Welcome to VFX LIFESTYLE
VFX Lifestyle is a web-based portal empowering talents and business people by giving them tools to help them to be at their very best so that they can achieve the impossible and contribute to building striving, sustainable and healthy VFX, Animation and Game industries, as extraordinary individuals or/and as inspiring leaders.
And ultimately make the world a better place.
VFX LIFESTYLE is committed to:
- promote the people behind those industries,
- support the community
- and help you grow as individual or as a business using refreshing perspective.
When we put people first, incredible things happen...
The Top 10 Immersive Moments Of 2018
It’s not often we take a step back and review. So, as the end of 2018 draws closer, I’ve taken a moment to do just that. From major hardware news to AR taking to the stage in spectacular fashion, 2018 has been jam-packed. Here are my choices for the Top 10 Immersive Moments of 2018 (in no particular order…ish), counting down from ten. 10. 1st Seven-Figure Deal For VR At Sundance Spheres, written and directed by artist and film-maker Eliza McNitt and produced by Darren Aronofsky, is a three-part VR series which made history when it was bought for a seven-figure sum at Sundance earlier this year. It was the first-ever seven-figure VR purchase at the event, evidence that VR is maturing as an entertainment medium. For those who want to try it out, the experience is now available on Oculus Rift for $10. 9. VR Features Large In Emmy Nominations This year, the Primetime Emmy Awards celebrated its 70th anniversary and once again honored the entertainment industries, including VR. There was a record seven nominations for virtual reality content, spread across two categories. Companies like Google, Oculus, REWIND, Pixar, and NASA were all nominated. To have such a wide […]
Can Special Effects Be Special Again?
“You’ll believe a man can fly.” So proclaimed billboards and posters across the nation in 1978, in anticipation of the December release of Richard Donner’s Superman — The Movie. It wasn’t an idle promise. Although the Man of Steel had been depicted in numerous TV shows and cartoons over the years, Donner’s film vowed something special: It would convince us that what we were seeing was actually happening. And the visual effects did, indeed, prove to be remarkable: Aided by a clever front projection technique developed by inventor Zoran Perisic, as well as star Christopher Reeve’s ability to move the way an actual airplane might, Superman set new standards for what could be accomplished onscreen. It was all building, of course, on the earth-shaking work done by George Lucas’s Star Wars just the year before. Special effects had always been around, to be sure; anyone who’d seen a Georges Méliès film from the 1890s knew that they were as old as cinema itself. But together, the space adventure of 1977 and the superhero fantasy of 1978, with an assist perhaps from a certain monster shark movie of 1975, helped establish the supremacy of a new, emerging genre: the visual effects […]
Vancouver Film School creates new VR/AR Design and Development program
It’s hard to miss the prominence of Vancouver’s virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) industry. The fastest growing sector in the city’s tech economy, the ecosystem has increased from 15 companies in 2015 to over 200 today. A key part of B.C.’s Digital Supercluster Initiative—a bid that netted the region a portion of $950 million from the government to scale technology businesses—the VR and AR industry has become the city’s calling card. In order to continue that upward trend, the ecosystem needs to hire more qualified staff. But despite Vancouver’s strong history in video game design and animation—skills that can be easily adapted for VR/AR creations—it doesn’t have enough talent to fill the open positions in the booming industry. Local post-secondary institutions, however, are helping to close that gap. First came BCIT’s VR/AR and MR (mixed reality) course, a curriculum developed in conjunction with Microsoft, creator of AR headset the HoloLens. Next were a number of boutique academies devoted to teaching how to create games and industry apps in VR and AR. Now, vocationally-focused schools are creating courses to help students get jobs in the booming local sector. Vancouver Film School is one of the first to announce a dedicated VR […]
“We must self-regulate loot boxes before it’s too late”
The global games industry must get together and agree on measures to protect vulnerable consumers from loot box mechanics in video games. Speaking at a panel session at a behind-closed-doors event hosted by legal firm Wiggin (chaired by GamesIndustry.biz), one games development specialist said that self-regulation must happen quickly, because Government legislation will be like a “sledgehammer” to the games business. Earlier in the day, a leading IPO specialist said possible incoming legislation could hurt the games industry’s capacity to attract investment, akin to the challenges faced by the gambling industry, which has been heavily taxed by Governments around the world. The panel acknowledged that by the strict letter of the law, loot boxes are not classed as gambling in many major territories. However, consumer groups have provoked MPs to put pressure on regulatory bodies to look closely at the issue and work out whether something may need to be done – including updating the legal definition of gambling. The experts dismissed Belgium’s ban on loot boxes as ‘media attention seeking’, but said that Australia’s recent study into loot boxes and their psychological impact could potentially pave the way for future legislative action. However, the panel felt that if the […]
