The VFX session was moderated by Anirights Kulkarni.
VFX is a fine art and the representatives as well as VFX producers from some of India‘s finest VFX studios were present in the panel on VFX.
As the nature of the subject demanded, more than discussions, the panel comprised more of presentations and thrilling ‘making of‘ sequences.
This visual element of the panel had quite a positive effect on the audience as they were at the edge of their seats watching some of the best VFX work produced in India this year.
The panel included VCL‘s Pankaj Khandpur, Rhythm & Hues‘ Seshaprasad, EFX Mohan Krishnan, Stalwart Madhusdhanan, Prime Focus Amit Gupta and Artery Animation & FX‘ Yunus Bukhari and was moderated by Anirights Kulkarni.
The VFX showcase included sequences from Dhoom 2, Rang De Basanti (VCL), Krrish (EFX), Narnia, Superman Returns, Amaron 3 (R&H), Jaaneman and Sonic Batteries (Prime Focus) and Kandy Floss (Artery).
Talking about the good tidings for VFX, EFX Mohan Krishnan shared that “We at EFX have done more than 1200 shots for Krrish. We have worked with International supervisors Mark Kolbe and Craig Mumma and the team has excelled itself. We have taken a project management approach and there has been a high level of efficiency.”
VCL‘s Pankaj Khandpur talking about doing FX for Bollywood shared, “Mainstream Indian cinema believes in the formula, poor VFX supervisors will have to figure out how to put VFX into love stories. All of us in the business play evangelist roles and try and explain the producers about how best to create fx.
“The best way to get complete co operation from producers in terms of involving you right from the planning stages and so on is by showing him how he can save money. It will change the producer‘s approach and perception of FX completely” he added.
“Most of the scripts have very little detailing of FX, till recently most of it was made on the set and on the spur of the moment, it is very rare that u designed a film with the VFX in it. I must however point out that with the younger breed of film makers, the planning element is increasing and so is the efficient and true use of FX. In the case of Dhoom2, we did detailed pre visualizations and this has helped the producers save a hell of a lot of money as well as production time” he further stated.
R&H Seshaprasad shared, “The success we are experiencing now is the result of the constant effort of the LA facility and it has been repaying in the last 2 years now. For Garfield we delivered 60 shots, recently delivered Night at the Musuem. I am talking about photo real characters, animated rigged and lit completely done in India. We are doing the look development and pre lighting for His Dark Materials,Today R&H India is not another facility we are just a building somewhere else”
Stalwart Madhusudhanan remarked that, “We talk about animation and then we talk about VFX, but let‘s bear in mind that there is a lot of animation in VFX too. CG and VFX is not separate it is simply about the application and the format as in short, form, long form, etc
“VCL, R&H & FRAMEFLOW are doing high level of work. Next year you will see more coming from our side too. There is a major Hollwyood film for which I am in talks with, where the entire VFX will be done in India. The kind of pace that VFX industry is generating today, you will see 30 films coming out of India next year” added Madhu.
Prime Focus Amit Gupta shared, “As Prime Focus we are primarily a post production studio, we started on VFX last year with a team of 10 people, we are now 150 people. When we were supplying services to Indian producers it was fine but now that we are starting to service international markets we have acquired UK based VTR which is now renamed as Prime Focus London and we are working on the knowledge and experience transfer. When it comes to International projects, we are not pitching to the VFX studios for part of the work but are pitching directly to the Film studios for the entire VFX contracts”
“Currently we are handling two features, one has 570 shots and another is 1200 shots” he added.
Artery Animation & FX Yunus Bukhari spoke on the need to have more focused education of VFX in the animation institutes. “One has to include things like Cinematography, Camera, Film, Composition and so on when creating a VFX course” shared Bukhari.
Overall, the panel agreed that the state of VFX in India was improving fast and that the next few years would see tremendous growth of VFX in the country.
