was it like working on WandaVision?

It was fun working on WandaVision. I never thought I will get a chance to do CG anytime soon but knowledge I gained from Lost Boys was more than enough for me to shine in the company and prove my skills!

Thank you, Jayati! Connect with her now!

Gabriel Escobar

Artist Spotlight

Gabriel Escobar

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2018

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To me, visual effects is like a magic trick. It's not a subjective art form because it needs to constantly convince the audience that what is being displayed is photorealistic, making it a very challenging art to master.

- Gabriel Escobar

Tell us a little bit about your visual effects journey.

In my early 20’s, I started a two year course called “Multimedia Production” in my hometown of Santos, Brazil. The course was packed with a bit of everything, from Art History to Web Design. My favorite practical classes were photography, audio and video editing. That was the first spark that got me into creating videos for the school projects and although being broad, the course made me understand and love the process of developing stories and how to apply my creativity more efficiently. For reasons unknown, the most successful and fun projects were horror and gore based ones.

At the end of the course, I heard from a classmate that he was starting at a small animation studio (Lightstar Studios) in town and they needed 2D compositors for a fully animated film (Rio 2096: A Story of Love and Fury). I got lucky and joined the team working on my first professional project. My colleague and I added all the shadows and highlights for the characters in the film using splines on After Effects.

After moving to Vancouver in 2015, I attended a Spark FX event and have the opportunity to chat with artists from the VFX industry, which is where I got to know about Lost Boys. From that moment on I chased the opportunity to learn VFX there and some time later I was finally able to start the full-time program focused on Compositing. It was a long road but definitely the best decision I’ve made for my career.

What was the scariest or most challenging part of learning Compositing?

My transition from animated shows to visual effects was quite challenging at first, because it required a critical eye to live action details that I never had to focus on before working in animation or just while watching movies. I also had to learn how to use Nuke and other programs from scratch but fortunately, it didn’t take long for me to adapt to the new tools.

Why did you choose Lost Boys?

Lost Boys brought me a very different experience from my Multimedia Production course back in Brazil. The course is one year long but full-time and completely focused on visual effects. It fits perfectly when you already know what you want to learn, which was my case. The first time being at the school for a tour already felt great. Mark and Ria were very welcoming and conscientious and I was happy to know that I could use my previous experience to transition into Visual Effects.

One of the aspects of Lost Boys that I love is the reduced number of students and staff. That makes it much easier for getting to know everyone around you, creating a sense of family which helped me adapt and not carry my questions throughout the course.

Lost Boys keeps close contact with VFX studios, which allows students to directly visit the studios in town for a tour or sometimes, brings VFX veterans into the school for a meeting. The students have the opportunity to show their ongoing school projects to a VFX Lead or Supervisor, which is awesome. As part of the program, during the two final months of the course, the students are sent to a VFX studio to start a Practicum: a great first step into the Industry.

What is something you wish more people knew more about VFX/VFX Artists or Compositors/Compositing?

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

Being able to contribute towards making films is a lifelong passion of mine. It’s great to have the opportunity to work at great studios and share experiences with incredibly talented artists from all around the world. I work with what I love and feel inspired to keep moving forward.

Lastly, if there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions to leads, supervisors, or even your colleagues. This is an industry where no one knows everything and everyone works in a different way. Be honest when facing difficulties and transparent with your delivery dates. And don’t forget to save your files!

Thank you, Gabriel! Check out his demo reel.

Javier Cuellar

Artist Spotlight

Javier Cuellar

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2020

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What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

I think for many of us in this field (well I think so), inspiration came from films, especially science fiction and adventure films such as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Blade Runner, and The Fifth Element. Those films moved my world and awakened in me, not only an interest in watching movies, but also of getting wanting to be part of making them. That is why I studied art direction for film and advertising, and later I felt that I wanted to become more involved with technology, which led me to VFX and Compositing.

What was the scariest or most challenging part of learning Compositing?

The scariest thing I think was the language. lol. Actually, for me the most scariest thing was leaving my comfort zone and learning a new program (Nuke) that at first did not make much sense to me. Once the weeks passed, the logic of the program had more relevance and I realized that it is an infinite program and with thousands of possibilities that really fascinated me.

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

By far it was feeling at home away from home, the trust and kindness of both the staff and my colleagues is something unforgettable and priceless. On countless occasions working late at night in the studio and having the freedom to take a break, play something, or watch a movie were by far things that I will never forget. Another great experience was meeting people from all over the world with the same dreams and desires. And the most important was the quality and rigor with which they prepare you at school to go out to work in this highly competitive market, to teach you that the true value of your work is in the details.

