Visual Effects in Storytelling: A Workshop for Independent Filmmaker

Dariush Derakhshani

Start Date:
August 17, 2023

End Date:
August 18, 2023

Times

Workshop Language
English

About the Workshop:

Visual Effects is an integral part of visual storytelling; therefore, this workshop focuses on how to best prepare and plan for visual effects in a film by examining the story and ideas behind the visual narrative of one’s film, focusing on smaller and independent scale productions. Day one begins with a look into how VFX has evolved over the years in smaller budget projects, and how VFX could be used to help tell the story. Day one starts with exploring the evolution of VFX in smaller-budget projects and its role in enhancing storytelling. The first day ends with a discussion and an exchange of project ideas and pitches among the attendees. Day two builds on this momentum, fostering peer-supported group discussions aimed to help develop and delve deeper into each participant's project ideas. The primary objective of this workshop is to equip participants with essential practices, terminology, and workflows that can significantly benefit their films, fostering a profound understanding and application of VFX techniques.

Target Audience: Directors, Editors, Cinematographers, Camera Operators, Camera assistants, Film Students

In collaboration with

Notes: Workshop Participant Number: Up to 12

Workshop Host(s):

Dariush Derakhshani

Dariush Derakhshani is an award-winning VFX supervisor, producer and educator in Los Angeles, California. He has been an animator and supervisor on countless commercials, television shows, and feature films for over 25 years at places such as Digital Domain, Pixomondo, Zoic Studios, Radium|ReelFX, Café FX, Rhythm and Hues, Sight Effects, as well as consulting for studios such as Unity, JibJab Studios, Square Enix, Mandoo Pictures, and Digital Frontier (Tokyo).

Derakhshani earned a BA from Lehigh University in Architecture and Theatre and an MFA in Film, TV and Computer Animation from USC School of Cinematic Arts and has been teaching in the field for over twenty years. He is also the author of several 3ds Max and Maya books and numerous video training programs for LinkedIn, fxphd, and Pluralsight. Derakhshani has also been a Film Expert Envoy for the US State Department’s American Film Showcase program, where he has led educational programs in Armenia.

In 2020, he joined the John Hughes Institute as its Academic Dean, responsible for creating and delivering bespoke curricula for film and animation programs for clients such as Arizona State University, York University in Canada, and The One Academy in Malaysia.

Derakhshani is a long-time member of the Visual Effects Society and has most recently won honours for his work in VFX at the Sitges Film Festival, as well as a London Advertising Award, multiple Telly and Addy Awards, the Bronze Plaque from the Columbus Film Festival for his animation and has been nominated for the VES Award.

Interested to attend the workshop?

Registration Form

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