Visual Effects and Screenwriting

I was recently asked to expand on what visual effects I am involved with and how they relate to my screenwriting work.

Visual effects is a huge encompassing term, and covers so many things, but always involves computers, as opposed to special effects, which are physical (like explosions, miniatures, etc.)

I’ve done a little bit of everything, including modeling (creating 3d objects), texturing (digitally “painting” 3d objects), lighting, matchmoving (matching camera movements so 3d objects fit seamlessly into a shot), and compositing (layering images to get a final shot; think Photoshop, but over a sequence of images instead of one). I have focused on matchmoving and compositing. My role has been special since I have worked independently from a home office, uploading and downloading shots and materials to visual effects companies managing the production. Many studios prefer to keep it all in-house, but more studios are opening up to this new work paradigm.

This affects my screenwriting in a couple of ways. First, I am aware how visual effects can expand a movie’s budget and can account for that as I write. On occasion, I get to read the script describing the shot(s) I work on. It’s amazing how few words in a script can create a mountain of visual effects work.

Two of the most important aspects I’ve made a habit is the self-discipline required and the ability to work under pressure. It’s a lot like the “hurry up and wait” scenario. I’ll finish a “first draft” of a shot and get notes back, revisions, polishing, then it’s out. However it’s a lot more fast paced, especially with the compressed production schedules of TV. Deadlines come fast and furious, and time management and creative problem solving is vitally important. There’s no time for “blank page” frustrations. So when I impose a deadline on myself or am trying to meet a pages-per-day quota, and I’m feeling blocked, I’ll just write through it, because in the real world, you can’t miss a deadline. If you cross that line, you’re dead.