VFX Production On-Set: Becoming a Visual Effects Supervisor

This lesson describes the position of the visual effects supervisor and its role in a visual effects production. From what the supervisor does, to their daily responsibilities on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of the typical VFX supervisor.

This lesson describes the position of the visual effects producer and its role in a visual effects production. From what the producer does, to their daily responsibilities on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of the typical VFX producer.

DISCLAIMER: the thoughts and opinions of all speakers in this course are not representative of any organization, company or business and are to be taken as personal opinion and insights shared only.

This lesson describes the position of the visual effects production coordinator and its role in a visual effects production. From what the coordinator does, to their daily responsibilities on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of the typical VFX production coordinator.

This lesson describes the position of the visual effects production assistant (PA) and its role in a visual effects production. From what the PA does, to their daily responsibilities on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of the typical VFX PA.

This lesson describes the role a visual effects studio and their in-house VFX production team play in a visual effects production. From how the in-house team work with external team members, to their daily responsibilities to their own studio on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of how the in-house team of a VFX studio function and work together with external team members or teams from other VFX studios.

This lesson describes the position of the various types of visual effects post-production supervisors and their role in a visual effects production. From what these supervisors do, to their daily responsibilities on and off set as well as additional resources, this lesson will paint a comprehensive portrait of the typical and various types of VFX post-production supervisors.

This lesson explores the script analysis and breakdown process for the purposes of creating a VFX breakdown as a visual effects supervisor. Learn more about the responsibilities of a supervisor during the scripting and pre-production phase as well as what is expected in an initial VFX breakdown of a film script.

DISCLAIMER: the thoughts and opinions of all speakers in this course are not representative of any organization, company or business and are to be taken as personal opinion and insights shared only.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the director and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the director of photography (DP) and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production, including how to communicate with the DP in understandable terms.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the on-set VFX team and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the production design department and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production.

During the storyboarding phase, the visual effects supervisor usually works with the director in framing the composition of shots - especially those shots that will be entirely created in VFX post-production. This lesson explores the concept and uses of VFX shot design and previz and how this important step is crucial in saving both time and money in any visual effects production.

This lesson explores the importance and steps to establishing a VFX pipeline and workflow specific to any visual effects production. As a visual effects supervisor, learn more about the tools that already exist to help streamline the pipeline creation process as well as how to get your VFX team on board the process.

This lesson discusses how a visual effects supervisor goes about choosing the vendors or VFX studios to work with that would be relevant to their visual effects production. Learn more about the selection process for vendors as well as team members on-set in terms of determining their fit with the project's visual effects style, budget and schedule.

DISCLAIMER: the thoughts and opinions of all speakers in this course are not representative of any organization, company or business and are to be taken as personal opinion and insights shared only.

A visual effects supervisor's toolkit is one of the most important things a supervisor has to get right both on and off set. This lesson explores what a supervisor's toolkit includes including where to get said tools, when and how to use them as well as examples of real-life toolkits of current visual effects supervisors in the industry.

There are many things a visual effects supervisor has to do and prepare for both on and off set; to ensure that a VFX supervisor is kept on track, it is crucial to have a VFX supervisor's to-do list. This lesson dives into the importance and key elements of a VFX supervisor's to-do list, including lists to be made before, during and after any visual effects production.

This lesson describes how a visual effects supervisor would prepare any visual effects prop for a visual effects production. Depending on the type of prop and production, this lesson covers a range of the various types of VFX props one would expect on-set as well as how to work with the production design department where necessary.

This lesson dives deep into the topic of Green screens and how to set, light and prepare them for any visual effects production. From indoor Green screens to outdoor and unique situations, this lesson discusses how to properly light a Green screen and prepare them for different types of camera shots as well as different visual effects use cases.

This lesson explores the different types of on-set data to be captured for visual effects post-production as well as the tools and equipment required to do so. As a visual effects supervisor leading a team of VFX PAs, this lesson also explores how and when to capture on-set data as well as how to organize the captured data within your VFX on-set team.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the on-set camera crew and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration between the two departments. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production, including how to ensure a good flow of communication between the camera crew and your VFX team.

This lesson explores the various types of specialized equipment for specific unique VFX shots or use cases on any visual effects production. Learn more about what these equipment are, how and when to use them as well as how this affects the visual effects production.