Plans for Ottawa film hub rolling along
Ottawa’s film commissioner says things are moving quickly in the effort to turn a quiet piece of the Greenbelt into a sound stage for big TV and film productions. The non-profit, arm’s-length agency is partnering with TriBro Studios of Toronto to turn a former federal government research facility near West Hunt Club Road and Woodroffe Avenue into a four-stage complex, as well as office space for animation companies and training facilities. “Things can move along pretty quickly when the interest is there from the city and the players that are involved are all serious about what they’re trying to do,” said Bruce Harvey, head of the Ottawa Film Office. The National Capital Commission board approved a special exemption on Nov. 22 so the federal land could be used for the film studios, and Harvey said construction could start after the spring thaw. An ‘exciting project’ Ottawa city council got the ball rolling on the necessary municipal land approvals during their meeting Wednesday. “This is one of the most exciting projects I’ve been involved in since elected,” said Coun. Keith Egli, whose Knoxdale-Merivale ward will host the production hub. Egli said this film hub would help the local industry grow, create […]
Job search depression: What it entails and how to get through it
Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota recently sponsored a study that examines how job loss and the hunt for a new job impact the job-seeker’s mental health and well-being. Perhaps the study’s findings don’t come as a surprise; job seekers often experience an emotional low following the loss of a job, feel better when they begin searching for new opportunities, and then experience another decline in mental health when they haven’t found the right position 10-12 weeks later. This predictable shift in mental health is often referred to as job search depression: the hopeless feeling that settles in when you want or need a new job and can’t seem to land one. What makes everything worse is that the job search process is like an emotional rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs and sudden glimmers of hope only to be followed by disappointment – just check out the typical emotional stages of the job search: While there’s no simple solution to the inevitable ups and downs of a job search, there are some things you can actively do to keep your mind and spirit in good shape no matter what the job hunt throws at you. The first […]
6 steps to take now if you want to change your career path next year
While humans are creatures of habit, they are also inherently curious, and well, most are easily bored. In an age where very few professionals are ‘lifers’ who remain at the same company for their entire lives, more and more are wondering not only what else is out there, but taking actionable steps to discover their passions. Career expert Steve Grant explains changing a career path is oftentimes an important — or mandatory — step to take to achieve success and fulfillment. While it shouldn’t be one that is taken lightly or spontaneously, the pursuit of happiness could be the driving force that propels you to make moves, according to Grant. This doesn’t just mean you’re after a rose-colored perspective from the time you clock in at 9 and leave at 6, but rather, you also desire a more challenging role and you want to be more motivated by doing something you love. Here’s the deal though: Changing careers isn’t an easy process, and may require some unpaid downtime to make it a reality. If this is your professional goal for the upcoming year, experts recommend the actionable steps you should be making right now to prepare yourself for the journey. […]
Can Special Effects Be Special Again?
“You’ll believe a man can fly.” So proclaimed billboards and posters across the nation in 1978, in anticipation of the December release of Richard Donner’s Superman — The Movie. It wasn’t an idle promise. Although the Man of Steel had been depicted in numerous TV shows and cartoons over the years, Donner’s film vowed something special: It would convince us that what we were seeing was actually happening. And the visual effects did, indeed, prove to be remarkable: Aided by a clever front projection technique developed by inventor Zoran Perisic, as well as star Christopher Reeve’s ability to move the way an actual airplane might, Superman set new standards for what could be accomplished onscreen. It was all building, of course, on the earth-shaking work done by George Lucas’s Star Wars just the year before. Special effects had always been around, to be sure; anyone who’d seen a Georges Méliès film from the 1890s knew that they were as old as cinema itself. But together, the space adventure of 1977 and the superhero fantasy of 1978, with an assist perhaps from a certain monster shark movie of 1975, helped establish the supremacy of a new, emerging genre: the visual effects […]
Here’s why we shouldn’t lie about taking mental health days
