Video Series: Managing VFX Workflows in Editorial
One of the most complex tasks that editors and assistant editors have to handle is dealing with VFX. While we don’t often actually create the VFX shots ourselves (although sometimes we have to! I use After Effects more and more on every project I do), we do have to manage workflows back and forth between the editorial department and the VFX or graphics departments, often while a project is still in flux. Best practices will always tell you to lock your edit before getting VFX started, but realistically this is becoming less and less common as schedules compress. What’s more likely is that you’ll have to lock or soft-lock a number of specific shots or sequences before you’re finished your edit, in order for the VFX team to start working on them. They may even want to start working before you’ve even committed to the length of the shot. So, how do you keep everything organized between departments when the cut is still in flux? I started making a little video series to talk about how I like to manage and organize my VFX workflows. It includes tips for creating strong, useful VFX numbers, how to label your sequence onscreen, what kind of information your VFX team will likely need from you, and lots more.