What is visual effects to you?

I like to think of visual effects as a juice machine, considering what fruits or vegetables you want to combine, you can make super delicious juice. I could say a visual delight for the eyes, that harmoniously combines an infinity of materials and files of different formats, both practical effects filmed on set or generated by computer, where the result is so real and attractive that when you see it you wonder if it is real or was created by someone on a computer.

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

Definitely learning from my co-workers; that fascinates me. Seeing and understanding how everyone has a different ways of approaching a problem and solving it is incredible. I love to have a new shot and think of it as a new challenge and see what is the best way to do it and arrive on time with deliveries.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

I don’t know where I read it but it is the note that is always in my head and accompanies me on a sheet of paper in my workspace is:

“By putting a date on a dream it becomes a goal. A goal divided into step becomes a plan and a plan supported by actions becomes a reality.”

And thinking that nothing is impossible is just a matter of perseverance and more perseverance.

Thank you, Javier! Connect with him now!

Tiqui Del Rosario

Artist Spotlight

Tiqui Del Rosario

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2019

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What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

Growing up, I was exposed to all sorts of films and this got me really intrigued about how they were made. Jurassic Park came out and it inspired me to know more about filmmaking and visual effects. As a kid, I started playing around and making animated movies in my computer.

This fascination for the craft continued to grow as I saw the film trickery of the early 1900s as well as the movie magic of The Lord of the Rings, Hollow Man and the Matrix. These films continued to fuel the passion and curiosity I’ve had for years, so I decided to pursue a career in VFX.

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

I found the whole experience to be very personal and relational. You get to be in a small class with this diverse group of talented individuals who share the same passion as you. Being so few, you are able to truly interact and learn and grow with one another. I also like how the faculty provides feedback on your shots during screenings, as these definitely help you develop and grow as an artist. There is a genuine concern and sincere desire to see you succeed as an artist. Not only that, they really try to make you feel at home and help you with any and all concerns, including where best to eat and which improv shows to watch.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

Working in visual effects is super fun but you also have to be willing to put in the work. Many have the wrong assumption that it’s all about creativity, without considering the technical aspect of the craft. Every shot is different, so there is always an avenue for constant learning and improvement. As with anything in life, you have to be passionate about it, and it helps to also learn other types of art, like photography and drawing.

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

Aside from being able to work on really stunning projects, I relish the fact that I get to work and collaborate with talented artists and learn from masters of the craft. Everyone’s mindset is always about thinking of ways we can all contribute in taking visual effects to another level and producing work that people will appreciate and enjoy. And the dogs!

Thank you, Tiqui! Check out her demo reel.

Larry Ngo

Artist Spotlight

Larry Ngo

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2017

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Visual effects is the process of artists turning wishes into reality. We can make something out of nothing and we can transform something into another thing.

- Larry Ngo

What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

From a young age, I’ve always had a passion for artistic pursuits and computers. This drive lead me to learn Photoshop and After Effects as a hobby. It became very clear that I had a strong affinity for VFX. Eventually, I decided to take a leap of faith and quit my previous career to see how far I could transform my hobby into my dream job. That journey began when I stepped through the front door of Lost Boys.

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

Lost Boys takes a very practical approach unlike traditional forms of education; it’s actually quite similar to how I work at my studio. I personally felt that this prepared me in a way that gave me an advantage compared to other graduates from other institutions. I really appreciate the relevancy of the material taught compared to my time at University where a wider breadth of education was required.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

It can be an incredibly rewarding career. But it is a creative gauntlet that places you and other artists at different starting points. Everyone is dealt a different hand. Make the best of what you have, and embrace every opportunity. There is always something new to learn from both the
glamorous and unglamorous work. Aside from the work itself, be mindful and respectful of those you study and work with. It is a growing but still incredibly small and tight-knit community.

What is something you wish people knew more about VFX/VFX Artists or Compositors/Compositing?

VFX is governed by the Money, Time, and Quality triangle. Good quality VFX requires a lot of time and money. Unfortunately most clients want VFX to be done quickly and cheaply, which often results in bad quality VFX. I find that more often than not, bad VFX is a result of misusing the Triangle. It breaks my heart knowing the amount of effort, work, and stress a team of artists spend in creating VFX. So the next time you see some bad VFX, remember that there’s a good chance it wasn’t the artist, but a bad set of circumstances lead to that result.

