452 - Shogun VFX Supervisor - Michael Cliett

The Allan McKay Podcast

In this epic episode of the Podcast, Allan sits down with Michael Cliett, the overall VFX Supervisor for the hit TV series Shogun.

Michael shares his journey into the world of visual effects, from his early fascination with behind-the-scenes movie magic to working his way up in the industry. He dives deep into the making of Shogun, discussing the collaboration between various VFX studios, the show's commitment to historical accuracy, and the challenges of creating believable CG water and gore and other visual effects topics.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the art and craft of visual effects in television.

Table of Contents:

[00:02:54] - Michael's journey into a creative career in VFX

[00:13:04] - The importance of diverse VFX skills as a supervisor [00:18:02] - Michael's initial reaction to the Shogun scripts

[00:23:05] - Collaborating with the production designer and other departments

[00:31:39] - Continuing the show's style in post-production

[00:36:28] - Michael's on-set kit and experience shooting Shogun

[00:41:17] - Memorable shooting days, including the shocking scene in Episode 4

[00:49:49] - Diving into the gory details of the Episode 4 sequence

[00:57:15] - The challenges of creating believable CG water

[01:02:27] - Crafting seamless environment extensions

[01:06:23] - The surprising number of decapitations in Shogun

[01:11:48] - The role of AI in the VFX industry and the importance of the human touch

[01:22:53] - The incredible reception to Shogun

Check out the show notes : https://www.allanmckay.com/452