Animation Guild | We are 839 Digital Magazine
Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1516015
14 KEYFRAME O N T H E J O B HEAD OF EFFECTS (OR FX) REQUIRES TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW, CREATIVE THINKING, COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND A DESIRE TO NURTURE TALENT AND WATCH IT GROW. LEARN MORE FROM THESE TAG MEMBERS ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE JOB DONE. Jason Mayer started his film career in live-action FX, with his first feature credit on the BAFTA Award-winning VFX in The Day After Tomorrow. Soon after, he jumped over to animated features at DreamWorks Animation and has contributed FX to 19 features along with a variety of commercials, specials, and theme park rides. He just completed his 19th year at DreamWorks, which has included Annie and VES Awards for FX contributions. Among his career highlights are The Croods, all three How to Train Your Dragon films, both Boss Baby films, and the Kung Fu Panda films. He is currently Head of Effects on Kung Fu Panda 4. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB? An animated feature can have between 500 to 1,200 effects (FX) shots. It requires a team that can range in size from 15 to 50, depending on the schedule. The Head of Effects (HoFX) oversees that department. The HoFX will periodically review script pages, storyboards, and pre-vis/ layout as editorial continues to refine the cut, to call out where FX are needed, and to provide a bid for the resources required. As those sequences progress through the pipeline, we often revisit these bids once models, characters, and animation are completed. It is crucial to stay in contact with leadership of other departments to achieve success. We provide feedback on ways to retain the creative intent while simplifying the cost of the work. We also call out any specific technological or visual development required in the FX to achieve the vision of the director. The HoFX is also responsible for casting out these tasks to the members of the team. We use a combination of an artist's strengths in the various categories of FX like fire, water, clouds, destruction, etc., and then balance that against career growth. A goal on every film is to give every artist something that will grow them in some way, enhance their expertise, or improve their demo reel. WHAT ARE THE BEST PARTS ABOUT BEING HOFX? You are the conduit for your department into the show leadership and will often get to discuss with the director what their vision is and what are the relevant story moments. They are relying on you to bring your experience to offer suggestions to further that storytelling with the FX animation while staying within your budget. At the studio department level, you also play a role in hiring new talent. This helps shape the department's talent pool with great people that support each other. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is to see people thrive in their roles, be recognized for their contributions, and grow into leaders themselves. DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR ASPIRING HOFX? Trust is the number one thing you must have to be an effective leader of any department. A career of high performance is helpful and can help foster initial trust that you've walked a mile in your team's shoes, but look for opportunities to help lift up your fellow coworkers as you're seeking that promotion. JASON MAYER HEAD OF FX Kung Fu Panda 4 , DreamWorks Animation