By NAOMI GOLDMAN
By NAOMI GOLDMAN
The Visual Effects Society’s international presence gets stronger every year, and so much of that is because of our regional VFX communities and their work to advance the Society and bring people together. Founded in 2008, the VES Australia Section is growing with more than 155 members who represent a broad spectrum of disciplines, including visual effects, virtual production and games, as well as education, research and recruitment. Half the membership is in New South Wales, with a smaller contingent in Adelaide and Melbourne, and a few members in up-and-coming Brisbane and the Northern Territory.
“When it comes to the state of the industry, we are starting to see new growth in the VFX space,” said Aditya Talwar, Chair of the VES Australia Section and CG Supervisor at Netflix Animation Studios. “DNEG and ILM opened in the last few years, and Wētā has expanded its presence with a new hub in Melbourne. And, with more happening in VFX and animation and the support of government incentives, we are seeing an influx of artists into the region.”
“From my perspective, I see many people who have been dealing with job loss or looking for remote work, and a lot of activity among people investing in learning new skills to get into virtual production,” said Lukas Sarralde, Vice Chair of VES Australia and Founder, Virtual Production Supervisor and Cinematographer for Mandrake Studios. “I’m working to help more VES members go down the path of gaining new knowledge, from Unreal Engine to the skills to become LED wall operators, but this is a learning process that takes time. I’m also focused on helping universities in Sydney update their curriculum to integrate more tech, equipping them to better empower their students and jumpstart their career pathways.”
VES Australia leadership cites its vast geographic scope – one Section encompassing a country that covers an entire continent – as a unique attribute that can present challenges. “Our Section is both big and small,” Talwar said. “While operating across a vast territory, our events are smaller and feel intimate, allowing us to grow close bonds. In this collaborative environment, we have close communications, and everyone has a voice in bringing forth new ideas. That’s exciting because our membership pulls from a cross-section of educators and researchers and hands-on artists and innovators – and those who practice our craft ‘old school’ and ‘new school’. Our Board of Managers represents diversity across professional expertise, gender and geography, which all contribute to the quality of our programming.”
VES Australia’s member recruitment efforts include pub nights, screenings at Netflix Animation Studios and networking events, where members are encouraged to invite prospects via strong word of mouth by Netflix and other VFX companies in the region. The Section Board of Managers had a goal of rebooting its membership numbers after a dip due to the pandemic, and they have largely achieved that aim. “Since 2023, we have pivoted from traditional mixers to educational programs, including our virtual production series,” Sarralde said. “The vision is to tailor our VES Australia member experience into a rich learning experience and a venue to learn valuable marketable skills. From LED processors to camera-tracking systems, we have the venue to share knowledge, workflows and technology, and partner with allied organizations like The American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) to educate and build up our community.”
Among its notable events, the VES Australia Section has hosted a series of Virtual Production workshops, including: a panel with experts from Unity Technologies, MOD, Nant Studios, Wētā FX and Disguise; a workshop on virtual production at a local Sydney studio, hosted in collaboration with Mandrake Studios, TDC, ARRI and ASC; and a VES x Dreamscape Virtual Production Showcase focused on in-camera VFX, LED walls and real-time production, with participation from Dreamscreen, Nant Studios and Canon. The Section hosted a World VFX Day celebration and holiday mixer at the Atomic Brewery in Sydney, enthusiastic VES Awards nominations events in Sydney at Animal Logic, and in Melbourne at Framestore, where members were featured in the CrewCon opening night “State of the Industry” panel and hosted a special Q&A on “The Making of Transformers One” with the Sydney ACM SIGGRAPH Chapter and key members of the ILM Sydney creative team.
Demonstrating its support for diversity and inclusion across the industry, the Section partnered with Women in Film and TV (WIFT Vic) for their Christmas-in-July event and co-sponsored a forum with WIFT Vic, “Invisible Art, Visible Costs: What Filmmakers Need to Know About VFX and the Women Behind It,” which brought together a dynamic group of women VFX supervisors, producers and creative leads.
Moving forward, Section leadership aims to regularize master talks and Q&A panels in collaboration with studios, and strengthen its presence in Adelaide and Brisbane with more screenings. It is also focused on creating educational programs and working more closely with the education system, exploring opportunities to bring mentorship around VFX to large universities so students can learn from experienced membership. “When it comes to the VES Awards, it’s essential that we spotlight the [VES-Autodesk] Student Award as an opportunity for students to showcase their work and be part of a first-class show,” Talwar said. “This is a part of our efforts to invite students into our world to foster the next generation of VFX professionals.”
Sarralde and Talwar reflected on their membership in the Society and what makes the VES Australia Section a source of pride. “I’m proud of our Section and its strong sense of community and support,” Sarralde said. “As a Board member, I’m able to deliver ideas because I strongly identify with people trying to learn and network in this tough industry. I know their pain. Now, we have a mission to spread the word about all that the VES has to offer, to bring more colleagues into this amazing worldwide community.” Talwar observed, “The VES has really been an anchor for me in the VFX industry. The Society has forged an excellent technical community and has been a champion of standardization, such as the VFX reference platform, amidst our segregated industry around the world. It’s great to be part of a vibrant community that brings together all of the different companies and studios under one umbrella as the ambassadors for visual effects.”
