Do Entry Level Opportunities Still Exist? Am I Too Old To Start?

Hey, everybody. I been having a bit of an existential crisis. I want to get started with VFX jobs but I'm completely unsure about whether or not it would work out for me.

I took a while to flesh out my skills after leaving school and I ran into some life events that took me out of trying to get into the industry since late 2023. I'm finally getting back into enjoying the work again but is it realistically too late for me? I never successfully landed a job since leaving school in 2015 likely from spreading myself a little too thin in an attempt to build skills as a compositor, modeler, and animator. I even tried networking at SIGGRAPH animation events in bars up until COVID hit then pretty much fell out of the loop on that front. I'm also turning 35 this year if that makes things worse.


I guess my question is if it's too late for someone in their mid 30s to get into VFX or even games starting from nothing right now. Is it too late to dedicate a few months to a year to tailor a reel and get a studio or even freelance jobs? I tried searching for an answer but didn't get exactly what I was looking for. I'm very out of the know and trying to get a feel of what 2026 is looking like for the industry. It would suck to have to hard pivot careers.


https://redd.it/1qwhmt3
@vfxbackup

Creating a ghost VFX HELP!!

Hey!

I am a student studying Film and I am tasked with creating a ghost for an upcoming short. Using some test shoot footage, I’ve experimented with rotoscoping, opacity, tint, and many more effects, but everything I do looks very fake and well, quite bad.

Does anyone have any help or tips to creating an actually convincing ghost effect?

Thanks so much in advance!

Ashton

https://redd.it/1qx0evp
@vfxbackup

Making Weta’s Animatomy from scratch. Testing a tetrahedron flesh mask to target shape simulation on face scans I obtained to hone in on the correct parameters for the quasi simulation step of Animatomy.
https://redd.it/1qx90io
@vfxbackup

Why does the VFX industry pay less compared to IT and Finance, despite requiring high-level skills?

I’ve been observing something interesting about the VFX industry.

Compared to many “normal” jobs, VFX actually pays decently. But when you compare it to industries like IT, software, or finance, the gap becomes very noticeable.

This confuses me because VFX work is far from easy. It requires:

Strong technical knowledge
Creativity
Expensive software skills
Long working hours
Constant upskilling

Yet, many professionals in tech and finance seem to out-earn VFX artists, sometimes with better work-life balance too.

So I’m genuinely curious:

👉 Why does this pay gap exist?
👉 Is it because VFX is treated more like a service industry?
👉 Oversupply of artists?
👉 Outsourcing pressure and tight studio margins?
👉 Or simply how the global market is structured?

For people already working in VFX:

Do salaries improve significantly at senior levels?
Does the pay eventually become competitive?
Would you still recommend this career to someone starting today purely from a financial perspective?

Not trying to criticize the industry — just trying to understand the economic reality behind it.

Would love to hear honest insights from experienced artists and industry professionals.

https://redd.it/1qxa9fs
@vfxbackup

Best Europe based recruiters to follow on linked in for job postings?



https://redd.it/1qxeli1
@vfxbackup

Is AI becoming standard in VFX?

Hi everyone! Long story short, I’ve been in talks with a small studio about a script, but I’m very concerned about AI use in production/VFX/CGI.

I pressed them on how they will use AI, and they essentially said they are pro-human art, but that technology is changing in the film industry. they said films are made differently today than 5 years ago and that AI is the future in entertainment. They wouldn't say exactly how AI is used.

Is this accurate? Is it really becoming standard to use generative AI imagery/assets in film these days? How is AI really used in the industry?

https://redd.it/1qxi5kt
@vfxbackup

Official BFI statistics reveal £6.8 billion film and high-end TV production spend in the UK

The latest official figures from our Research and Statistics Unit show that film and high-end TV production spend in the UK was £6.8 billion in 2025, a 22% increase on 2024’s first reported figures..

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/official-bfi-statistics-reveal-68-billion-film-bo7ge/

https://redd.it/1qxj824
@vfxbackup

Looking for a Deepfake artist

The virtual production studio I work for are on the lookout to hire a deepfake artist with a high level of experience in deepfacelab. We are after a permanent member of staff, so it's a salaried position and the person would need to be able to execute and lead ongoing deepfake work.

If that sounds interesting DM me a showreel.

https://redd.it/1qxldnm
@vfxbackup

how would you do this cross section semi-realistically?

https://redd.it/1qxhie9
@vfxbackup

Saw a demo at a conference about photo-based 3D scene generation — how does this hold up in real workflows?

I was at a small conference recently and saw a talk showing a product called Aholo that could turn photos and videos into a navigable 3D scene.

The result looked clean and surprisingly stable, but it made me wonder how usable this kind of output actually is beyond demos.

For people working with 3D assets or environments:
 Is this kind of reconstruction something you’d trust in a real project?
 Or does it usually fall apart once you need proper topology, control, or edits?

Curious how others see this fitting (or not fitting) into existing 3D workflows.

https://redd.it/1qxdin2
@vfxbackup

Camera tracking problems
https://redd.it/1qxtx4r
@vfxbackup

Can someone make an HDRI for me?

