This session covered the VFX editorial process. We heard from a working VFX editor and VFX Supervisor about the VFX shot workflow in editorial through to finishing shots and how they work together. Plus, what to expect from VFX in an editorial sense, and how to deliver successfully.

If you're working currently as an Assistant Editor, or you aspire to work in an editorial department of any of the projects going through New York right now, these sessions will educate and inform you as to how to nail this crucial part of any editorial project.

Panelists:

Kent Blocher

Kent is a VFX Editor based in New York City and has been working in Editorial since 1989. VFX projects include Jarhead with Sam Mendes; Black Swan, Noah, and Mother! with Darren Aronofsky; The Bourne Legacy with Tony Gilroy; Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk and Gemini Man with Ang Lee; and Mary Poppins Returns and The Little Mermaid with Rob Marshall.

Alec Styborski

Alec is an Assistant Editor, VFX Editor, and Editor based in New York since 2007. He has worked on various projects ranging from Boardwalk Empire, Life of Pi, Europa Report, American Ultra, and Gemini Man.

Christian Kelley-Madera

Christian Kelley-Madera has been a VFX editor for just about ten years - mostly on the production side but with a few years on the vendor side. Credits include MARCO POLO S1 for Netflix, THE PURGE: ELECTION YEAR for Universal, NOELLE for Disney, and BIRDS OF PARADISE for Amazon. His current project involves a full CG character with lots of dialogue - a meaningful new learning experience for Christian. He is always on the hunt for ways that VFX Editorial can work smarter not harder. In his (admittedly paltry) free time, he also directs and co-writes a scripted fiction podcast.



Lucien Harriot - President of Mechanism Digital NYC

For over 25 years, Lucien and Mechanism have been designing and producing award winning CGI, and VFX for feature films, Episodic TV, and spots. The creative studio prides itself in taking the mystery out of the process, working closely with clients through the technical and creative phases, from storyboard to delivery. A fast thinker and problem solver, Lucien is comfortable leading teams of technical artists at the studio or supervising crews on the sets of feature films. More info at- https://mechanismdigital.com/




Moderator:

Ben Baker - Business Development Partner at Next Gen Production

Ben has over 22 years of experience in VFX & Post in Australia, the UK and for the last 12 years, in the US. He has been a post producer and onset supervisor, a head of department at Framestore London, a VP at Vice and at HBO, always seems to be involved in bleeding-edge production technology projects and has the scars to prove it. He is a board member of the Post New York Alliance.


For the last 18 months Ben has focused specifically on Virtual Production, finishing the Epic Games Unreal Fellowship in March 2021, consulting for studios, networks and construction clients around Virtual Production through Next Gen Production, and is just completing Executive Producing the ETC’s latest R&D short, FATHEAD, currently in production on a volume stage in LA.