Event – Real Applications of Gen AI in VFX (Online)

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Thu Feb 20, 2025 11:00 am to 1:00 pm PST

| Global/Online

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Thursday, February 20, 2025 at 11:00AM (PST), 1:00PM (CST), 2:00PM (EST), 7:00PM (GMT), 8:00PM (CET), Friday, February 21, 2025 at 12:30AM (IST), 6:00AM (AEST), 8:00AM (NZST)

Artificial Intelligence is already making its way into VFX workflows, but how much of it is actually useful? What’s practical today, and what’s still evolving? The Visual Effects Society presents a discussion exploring how Generative AI (Gen AI) is being used in VFX right now – what’s working, what’s challenging, and where things are headed.

This panel features professionals who are actively exploring AI in their creative and technical work. Each will share insights into how they are integrating AI into their process—what’s effective, what’s experimental, and what they see on the horizon.

md minta carlsonMinta Carlson – As an avant-garde in the AI art movement, Minta has developed and refined workflows that integrate AI tools seamlessly into the creative process, bridging traditional artistic techniques with AI-driven enhancements. She specializes in training Low-Rank Adaptation models (LoRAs) to fine-tune AI for specific artistic styles and production needs, optimizing AI-assisted illustration, animation, and VFX pipelines.

ScreenshotJim Geduldick – Visual Effects Supervisor, filmmaker  and technology innovator whose exploration of AI, machine learning, and computer vision has expanded the possibilities of storytelling, visual effects, and content creation. By harnessing AI technologies, Jim has pushed creative boundaries and continues to be a trailblazer in the rapidly evolving VFX, realtime and filmmaking landscape.

md martin nebelongMartin Nebelong – Concept artist and digital sculptor, exploring AI’s role in creative workflows. He will discuss the potential of video-to-video AI in enhancing 3D animation and augmented reality storytelling. Martin will provide examples of his use of Sora’s video-to-video capabilities and Runway’s AI-powered tools in his work.

don stevenson Don Allen Stevenson III – A creative technologist, futurist, and author who bridges art and cutting-edge technology. As a speaker, consultant, and Masterclass instructor, Don has worked with Apple, Meta, Adobe, and OpenAI. Through his book Make A Seat and TED talks, he empowers others to innovate and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

md ben lockModerated by VES Education & Outreach Committee Chair Ben Lock, Animation and VFX Producer specializing in AI production strategy

 

This panel isn’t about speculation. It’s about the tools and techniques that VFX artists, technologists, and creatives are actively experimenting with. Whether you’re already using AI or just trying to understand its potential, this discussion will offer insights into how AI is shaping the creative process and problem-solving in VFX.

Why this Matters

AI tools are appearing in concept design, animation, world-building, and VFX workflows. Some offer new creative possibilities, while others present technical and artistic challenges. This session will focus on how AI fits into VFX today – what’s useful, what’s still in development, and how artists are adapting to these changes.

This Event will Cover:

  • Concept Design – How AI assists in visual exploration by generating variations quickly, allowing for faster iteration in the early stages of development.
  • Training AI – The use of LoRAs for bespoke model training, enabling AI tools to adapt to specific artistic styles and production needs.
  • Real-Time World Building – How AI, combined with VR and gameplay hardware, is being used to create dynamic environments and interactive filmmaking experiences.
  • VFX Tools – How AI-powered tools are being incorporated into compositing, animation, and rendering workflows within traditional VFX pipelines.

Who Should Attend?

If you’re a VFX artist, supervisor, producer, or technologist, this session will provide a balanced, professional discussion on the role of AI in VFX. Whether you’re hands-on with AI or just trying to keep up with the latest developments, this is a chance to hear how artists and technologists are working with these tools.

What to Expect

The session will include presentations from each panelist, followed by a moderated discussion and audience Q&A. The focus is on practical insights and real experiences, not marketing pitches-just honest discussion about what AI can and can’t do in VFX today.