Episode 443 – “NO CGI = INVISIBLE CGI” – VFX Supervisor Jonas Ussing
With 15 years in the VFX business, Jonas Ussing has supervisor credits on several feature and television titles, including the Netflix series THE RAIN. Jonas has furthermore earned nominations for an Emmy and a Danish Academy Award.
In 2012, Jonas was nominated for an Emmy for his work on INSIDE THE HUMAN BODY. In 2014, he directed a short film ZOMBIEHAGEN which he also wrote.
During 2023, Jonas launched his own YouTube Channel The Movie Rabbit Hole. He released two videos that have immediately gone viral in the VFX community, in which he talks about the collective publicity stunt in Hollywood on the subject of “NO CGI”. He does a deep dive into those projects that claim they used “no CGI” in the making, like TOP GUN: MAVERICK, BLADERUNNER, FAST 5 and STRANGER THINGS.
In this Podcast, Allan McKay interviews VFX Supervisor Jonas Ussing about the dangerous marketing rhetoric encouraged by studios about “No CGI” in films like TOP GUN: MAVERICK, BLADERUNNER, FAST 5; the inspiration behind Jonas YouTube Channel The Movie Rabbit Hole and the viral videos on the subject; the reaction of the VFX community to his content; surviving Hollywood Labor Strikes of 2023, whether VFX artists will ever get unionized – and so much more!
Jonas Ussing on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1036151/
Jonas Ussing on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jussing/?originalSubdomain=dk
Jonas Ussing on IG: https://www.instagram.com/jussing/
“NO CGI” is Really Just INVISIBLE CGI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ttG90raCNo
Zombiehagen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1wwFrbm_D0
EPISODE 443 – “NO CGI = INVISIBLE CGI” – VFX SUPERVISOR JONAS USSING
Hi, everyone!
This is Allan McKay. Welcome to Episode 443!
I’m interviewing VFX Supervisor Jonas Ussing:
- His 18-year career in visual effects;
- Taking a year to create his first VFX reel;
- Getting the first job at Ghost VFX in Denmark;
- The inspiration behind his YouTube Channel The Movie Rabbit Hole;
- The marketing rhetoric encouraged by studios about “No CGI” films;
- The reaction of the VFX community to his viral YouTube videos on the subject;
- The long term effects of the Hollywood Labor Strikes in 2023;
- Whether VFX artists should get unionized;
- Why it’s important – for the general public – to discern between VFX and AI;
- And so much more!
Please take a moment to share this Episode with others. That would mean the world to me, thanks so much!
Let’s dive in!
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FROM ALLAN McKAY:
[56:00] 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 Jonas for joining the Podcast. I hope you got a lot from this Episode. This was a lot of fun! Definitely check out his YouTube series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ttG90raCNo.
Next week, I’m interviewing Producer at Waypoint Entertainment Josh Rosenbaum about his start in the entertainment business at William Morris; why relationships and strategy are the most important tools in building a career; how a production company chooses VFX vendors; why AI will never replace storytellers (including VFX artists); the behind-the-scenes of CUCKOO (to be released in 2024) – and so much more!
Until then –
Rock on!
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