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

I love the creative struggle, the opportunities to solve unique visual problems with your own creative solutions, especially when you’re given the time to truly develop a shot. I also enjoy working together with other artists to assemble something even greater than one person could produce on their own. My favorite feeling is when you decide to go the extra mile and your efforts surprise you with a result that’s better than you imagined.

Thank you, Larry! Check out his demo reel.

Andri Valdez

Artist Spotlight

Andri Valdez

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2018

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What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

I fell in love with compositing when I was around 10 years old without knowing it. Like other people, I picked up this interest from watching films but unlike most, it wasn’t by watching epic VFX films like Terminator, Jurassic Park, Matrix, or Lord of the Rings. Watching Scooby Doo: the Movie was what inspired me. I used to watch this film several times times a day because I couldn’t figure out how it was made; it looked so real to me.

After many years of watching movies I knew I wanted to work on them but I had no idea how that could be accomplished. I started watching some tutorials on After Effects and Premier Pro but that didn’t work out so well. However, it was the start and that got me into a school where I learned about Nuke, from that point on I knew that would be the program for me.

What was the scariest or most challenging part of learning Compositing?

My biggest fear pursuing this path was that I wasn’t an artist at all, so applying to an art school was something I never expected to do. Once accepted, I started to get imposter syndrome, I was sure I would be surrounded by these fancy, mature artists and I would stand out like a sore thumb. Luckily my classmates were the nicest (all in their own unique way) and most welcoming group of people I have met (guess it’s the Canadian way). It didn’t hurt that they were also great artists who helped me along the way the whole time!

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

My previous education was more general, so I learned some things about video game development, 3D workflows, and VFX. It was a great way for me to experience a little of everything and then choose a path. Studying at Lost Boys was a whole different experience. I could finally dive deep into the field I wanted to with no other distracting classes. The class size was smaller so we got more attention from the teachers who seemed to know everything about everything! (A lot of philosophical quotes about Nuke and Life were said during lectures).

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

For me, it’s like a digital puzzle. I have all these nodes in front of me, I just have to figure out where they all fit to make the image look good. It can be a long and tedious process but it can be so rewarding when you finally place the last node down and get the final approval for the shot.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

You don’t have to be the best artist in the world to get a job, there is no need for that talent if it is impossible to work with you. Stay dedicated, humble, and always be ready to learn new things because there is always something new to learn.

Thank you, Andri! Connect with him now!

Connor Harris

Artist Spotlight

Connor Harris

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2020

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What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

What inspired me to pursue compositing was leaving the movie theater when I was a kid and being blown away by the visuals I was seeing on the screen. After I would watch a cool movie like Star Wars that I knew couldn’t exist in real life, I would always be so fascinated as to how the illusion of a visual effect was made. As I got older, I realized visual effects wasn’t just a bunch of computer scientists typing in 1’s and 0’s until a final image came out, it was an art form that anybody with a passion for could pursue. After this realization, I decided that I wanted to help bring the same feelings I had and still have watching movies to other people across the world.

What was the most challenging part of learning Compositing?

I would say the most challenging part about learning compositing is the fact that almost every shot you work on is different than every shot you have worked on in the past. Even though some shots might be very similar, every individual shot you work on is going to have it’s own unique problems that you have never come across before. While this can be intimidating at times, it is also what can make compositing so rewarding. Knowing how tough it was to solve a certain problem, but then seeing your final shot that sells the illusion that what you did is real is one of the most gratifying feelings in the world.

What is something you wish more people knew more about VFX/VFX Artists or Compositors/Compositing?

I wish that people understood the work that goes into creating what they see on screen when they are watching something. Hopefully if the compositor does their job right, the audience will never know that anything was done to that shot, and that it actually looked that way in camera. Because of this, VFX artists never get enough credit when the VFX in a show are good, but get all of the hate when the effects are bad. If more people understood what went into creating the VFX for their favorite show or movie, they would understand just how much work it takes for the audience to hopefully not know VFX even exists in the shot.

What is visual effects to you?

To me, visual effects as a whole is a storytelling. A vast majority of movies today would not be able to be made without visual effects. Even movies that you would never call “visual effects movies” almost always have some sort of visual effects in them one way or another. A good example of this would be a film or TV show that takes place in a different period of time. These are almost always visual effects intensive and have lots of set extensions and different effects in them that help sell the fact that it is set in a different time period. These movies would not be able to be made the way that they are without visual effects in them, even if they might be invisible to the audience, and the stories being told would not be the same.

