Chad Wanstreet and Chris Nichols have experienced similar career trajectories — but this is the first time they’ve sat down together. Like Chris, Chad transitioned from architecture to VFX, and his experience spans working at notable firms including Blur Studio and FuseFX. Along the way, Chad has contributed to projects that pushed the boundaries of visual effects, such as The Sympathizer, SWAT, The Tick, and the short-lived but brilliant Kill the Orange-Faced Bear.
Chad discusses the challenges and innovations brought by technological advancements, such as virtual production and real-time ray tracing, and highlights the importance of understanding these tools. Additionally, Chad shares personal anecdotes about the highs and lows of his career, including the struggles during the economic downturn of 2008 and the unexpected opportunities that led him to his current role.
Links:
0:05:02 From architecture to VFX
0:10:43 The Blackbird project
0:15:43 Batman, Spider-Man, Superman
0:22:07 Work at Fuze FX
0:28:29 Working on "SWAT" and "Kill the Orange-Faced Bear"
0:32:48 How do you become a VFX supervisor?
0:36:55 Working through the pandemic
0:40:09 Virtual production and Project Arena
0:45:27 The biggest lies about VFX in Hollywood
0:49:06 And the most important thing for VFX to get right
0:52:31 AI tools in Hollywood
1:00:29 The downside to AI
1:04:53 Is Hollywood becoming more interesting?
Chris is a CG industry veteran and Director of Chaos Labs. He can also be heard regularly as the host of the CG Garage podcast which attracts 20,000 weekly listeners. With a background in both VFX and Design, Chris has worked for Gensler, Digital Domain, Imageworks and Method Studios. His credits include Maleficent, Oblivion and Tron: Legacy.