Thank you for a fabulous 2021!

 In this episode, I sit down with the incredibly talented Star, a Compositor at FOLKS, whose impressive career has taken her from fashion design and running her own business, to working on some of Hollywood's biggest productions, including Star Wars, Deadpool, and also projects from acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. 

We dive into her unconventional journey into visual effects, the challenges of working at both small and large studios, and the importance of great mentorship, creative freedom, and knowing when to ask for help.

We also explore her passion for constantly learning and pushing herself as an artist, her experiences working across different languages and cultures, and how she's embracing AI and open-source tools to explore new creative possibilities. From unforgettable career moments to navigating an ever-changing industry, Star shares some fantastic insights into what it takes to grow, adapt, and thrive as a VFX artist.

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott

Edited by: Claire Kim

Kiki Gomez is an entrepreneur, creative director, producer, and inventor whose career has been anything but conventional. 

After spending nearly a decade in finance, Kiki followed a longtime passion for film, commercials, and storytelling by entering into the entertainment industry. He eventually founded The Roster, a creative agency and production company where he worked with brands including K-Swiss with Venus Williams, Lexus, Belkin, and Kasa Smart.

Along the way, he built a reputation for wearing whatever hat the project required—from writing and developing ideas to producing and directing.

Today, Kiki has taken that entrepreneurial mindset in a completely new direction as the founder and CEO of CAMPMODE, combining his passion for boxing with product development and invention. 

In this episode, we talk about making major career changes, building a business ffrom the ground up, and finding creative solutions when the traditional path doesn’t work. 

We also explore what happens when someone who has spent his career creating ideas for others decides to turn his own ideas into something real.

https://campmode.com/

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Mark Sosa

Max Berlin studied composition and jazz piano at the Eastman School of Music, where he spent countless hours in the library studying scores and learning from educators who deeply influenced his creative work. After studying composition and jazz piano, Max went on to work in film scoring, music preparation, and orchestration on projects connected to composers such as John Williams, Danny Elfman, Alan Silvestri, Ludwig Göransson, and Jeff Beal.

In this episode, Max and I also discuss how we collaborated to create the original intro music for this podcast. Together, we explored different ideas, exchanged feedback, and shaped a piece that captured the identity and energy of this podcast—showing how music and visual effects share the same goal of creating emotion and telling a story. 

Max also shares stories from his time at JoAnn Kane Music Service, preparing piano arrangements for The Mandalorian, and orchestrating the Netflix film They Cloned Tyrone. We also talk about perfectionism, procrastination, deadlines, creative community, and the importance of creating your own opportunities. We also discuss the importance of being a good peer, building a creative community, and helping others succeed. 

Max also shares one of the most important lessons he has learned throughout his career: when opportunities are not handed to you, sometimes you have to create them yourself.

https://maxberlinmusic.com/

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Claire Kim

Daniel’s journey through the film industry has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to keep evolving. From starting out as a freelance assistant video editor to becoming an animatics editor on Project Hail Mary, he has learned that building a creative career is rarely a straightforward path. 

In this podcast Daniel opens up about seeing himself as a “Swiss Army Knife,” working through imposter syndrome, taking chances, and why creatives shouldn’t take client notes personally. He reflects on the importance of empathy, staying open when a project changes direction, and creating enough emotional distance to avoid tying your self-worth to a specific outcome. 

At the heart of it all, his belief is that filmmaking is a team sport—one built on trust, collaboration, and keeping the meaningful professional connections with people you meet along the way.IMDB:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1429363/?ref_=nmmi_ov_bk

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/-dreitz

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Mark Sosa

Daniel’s journey through the film industry has been shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to keep evolving. From starting out as a freelance assistant video editor to becoming an animatics editor on Project Hail Mary, he has learned that building a creative career is rarely a straightforward path. 

In this podcast Daniel opens up about seeing himself as a “Swiss Army Knife,” working through imposter syndrome, taking chances, and why creatives shouldn’t take client notes personally. He reflects on the importance of empathy, staying open when a project changes direction, and creating enough emotional distance to avoid tying your self-worth to a specific outcome. 

At the heart of it all, his belief is that filmmaking is a team sport—one built on trust, collaboration, and keeping the meaningful professional connections with people you meet along the way.

IMDB:https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1429363/?ref_=nmmi_ov_bk

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/-dreitz

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Claire Kim

Henry is a storyteller at heart, whose career has taken him through the worlds of animation, editorial, and motion design. 

After earning his degree in Computer Animation from Columbia College Chicago, Henry joined Sarofsky, where he calls himself an Assistant Editor and Finishing Assistant. 

At Sarofsky, he's helped create everything from high-end commercial campaigns to visually driven projects that blend design, animation, and filmmaking, …. all while still using Smoke Hot keys.

We dive into how to make the best use of your creative time, why you can't take criticism personally in this business, and also the importance of leaving your ego at the door if you want to keep growing. He also shares why mastering the basic fundamentals in a software first matters more…. than relying on AI tools way too early in your career.

Whether you're looking for advice on breaking into the industry or simply want to hear the story of how someone is building a successful career, this episode is filled with practical insights, real-world experience, and hard-earned lessons you don't want to miss. Happy listening and Happy Pride!

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Mark Sosa

Olivier, a VFX Supervisor at Hybride, whose journey from intern to a 23-year veteran at Hybride has helped shape some of the most iconic Star Wars projects. 

We explore the value of generosity and understanding in the VFX workspace, showing yourself patience, and why embracing mistakes and imperfection can make you a stronger artist and collaborator.

Olivier also discusses the true mark of great visual effects—the moments so effortless and believable that they disappear into the story, revealing the artistry behind making complex VFX integrate flawlessly with live action. It’s a testament to the artists who showcase the invisible craft that brings , a world like Star Wars to life. 

And, for this special Canada Day 🇨🇦 release, we wrap things up with a few fun Canadian questions and plenty of laughs along the way.

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Claire Kim

Known for his fxphd Flame tutorials and candid discussions about his career journey, Sam Edwards transitioned from being a business owner to working at some of the world's leading visual effects studios, including Digital Domain and ILM. With experience spanning feature films, episodic television, and commercial projects, his career reflects a diverse and accomplished path through the visual effects industry.

Hosted by: Glenn Teel
Edited by: Mark Sosa

Known for his fxphd Flame tutorials and candid discussions about his career journey, Sam Edwards transitioned from being a business owner to working at some of the world's leading visual effects studios, including Digital Domain and ILM. With experience spanning feature films, episodic television, and commercial projects, his career reflects a diverse and accomplished path through the visual effects industry.

Hosted by: Glenn Teel
Edited by: Mark Sosa

In this episode, Bryan Bayley, Jan Klier and I, talk about how AI is being used as their professional tool in their creative process — where it helps, where it falls short, and the frustrations that come with it. We also get into the bigger questions around the ethics and responsibility of using these tools such as Claude and Comfy UI.

Hosted by: Amanda Elliott
Edited by: Claire Kim