Pixel Puzzle is a platform dedicated to revealing what visual effects (VFX) are really about — beyond the magic, beyond the myths, beyond the credits that roll by too fast to read.
We’re here for the artists, the technologists, the dreamers — and for the outsiders who’ve always admired the craft without fully understanding it.
Through honest conversations with pioneers, leaders, and unsung heroes of the industry, we break down the walls that separate “the business” from “the art,” and “the audience” from “the work.”
Our mission is simple, but urgent:
To humanise visual effects.
To show the world the reality behind the spectacle — the creativity, the collaboration, the grit, the breakthroughs, the heartbreak, and the future that’s still being written.
Who we’re for:
📍 VFX artists who want their craft to be seen and respected.
📍 Industry professionals who want a clearer, bigger picture.
📍 Students, directors, producers, writers — anyone whose work touches the moving image.
📍 Curious minds outside the industry who simply want to understand how the magic is made — and why it matters.
Why it matters:
Because VFX isn't just technology.
It's storytelling. It's art. It's culture.
And it deserves to be understood — not just admired, criticised, or overlooked.
Pixel Puzzle is not about hype. It's about connection. It's about passing the mic to the people who live this craft every day, and helping the world see visual effects the way we see it:
Essential. Evolving. Human.
👉 Subscribe now and become part of a community that believes in curiosity, creativity, and the joy of seeing the world in a whole new light.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pixel Puzzle is a platform dedicated to revealing what visual effects (VFX) are really about — beyond the magic, beyond the myths, beyond the credits that roll by too fast to read.
We’re here for the artists, the technologists, the dreamers — and for the outsiders who’ve always admired the craft without fully understanding it.
Through honest conversations with pioneers, leaders, and unsung heroes of the industry, we break down the walls that separate “the business” from “the art,” and “the audience” from “the work.”
Our mission is simple, but urgent:
To humanise visual effects.
To show the world the reality behind the spectacle — the creativity, the collaboration, the grit, the breakthroughs, the heartbreak, and the future that’s still being written.
Who we’re for:
📍 VFX artists who want their craft to be seen and respected.
📍 Industry professionals who want a clearer, bigger picture.
📍 Students, directors, producers, writers — anyone whose work touches the moving image.
📍 Curious minds outside the industry who simply want to understand how the magic is made — and why it matters.
Why it matters:
Because VFX isn't just technology.
It's storytelling. It's art. It's culture.
And it deserves to be understood — not just admired, criticised, or overlooked.
Pixel Puzzle is not about hype. It's about connection. It's about passing the mic to the people who live this craft every day, and helping the world see visual effects the way we see it:
Essential. Evolving. Human.
👉 Subscribe now and become part of a community that believes in curiosity, creativity, and the joy of seeing the world in a whole new light.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chapters
00:00 The Journey into Cinematography
13:00 Influence of Japan on Artistic Perspective
18:55 Evolving Views on Visual Effects
32:07 Lighting Techniques and VFX Integration
43:17 The Pressures of Filmmaking and VFX
44:28 The Subtlety of Visual Effects
45:14 Seamless Integration of VFX in Storytelling
48:29 The Harmony of Practical and Visual Effects
49:50 Innovations in Cinematography and VFX
52:21 The Evolution of Filmmaking Technology
55:15 The Future of Visual Effects and Technology
57:28 Augmented Reality and the Future of Cinema
01:01:29 The Changing Landscape of Film Projection
01:07:28 Advice for Emerging Filmmakers
01:12:02 The Importance of Embracing Failure in Filmmaking
01:16:53 Common Mistakes in Visual Effects Planning
01:19:42 The Balance of Practical Effects and VFX
01:23:06 Navigating the Future of Cinematography
01:31:31 The Evolution of Digital Cinematography
01:38:25 Emerging Technologies in Cinematography
01:47:10 The Importance of Communication in Cinematography
Description
What does it mean to be a cinematographer in an age where visual effects are everywhere—but ideally invisible?
In this episode, we sit down with Eben Bolter (The Last of Us, Slow Horses, Cape Fear, Night Teeth) to explore the evolving relationship between cinematography and VFX. Eben shares his unlikely path from marketing exec to acclaimed DP, the lessons he took from Japan about discipline and artistry, and why his “film school” was a London short-film grind that taught him everything from composition to collaboration.
We dive into:
🎥 The subtle art of lighting for VFX integration (and why he’s done with green/blue screens).
🌧️ The blend of practical effects and digital extension—rain, fire, and beyond.
🕹️ Why games and cinematography are closer than most people think.
🎞️ How digital cinematography still chases the “film look”—and what might come next.
⚡ The role of failure, risk, and accidents in shaping unique visuals.
👀 Why the best VFX are the ones you never notice.
From The Last of Us road trips you can’t tell were blue screen, to turning New Orleans into Los Angeles with invisible palm trees, Eben shows us how VFX “save the day” in ways audiences never realise. Along the way, he reflects on the future—HDR, AI, VR—and the need for cinematographers to stay flexible, curious, and relentlessly collaborative.
If you’ve ever wondered how the unseen work of VFX and cinematography merge to create the images that move us, this conversation will change how you look at the screen.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
