Video interview series The Voice of Virtual Production (TVOVP), co-created by Synapse Virtual Production (Synapse) and Little Black Book (LBB), returns for its fifth instalment with a conversation dedicated to one of the most vital – yet often misunderstood – roles in the industry: the virtual production supervisor.
The episode brings together two seasoned voices from the frontlines of virtual production, AJ Sciutto, director of virtual production at Magnopus and Synapse’s own Emily Halderman. Across the episode, the two share experiences from the frontlines of filmmaking, reflecting on the mix of technical expertise, creative collaboration, and human skills required to guide productions of every scale.
Emily outlines the unique demands of the position. “You really have to know every piece of the pipeline,” she explains. “But just as important are the human skills — how you deal with personalities, how you adjust when things change, and how you handle the unexpected.”
AJ adds his perspective on the collaborative spirit that underpins the role. “Virtual production is a symbiotic effort,” he says. “The most successful shows are never about one person staying in their lane – it’s about everyone pulling together to make it happen.”
Both speakers also outline how virtual production is transforming the traditional timeline of filmmaking and how pre-production is the new post-production. “If you really spend the time and the attention and work on things in pre-production it’ll make your life on set way easier,” Emily stresses.
Despite the technological nature of the job, much of the conversation centres on the crucial importance of people skills. “It’s never about one person,” Emily reflects. “It’s about bringing everyone together, keeping the energy positive, and making sure that, whatever happens, the creative gets what it needs.”
At one point navigating the role of VP supervisor is likened to navigating a freeway. Elaborating on the point, AJ says; “When you merge onto a freeway for the first time you realise that everyone around you is actually making it more comfortable for you… It’s assuring them that there are enough educated people around them to solve the problems when they come up.”
Underlining the role of trust, he summarises: “If the creatives don’t trust you, the technology won’t matter. You need to build that confidence so they feel like they can lean on you.”
To listen to the full conversation, check out episode 5 of The Voice of Virtual Production, available now on YouTube.
For more information about or to register your interest in getting involved with The Voice of Virtual Production, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]