The VFX Process #42 Joshua Toonen: Filmmaking & VFX, Can Unreal Engine Handle Both?
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May 20, 2024 Joshua Toonen, a seasoned VFX artist with eight years in the industry, shares insights about pushing Unreal Engine to its limits. He discusses his journey from working on blockbuster films like Alien: Covenant and Spider-Man to creating his own short film, 'Stay.' Joshua describes the challenges of transitioning into virtual production on Avatar: The Last Airbender and his ambitious projects, including a 24-hour recreation of a Dune scene. He also dives into the significance of lighting and camera movement in enhancing realism in visual effects.
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Virtual Production Is Live Compositing
- Virtual production is essentially 'live compositing' where Unreal acts like a live compositor on set.
- The role demands fast creative changes because you have minutes, not months, to alter the background.
From VFX To Making 'Stay'
- After working on Star Wars Josh realized he wanted to make his own films rather than only climb the VFX ladder.
- He wrote and later produced the short Stay to showcase directing and VFX skills.
Long Post And Lost BTS Footage
- The short Stay had 98 VFX shots and long post because Josh hid effects to make them invisible.
- He lost behind-the-scenes footage when his phone was destroyed, so crew vertical footage became TikTok promotion.