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys in comparison to your previous education?

Lost Boys was hands down the best educational experience of my life. I joined Lost Boys right after high school instead of going the traditional route of going to a university to get a degree in film or VFX. Knowing what I know now about the industry, I can easily say this was the best decision I could have ever made for my career. Having a specialized area of study for an entire year is what sets Lost Boys graduates apart from the rest. I learned all of the in’s and out’s about compositing from my amazing instructors at school. What I learned at Lost Boys had me more than prepared to enter the industry as a junior compositor.

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

My favorite part of working in visual effects has to be the payoff of seeing the final version of your shot, knowing just how much work it took you to get it to that point. Aside from seeing your final version on the big screen, the work itself is also very satisfying. No matter what department you are working in, VFX requires constant problem solving. Coming across a complex problem in one of your shots and then solving it is such a great feeling.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

The one piece of advice I would give to people wanting to learn visual effects is to not be too hard on yourself. You are going to make countless mistakes on your journey of learning VFX. That may sound like a bad thing, but it’s actually the best way you can learn something as complex as VFX. If you are too hard on yourself when you make a mistake instead of learning from it, it will slow you down tremendously in the long run. VFX can be difficult yet very rewarding work.

Thank you, Connor! Check out his demo reel.

Adarsh Langthasa

Artist Spotlight

Adarsh Langthasa

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2015

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What inspired you to pursue VFX/Compositing?

Watching anime, movies like Jurassic park, and playing video games as a kid always made me curious how they were created. I started teaching myself software like Blender, Maya, 3DS Max, and Zbrush when I was in high school. I was instantly hooked on creating my own CG assets which improved my modelling, shading, and lighting.

I collaborated with some friends who were learning compositing and they asked if I was would be able to create 3D assets for their compositing reels. I was amazed to see how realistic and polished my assets looked after some comp treatment. That was enough to convince me to dive into compositing.

What was the scariest or most challenging part of learning Compositing?

The most challenging part of learning compositing was trying to maintain a balance between the artistic and technical sides. Nuke, like other software, is always evolving and I felt like there was always so much I didn’t know. I just had to learn how to take it step by step and realized that I wasn’t going to use every compositing technique all the time.

What was unique about your experience with Lost Boys incomparison to your previous education?

The small class size at Lost Boys really created a cozy atmosphere and we all got to know each other really well. Our instructors and mentors had plenty of time to interact with us one on one and give feedback since there were only 8 of us in our class.

Having to present our work before our instructors and classmates every Friday always made sure that we were on track to finishing our projects and learning from each other as well. At the end of our program, Lost Boys helped us get our foot in the industry by giving us practicum in a studio in Vancouver.

What is something you people knew more about VFX/VFX Artists or Compositors/Compositing?

A lot of people looking from the outside and maybe even some beginners think that VFX/Compositing is a purely glamorous job seeing your work on the big screen and your name on the credits list at the end. But there is a lot of hard work that goes behind the scenes. There is a lot of effort put in by the artists even for smallest of things that wouldn’t even catch the audience’s eyes. It’s a lot more than just pushing the buttons. Rather than being discouraged by this fact, VFX artists do this for their love of the craft.

What do you enjoy most about working in visual effects?

I enjoy the camaraderie and the teamwork that comes with working on a project that sometimes lasts for more than a year. Seeing the journey of the project going through different stages of production is always interesting. From the initial sketches to animation tests to the final result in comp. The end result of the journey is usually very satisfying.

If there is one piece of advice you can give to people who want to pursue a career in visual effects, what would it be?

You need to spend a lot of time to develop your eye for detail and learn the necessary technical skills simultaneously. It takes a lot of patience, hard work, research, listening to the right people who will help you navigate your career, and the right attitude to work with your team.

Thank you, Adarsh! Check out his demo reel.

Shira Malamud

Artist Spotlight

Shira Malamud

Compositor | Lost Boys Alumni 2016

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Tell us a little bit about your visual effects journey.

The first inspiration I can remember is definitely my brother. I would always see him drawing and making art in so many different ways. This opened me up to the artistic field as a potential career rather than the typical medical or engineering paths in most Egyptian households. Compositing was the most accessible form of art for me during this time. Honestly, I had so much fun doing it that I began to incorporate compositing into many short film projects that I made with my friends. I fondly remember trying to replicate a hologram shot inspired by Iron Man 3 when I was in middle school. With no clue how to pull it off, I hit so many brick walls which fueled my curiosity more and more. The process of problem-solving was so addictive and sent me on a spiral of online resources to learn the craft of visual effects. I have been in this same spiral ever since. However, I quickly realized I wasn’t progressing as far as I wanted. Since I didn’t have anyone around me in the same pursuit, it was so hard to get feedback to push my skills further. To break out of this plateau, I searched for a more specialized education.