This lesson explores the recent foray in the visual effects industry into virtual production since the advent of James Cameron's Avatar. Explore what virtual production is, when to use it, how it works as well as recent developments in virtual production today on film productions all over the globe.

This lesson guides you through the preparation of your very own visual effects supervisor toolkit. Additional resources as well as places to get certain tools or materials are also covered in this lesson as the lesson walks you through what is in the instructor's own supervisor toolkit and how to create your own.

This lesson guides you through the preparation of your very own Green screen with tracking markers for tracking shots. Additional resources as well as places to get certain tools or materials are also covered in this lesson as the lesson walks you through how to create your tracking markers, where to place them on the Green screen as well as how to ensure your Green screen has the right amount of tracking markers.

This lesson guides you through the process of capturing on-set data for use in visual effects post-production. Additional resources as well as places to get certain tools or materials are also covered in this lesson as the lesson walks you through when and how to capture on-set data as well as what the captured represents both on-set and in visual effects post-production.

This lesson explores the niche of stereoscopic production and post-production in the visual effects industry and what a visual effects supervisor should know about this type of production and process. Learn more about what stereoscopic production is, how this changes a visual effects production on-set as well as what additional steps or information is required from production for stereoscopic post-production.

This lesson explores the niche of virtual reality or dome production and post-production in the visual effects industry and what a visual effects supervisor should know about this type of production and process. Learn more about what virtual reality or dome production is, how this changes a visual effects production on-set as well as what additional steps or information is required from production for VR or dome post-production.

This lesson helps a VFX supervisor understand what a film editor's editing process and workflow is in relation to the visual effects pipeline. Learn more about how and where VFX artists' work come into the workflow, the input and output coming from the editor for VFX post-production as well as an editor's typical expectations of visual effects work during post-production.

This lesson explores how to work with production data captured on-set and integrate it into the relevant stages during visual effects post-production. As a visual effects supervisor, this lesson also covers the extent of your involvement during visual effects post-production as well as how to guide the relevant VFX post-production teams with using this captured data.

This lesson explores the concept of color LUTs in film and how it affects the visual effects post-production process from a visual effects supervisor's perspective. Learn more about how color LUTs work, when they are applied during visual effects post-production as well as how this affects any compositing, lighting and rendering work done in visual effects post-production.

This lesson explores the working relationship between the post-production visual effects supervisors and visual effects supervisor as well as best practices to a successful collaboration. Learn more about how this dynamic works as well as what are the expectations on both ends of this relationship when it comes to a visual effects production.

This lesson explores the unspoken in-between phase of the edited cut of film production and final visual effects post-production work in the form of draft visual effects with postviz. Learn more about the postviz process, how it is intended to look and help visual effects post-production as well as the expectations of your role as a visual effects supervisor during this phase.

This lesson explores the visual effects finaling phase in visual effects post-production - otherwise more commonly known as the final VFX work seen in any film or movie on the big screen. Learn more about the processes and workflow involved during the finaling phase of VFX, who the key players are during this phase as well as the expectations of your role as a visual effects supervisor of the film during this phase.

This lesson covers the routine of dailies and editorial review during visual effects post-production at any typical visual effects studio, including how the review process works and the flow of communication between post-production supervisors and artists. Learn more about dailies and reviews through examples as well as how and when the visual effects supervisor of the film step in during this feedback loop.

A collection of quotes, tips and tricks from real-life and active VFX supervisors in the industry on the things that a VFX supervisor wished you knew when working with them on set or when starting out as a fledgling VFX supervisor on any visual effects production.

A summary of all the points, tips and tricks of supervising we have covered so far, including a take-away sheet that summarizes the lessons and best practices learned about supervising on a visual effects production.

A summary of the dynamic working relationship between the VFX supervisor and VFX producer on and off set, throughout the entire visual effects production, including how the two rely on one another in order to ensure the success of any visual effects production.

DISCLAIMER: the thoughts and opinions of all speakers in this course are not representative of any organization, company or business and are to be taken as personal opinion and insights shared only.

Ending on a conclusive note, we will touch on some discussion points of supervising and the effective ways to supervise on and off set, with or without a team, including how and when to supervise and how to navigate the on-set production culture.

Well done! Supervising can be both challenging and rewarding at the same time. For more in this series, stay tuned for future courses where we cover other kinds of niches, best practices and cheats in the visual effects world.

BONUS: For staying all the way to the end of this course, this lecture is for you. More details inside.