ILM's Mark Bakowski to Escape Studios on Thursday 16th March

Meet the man who made Avengers

This Thursday 16th ILM VFX Supervisor Mark Bakowski, the man who supervised "Age of Ultron" (among many other VFX box office blockbusters) will be giving a talk for our students at Escape Studios.

It's a bit like one of our  "Evening With" events, but in the afternoon. So, expect tea and cake instead of beer and pizza.

Mark has had a stellar career in the VFX industry; few individuals are better placed to shine a light on how the industry actually works, and - of course - how to break into it.

The event will take place tomorrow at our 190 High Holborn campus at 4pm, and is (of course) free for all our students. Prospective students and applicants are also very welcome.   

An Evening With Sean Danischevsky - Thursday 3 November

This Thursday, 3rd November Escape Studios is hosting an evening with Sean Danischevsky, a visual effects supervisor with over 20 years' experience working in film and television. Highlights of his career include Dark Knight, Batman Begins and Harry Potter.  Sean has worked for some of the biggest studios in London including Double Negative, The Mill and Framestore.

Events like this are a great way to find out how big VFX movies actually get made, by the people who made them. The event is free, so come along on thursday and find out the secrets behind some of the biggest VFX hits of recent years.

Plus, there will be free beer and pizza!

Tonight at Escape Studios! Steve Begg on Spectre

Tonight at Escape Studios we are hosting a very special VFX event with Steve Begg.  Steve will discuss the visual effects work done on on Spectre, his fourth James Bond film and his third as VFX Supervisor.

With over 27 years' experience in the industry Steve Begg has taken the role of VFX Supervisor on titles such as Skyfall, Batman Begins, Casino Royale, The Golden Compass, Red Dwarf, and Aliens.

Events like this are one of the many ways that Escape Studios supports our students' learning with industry events, bringing leading figures in the VFX industry to give our students a glimpse into the way the business actually works.

How MPC Created a Digital Arnold for Terminator Genisys

He's back! As a digital double of himself

At the recent BlueGFX Expo at London’s South Bank, Moving Picture Company (MPC) Software Developer Marco Romeo talked about some of the recent work done by MPC on the film Terminator Genisys.  In particular, he described how MPC painstakingly rebuilt a digital version of the young Arnold Schwarzenegger (to do battle in the movie with the real Arnold), using a better facial rigging system with Fabric, and using new facial simulation research.

Here at Escape Studios we always recommend that our students attend events like BlueGFX Expo, and of course the upcoming VFX Festival in February 2016.   You never know who you will meet, and what you will learn about the latest technology in our industry.

Stuart Penn Explains How FrameStore Helped Create Warner Bros’ Blockbuster Fantasy Adventure: Pan

Stuart Penn is a CG Supervisor with fifteen years experience working at Framestore, whose recent work includes Warner Bros’ blockbuster fantasy adventure: Pan.

At the BlueGFX Expo on London’s South Bank last week, Stuart explained how Framestore pulled off the exceptional challenges of this effects-heavy film.

Paul Franklin Explains What Makes Oscar-Winning VFX

VFX Supervised by Paul Franklin

One of the best things about studying at Escape Studios is the excellent guest speakers who drop in, industry professionals who talk to our students about the work they have done. 

At a recent talk at Escape Studios, Oscar winning VFX supervisor Paul Franklin explained what goes into the making of the blockbuster films he has supervised, such as Dark Knight, Inception, and Interstellar - released this time last year. 

Franklin has also won two BAFTAs and is the co-founder of the global VFX powerhouse Double Negative.  

Clearly, Franklin is an artist who knows VFX inside out, and he offered our students a unique insight into how big budget visual effects movies get made, and what a visual effects supervisor actually does.

Meet Oscar Winning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin on Thursday December 10th

Oscar Winning VFX Supervisor Paul Franklin is being interviewed in Stoke Newington on Thursday December 10th, to talk about some of his work in visual effects.

Paul Franklin has collected Oscars for films like Inception, which broke fresh ground in the VFX industry, creating extraordinary effects.

He is also an excellent and entertaining speaker, and we highly recommend that our students attend what promises to be a fascinating evening.

What Does a Visual Effects Supervisor Do, Exactly? VFX Supe Matt Johnson Explains

Matt Johnson (left) in Los Angeles on Beverly Hills Chihuahua

What does a Visual Effects Supervisor actually do on a movie? Well, D'Oh! They supervise the VFX! But really, what do they do, and what contribution do they make to a film?

Matt Johnson, veteran VFX supervisor on dozens of Hollywood hits, including World War Z, Into The Woods, V for Vendetta, X Men, and Chronicles of Narnia, explains what a Visual Effects Supervisor actually does for a living, and how an aspiring film-maker might become one.

Do animators need to know this stuff? Of course! here at Escape we teach our animators to understand the whole VFX pipeline, so you are properly educated in the deep magic of modern film-making.  Being a successful animator isn't just about bringing characters to life - it's about understanding how the whole process works.