Working in visual effects means that you have to be prepared for anything — doubly so when your canvas is as vast as the world of “Stranger Things.”
During a recent conversation about about visual effects at IndieWire’s Craft Roundtables, the balance between preparation and spontaneity was a popular topic. Some artists stressed the importance of meticulous storyboarding in order to keep departments on the same page, while others explained that their shows required a looser approach in order to adapt to the magic that happened on set every day. And, as VFX supervisor Betsy Paterson explained, “Stranger Things” required a mix of both approaches.
Paterson explained that the level of preparation required for a “Stranger Things” VFX shot depended on how many practical elements with specific timing it includes. But carefully storyboarding the show’s action sequences afforded her more flexibility when it came to atmospheric shots.
“If you know that it’s just an environment, then all you can be prepared for is which direction the camera is gonna look. So for things like that, storyboards are not as important,” Paterson said. “But if you have a fight between a bunch of stunt people and a bunch of CG characters, everyone really wants to know exactly how it’s gonna go. From camera to props, everybody needs to understand the overall ballet of it.”
Paterson stressed that sometimes the real artistry lies in being able to adapt to spontaneous changes within the confines of more choreographed sequences. At the end of the day, it’s all about meeting the needs of the story, no matter what direction they ultimately take you in.
“That said, there’s still always room for ‘a B camera is over here doing this thing that you didn’t know about,’” she said. “It’s a balance.”
This conversation is presented in partnership with Netflix.
“IndieWire’s Craft Roundtables” will premiere on PBS SoCal on Thursday, June 11 with subsequent re-airings scheduled throughout the weekend.
