The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back with another fantastic new episode.

In this two-part episode, instead of our usual format, we dedicate this special edition to recognise the incredible visual effects achievement that is 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3' by the epic Framestore team and its multitude of award nominations this year, including the Visual Effects Society, Academy Awards, BAFTA and more.

Our special guests this week are VFX Supervisor, Alexis Wajsbrot, and Lead Animators Pete Warbis and Chris McGaw.   

Alexis, famed for crafting action scenes in Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, and Spider-Man: Far From Home, joined Framestore as Lead FX TD in 2009. He has contributed to 'Prince of Persia' and later served as FX Super on Gravity, leading the shows groundbreaking software development. After a three-film MCU stint, he supervised Wonder Woman 1984's explosive third act, and more recently, served as VFX Supe for Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and the GOTG holiday special.

Pete, having previously worked at MPC and ILM has portfolio that includes Tom and Jerry, The One and Only Ivan, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Avengers: Infinity War, and Paddington 2. He excels in crafting nuanced performances for characters and creatures, adding depth to storytelling. 

Chris, a veteran character animator with decades of experience, left his mark at major VFX studios in Canada and the UK, including ILM, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and MPC. He has worked on some of the world's biggest film franchises including The MCU, Star Wars, Jurassic World, and Fantastic Beasts.

This is a discussion brimming with spoilers, where we delve into our work on Rocket Raccoon's origin story, pivotal moments and sequences handled by the Framestore crew, the remarkable impact the actors' performances had on the creature and character animation in the film, all while acknowledging the Guardians Trilogy as the best of the MCU!

We talk about the wonderful dichotomy of creating 'crazy characters' who are grounded, flawed and relatable, as well as what made James Gunn such a great director to work with from a VFX perspective and the obvious challenge for our guests picking their favourite shots!

Episode 38, Part 1 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awards Special

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back with another fantastic new episode.

Due to the pod's popularity outside of Framestore and considering the current post-pandemic and post-strike climate, along with the considerable number of individuals searching for career opportunities and guidance, we've decided to host a special double bill, recruitment special, featuring recruiters from all 8 of our global studios.

Our very special guests for part one are Lindsay Cowie, Nikunj Barot and Annie Barlow.

Annie, VFX Recruiter based in London started as a studio Runner in 2014, swiftly climbing the ranks within the Talent Team. With nearly 9 years of experience, she's been instrumental in recruiting top talent for Framestore.

Nikunj, Head of Recruitment in Mumbai came on board at the end of 2022, bringing a wealth of experience in e-learning and tech companies. Since joining, Nikunj has had a significant impact on the growth of our Mumbai studio team.

Lindsay, Senior Recruitment Manager for Framestore Melbourne brings a diverse background in recruitment and HR, having worked across academic institutions, nonprofits, and banks. She joined Framestore in the summer of '22, via Method Studios.

We hear about our guests routes into their individual recruitment roles at Framestore, discuss emerging trends in the talent marketplace across London, Melbourne and Mumbai, and the opportunities they are actively recruiting for! 

Expect lots of advice of how to create a showreel that gets noticed, designing a clear CV or resume, highly valued skills and qualities, plus some 'golden nuggets' of careers advice. We also discuss topics that include 'CV versus LinkedIn', 'degree versus self-taught', and whether our guests can identify an application crafted by ChatGPT.

Episode 42 - Part 1: Talent & Recruitment Special

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back with another fantastic two-part episode this week.

Due to the pod's popularity outside of Framestore and considering the current post-pandemic and post-strike climate, along with the considerable number of individuals searching for career opportunities and guidance, we've decided to host a special double bill, recruitment special, featuring recruiters from all 8 of our global studios.

Our very special guests for part two are Kathleen Rufallo, Julia Marrone and Margot Ingrassia.

Kathleen, US Recruitment Manager based in Texas, has been at Framestore since 2012, coming up via production and crewing, and now lead recruiter for all 3 of our studios in the US, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. 

