Gus Kasai

Ghost VFX is an Emmy award-winning visual effects house with innovative talent and technology that brings creative visions to life. Our dedicated teams around the globe make the impossible possible, fulfilling the demands of studios and independent creators alike. In our Ghost VFX “Spotlight” series, we showcase the team members behind the projects to find out what they’re passionate about, how they see the industry evolving, and their creative insights into the art and craft of visual effects.

Tell me a little about your background in VFX?

I’ve been working in VFX for almost 12 years now, starting on shorts, Canadian shows and Christmas movies, and climbing my way up the industry to get some of those big VFX tentpoles under my belt. Now that I have a kid, I prioritize my work/life balance a lot more.

In your own words how would you describe what you do at Ghost VFX?

I supervise the Vancouver team of Compositors, helping come up with looks and create templates. I also like to help the junior artists improve their eye and techniques.

What part of the job are you most passionate about?  

I love working on shows I’d watch even if I hadn’t worked on them. I started working in VFX because I always loved movies and TV shows, so getting to be a part of making something cool is great.

I also love developing the look for shots/sequences. Trying to decode what the client wants and coming up with something new and interesting at the same time can be a challenge, but when something really cool comes out it’s really satisfying.

Is there a particular project you worked on that you can discuss? If so, what was the project and what was the work you contributed?

Having the chance to work on a Star Wars movie is often a highlight in someone’s VFX career, but I owe a lot of what I’ve learned by working on three of The Fast & Furious movies with one of them being my first Hollywood project. Being able to feel my improvement with every subsequent movie in the franchise felt great.

How have you adapted how you work during the pandemic?

I’ve adapted well to the “Work From Home” environment, and currently I do a hybrid approach, going into the office at least once a week. I also try to make myself as available as possible to my team members, since communication is key when you’re not physically there.

Any advice to others looking to break into VFX?

VFX is one of those professions where you’ll learn the most on the job, and there is always something new to learn, so you can never get complacent. Keep constantly studying. Also try to learn as much as you can from your seniors, get their permission to open their shots and learn how they did things. And lastly watch as many thigs as you can. There is always something to absorb and reference out there.

Where do you see the VFX industry headed in the next 5 years? What excites you about the future?

Real-time is the most exciting thing right now. Even though as a compositor I don’t get to play in that sandbox as much, I like to say that it will cut our times doing greenscreens and let us do a lot more dragons and spaceships.

Is there anything else you’d like to mention or add?

Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.

‍