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VFX Job Application
Thursday, 18 December 2025 at 1 PM UTC
Struggling to apply for Visual Effects, Animation and Games jobs? Are you facing rejections with no constructive feedback to improve? It can feel like hitting a brick wall, leaving doubts about your skills.
Don’t worry! It’s rarely about your skills holding you back. It’s about presenting yourself to the right company at the right time. I cracked the application process after countless rejections, landing jobs at Weta FX, Framestore, and Mackevision.
Let me guide you to a successful career. Together, we’ll improve your job application process and land you that dream job.
Apply with your job application material to be included in the event:
Subscribe or join using the button above.
Previous TD Meetups
Are VFX Degrees Still Worth It? /w Oleg Fryazinov (Bournemouth University)
What is the actual role of a university in preparing artists for the VFX industry? Today, we are diving into the reality of VFX and Animation education with Oleg Fryazinov, Associate Professor at Bournemouth University and BFX Festival Director. We tackle the "distorted reality" many students face when they enter school expecting to immediately work for Pixar or Marvel and how institutions need to adapt. If you are trying to figure out your next educational step, this is a mu
Alex
May 21
Honest Job Application Review | Lead Lighter TA
In this series, we invite our Python for VFX students on stream for a complete application teardown. We give direct, no-nonsense feedback on their CVs, showreels, cover letters, and social profiles. Learn exactly what VFX, animation and games studios are actually looking for right now, what gets ignored and how injecting technical skills into your portfolio creates opportunities in a difficult market. Today's guest is Roiliz Betancourt (MPC, VFX Lighting & Compositing) from o
Alex
May 9
I let Claude AI Control Blender (Is it actually good?)
Claude AI just released an official Model Context Protocol (MCP) connector for Blender. Is this a genuine time-saver for Technical Directors or another AI gimmick? Let's do a first impression together! In this stream, we’re doing a raw, first-look test. I’ll show you a simple install using the uv package manager (no complex terminal gymnastics required) and then we’ll put Claude to the test with real-world scene manipulation, lighting setups and Python scripting. What we’
Alex
Apr 30
Stop Clicking, Start Coding: Python for VFX Cohort (April 2026)
Tired of doing the exact same repetitive tasks in Maya, 3ds Max, Houdini, Blender and Nuke? It’s time to let Python do the heavy lifting. In our upcoming April 2026 cohort, I'm teaching you how to use Python to automate your VFX workflows from the ground up. You don't need a computer science degree - you just need the right mentoring. Join our community of artists leveling up their tech stack this spring. Python for Maya Python for 3ds Max Python for Houdini Python for Blende
Alex
Mar 31
Farewell Pixomondo: The Latest VFX Studio Closure Explained
Pixomondo is officially being closed by its parent company, Sony Pictures Entertainment. While this might not be a huge surprise given the current wave of industry-wide cost reductions and studio consolidations, it is still a heavy blow to the artists and the VFX community. In this video, we break down the business reasons behind why Pixomondo is shutting its doors and most importantly, what this ongoing trend means for your future and career in Visual Effects. Join our stre
Alex
Mar 24
Future Beyond VFX: The Power of Community
The debate about AI in VFX is incredibly loud right now. Amidst all the panic about algorithms and efficiency, one element that actually keeps this industry alive is being completely ignored: Community. Software updates don't mentor junior staff. Render engines don't check in on you during crunch time. A prompt won't bring a team together to solve a pipeline crisis at 2 a.m. People do - and people need a reason to carry on. We often forget that it is the network around us th
Alex
Mar 19
Is Adobe Still Worth It in 2026?
Last year I asked myself a serious question: Is Adobe actually still worth paying for in 2026? My use case is incredibly common for most content creators today. Yet, Adobe Premiere has always felt heavy and clunky to me and that friction has only intensified over the years. Jumping in for a “quick edit” felt practically impossible thanks to its cumbersome structure and sluggish load times. Still, for a long time, Premiere gave me a reasonable enough editing experience until
Alex
Mar 12
VFX Supervisor: War Stories from the VFX Set
We spend thousands of hours behind a monitor but what happens when you finally step onto a live film set? The dynamic changes instantly. The politics are different. The pressure is physical. Sam Highfield (On Set VFX Supervisor) joins us to share his "war stories" on a Visual Effects set. We aren't just talking technicals but survival. The "Day 1" Shock: What nobody expects when they first walk on set. Studio vs. Set: How to switch your mindset from "artist" to "crew member.
