VES Virtual Production Series

Monday, December 11, 2023

Join the Visual Effects Society for an online panel discussion delving into the spectrum of roles in Virtual Production and the LED volume. Learn from industry experts, and discover career paths available for students, and transition opportunities for seasoned pros in this new and exciting aspect of filmmaking. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the roles that exist on a Virtual Production stage, how they work together to create stunning in-camera visual effects, and how to best explore them as a career option.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 5:00PM (PDT), 8:00PM (EDT) and Wednesday, September 1, 2021 at 10:00AM (AEST) and 12:00PM (NZST)

The Visual Effects Society (VES) and Producers Guild of America (PGA) join together for a second event to analyze scheduling and budgeting for virtual production. In this discussion, we will hear how to potentially approach large and small budgets whilst looking at different virtual production techniques, break down the optimum scheduling especially in regards to pre-production, and how to examine the appropriate crewing. Speakers will include BLACK ADAM Virtual Production Supervisor and VES Board member Kathryn Brillhart, VES Award-winning Manager of Virtual Production at Netflix Ryan Stafford, VES Award-winning Producer Kurt Williams and VES Award-winning Visual Effects Producer on MAHOGANY Sandra Scott, Moderated by PGA member, VES Fellow and Board member Janet Muswell Hamilton, VES.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 5:00PM (PDT), 8:00PM (EDT) and Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at 10:00AM (AEST) and 12:00PM (NZST)

The VES and PGA join together to demystify virtual production and how it’s impacting the industry. This panel will showcase how the latest real-time techniques are accessible, scalable, and affordable for a variety of projects. Panelists will spotlight their experience on some of the industry’s latest shows and movies discussing techniques such as world capture, visualization, performance capture, simulcam and interactive lighting. Panelists include VES Award-winning Executive Producer of THE MIDNIGHT SKY Greg Baxter, Visualization Supervisor at The Third Floor Sophia Yu, Virtual Cinematographer on STOWAWAY Jannicke Mikkelsen, FNF as well as Founder and CPO at Glassbox Technologies Mariana Acuña, moderated by Manager of Virtual Production at Netflix Christina Lee Storm.

Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 10:00AM (PDT), 1:00PM (EDT), 6:00PM (BST), 7:00PM (CEST)

During the event moderated by AD/UPM VFX/Digital Technology Committee Chair Susan Zwerman, VES, Director/Associate Director Brad Duns (THE MASKED SINGER), 1st AD Kim Richards & 2nd AD Heather Wagner (THE MANDALORIAN), Stage Manager Valdez Flagg (MARIAH CAREY’S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS SPECIAL), The Third Floor Line Producer Lara Cawsey and Happy Mushroom CEO/Virtual Production Producer Felix Jorge gave informative presentations that covered topics such as what types of scenes are good for Virtual Production; how visualization feeds into the Virtual Production pipeline; technical terms that DGA Members should know; tips on how to shoot and schedule Virtual Production; a basic primer on how the Virtual Production pipeline works; and XR (Extended Reality) as well as AR (Augmented Reality) technology.

All presenters then participated in a group Q&A and answered questions submitted by DGA members.

Friday, November 20, 2020 at 9:00AM (PST), 12:00PM (EST),5:00PM (GMT),6:00PM (CET)

Join the VES, ASC, Camerimage and the Virtual Production Committee for a conversation on the intersection between camera, VFX and lighting as they pertain to Virtual Production, brought to you by Netflix.

Confirmed panelists include Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, ASC who’s won the VES Award for his work on THE LION KING, ASC’s and Camerimage’s Lifetime Achievement Awards as well as an ASC Award for his work on THE PATRIOT; Visual Effects Supervisor Rob Legato, ASC, winner of 7 VES Awards, 3 Oscars for his work on THE JUNGLE BOOK, HUGO and TITANIC, 2 BAFTAs and 2 Emmys, Lighting Director and VES member Samuel Maniscalco is a who’s worked on THE LION KING, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2, THE JUNGLE BOOK and others, USC School of Cinematic Arts Professor and George Méliès Endowed Chair in Visual Effects Michael Fink, VES who’s won an Oscar and a BAFTA for his work on THE GOLDEN COMPASS, Unity Technologies Head of Development Habib Zargarpour who’s won the VES Award for Real-Time Visuals in a Video Game as well as 2 BAFTAs and 2 Oscar nominations for his work on THE PERFECT STORM and TWISTER as well as Epic Games Business Development Manager Miles Perkins who worked on IRON MAN, the STAR TREK reboot and many more, moderated by Director of Emerging Technology at The Mill Boo Wong.

Monday, August 4, 2020

Panelists include Business Development Manager for The Third Floor Lara Cawsey, award-winning Director Mark Osborne, Epic Games Business Development Manager Miles Perkins, President & CEO of Aaron Sims Creative Aaron Sims, Director of Emerging Technology at The Mill Boo Wong with moderation by Netflix Director of Virtual Production Girish Balakrishnan.