2025: WHAT’S IN STORE?
PAUL SILCOX VFX DIRECTOR, LUX AETERNA 2 024 started with the impact of the SAG-AFTRA strikes affecting all aspects of the industry – especially VFX – and this signalled the new post-Covid era, as productions saw a reduction in the number of commissions and reduced budgets. I see this continuing into 2025, as VFX companies aim to improve efficiency and speed up workflows to enable the quality to continue improving despite budget changes. AI became a hot topic in 2024, which will continue into 2025 with lots of innovation maturing into disruptive technologies throughout the pipeline. Ethical discussions about ownership and authorship will need to be assessed more clearly, and the impacts on artists better understood. Creative vendors must address these issues with their clients and establish legal, regulatory and ethical clarity so they can compete with confidence. From 1
January, we’ll see an enhanced rate of 39% (from 34%) on the amount productions can claim on VFX produced in the UK, as well as removal of the 80% cap on qualifying costs. This will mean more productions staying in the UK for VFX – as well as filming – and
will benefit larger productions and vendors. VFX is a tech-focused business, and the only constant is change. At Lux Aeterna, we’ll continue to surf these shifting sands, and I look forward to the creative opportunities that come our way.
KRISHNA PRASAD CTO, FUTUREWORKS
E merging technologies in VFX and post-production are set to redefine the industry in 2025. VP will play a transformative role, improving previsualisation and optimisation costs. By adopting parallel VP workflows across multiple VFX studios, production houses can explore diverse creative looks during
pre-production, gaining deeper insights and enhancing project outcomes. AI-driven storyboarding is another game changer, fostering much closer collaboration between film directors, cinematographers and pre-production teams. VFX studios that integrate robust AI pipelines at the storyboard stage will
enable earlier tie-ins with production houses, streamlined workflows and enhanced creative synergy. Universal Scene Description (USD) is poised to revolutionise multi-project workflows. It will standardise processes and boost efficiency, especially in fast-paced studio environments. GPU computing advancements will also bring hyperrealism closer to reality. Improved GPU integration will enable more efficient computing; a pivotal trend for 2025. However, technological adoption requires addressing resistance to change within teams. Studios will need to prioritise adaptability and foster a culture of openness to thrive in this evolving landscape. Embracing innovation while cultivating a forward-thinking mindset will define the industry’s success when it comes to technological advancement.
VIRTUAL PRODUCTION WILL PLAY A TRANSFORMATIVE ROLE, improving previsualisation and optimisation costs”
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