Alex
Mar 5
Why Most VFX Pipeline Tools Are Ugly (UI Design) | TD Meetup 26
The internal software used in visual effects, animation and games is notorious for its poor design. On this stream, we will examine the Python and Qt interfaces used in production. We will discuss why technical tools often ignore basic user experience (UX), the difference between "engineer art" and good design and how to build scripts that artists will enjoy using. We talk about: F & Z-Pattern Priority Proximity while looking at how bad UI design will costs your studio time,
Alex
Feb 26
Make Your GitHub Stand Out in Job Applications
Transitioning into a technical artist and director role can be challenging. One crucial element most forget is their GitHub profile. GitHub is your coding showreel and opens doors into your future job opportunities. Let's transform our GitHub profile and repositories into portfolios for our next job application.
Alex
Feb 19
Why You're Stuck: You Might Be In The Wrong Role
Feel like you’re learning endless tutorials but not getting anywhere? You might not be a bad artist or technician - you might just be in the wrong role. Many students fail to break into the industry because they are trying to be a Modeler when they think like a Technical Director or they're forcing themselves to code when they should be sculpting. In this live stream, we are going to audit the industry roles in Visual Effects, Animation, and Games to help you find where you a
Alex
Feb 12
Python for VFX: Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Houdini & Nuke APIs
Which VFX software actually has the best Python API? On this stream, we’re doing a side-by-side code comparison of Maya, 3ds Max, Blender, Houdini, and Nuke. We’ll test them on essential TD tasks like creating nodes, setting attributes and navigating documentation to see which API is truly "Pythonic" and which feels stuck in the past. Finally, we’ll rate each software from 1 to 5 stars and discuss the future of unifying Python standards across the VFX industry. Watch the full
Alex
Feb 5
Live career mentoring for Visual Effects | Mentoring
Our industry isn't straightforward. Often, there are no clear educational or professional paths to follow. We have to make tough decisions and find our way into the roles and studios we want. This is an incredible challenge for anyone who is just beginning to grasp the depth of an entire industry. At the same time, we are influenced and supported by the people in our lives. This can be parents, friends, colleagues or even a kind stranger who mentors us, either directly or ind
Alex
Jan 30
Future Jobs in Visual Effects | TD Meetup 25
Let's take a look at future jobs in Visual Effects, Animation and Games together with Bela Beier ( Digital Production ) and Alin Dumitru ( StaticVFX ). Is "AI Artist" a thing? Should we all learn Python and coding tomorrow? What about VR, CopyCat, ComfyUI and all the other tools coming out? Virtual Reality & layout Procedural Content Creation Game Engines & Unreal CopyCat in Nuke AI Artists ComfyUI Python & AI Technical Artist & Director Watch the FULL episode here:
Alex
Jan 30
Create custom menu in 3ds Max 2025+
Let's take a look at the new menu system in 3ds Max 2025+, fixing now broken menus and discuss ways it could be improved. Refresh your Python for 3ds Max skills and delve deeper into Python logic. Join our live stream on 15th January 2026 at 1 PM UTC. PS. We're streaming every Thursday about visual effects, animation and games.
Alex
Jan 13
Scripting for Artists in 3ds Max | Python 3ds Max #1
A few years ago we made a video " Scripting for Artists in 3ds Max " to introduce newcomers to the worlds of Python and MaxScript in 3ds Max. Sadly, since 3ds Max 2020, Autodesk has retired the old MaxPlus API and introduced the new PyMox library for coding in Max via Python, so it's time for an update. At this stream, we will explain the basics of Python for 3ds Max and demonstrate how to manipulate the software with Python. Join our live stream on 8th January 2026 at 1 PM
Alex
Jan 6
Happy New Year 2026
Happy New Year! 🍾🥳🎆 Let's look back at 2025 together and make plans for 2026. I'll share my plans and explain how they will benefit you. Join the conversation and share your ideas about the past and future of visual effects, animation and games. Join our New Year 2026 special stream on 1st January 2026 at 1 PM UTC.
