VFX Creative Director
Encyclopedia
The VFX creative director is a position common in films
, television programs and games
utilizing a high amount of visual Effects
.
For movies which are fully CG or partly CG a VFX creative director works closely with the director
. On smaller VFX-intensive productions such as music videos
or some TV commercials, a VFX creative director may also assume the responsibilities of the director. They are charged with making creative and aesthetic choices for visual effects. Although the role is generally more creative in nature, most VFX creative directors have a technical background and may exert a strong practical hand in production.
or Production Designer
; though with a particular focus on the computer-generated image
ry of their projects. They are primarily responsible for directing and supervising the creative and technical execution of visual effects sequences, from concept to completion, including:
The VFX creative director may be responsible for all or a part of them, and may delegate to visual effects supervisors
, editors, compositors, rotoscope artists, matte painters
and 3d animators
.
The growing prevalence and sophistication of VFX is seeing VFX creative directors integrated more deeply at different levels of the production pipeline, particularly as VFX increasingly informs story and vice versa . VFX creative directors may therefore have input on various aspects of production, including:
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
, television programs and games
Computer Games
"Computer Games" is a single by New Zealand group, Mi-Sex released in 1979 in Australia and New Zealand and in 1981 throughout Europe. It was the single that launched the band, and was hugely popular, particularly in Australia and New Zealand...
utilizing a high amount of visual Effects
Visual effects
Visual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
.
For movies which are fully CG or partly CG a VFX creative director works closely with the director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. On smaller VFX-intensive productions such as music videos
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
or some TV commercials, a VFX creative director may also assume the responsibilities of the director. They are charged with making creative and aesthetic choices for visual effects. Although the role is generally more creative in nature, most VFX creative directors have a technical background and may exert a strong practical hand in production.
Responsibilities
The responsibilities of a VFX creative director are very much like an Art DirectorArt director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
or Production Designer
Production designer
In film and television, a production designer is the person responsible for the overall look of a filmed event such as films, TV programs, music videos or adverts. Production designers have one of the key creative roles in the creation of motion pictures and television. Working directly with the...
; though with a particular focus on the computer-generated image
Computer-generated imagery
Computer-generated imagery is the application of the field of computer graphics or, more specifically, 3D computer graphics to special effects in art, video games, films, television programs, commercials, simulators and simulation generally, and printed media...
ry of their projects. They are primarily responsible for directing and supervising the creative and technical execution of visual effects sequences, from concept to completion, including:
- Set extensions and matte painting
- Bluescreening
- Digital animation3D computer graphics3D computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data that is stored in the computer for the purposes of performing calculations and rendering 2D images...
- Digital effects
- CompositingCompositingCompositing is the combining of visual elements from separate sources into single images, often to create the illusion that all those elements are parts of the same scene. Live-action shooting for compositing is variously called "chroma key", "blue screen", "green screen" and other names. Today,...
The VFX creative director may be responsible for all or a part of them, and may delegate to visual effects supervisors
Visual effects supervisor
In the context of film and television production, a visual effects supervisor is responsible for achieving the creative aims of the director and/or producers through the use of visual effects...
, editors, compositors, rotoscope artists, matte painters
Matte painting
A matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit. Historically, matte painters and film technicians have used various techniques...
and 3d animators
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
.
The growing prevalence and sophistication of VFX is seeing VFX creative directors integrated more deeply at different levels of the production pipeline, particularly as VFX increasingly informs story and vice versa . VFX creative directors may therefore have input on various aspects of production, including:
- Story development & storyboarding
- Blocking / staging / locations
- Advising the director on actor movement
- CinematographyCinematographyCinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
- CostumeCostumeThe term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
, makeup and props, particularly when there are special effects considerations
Educational requirements
As with much of the film industry, merit is awarded on the quality of work produced and not on academic qualifications. Bachelors or Masters degrees in film and television, digital media, design or animation may be beneficial. There are a suite of skills and conditions that predispose an individual to successful operation as a VFX creative director:- Experience from at least 5–10 years in the industry
- An understanding of the production process from concept to completion
- A deep familiarity with post-production pipelines, techniques and software
- A strong balance of both creative and practical / technical skills
- Excellent communication and people-management skills
- Ability to guide and lead a team to extract their best work according to a predefined vision
- A strong grasp of all aspects of film theory
See also
- Art directorArt directorThe art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
- Visual effectsVisual effectsVisual effects are the various processes by which imagery is created and/or manipulated outside the context of a live action shoot. Visual effects involve the integration of live-action footage and generated imagery to create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or...
- IMAXIMAXIMAX is a motion picture film format and a set of proprietary cinema projection standards created by the Canadian company IMAX Corporation. IMAX has the capacity to record and display images of far greater size and resolution than conventional film systems...
- Visual effects supervisorVisual effects supervisorIn the context of film and television production, a visual effects supervisor is responsible for achieving the creative aims of the director and/or producers through the use of visual effects...