Niall Flinn

Niall Flinn

CG Supe, FX Supe, FX Artist. All about Houdini!

Supervisor CG Supervisor / Supervisor FX Artist / 6 yrs

Vancouver, Canada

Hire Me

CG Supervisor

Raising Dion (2019)

CG Supervisor

The Boys (2019)

Lead FX Artist

The Umbrella Academy (2019)

Effects Head Of Department

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Lead Effects Technical Director

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Lead Effects Technical Director

Okja (2017)

Effects Technical Director

Power Rangers (2017)

Documentary / Visual Effects Artist

Voyage of Time: Life's Journey (2017)

Lead Effects Technical Director

Allegiant (2016)

Lead Effects Technical Director

Vacation (2015)

FX Lead

San Andreas (2015)

Lead FX Technical Director / Head of FX

The Maze Runner (2014)

FX TD

Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014)

Lead FX Technical Director / Head of FX

White House Down (2013)

FX Animator

Elysium (2013)

Life of Pi (2012)

Digital Artist

Dark Shadows (2012)

Digital Supervisor

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

Digital Artist

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010)

FX Technical Director

Aftershock (2010)

Effects Lead

Angels & Demons (2009)

Effects Technical Director

Watchmen (2009)

Visual Effects Supervisor

Quantum of Solace (2008)

FX Lead

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008)

Digital Artist

10,000 BC (2008)

Effects Technical Director

Sunshine (2007) (2007)

CG Effects Artist

Poseidon (2006)

FX TD

Kingdom of Heaven (2005)

Animator

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)

Effects Technical Director

AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)

Effects Technical Director

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

Model Maker

The Trinket-Maker (2003)

CG Effects Artist

Sunshine (2000)

After a stint in TV as a 3D generalist, I began working in film as an FX TD around 2003, and haven't really looked back since. I've worked on a lot of shots, led FX teams on shows, supervised FX work, and run an FX Department or two.
I'm somewhere in the middle of the art/science spectrum: I have a strong eye for visual beauty, but I also have a solid grasp of the physics behind natural phenomena and I'm perfectly happy writing code if it will help to realise my vision better, faster or more efficiently.
Work History
  • CG Supervisor

    Barnstorm VFX

    October 2022 - October 2023
    Vancouver, Canada
  • CG/FX Supervisor

    Radical Media

    May 2021 - May 2022
    Remote
  • Houdini Artist

    Radical Media

    January 2021 - April 2021
    Remote
  • CG Supervisor

    Method Studios

    January 2019 - November 2020
    Vancouver, BC

    Supervised 3 shows: Raising Dion (Netflix), For All Mankind s02 (Apple), The Boys s02 (Amazon Prime)

  • FX Lead / Head of FX

    Method Studios

    December 2012 - January 2019
    Vancouver, BC
  • Lead FX Technical Director

    MPC

    September 2007 - December 2012
    London, United Kingdom; Vancouver, Canada

    During my time at MPC I specialized in dynamic FX work: dust, smoke, fire, snow, demolition - all manner of particle, fluid and rigid body effects for feature films. I enjoy FX work because, of any of the specialisms in digital film, it crosses the most disciplines. In one project I often get to model, rig, animate, and light my own work - a degree of ownership rare in a very pipelined environment. It's also technically challenging enough to keep me interested.

  • FX Head of Department, Vancouver

    MPC

    July 2011 - November 2012
    Vancouver, Canada Area

    In July 2011, I moved from MPC's London facility to their Vancouver studio, in search of fresh air and new challenges in a rapidly growing team. Similar responsibilities to those listed below.

  • FX Head of Department

    MPC

    June 2008 - November 2012
    London, United Kingdom

    As MPC's first Head of FX I was responsible for overseeing all dynamic simulation work done in the Film Department. I hired staff, conducted appraisals, set and reviewed artist salaries, liaised with the R&D Department to guide FX tool development, bidded FX work on upcoming films, maintained the department's intranet pages, supported my lead artists, provided creative and technical advice to my artists, acted as a layer of quality control for the department's output, and very occasionally found time to run a shot or two.

  • FX Technical Director

    MPC

    October 2003 - September 2007
    London, United Kingdom

    As a rank and file FX TD, I generated a wide variety of simulated elements for various films. Lots of particle simulation, fluid simulation and rigid body dynamics, together with plenty of scripting, FX lighting and endless problem-solving.

  • Lead 3D Effects Artist

    422 South

    March 2001 - September 2003
    London, United Kingdom

    I was the sole/lead 3d artist in 422 South's London studio. Most of the time this meant running my own projects, pitching, matchmoving, modelling, texturing, animating, lighting and often compositing my own work; largely science and natural history documentary work for a range of clients including the BBC, Channel 4 and the National Geographic Channel. A great way to further develop my craft.

  • 3D Artist

    AudioMotion Ltd

    May 1999 - March 2001

    Modelling, texturing and lighting 3D characters, rigging for mocap animation, general 3D artist duties. Moved from 3DS Max to Maya, began scripting as a way to streamline my workflow

  • 3D Artist

    DVA Ltd

    November 1997 - April 1999

    General 3D artist, using 3D Studio Max to deliver a wide range of work, from TV commercials and idents to army training videos and architectural visualisations. Dealt directly with clients and was responsible for every stage of the process, from modelling, animation and lighting, to playing out the finished work to tape for delivery.

Education
  • The Manchester Metropolitan University

    1993 - 1996
  • The Manchester Metropolitan University

    1992 - 1993