Alex
Dec 31, 2025
Financially Healthy (for the first time) | Mentoring
In this live stream we explore ways to improve our financial understanding, spending and get a more healthy relationship with money. Being financially healthy has enormous benefits from Quality life Mental Health Retirement Support others (family, friends, ...) and many more. Join our live stream on 25th December 2026 at 1 PM UTC . After watching our stream here are a few ideas to improve your financial situation: No credit cards Invest into long term products Take health, h
Alex
Dec 23, 2025
Job Application Review | TD Meetup 24
Struggling to apply for Visual Effects, Animation and Games jobs? Are you facing rejections with no constructive feedback to improve? It can feel like hitting a brick wall, leaving doubts about your skills. Don’t worry! It’s rarely about your skills holding you back. It’s about presenting yourself to the right company at the right time. I cracked the application process after countless rejections, landing jobs at Weta FX, Framestore, and Mackevision. Let me guide you to a s
Alex
Dec 16, 2025
Technical Director in Visual Effects, Animation and Games | TD Meetup 23
Technical Directors are the unsung heroes of Visual Effects, Animation and Games production. They solve technical challenges, create opportunities for artists, and help bring the creative vision to life. To become a Technical Director , you'll need a strong understanding of technical workflows, great communication skills, and knowledge of scripting languages like Python. The benefits of working as a Technical Director often come from the stability that technology positions pr
Alex
Dec 9, 2025
Breaking into Visual Effects, Animation & Games | SAE Institute
Being a newcomer in the visual effects, animation and games industry is a huge challenge, a few of the hardest industries to get into. This is simply because good education is scarce and the expectations placed on juniors and interns are so high that, unless you are already an established artist or technician, you barely have any chance. In October, I had the chance to host a live workshop at the SAE Institute (Thx Guillen ), where I talked about one of the most challengin
Alex
Nov 25, 2025
Visual Effects: "A Model of Madness" w/ Scott Ross
Can a Visual Effects studio survive only on film work? " Absolutely not!" Scott Ross is an important part of the history of Visual Effects. He was manager at ILM, Senior VP at Lucasfilm, Chairman & CEO of Digital Domain and one of the Founding Members of Visual Effects Society. He summarized his experiences and a part of the industry's history in his book “Upstart”. In our episode we trace a line from the cloistered halls of ILM and Lucasfilm through the founding of Digi
Alex
Nov 11, 2025
Exploring Python in Blender (first time)
In our first YouTube stream, we will explore coding with Python in Blender for the first time. In recent years Blender has proven itself to be professional-grade software for visual effects, animation and games. It is free software with a dedicated community and a quick adoption of new technology. Over the years, Blender has outperformed industry giants like Maya, 3ds Max, and Houdini in certain areas, yet it still struggles to find its place in the industry. One way to impr
Alex
Nov 3, 2025
Python Interview Challenges | TD Meetup 22
Landing a technical role in visual effects, animation or games can be challenging. One of the hurdles you may face is a Python challenge during the interview. Let's take a look at Python interview challenges in the visual effects, animation and gaming industries. Purpose of interview coding challenges 1. Test core problem-solving and ability Many software and video games companies include coding challenges in their recruitment process to assess candidates' ability to break d
Vishal Patel
Oct 28, 2025
How VR Supercharges Animation & Previz | TD Meetup 21
A few years back, VR was all hype: Headsets, demos, promises until it quietly vanished. But in recent years, we’ve seen a shift and VR has matured. Virtual Reality is slowly becoming part of our reality, from video games and visualizations to art. We invited Dan Franke - a VR storyteller for games and VR experiences - to demonstrate how Quill VR capabilities can be integrated into our visual effects workflow from storyboarding to fx. Dan started as a CG generalist sculptin
Alex
Oct 14, 2025
![VFX Job Application | FMX 2025 [LIMITED TIME]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f83e50_68f0f4b101c24104898ad897a627e4f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1778,h_1000,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/f83e50_68f0f4b101c24104898ad897a627e4f3~mv2.jpg)
![VFX Job Application | FMX 2025 [LIMITED TIME]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f83e50_68f0f4b101c24104898ad897a627e4f3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_720,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/f83e50_68f0f4b101c24104898ad897a627e4f3~mv2.jpg)
VFX Job Application | FMX 2025 [LIMITED TIME]
Applying for jobs in visual effects, animation and gaming can be challenging, so let's reveal the secrets that are holding you back from...
Alex
Oct 6, 2025
Git for Visual Effects beginners
“ Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with...
Alex
Sep 23, 2025
Role of a Compositing TD in Nuke
In the fast-paced world of visual effects and motion graphics, speed and efficiency are paramount. One tool that can significantly...
