VFX supervising Stranger Things is the latest in a series of remarkable achievements for Justin Mitchell. After trying his hand at acting and lighting, Justin moved into animation and VFX, scoring credits on Charmed and Final Destination 2. In 2008, Justin joined Scanline VFX, where he’s worked on a succession of incredible projects, including 2012, Super 8, Iron Man 3, Tomb Raider, Cosmos, and The Nevers.
Justin talks about how he’s seen the industry shift since he started working in it, with Scanline expanding from 10 to 1,300 people, and the emergence of streaming platforms, virtual production, and artificial intelligence. He also reveals how he’s learned to lead a team and explains how he uses Scanline’s proprietary software to create and revise shots according to directors’ wishes.
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0:06:22 Acting, lighting, and VFX: Justin's backstory
0:12:13 Joining Scanline in 2009 for "2012"
0:13:56 What is Flowline?
0:19:301Favorite projects
0:25:05 Exploring "Cosmos"
0:28:42 How acting helps VFX supervision
0:33:32 The importance of gathering reference and working in 3D
0:37:02 TV versus movies versus streaming
0:40:31 Deadlines in episodic work
0:45:57 Working from home
0:50:56 Virtual production and artificial intelligence