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Episode 421 — FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL – VFX Supervisors Eric Durst & Matt Whelan
With a passion for storytelling and a flare for the visual, Matt Whelan has been making short films and commercials for over 10 years. Training as a classical animator at Sheridan College, Whelan’s experience spans live-action and digital Directing, storyboarding, CG animation, and VFX supervision, where he has received international nominations for multiple film/television works. His current focus is on live action narrative. Whelan received a 2023 Emmy® nomination for his work on Apple TV+ series FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL.
Eric Durst is a Visual Effects Supervisor known for his work on GODS OF EGYPT (2016), SNOWPIERCER (2013), and BATMAN FOREVER (1995). Durst received a 2023 Emmy® nomination for his work on Apple TV+ series FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL. He was previously nominated for an Emmy® in 2017 for his work on National Geographic’s GENIUS.
In this Podcast, Allan McKay interviews VFX Supervisors Eric Durst and Matt Whelan about their work on FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL for Apple TV+, the most memorable and challenging sequences on the show, doing previs in Unreal Engine, photorealism in an historic project, as well as the innovation of AI and its influence on visual effects.
FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL on Apple TV+: https://www.apple.com/ca/tv-pr/originals/five-days-at-memorial/
Matt Phillip Whelan’s IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3675717/
Matt Whelan’s Website: https://www.mattwhelan.com/vfx
Eric Durst on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0244397/
FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL Demo Reel: https://vimeo.com/845133090/d917eaa3a6?share=copy
FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL Breakdown: https://vimeo.com/849617526?share=copy
Interview with Eric and Mattew on B4: https://beforesandafters.com/2023/01/13/lots-of-water-inside-the-vfx-of-five-days-at-memorial/
EPISODE 421 – FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL – VFX SUPERVISORS ERIC DURST & MATT WHELAN
Hi, everyone!
This is Allan McKay. Welcome to Episode 421!
I’m sitting down with VFX Supervisor Eric Durst and Matt Whelan about their work on the Emmy-nominated show FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL. This is going to be a great Episode! Eric and Matt have a lot of experience with visual effects and animation.
We talk about some great topics, like:
- Timing in Animation;
- Long-Term Influence of AI on Visual Effects;
- Behind-the-Scenes on FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL;
- Doing Previs in Unreal;
- The Most Memorable Sequences;
- Photorealism of VFX in an Historic Project;
- And so much more!
I’m about to get back into the habit of posting tutorials on YouTube and on my site. I really want to get granular with the process, including learning how to code and leveraging AI to do that.
I’m super excited to get into this Episode with Eric and Matt.
Let’s dive in!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM ALLAN McKAY:
[01:25] Have you ever sent in your reel and wondered why you didn’t get the callback or what the reason was you didn’t get the job? Over the past 20 years of working for studios like ILM, Blur Studio, Ubisoft, I’ve built hundreds of teams and hired hundreds of artists — and reviewed thousands of reels! That’s why I decided to write The Ultimate Demo Reel Guide from the perspective of someone who actually does the hiring. You can get this book for free right now at www.allanmckay.com/myreel!
[50:17] One of the biggest problems we face as artists is figuring out how much we’re worth. I’ve put together a website. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com! This is a chance for you to put in your level of experience, your discipline, your location — and it will give you an accurate idea what you and everyone else in your discipline should be charging. Check it out: www.VFXRates.com!
Okay, what did you think? I want to thank Eric and Matt for joining the Podcast.
Please take a moment to share this Episode with others.
Next week, I’m interviewing the Activision Blizzard King’s Executive Principal Recruiter for Art in Animation and Creative Robin Alan Linn. This will be my third interview with Robin. Feel free to check out our previous conversations: www.allanmckay.com/334 and www.allanmckay.com/352.
Until then –
Rock on!
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