Alex
Sep 9, 2025
USDSkel: Optimized Character Rigging
USDSkel is an OpenUSD component that supports scalable, manipulable, and interchangeable skinned characters. Together with Paul Kanyuk ...
Alex
Aug 26, 2025
Good vs. Great Python Developers: What Sets Them Apart
A key difference between an amateur and a professional is " production readiness ". Many amateur artists and developers create...
Alex
Aug 26, 2025
Python Minesweeper Challenge
Hey there, looking for a fun Python challenge to develop your skills?
Perhaps you’ve learned some Python and comfortable with loops, logic thinking, maybe even GUIs, and now wondering “Where to go from here?” or “How to use this knowledge in my interviews?“
Vishal Patel
Aug 12, 2025
The 3D Environment Conference
Matthias Buehler, the organizer of the ICE conference 2025, asked me to speak about The Role of Technical Directors in visual effects...
Alex
Jul 15, 2025
Problem Solver for VFX | TD Meetup 19
Problem-solving is a key life and professional skill, especially for those working with technology. Technical artists and directors in...
Alex
Jul 8, 2025
Financially Smart Freelancer | TD Meetup 18
Anyone who has worked as a freelancer knows the feeling of not having enough clients or earning enough money by the end of the month....
Alex
Jun 10, 2025
FMX 2025 & Industry State
Have you been wondering lately how the industry is doing? That was at the forefront of my mind when I attended this year's FMX 2025...
Alex
May 28, 2025
Contract Negotiation | TD Meetup 17
Negotiating a new contract can be a confusing and nerve-racking experience. The thought of meeting a group of strangers, in-person or...
Alex
May 6, 2025
Visual Effects Future | TD Meetup 16
Join us at the VFX Future event where we'll examine the recent closure of Technicolor, a major blow to the industry that has left over...
Alex
Apr 10, 2025
Struggling to afford our Python Masterclasses? We’re here to Help!
Python is an important part of any successful visual effects, animation and games production and a key ingredient to becoming a technical...
Alex
Mar 25, 2025
Open Source Pipeline Plex | TD Meetup 15
Plex is an Visual Effects, Animation and Games pipeline that manages critical workflows during production. Its core is a flexible and...
Alex
Mar 12, 2025
Inspiring Artists ft Alexander Richter
In this episode, MadlookzVFX talks with me about my journey as a technical director as we share insights into my career in visual...
Alex
Mar 11, 2025
Python Copilot: AI Coding Assistant
Discover the power of the Python Copilot: AI Coding Assistant. Advance your career as a technical artist or director by creating...
Alex
Feb 28, 2025
GitHub Copilot | TD Meetup 14
Imagine an AI assistant that saves you hours while making your Python code faster, cleaner, and more reliable. Yes, we all know that AI...
Alex
Feb 4, 2025
Why learn Python when there is A.I.?
Have you ever wondered if Python is becoming obsolete with the rise of A.I. and tools like ChatGPT? Why spend years learning a skill that...
Vishal Patel
Jan 28, 2025
Nuke Multishot: Reuse scripts | TD Meetup 13
With the release of Nuke 16.0 Foundry has introduced native support for a multi-shot compositing workflow.
Vishal Patel
Jan 21, 2025
Plans 2025: AI, Pipeline & more
Welcome to 2025! Let's take a look at what 2025 has in store for us ... a lot, apparently! Masterclasses We continue to improve our...
Alex
Jan 14, 2025
Python for Visual Effects | VES Megabrain
Have you ever wondered how much more we could accomplish if we weren't wasting time on repetitive tasks? How many creative possibilities...
Vishal Patel
Jan 7, 2025
Recap 2024: TD Meetup, courses, ...
We covered a lot of ground in 2024. From new events to updated content. 🎆 Happy New Year 2025! In addition to creating new content and...
Alex
Dec 31, 2024
Technical Interview | TD Meetup 12
What Does It Take to Nail a Technical Interview in VFX, Animation, and Games? Technical interviews in VFX, animation, and games can be...
Vishal Patel
Dec 10, 2024
Capture Reality for Visual Effects | TD Meetup 11
Let's us look on how capturing reality will improve our own creative output. In visual effects, animation, and games, capturing reality...
Vishal Patel
Nov 12, 2024
ComfyUI in Nuke | TD Meetup 10
What if we could create AI images directly in Nuke using ComfyUI? Since the inception of Stable Diffusion in 2022, the introduction of...
Alex
Oct 8, 2024
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