[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: What three movies can teach an aspiring filmmaker the most about story?
Craig Caton-Largent, Visual effects artist and current Chair of 3D Animation & VFX at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles: Oh, wow.
Film Courage: I realize I’m limiting it to three. If you want to pepper in a few more.
Craig: The most about story…I would have to pick a really clever detective story for one of them, like a Hercule Poirot-type of story, an Agatha Christie story that shows how cleverly stories can be woven together and misdirecting at the same time.
There’s so many avenues in an Agatha Christie-type of movie like a Hercule Poirot. I can never say his name right. I get teased about it all the time.
Or maybe like a good Sherlock Holmes, something that involves a good plot with twists that you have to pay attention to. I think that’s good for telling stories.
There’s always the classic stories that have classic story structure. There’s the guy who doesn’t want to do anything but there’s some inciting incident in the beginning of the movie. Now he has to go on this hero’s journey and it becomes this five-act story structure.
There’s all that, but gosh, if I were just to go with my favorite movie of all time is Alien. I think it’s visually nice and told in a visual way. I think that you don’t necessarily need to tell a story with words. You can show it, don’t say it.
That’s why WALL-E is genius. Also, this Wild Robot kind of hits the marks there too because it’s all being shown to you and not being said, it’s been shown in visual exposition.
I kind of enjoy that in a movie.
Film Courage: Then my follow up was the most about visual effects?…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About Craig:
With over 40 years in the film industry, Craig Caton-Largent is a legendary visual effects artist and the current Chair of 3D Animation & VFX at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles. He has worked on over 100 films, creating some of Hollywood’s most iconic creatures, including the Slimer ghost in Ghostbusters (1984), the penguins in Batman Returns (1992), and the raptors in Jurassic Park (1993). Craig has collaborated with top directors like Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, earning six Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects. A pioneer in digital effects, Craig co-founded Digital Domain and developed groundbreaking VFX software like Animservo, used by top studios and theme parks. As the Chair of the Visual Effects and Animation Department at NYFA, Craig is dedicated to helping his students develop animation and storytelling skills that will lead to success in the industry. Craig is also a sought-after speaker on motion capture technology at film festivals and universities worldwide.
CONNECT WITH CRAIG CATON-LARGENT
About New York Film Academy:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
About Jack Perez:
Jack Perez has directed over a dozen feature films, including indie hits SOME GUY WHO KILLS PEOPLE (Executive Produced by John Landis), LA CUCARACHA (Winner Best Feature Austin Film Festival), and THE BIG EMPTY (Winner AFI Film Fest Best New Writer). He virtually invented the “found-footage” genre with his groundbreaking first feature, AMERICA’S DEADLIEST HOME VIDEO, and wrote & directed the pop-culture classic, MEGA-SHARK vs. GIANT OCTOPUS. His television directing credits include the pilot for Universal’s XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS, Fox’s UNAUTHORIZED: BRADY BUNCH, THE FINAL DAYS and SyFy’s BLAST VEGAS! & DRONE WARS. Perez wrote & directed the hit web series, FEAR FORCE FIVE (over 70 million views), and hosted the acclaimed director-on-director interview series, HOLLYWOOD TRENCHES. He is also the creator of the YouTube premium movie channel, CINEFIX, with over 3 million subscribers.
Perez has instructed on directing and writing at USC, the New York Film Academy and the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he has taught for 10 years and is currently the Directing Track Head.
A member of the DGA & WGA, he is the recipient of awards for both writing and directing.
CONNECT WITH JACK PEREZ:
Advertisement – contains affiliate links
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