Julia, Head of Recruitment Canada, has been with us since the Fall of 2022, having spent most of her recruitment career with brands such as PWC, IBM and other household names. 

Margot, Montreal based Recruiter, has been with Framestore since 2012, having worked for The Focus previously and a range of other tech and IT recruitment roles.

We hear about our guests routes into their individual recruitment roles at Framestore, discuss emerging trends in the talent marketplace across the USA and Canada, and the opportunities they are actively recruiting for!

This is a great continuation on part one where we tackle AI, inclusion and diversity and a whole host of career advice gems essential for those seeking opportunities at Framestore or within the VFX industry at large!

Episode 42 - Part 2: Talent & Recruitment Special

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week with another thought provoking episode! 

On Episode 43, we return to the world of 'management and leadership' with this weeks special guest Manpreet Singh, Head of Technical Operations for our Mumbai studio, a Framestore leader with a great reputation. 

Joining us for this week's episodes as co-host is Michael Savva, Technology Project Manager from the Global Production Technology team.

Regular listeners will remember Episode 10, one year ago, when we caught up with Matt Hughes, Global Head of Modelling at Framestore. This episode serves as an invaluable companion piece for anyone interested in the craft of leadership and people management.

With over 20 years in IT and VFX, prior to Framestore, Manpreet led IT and Operations at Anibrain and consulted on tech and operations at Meticulous Ventures. He spent 4 years at TomTom as Global Technical Support Manager, overseeing data centres, leading a 50-person team, and earning a 'Greatest Boss in the World' certificate! With expertise from support to leadership, Manpreet excels as an IT strategist, team builder, and motivational speaker.

With more than 15 years of project management experience, Michael has merged his love for creative design with his project management expertise both at Framestore and through his freelance venture NEW ECW Productions since 2009. Prior to joining Framestore, Michael has worked in various roles spanning healthcare, digital transformation, IT project management, and the fashion and publishing sectors.

Manpreet reflects on his early days establishing the Mumbai studio, Manpreet and Michael share a common 'DNA' in project management and engineering, plus we hear about their approaches to leadership and how this shared foundation supports their collaborative efforts in guiding and nurturing teams. 

We get into learning from mistakes, the importance of being detail oriented, how Framestore was always on Manpreet and Michael's career 'wishlist' and the leadership lessons Manpreet learned from his father, a retired military officer.

Episode 43 - Part 1: Manpreet Singh

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week with another thought provoking two-part episode!

In our second part, this week's guest co-host, Michael Savva, Technology Project Manager from the Global Production Technology team, takes over the pod and interviews Manpreet, where we explore leadership approaches, a shared background in engineering and lots more!

In the second part, we delve into project management strategies, fostering team growth and development, and trusting in systems and workflows. We also explore Manpreet's day-to-day experience of testing out new ideas, what fuels his enthusiasm for his role and how he stays updated and connected on his craft. 

We get into why a well-rounded skillset, including people management, embracing diverse perspectives, and a solution-oriented mindset are essential qualities for effective leadership. Plus, Manpreet shares his advice for those aspiring to enter a technical role in visual effects.

Episode 43 - Part 2: Manpreet Singh

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week with another excellent new two-part episode!

In Episode 44, we're switching up our usual format to appreciate the remarkable visual effects achievement showcased in the hilarious TED Season 1. 

Framestore’s Melbourne studio collaborated once again with Seth Macfarlane, a decade after their collaboration on TED 2, to deliver a 'longform' prequel set in 1993, delving into the early adventures of sentient teddy bear Ted and his time with the Bennett family in Massachusetts.

Joining us on the pod, we have four very special guests ready to dive into our customised Framestore Dailies questions:

VFX Supervisor Glenn Melenhorst
Head of Animation Nick Tripodi
VFX Producer Pippa Sheen
CG Supervisor Sam Doolan

We discuss the evolution of Ted's look and fur for this series in contrast to the movies, the significant hurdles encountered in bringing Ted to life again, particularly in light of technological advancements since TED 2, and the close partnership with Seth MacFarlane throughout the animation and VFX process. 

