VES Australia: Expansion-Minded Section Mirrors Growing VFX Industry

By NAOMI GOLDMAN

VES Australia members and guests enjoying a global screening.

Founded in 2008, the Australia Section is thriving thanks to its strong leadership and collaborative community.

Australian VFX companies, including Rising Sun Pictures, Animal Logic, Method Studios, Luma and Fin Design + Effects have built a reputation for creativity and quality and are finding increasing success on some of the biggest films in recent years. These companies at the forefront are all represented on the Australia Section Board and bring broad expertise and great enthusiasm for nurturing the community of visual effects artists and innovators.

VES Australia members and guests out on the town for a Pub Night in Sydney.

“Being a part of the VES is a privilege. Through the Society we get to be a part of something bigger and have a voice in advancing our global industry.”

—Alastair Stephen, VES Australia Section Co-Chair

VES Australia members and guests enjoying a global screening.

The Section boasts 110 members who span the country, with most of its membership concentrated in the coastal cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. The makeup closely mirrors the industry: the majority of Section members work in feature film, and representation is growing in the commercial and gaming sectors.

“The visual effects industry is buoyant and healthy across the country, and Australian VFX companies are making an impact,” says Alastair Stephen, Section Co-Chair and Executive Producer of VFX at Fin Design + Effects. “Australia has a solid infrastructure that is essential for working on high-end VFX projects. The market is both competitive and collegial as we have many of the same people moving from company to company as projects complete and ramp up. The VES is proud to be a part of this tight-knit community of artists.”

The Section hosts a full roster of film screenings and pub nights in the three major cities, which the Board highlights as great opportunities to build camaraderie and introduce partners and prospective members to our organization.

“Moving forward, we are focused on building and diversifying our membership to include more professionals from commercials and gaming, and we anticipate expansion into virtual and augmented reality,” Stephen remarks. “We are also exploring the creation of educational programs around the craft of VFX, to offer additional benefits to our members.

“We are always cognizant that we are representing not only our individual companies, but representing the strength of Australia on the world stage,” Stephen concludes. “Working with my Co-Chair, Ian Cope, our aim is to build a group where our peers can come together to share experiences and tap into one another’s expertise. Being a part of the VES is a privilege. Through the Society we get to be a part of something bigger and have a voice in advancing our global industry.”