I have all the files uploaded. Tried doing it in PS myself, couldnt seem to crack it.

https://redd.it/1qxwpdi
@vfxbackup

Spider-Man Across The Universe …

Watched it for the first time last night, and I was blown away. My god that was awesome. I come here to ask? How the heck did they do that? Every shot had so much detail, and things happening EVERYWHERE! it must have taken years. They didn’t use AI I assume …

Anyways, if any of you have some ideas or worked on it, share insight. That was very cool.

https://redd.it/1qy320x
@vfxbackup

New 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' mag is 142 pages of VFX info on the film

Lots of behind the scenes pics inside, too.


PRINT: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GLQB5TLR

DIGITAL: https://www.patreon.com/posts/issue-52-avatar-149980624

SUBSCRIBE: https://www.patreon.com/c/beforesandafters/membership

https://preview.redd.it/hi5f3kepc0ig1.jpg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f413d900b0199eac8d4f89161741477a334aa336




https://redd.it/1qy5a8i
@vfxbackup

I got hired by a production agency for a project entirely relient on AI. I feel very conflicted.

So as the title says, the company I got hired for this project is entirely using AI for this gig.

Apparently their client is full on aboard the AI Hype train. And so is the boss of this agency.

A bunch of times I'd go and propose a solution for something by building it from the ground up and specifically catering to their clients' brief.

The answer is always a categorical "No." "Put the brief in Chatgpt, ask it to make a prompt for Veo, and plug that into Veo." It's taking me hours to get footage that I feel is usable and even then it's so shit I'm embarassed to even show it.

I offered to built up a scene in blender, and composite it on after effects, super simple scene just needed like 10 mins to find the right assets. Boss walks in, throws shade at me and just says, "just use the AI we paid for, that's much better and faster. Here we work by turnover"

I already spent more time on prompting than I do on building scenes and I don't understand how that's more appealing than something built bottom up.

And that's without the whole ethical dilemma that I'm using AI, and the environmental impact that I'm not part of.

I'm very conflicted by this job, and I'm not sure what I should do. If I just call it out, or say fuck it and just get the payday (I sure do need the money rn) or what..

But I needed to share this with someone..



Edit: oh god. I forgot. We're using an AI upscaler to scale the 1080p output from Veo to be able to use on a huge 7.5k res screen

https://redd.it/1qye8fi
@vfxbackup

Avengers doomday cyclops laser effect

https://redd.it/1qyed5p
@vfxbackup

Digital Domain closing Montreal studio

On Friday evening Digital Domain announced due to Quebec government's decision to reduce the competitive tax credit for film industry productions, they will be closing the Montreal studio effective June 2026.

https://redd.it/1qywqz2
@vfxbackup

Hiring for VFX work (Product Vis / Animation)

Hello dear friends! I am currently hiring for a VFX position for my business. I am looking for basic product modeling, and occasional VFX & animation work for 30s-1min long videos (maybe shorter, nothing here is set in stone).

Here is a breakdown AI helped me create, since I am new to hiring in this industry. My goal is to be fair with pricing, and I realize there are "levels to this shit" as they say, and the same idea may cost more for a higher quality output. My logic comes more from what I can afford rather than my knowledge of standard costs, so please bear with me and educate myself (and others who may be lurking) if you notice unrealistic expectations! I see a lot of people in this sub looking for work, I hope you know there are tons of people who are too uncomfortable to reach out on this platform who need work! Hopefully this post helps us all as a community.

Tier 1 - Product Models + Promotional Animation (\~$500-2k/project)

Clean, professional 3D models of handheld consumer products (think electronics like toothbrush/razor - nothing crazy complex). Models need to be render-ready with realistic materials. Also need polished product animations - spinning shots, smooth camera moves, very basic outputs to be use as gifs/intros etc.

Tier 2 - Full VFX / Concept Videos (\~$2-4k/project, 15-60 seconds)

More creative, higher-production work. Abstract environments, color effects, dynamic motion, smoke/liquid, storytelling. These would be for bigger campaigns where we want something that really stands out. Product releases, major milestones, new region entry, etc.

I will need Tier 1 services about every 2-3 months. Tier 2 will be less frequent at about every 4-6 months). The pricing I suggested is on a "per project" basis.

About you:

\- Must speak English (or Russian as I can speak somewhat fluently)

\- Portfolio showing product visualization / animation work mentioned above

\- Comfortable working from reference images and basic specs

\- Be able to communicate on a daily/weekly basis and meet deadlines

\- Bonus if you can handle both modeling and animation

About me:

\- I pay on time, I don't short on agreed sums of payment, I am always reachable, and I am an understanding person who will work with you as a team member. I am looking to build a LONG TERM relationship, this is preferable to "gig style" for me.

To apply:

\- DM me with your portfolio/reel and rough rates. Let me know if you’re stronger on the modeling side, animation side, or both.

\- Happy to start with a small paid test project to see if we’re a good fit.

\- Reply in thread with any questions and I will get back as soon as possible!

https://redd.it/1qyl9en
@vfxbackup

What do you think?

https://redd.it/1qyx3y3
@vfxbackup

Filmora’s chroma key was easier than expected

​

Used chroma key for a talking-head video. Adjusting tolerance and edges was enough. No plugins needed.

https://redd.it/1qyh99u
@vfxbackup

Making Weta’s Animatomy from scratch. 6 degrees of freedom jaw rig.

https://redd.it/1qzf88x
@vfxbackup