One morning in September, Sarah Billington told her manager she had to go home for the day because she was feeling sick. But she didn’t have an upset stomach like she let on — she was on the verge of a breakdown. The author and editor had been struggling with anxiety well before that moment, but according to her candid op-ed in the Huffington Post, she knew in that instant that powering through was no longer a viable option. So she played the sick card and took the day off. “I went home, removing myself from the situation that was making me spiral with anxiety and giving myself a chance to regroup, to curl up in bed for an afternoon and overcome the panic and negative self-talk.” Billington writes. Billington opens up in her story about facing an unsettling matter in her personal life while juggling a slew of stressful tasks at a previous job. She’d had conversations with her then-manager about taking time to prioritize her mental health, but when it came time to request time off, her boss was less than understanding. “She found it inappropriate and unacceptable,” Billington writes. “[I ended up] feeling ashamed and anxious for […]
Why Mindfulness Is the Ultimate Habit for Success
There are habits you can develop that impact nearly every aspect of your personal and professional success. Running is a great example, because people who run regularly see powerful benefits, like having more energy, thinking more clearly and getting sick less often. I am a runner and a huge proponent of running, but I realize that for many people, regular running will never become part of their lives. It’s a habit that requires a lot of effort, sweat and sometimes even pain. Fortunately there is another habit that impacts nearly every aspect of your success, as well. This habit requires about as much effort as remembering to look both ways before you cross the road and definitely doesn’t require sweating. In fact, it doesn’t even require you to add anything to your schedule. It’s the habit of being mindful. Mindfulness is often described as sitting still, breathing deeply and paying attention to your breath. Although that certainly can be a mindfulness practice, being mindful is simpler and can offer a wider array of benefits. Being mindful is a shift from “being our thinking”—being that blabbering voice in our heads—to being aware of our thinking. This subtle inner shift allows us […]
Three Mindfulness Exercises To Try On The Way To Work
Mindfulness exercises can help clear the head and combat stress, so what better time to try them than on the way to (or indeed from) work? Traveling as part of the hordes with a full eight hours ahead of you is one of the most stressful times of the day for many people, so building a few mindfulness techniques into your commute can […]
Job search depression: What it entails and how to get through it
Carlson School of Management at University of Minnesota recently sponsored a study that examines how job loss and the hunt for a new job impact the job-seeker’s mental health and well-being. Perhaps the study’s findings don’t come as a surprise; job seekers often experience an emotional low following the loss of a job, feel better when they begin searching for new opportunities, and then experience another decline in mental health when they haven’t found the right position 10-12 weeks later. This predictable shift in mental health is often referred to as job search depression: the hopeless feeling that settles in when you want or need a new job and can’t seem to land one. What makes everything worse is that the job search process is like an emotional rollercoaster, filled with ups and downs and sudden glimmers of hope only to be followed by disappointment – just check out the typical emotional stages of the job search: While there’s no simple solution to the inevitable ups and downs of a job search, there are some things you can actively do to keep your mind and spirit in good shape no matter what the job hunt throws at you. The first […]
Here’s why we shouldn’t lie about taking mental health days
One morning in September, Sarah Billington told her manager she had to go home for the day because she was feeling sick. But she didn’t have an upset stomach like she let on — she was on the verge of a breakdown. The author and editor had been struggling with anxiety well before that moment, but according to her candid op-ed in the Huffington Post, she knew in that instant that powering through was no longer a viable option. So she played the sick card and took the day off. “I went home, removing myself from the situation that was making me spiral with anxiety and giving myself a chance to regroup, to curl up in bed for an afternoon and overcome the panic and negative self-talk.” Billington writes. Billington opens up in her story about facing an unsettling matter in her personal life while juggling a slew of stressful tasks at a previous job. She’d had conversations with her then-manager about taking time to prioritize her mental health, but when it came time to request time off, her boss was less than understanding. “She found it inappropriate and unacceptable,” Billington writes. “[I ended up] feeling ashamed and anxious for […]
Why Mindfulness Is the Ultimate Habit for Success
There are habits you can develop that impact nearly every aspect of your personal and professional success. Running is a great example, because people who run regularly see powerful benefits, like having more energy, thinking more clearly and getting sick less often. I am a runner and a huge proponent of running, but I realize that for many people, regular running will never become part of their lives. It’s a habit that requires a lot of effort, sweat and sometimes even pain. Fortunately there is another habit that impacts nearly every aspect of your success, as well. This habit requires about as much effort as remembering to look both ways before you cross the road and definitely doesn’t require sweating. In fact, it doesn’t even require you to add anything to your schedule. It’s the habit of being mindful. Mindfulness is often described as sitting still, breathing deeply and paying attention to your breath. Although that certainly can be a mindfulness practice, being mindful is simpler and can offer a wider array of benefits. Being mindful is a shift from “being our thinking”—being that blabbering voice in our heads—to being aware of our thinking. This subtle inner shift allows us […]
