GanzChroma 0294
In this segment of my interview with Q Park - now a talented compositor credited on this year’s summer blockbuster Deadpool and Wolverine - we hit on one of the toughest questions in visual effects:
How do you create photorealism for something that doesn’t even exist?
It’s a challenge we face all the time in VFX. Take Superman, for example—no human can fly. We can’t just throw someone off a crane with a cape to study how it looks. So how do we make it feel real on screen?
Here’s the secret : Observation and Wrestling!
Even though we can’t reference Superman, we look to what we can observe - like how rockets launch or how skydivers fall. But what really sells the effect is the action-reaction dynamic. It's just like Pro Wrestling.
Yes, wrestling. Stay with me.
We all know pro wrestling is staged, but the reason it still captivates millions is because of how it’s sold. When one wrestler throws a punch, the other’s reaction - how they fall, stumble, or sell the hit - determines how real and impactful it feels. If they oversell it, it looks ridiculous. If they undersell, it feels weak.
It’s not just about using the software - it’s about knowing how to blend what’s real with what’s impossible and hitting that perfect balance to make the audience believe.
This principle has been at the core of how I teach visual effects at Alpha Chromatica. It’s about more than technical skills - it’s about mastering the art of storytelling through subtlety and observation.
Check out the video for more insights on how we create what isn’t real - yet make it feel like it is.
Missed the previous parts? Catch up here:
Listen to Part 1 Here : https://lnkd.in/grEDnfGU
Listen to Part 2 Here : https://lnkd.in/gMft_RCV
Listen to Part 3 Here : https://lnkd.in/g4A2mBfv
P.S. What’s the most unexpected real-world reference you’ve used to create something unreal? Drop your thoughts below!