Because you came from a generalist program prior to joining Lost Boys, what pushed you to come to a specialized school?

I just needed to find an environment for myself that allowed me to excel and nurture my skill. Because of the imbalance of disciplines and theories outside of the field I’m passionate about, it was very hard to nurture my compositing ability in the generalist program. Most of the time I was powering through and finding my own solutions to the technical roadblocks I faced with no guidance. In a more specialized program, I found myself surrounded by people who have the same discipline in mind. Each individual is problem-solving in completely different ways which exponentially grows the learning experience. Especially at Lost Boys, there was a strong guidance from my mentors that made a huge difference in how I viewed compositing. In my opinion, if you have a specific discipline in mind, it is always better to go to a specialized school.

Why did you choose Lost Boys?

I went through a very selective research phase as my bachelor’s program was wrapping up. I had already tried programs and courses of all kinds, but there was always something missing. Eventually, I found Lost Boys and it simply ticked all the right boxes for me. I first noticed the school was ranked as one of the top schools in the world for visual effects. When I talked to alumni and recruiters about the school, I noticed first-hand how highly regarded the school was in the industry. In those same conversations, I got a sense of a very strong, tight-knit community.

I learnt that the school functions as a studio with hands-on practical projects and feels more like a tailored mentorship-which is exactly what I was looking for. When it came to looking into the instructors, I found nothing but positive regard and an ocean of knowledge. The choice was very clear. I was ready to move to Vancouver for this.

There is an ongoing conversation about learning visual effects online over going to a visual effects school. In your opinion, is attending visual effects school worth it?

So here is my point of view on this subject. I have gone through online learning for so many years at this point that I can completely understand the argument of accessing online resources to learn. However, the main issue with it is not having feedback from more knowledgeable people in the industry or a clear trajectory of where you are heading. I like to say learning online is like progressing with a blindfold. You can feel the room and move forward with a blindfold on, but you can progress much faster and stronger if you have someone who truly understands the room to guide you through it. In addition to this, you move further along with an actual understanding of the industry ahead.

I also believe that this industry is really about connections which is non-existent in many online educational platforms. You can’t make the same kind of bonds you would at a visual effects school in an online format. Ultimately, the amount of progress you make and the position it puts you in the industry makes up for the cost pretty quickly! You gain the skills to push you through the industry much faster than if you were doing it on your own.

Some people find visual effects to not quite be an art form. Do you believe visual effects, at its core, an art form?

Definitely! I mean, art can be the interpretation of anything by anyone. A lot of things can be categorized as art and it’s very subjective 100% of the time. For me, visual effects is a very versatile artform that requires a lot of creativity, problem-solving, and technical skills to be used effectively as a storytelling tool. What is really awesome about compositing is its supportive and seamless nature. In a way, it helps everyone’s work come together which gives the audience the ability to suspend belief and be immersed in the viewing experience. It’s such a valuable tool, I think many of my favourite movies and tv shows couldn’t have been made without it.

Lastly, what is a common misconception of visual effects?

I think a lot of people see visual effects as something that is a lot simpler than it is. That misconception resonates with a lot of people because they never had the experience of actually working through it. Imagine being the cinematographer and not noticing the boom mic dip into frame. Then suddenly you see all traces of the boom in the shot seamlessly removed. It’s hard to understand what went into that one shot, and for a neutral audience, it’s not even considered if it was executed properly. There are so many hidden challenges you face as a vfx artist and the solution is different every single time. Even though a lot of tasks can feel repetitive or tedious, the best approach could be different each time. In the end, the amount of considerations you need to focus on to get something to look photo-real is unbelievable. It’s meant to produce a seamless result, so all the work that goes into it is very hard to understand. That’s why I love breakdowns because they give a taste of all the work going into every frame.

Thank you, Elmo! Check out his demo reel.

“I feel lucky to have had Ganz and Andrew as my mentors. My experience at Lost Boys set the bar for what is possible within a teacher-student relationship to a leveI that I can’t imagine being met by anyone else. It is nothing short of inspiring how they consistently push beyond any of my expectations-especially through Covid. This is an experience I will cherish for the rest of my life.”