Three Mindfulness Exercises That Take Just Ten Seconds
This is a meditation that focuses on the auditory aspect of walking. I do it all the time, because apparently I’m a weirdo! The next time you’re walking anywhere – inside or out – notice sounds. Notice the rise and […]
UPCOMING EVENTS
Ludicious – Zurich Game Festival
Ludicious is the distinctive game developer event, focussed on the arts and crafts of game development, where game design and business meet. Core elements of Ludicious are a well curated program, matchmaking which is spot-on and exchanging internationally in a personal atmosphere. We work to support small & midsize developers connecting with the broader industry, and create event formats which bring developers from all domains of game development together on eye level. Ludicious is where creativity, technology and commercial potential come together. LOCATION: Zeughausstrasse 60 8004 Zürich WEBSITE: http://www.ludicious.ch
Esports BAR Cannes
Esports BAR Cannes is the world’s business events where top-management esports executives and non-endemic leaders meet to shape esports’ future. In three days, Esports BAR Cannes offers an exclusive 1-to-1 Matchmaking that carefully mix industry leaders, together with a 3-day Forum programme featuring mentoring and insights to develop business expertise in esports. LOCATION: Palais des Festivals La Croisette CS 30051 06414 Cannes Cedex France WEBSITE: https://cannes.the-esports-bar.com
GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE
The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is the world’s largest professional game industry event. GDC attracts over 26,000 attendees, and is the primary forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision-makers and others involved in the development of interactive games and virtual reality gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry. LOCATION: Moscone Center 747 Howard St, San Francisco, CA 94103 WEBSITE: http://www.gdconf.com
London Games Festival
London Games Festival features 12 days of activity including the Games Finance Market, EGX Rezzed, the Now Play This exhibition, BAFTA Games Awards, industry talks, cosplay parade and more. Use the buttons below to find an event for you. LOCATION: London WEBSITE: http://games.london
Stuttgart Festival of Animated Film 2019
The Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film (ITFS) is one of the most outstanding events for animated film worldwide. The Festival presents a full, up-to-date spectrum of animated filmmaking and its intersections with visual effects, architecture, art, design, music and games. The ITFS offers a platform to directors, production companies and distributors where they can showcase their films and transmedia projects to an interested, broad audience and numerous industry representatives. LOCATION: Stuttgart WEBSITE: https://www.itfs.de
FMX 2019
FMX is Europe’s most influential conference dedicated to Digital Visual Arts, Technologies, and Business. Every year, VFX specialists, Animation experts as well as Games and Transmedia talents come to FMX to present cutting edge achievements, state of the art tools and pipelines, fascinating real time technologies, spectacular immersive experiences, innovative business models and more. More recently they have been joined by VR, AR, and 360° creatives who have introduced a new dimension into movie making and, more general, into entertainment. LOCATION: Haus der Wirtschaft Willi-Bleicher-Straße 19, 70174 Stuttgart WEBSITE: https://fmx.de
BIG Festival 2019
More than 36,000 visitors have gone through BIG 2018 to see the 87 games exposed (48 Brazilian games) and 180 free lectures! 53 different countries sent games to the festival. LOCATION: Centro Cultural São Paulo, São Paulo – Brazil WEBSITE: http://www.bigfestival.com.br/home.html
EGX 2019
EGX is the UK’s premier video games show. It’s a celebration of all things gaming so if you like games you’ll love EGX. LOCATION: ExCeL London One Western Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL WEBSITE: https://www.egx.net/egx
Middle East Games Con
Middle East Games Con will return for its third edition, after growing by double in size in just two years, with 18,000 visitors and 30 speakers. 2019 will bring the consumer, B2B and conferences all under one roof for three days in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. LOCATION: ABU DHABI NATIONAL EXHIBITION CENTRE WEBSITE: https://www.me-gamescon.com/en
VIDEO GAME
Video Game related studios
STUDIOS
Find VFX, Animation and Video Game studios anywhere in the world.
SOFTWARES
Software companies
FREELANCERS & CONTRACTORS
Freelancers and contractors
SPOTLIGHT
144 James St S, Suites 201 & 202, Hamilton, ON, L8P 3A2, CANADA
The Lot, 1041 N. Formosa Ave, Writers building, Los Angeles, CA, 90046, USA
Aqua, First Floor, Right Wing, Suzlon One Earth, Magarpatta Road Hadapsar, Pune, Maharashtra, 411028, INDIA
#200 - 341 Water Street / #300 - 341 Water Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 1B8, CANADA
