Episode 3: Virginie Breydel & Julien Van de Velde
Welcome to Behind the Pixels, an exclusive interview series that takes you on a captivating journey into the world of visual effects through the perspectives of our talented individuals. This week, we had the opportunity to visit the UFX offices in Genval, and meet Virginie Breydel and Julien Van de Velde.
What led you to work at UFX Studios?
Virginie: After studying communications and working in film production for a decade, I entered the world of VFX in 2015. I discovered a world I knew from afar, and that has never stopped to evolve and impress me. I have been working at UFX for two years now. I was especially attracted by its reputation, the quality of the effects, the notoriety of the projects, the working environment and the team, and the fact that we are part of a group, enabling us to work in synergy. I like being one of those who are the links between the producers, directors, post production managers and our creative team at UFX.
Julien: When I first arrived at UFX to work on The Rezort in 2014, I had been searching a way in the cinema industries after working for many years in different commercial focused post production companies. A friend and colleague introduced me to the company, and doing movie compositing after so many commercials felt like a huge breath of fresh air. It renewed my passion for the post production business, as quality and creativity became the main focus again. After many years growing and collaborating with UFX, it has been a pleasure to decide taking on this new challenge of the Genval offices.
On many projects are you currently working on and how do manage the office in Genval?
Virginie: For now, I am a Project Manager on five movies at different stages of production. Projects that require expenditure in Wallonia are made in our Genval office and are closely supervised by Julien.
Developing new offices is a real challenge in which we strongly believe, and we certainly have the resources to do so. We can currently accommodate around 10 graphic designers in our offices. We are also still in close contact with the team and expertise of the Brussels offices.
Julien: We are currently working on finishing the delivery of a film for Netflix, and three more on the side. We are also starting a new high-profile show involving bringing back a pretty well-known classic hero to the screens, and will soon start working on our first animation movie.
Managing the office has been quite a challenge. The office is young and, as you can see, we already have a pretty loaded schedule. My days have been split between the proper project management, following up on Brussels offices collaborations and organization, and finding new talents in Wallonia to fill the roles for the upcoming projects.
What have been the significant highlights of working at UFX Studios so far?
Julien: I have to say it is a difficult question. During my time working for UFX, I had to take many various positions and worked on many films demanding a lot of different solutions. One of my most recent adventures is linked to an upcoming project for Genval. I left home for two and a half months to go deep in the Sichuan mountains of China, and supervise the shooting of Moon The Panda directed by Gilles De Maistre. It is such a unique experience being so far from home and immersed in a completely different culture. Everything was different there, work style, gear, techniques, language barriers, etc. It required a lot of fluidity, hard work, adaptability, pain even in the collaboration, but I have to say I already saw some of the results not long ago in a quick sneak peak, and I am very proud and happy to be part of this project.
Virginie: Being nominated for the Best VFX Cesar Award for November was great news for all of us.The team put a lot of efforts into making these VFX as realistic as possible, such as explosions and bullet shots, and being rewarded for those efforts made everyone happy at the office.
I also have been very glad to work on the second season of Theodosia, a wonderful and magic project that required one year of fabrication, more than 500 shots, and about 15 graphic designers, and that is set to be released soon.
What are you most enthusiastic about working at the UFX Studios Wallonia?
Julien: Honestly, the challenge itself. We know we have a strong benchmark to reach with both our Brussels offices and other well-known vendors already implemented in the region. We are confident that we can offer the “UFX way to do things” to our clients and artists that were previously unable to do so. Building a stronghold with our values on Wallonia soil is a cool way of looking at it, I think.
Virginie: We are going to work on new exciting projects soon, while creating a new team and implementing a new way of working, which are challenges I am ready to take up. Furthermore, I am pleased to work in the Genval offices, as they are ideally located close to the train station, restaurants, and nature, including the Genval lake.
