[FRAMED] Lead Effects Technical Director, Evan Peignet, London

If you could travel back in time, which film, TV series, advert, or immersive project would you love to have worked on?

The Star Wars movies, I loved watching them as a kid and playing the video games, How to Train Your Dragon 2 which is gorgeous, like an animated concept art!

Which Framestore character do you feel you’re most like?

Dr Watson from Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes movies.

What fictional world or place would you like to visit?

The world of Wakfu from Ankama. It’s filled with magic powers, epic worlds and adventures!

Your career highlight to date:

Becoming an FX Lead at Framestore. It still feels unreal as I am surrounded by such talented artists.

Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in VFX?

I’ve always been curious and fascinated by blending technique and creativity. I was looking into architecture and robotics when I realized I was watching a lot of feature animation movies and series. I visited a few schools of animation and VFX and I was hooked! It probably also comes from the fact that we watched plenty of movies in my family.

The DREAM project would entail:

A great story, creative designs and a fun team.

How do you explain what you do to someone who doesn’t work in VFX?

I am doing visual effects for movies and series. My role is to digitally create all the elemental effects such as fire, smoke, water, destruction, magic, disintegration, plants, cloth, swarm of insects, and so on. Anything that requires simulation or couldn’t be animated by hand. I have to make them look real, and cool!

Describe your career journey into the exciting world of VFX.

I studied animation, CGI & VFX at ArtFX Montpellier in the South of France for 5 years. Then, I began my career at UmediaVFX Brussels before joining Framestore London a few months later.

I left Framestore for personal reasons (reluctantly), and started working in Paris at Mathematic, Fix Studio and Kombbo. When the COVID pandemic struck, I kept working for Paris but remotely and I also taught Houdini and FX at LISAA Paris. Soon after I decided to switch to freelance to be able to work for UK companies. I worked for Unit Film & TV, Jellyfish Pictures, Axis Studio, and finally, I came back to Framestore in May 2021. I was promoted to Lead FX TD in July 2023, and I got the chance to go to Framestore Melbourne for a few months to help the FX team transition from the Method pipeline to the Framestore one.

In the end, working for so many companies in a short amount of time made me grow very quickly, discovering various ways of working, different pipelines and many nice and talented people.

What does the day in the life of a Lead Effects Technical Director look like?

I use my commute time to answer my emails, chats and groups. When I arrive at work, I greet the team and launch my apps. Then I go get breakfast while everything opens 😀 After that I check my versions from the previous day, take notes on what to improve, and start tackling these right after. During the day I have several meetings to review our work. I also have “dev” meetings to improve our tools and workflows, and various other meetings about scheduling, methodology, etc.

The days pass very quickly, there is always so much to do and communicate about! After work, I go back home, to the cinema or to the pub with friends🙂.

Framestore is, to you, in three words:

Creative, progressive, and friendly.

Best thing about your work environment?

We have a great office, the building is very nice to hunker down in!

Framestore is great at:

Helping people progress in their careers.

Favourite artform?

Movies. I really dive into them.

Favourite image?

Ouch, hard one… I’d say, at my best friend’s 25th birthday, we improvised to recreate The Last Supper with the guests. I was directing everyone’s staging and it was very fun. It brings back great memories.

What’s your favourite movie/ series/ advert/ immersive experience and why?

I love the movie Big Fish from Tim Burton. I like the fact that reality and fantasy are intertwined, that you can’t tell what is true or fake, and that it all serves the story. Plus the movie is well done, moving and fun to watch. I haven’t seen it in a while now though.

What is the last piece of art that inspired you?

The series Arcane from Netflix and Riot Games, done by Fortiche. Awesome style, design and rhythm. The story and music are also excellent.

How do you unlock your creativity?

I guess by being curious and looking into a variety of contents and mediums.

From where do you seek inspiration?

I think we can get inspiration from everything around us, but one thing that is undermined is museums. They are full of amazing art, or old stuff. They can really expand your horizons and creativity.

Who in the industry do you admire most and why?

All the great artists and technicians who innovate but still remain humble and enthusiastic about the work.

Share the best piece of advice you’ve ever received:

• Life is too short to pretend to be someone else or try to fit in, just be yourself.
• It’s easier to become great at something by practising it a little bit every day rather than full-time over a short period of time.

What tech/innovation could you not live without?

Internet I guess.

What tech/innovation deserves the hype?

The electric racket to kill mosquitoes! Such a banger! I can hunt them easily for hours.

What tech do you need that hasn’t been invented yet?

Teleportation device! Would definitely be useful for expats to visit family and friends, and also to discover the world or save on commute times.

Evan Peignet, you’ve been [FRAMED].