Spotlight | VFX Supervisor Will Laban talks working on some of advertisings biggest campaigns

What inspired you to venture into the world of VFX?

I had always been interested in art, photography, gaming; and anything that related to Sci-Fi. It wasn’t until I got into discussing post-production with my lecturers at University that VFX started to become more of an option for me. Seeing that you could help contribute towards some of the biggest projects in the world whilst making a living – I was sold; say no more, sign me up. 

What have been some of your favourite projects to work on?

I’ve been fortunate to work on some incredible projects over the years. Most notably, Hennessy XO ‘The Seven Worlds’, which Sir Ridley Scott directed, and the latest Burberry’ Open Spaces’ campaign; both pieces were beautifully shot. Other fun spots were the Universal ‘Hagrid’s Bike’, McDonald’s ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 2′ and BT’ Broadband Nightmare’. These projects have allowed me to work with iconic characters and brands that bring back nostalgic memories of why I got into VFX. Having creative freedom with the characters and brands you’ve grown up watching on TV’s been brilliant!

What is the role of a VFX Supervisor?

You act as the glue that brings the VFX team together, making sure everyone knows what they need and how best to do it with the time you have. It’s interpreting the director/agency/client’s vision and then working with the team to digitally layer it into the final pixels.

What top tips would you give to junior artists in the VFX industry?

I started in the industry as a runner; it was one of the best ways to get to know everyone and their role; it helps you figure out what avenue you want to go down. As for actual work, try to be proactive and get stuck where you can. It’s a great way to learn and get to know people in the industry. Also, don’t be afraid to ask people for help; it’s a team game, and we all have the same end goal. Being open to constructive criticism is essential as it’s one of the best ways to improve when collaborating; there is a definite bar to hit, but a lot of our work is subjective, so other people’s opinions are important.

What is inspiring you?

There are always new things inspiring me, especially some emerging techniques and technologies in AI. I recently jumped on the Midjourney hype and am hooked, and it’s such a fantastic new tool that you can pour your imagination into. Besides this, I’m pretty basic; I love a good sunset and some dynamic lighting, but since my son was born, I’m settling for sunrises.

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