Hollywood VFX Expert Stops by Caldwell’s Campus to Share Experiences with Students, Faculty and Staff

“We are creating what’s not there.”

That was the immediate answer from Hollywood visual effects expert Marcus Taormina when asked what it is that VFX experts do. Having worked on blockbusters such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Bird Box, Army of the Dead, Rebel Moon, and more, he knows better than most people what it means to work in VFX.

“We are creators of worlds,” he said. “My job throughout production is to create what can’t be practically achieved. My work starts with pre-production and lasts all the way through and well after the shoot.”

It was an amazing evening for students, faculty and staff at Caldwell University as they were captivated by this and more for over an hour engaging with Taormina, who made time to stop by campus after working on Happy Gilmore 2 with Netflix in New Jersey.

From personal anecdotes to practical advice, more than 100 audience members got a first-hand look at what it takes to find success in Hollywood and beyond.

“Effective VFX is done with the help of many artists around the world,” he noted. “It’s a global effort.”

Of course, a big question on everyone’s mind was how one gets started in a career in visual effects.

“There’s no real traditional way.”

“All of you sitting here right now – maybe you’re interested in visual effects, maybe you’re interested in camera,” Taormina mentioned, “but, for me, I started out with an interest in computer science.”

“I liked the manipulation of computers, and I knew I loved making movies.”

Things became even more relatable when he shared the advantage held by today’s students at Caldwell University.

“What’s great and what the students have now is more access (to technology) than I ever had – it’s the ability of all of these computers and cameras on your phone,” he mentioned with a tinge of wonder. “When I was in college, I’d have to pay to rent video cameras from school and hope my footage turned out okay.”

Hearing from someone of Taormina’s caliber is always exciting, but, in the end, what attendees really wanted access to was his real-world advice regarding the industry he loves.

“It’s a hard industry to get into, and it’s a demanding  industry to work in,” he said, noting that really paying attention to everyone’s role on set and behind the scenes is essential for success.

“Collaboration is critical, and having an awareness of what everybody’s job on the film set is – you don’t have to know how to do [their job], but just be watching and listening and understanding what their craft is and how it affects you and how your craft affects them is probably the best advice that I can give.”