VES Georgia Revisited: Vibrant VFX Community in the Heart of the South

By NAOMI GOLDMAN

The VES Georgia Section represents a diverse membership of more than 135 artists and educators who span Atlanta and Savannah, the dual hubs of the regional VES collective. Georgia is continuing to experience the economic and work impacts of the dual labor strikes, which have changed the VFX trajectory in the region, making the tightly-knit community of VES Georgia all the more important as a convenor and network for support and  camaraderie.

Since the Section was established six years ago, Zach Bell, VES Georgia Co-Chair and Senior CG Artist at Warner Bros. Discovery, and Sean Thigpen, VES Georgia Treasurer and VFX Supervisor/Producer, have held these same leadership positions – affording them unique insights into the regional VFX industry, the Section’s growth and forward-looking vision.

“It has been a great source of pride being a part of the Board of Managers from the very beginning,” said Bell. “As Sean and I are preparing to pass the baton, we have been fostering the next wave of Section leaders through a shadow mentoring program to enable a Seamless transition. I believe we have created a stable foundation with the connections and strategic planning to help them thrive and carry us into the future.”

“During COVID and the strikes, our membership numbers actually grew, largely due to our amazing members, who proved to be a highly unified group and a valuable resource to one another,” said Thigpen. “The landscape for work has been tough since the strikes, and everyone is curious and hopeful for things to pick up. Amidst all that uncertainly, we have created a strong, positive culture in the VFX industry, and our Section is an important player as an ambassador to people across our state and beyond.”

The Section has a strong presence in Atlanta and Savannah, and works to provide meaningful and exciting experience, opportunities and benefits for members in both markets. Their goal of having parity across the Section’s sub-groups is supported by having Section Co-Chairs from both cities who orchestrate logistics on local events. While Bell is focused on Atlanta, VES Georgia Co-Chair David “DJ” Johnson has been at the center of the Savannah activities.

In terms of member recruitment, the Section is welcoming and inclusive, attracting prospective members who may be seasoned practitioners to those just out of school and not yet eligible – offering them a glimpse at their potential future in the VFX industry. They host pub nights at local Atlanta brewery Monday Night Garage, a steady stream of screenings and panels, educational and career development events for members and guests.

This past year, they held a number of events around Virtual Production, including The Lux Stage at Trilith Studios, where members and others experienced LED volume walls and the space firsthand. The Section hosted an Autodesk Showcase, in conjunction with Xencelabs, offering a review of the latest Autodesk solutions, workflows and tools. And this past Fall, they co-sponsored an event at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival, the largest university-run film festival in the world, in collaboration with Savannah Women in Film & Television (SWIFT).

Leadership is very appreciative of long-time event sponsor Aurora Cineplex in Roswell, who has hosted almost all of its film screenings for the past six years. “More than that, during COVID, as protocols allowed, they held a number of private screenings for our members, in addition to our ongoing studio-sponsored screenings. They have been phenomenal partners,” said Thigpen.

“We also want to give special thanks to Fotokem Atlanta for hosting our first in-person VES Awards nomination event in 2024, and coming up again soon as the venue for our 2025 event,” said Bell. “The nominations event, the opportunity review, and giving expert input into the outstanding VFX work of our peers from all around the world – that is the secret gem for our VES members to be a part of.”

Moving forward, the Section is working to develop more educational workshops and career development opportunities around Virtual Production and technology demos, and tapping further into its cadre of SCAD professors in Savannah. The team is excited at the early prospects of bringing a Virtual Production Summit to Atlanta.

“As one of the original 50 members that formed our Section, I was inspired to push the new group forward and see how I could help,” said Thigpen. “We grew an early spark into a good blaze, and now I’m excited as we hit that 150-member milestone. We already span two cities, and with the next slate of leaders and more members, I know that we can achieve more, and we can do more in providing value to our members.”

“A big motivation and mindset for me is that Georgia is a newer established market for the creative filmmaking industry. It’s just come into its own in the last 15 years, so we can help shape the voice of what it is to work in VFX in Georgia,” said Bell. “Through VES Georgia, we are showing that you can make a career here, that you can meet and collaborate with people who represent the best of our industry. We try to showcase that to our members and the broader community, that ‘the better we are together, the further we all will go.’”

In their closing comments, both Section leaders extolled the unique culture of their state and the spirit that permeates the Section. “What you find here is an amazing group of talented artists and resources for all types of production – gaming, film, TV, broadcast or any way people make great content. It’s a phenomenal place to work, live and be creative,” said Bell.

Thigpen concurred. “We pride ourselves on being accessible and open to meeting new people. This is a great place to produce and create. If you are passing through, give us a visit! Everyone is welcome.”