We also get into the shows excellent character acting, which Seth MacFarlane considered some of the finest he'd witnessed, how the team maximised the comedic timing of MacFarlane's dialogue, and we explore the positive collaboration of the Melbourne team on another TED project!

Find out more about our work on TED via our website at:

TED Season 1: https://www.framestore.com/work/ted-season-1
TED 2: https://www.framestore.com/work/ted-2

Episode 44 - Part 1: A 'TED' Talk

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back with another fantastic new episode.

In our second part, we continue to celebrate the stunning visual effects in TED Season 1 where Framestore's Melbourne studio reunited with Seth Macfarlane, a decade after TED 2, to create a prequel set in 1993 following the early exploits of sentient teddy bear Ted and his time with the Bennett family in Massachusetts.

Joining us on this weeks pod are:

VFX Supervisor, Glenn Melenhorst
Head of Animation, Nick Tripodi
VFX Producer, Pippa Sheen
CG Supervisor, Sam Doolan

Nick, Pippa, Sam and Glenn share their insights into the team dynamics working on the show, where the creative influences were coming from, how Production saved the day and the key elements that make the show work so well. Additionally, they acknowledge the evolution of the Ted 'playbook' and the science of 'bong simulation'.

We get into the new learnings the team gained from working on Season 1, a rare look into the motion capture process when recreating the character of Ted, plus what dailies meetings were like with director, Seth Macfarlane. We also get into some of the amazing lighting work displayed in this season, and the often unappreciated, invisible art of visual effects.

Enjoy!

Episode 44 - Part 2: A 'TED' Talk

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back with another fantastic new episode.

Every two weeks on Mondays, we welcome a special guest to the pod to answer questions about their inspirations, work at our studio, and career journey via the Framestore Podcast 'dailies' questions. Then, the following Thursday, we invite a guest 'co-host' from our global community to take over, engaging our guest in a deeper dive conversation for a valuable learning experience.

Our special guest this week is Creative Technology Director Manon Dave!

Manon is a product designer, inventor, musician, and creative technologist known for leveraging technology to create immersive experiences for the entertainment and education industries. He was behind two of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Inventions of 2022 and has appeared on the list five times. Over his decade-long career, Manon has received numerous awards for innovation and design, including CES, iF, and Red Dot awards.

He has led product development for innovative UK startups like ROLI and Kano, with his products featured in Apple stores globally. As a creative director, Manon has worked with clients like Mercedes, HBO, and Christian Dior. In 2023, he became Artistic Director of TED Tech.

In music, Manon has co-written songs with will.i.am, PJ Morton, and Idris Elba, and produced for UK rap artist Che Lingo. His music has been featured in NBA2K, FIFA, and Apple ad campaigns. He also advises leading musical artists and is a published songwriter and producer with Universal Music.

Our co-host for this conversation is Technology Coordinator, Patricia Lauzon.

Patricia joined Framestore Montreal on reception in November 2019, then quickly moved into a Runner role, and then the Systems Support team where she’s been since September 2020.

A graduate of the NAD, School of Digital Arts, Animation and Design, where she studied 2D and 3D Animation, Modelling, Texturing and Rigging, Patricia is the perfect co-host for this weeks podcast.

We get into the fascinating career of Manon, a trailblazer whose journey spans from music production to product management. We discover what inspired Manon to navigate such varied roles and industries, and gain insights into the evolving intersection of art and innovation. With a rich background in both music and technology, Manon shares thoughts on the future of creativity in the age of AI and machine learning.

Manon shares his latest work on the inspiring film '1 in 100 Million,' celebrating the Refugee Olympic Team for Paris 2024. We discuss his sources of inspiration, his amazing mentors and personal journey managing imposter syndrome. Despite his many roles, including shaping the future of technology and creativity at Framestore, Manon remains humble and grounded.

Check out the inspiring '1 in 100 Million' at: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztBUQAW89z4

Episode 45 - Part 1: Manon Dave

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week with another thought provoking two-part episode!

In our second part, this week's guest co-host, Montreal based Technology Coordinator Patricia Lauzon, takes over the pod and interviews Manon, where we explore his career, inspirations, collaborations and lots more!

We hear more about working with Will.i.am on his new startup, Sound Drive, and explore Manon's role, which essentially involves creating "cool stuff" that intersects technology, consumer interests, and content. Additionally, we discuss how storytelling influences his work and Manon's love of traditional feature length films!

We get some Manon Dave 'exclusives' on the pod, including a fantasy collaboration with Philip Seymour Hoffman, and a glimpse into his childhood 'imaginary friend'. We also hear about Manon's passion for youth empowerment and his important work inspiring the next generation of creatives.

We hope you enjoy this inspiring conversation!

Episode 45 - Part 2: Manon Dave

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week where we're taking a short Summer break with a series of REWIND special episodes, where we go back in time and revisit some of our favourite episodes of the pod. 

This week we are going back to where it all started! Our journey began on Monday, November 21, 2022, with our very first episode where we met Sergio Gonzalez. At the time, Sergio was an Unreal and 3D Trainer; now, he serves as the VFX Training Manager on the Framestore Training Team.

Joining as co-host at the time was Tom Perry, an animation graduate from Escape Studios, and Runner in London. Since recording this episode Tom gone on to join the Framestore Data Services Team as a Technician where he has been to date! 

This episode was a blast to record in person in the London Training Room, gathered around a single microphone. It has a bit of a raw feel, and it's also the episode where the Framestore Podcast Dailies Spotify Playlist was created, thanks to Sergio.

So we hope you enjoy our trip down memory lane, and please keep in mind that 2022 was a different time, and since then, we have all enhanced our knowledge and skills.

We hope you enjoy our Summer REWIND!…

Episode 46 - Sergio Gonzalez (Episode 1 Summer REWIND!)

The Framestore Podcast, our learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore, is back this week where we're taking a short Summer break with a series of REWIND special episodes, where we go back in time and revisit some of our favourite episodes of the pod.

For this instalment we are going back to Episode 14! 

Originally aired on Monday 20th February 2023, we met with Visual Effects Supervisor and Creative Director, Russell Dodgson, who had recently delivered the incredible third and final season of Philip Pullman’s 'His Dark Materials'. 

Joining as co-host at the time was Sana Rehman, VFX Production Coordinator, who has since been promoted to VFX Line Producer! 

We discuss the 'people game' of being a VFX Supervisor, how the things that you do outside of your work often define what it is you love about your job, the importance of having 'imposter syndrome' and recognising that you may not always be the smartest person in the room. 

As well as reflecting on 5 years on His Dark Materials, we also reminisce on a love of DVD extras, breakdancing, Thai boxing, and a career peppered with incredible micro-mentors.

This was famously the first mention of the idea of 'micro mentors', and has come up many times on the pod since! 

Anyway, let’s turn back the clock and go back to February last year with Russell Dodgson and Sana Rehnman. 

Enjoy!

Episode 47 - Russell Dodgson (Episode 14 Summer REWIND!)

A learning and talent development focused podcast made by Framestore, for Framestore! 

Every two-weeks we present a conversation in two halves!

Part one - the Framestore Podcast Dailies! Each week we invite a guest to our regular ‘dailies’ session. Set questions designed to find out what makes our guests tick, what they do at our studio, their career journey so far and all manner of advice, tips and tricks. 

For our second portion, arriving later that week, we hand the reins over to a guest co-host, a member of our global community who stands to learn a lot from the experience who engages our special guest into a deeper dive conversation. Arguably a more technical discussion depending on who we have on the pod.

Also, check out 'The Framestore Dailies' Spotify playlist, where each guest and co-host share two tracks from their most loved 'music-to-work-to' artist 🎧

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56zMyRAPF0a9qjhZTV3pLZ?si=de24b54848b04155

Episode 38, Part 1 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3: Awards Special

The Framestore Podcast

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