The Role of an FX Supervisor: A Conversation with Matt Norris

Welcome to the first in our series spotlighting the talented individuals who make our team thrive. Throughout the series, we’ll uncover the unique stories and career paths that shape our work. To begin, we’re featuring Matt Norris, exploring his role at Random42 and the specialized expertise required to produce impactful medical animations.

Matt is the FX Supervisor at Random42, with many years of experience in visual effects, he leads his team to craft animations that educate, engage, and inspire. While FX traditionally encompasses the animation of natural and supernatural phenomena—think water, smoke, fire, or energy, as well as simulations of muscle, hair, and cloth—at Random42, Matt’s department applies these techniques to elevate medical animations. This translates to vividly simulating complex biological processes, from cellular apoptosis and tumor destruction via radiation therapy to the intricate flow of electrical signals within the brain.

The Role of an FX Supervisor: A Day in the Life of Matt

As FX Supervisor, Matt oversees Random42’s growing team of Houdini and FX artists specializing in complex simulations and procedural animation. His responsibilities include discussing project requirements with leads, assigning tasks, and providing creative and technical feedback. He also develops tools and workflows to enhance efficiency while fostering the team’s professional growth.

“Luckily I still get to be quite hands on, so the majority of my day will usually be spent doing project work, although now I tend to be more heavily involved at the beginning of a project, helping to design the FX and R&D which techniques will be most appropriate, then handing over work to the rest of the team to finish. The rest of my day is spent offering feedback and oversight to my team and helping to organise training or development projects for the Houdini users.”

Recently, Matt tackled the challenge of visualizing protein folding through an innovative new approach, demonstrating his knack for blending creativity with technical precision.

Balancing Creativity and Accuracy in Medical Animation

When asked about the essential skills needed for this role, Matt emphasizes a deep understanding of simulated and procedural animation techniques. However, as supervisor, he considers mentorship equally crucial: “The goal is to build a team of artists that can do everything I can do, and hopefully even better than I can do it!”

The demands of ensuring scientific accuracy while meeting client expectations are among Matt’s biggest challenges. “It’s absolutely critical that the work we do is completely in line with not just the scientific reality we are representing but the look and feel set out by our clients.” Yet, it is a challenge that he relishes, as the ever-evolving nature of technology within this field, keeps him learning.

From Film to Science: Matt’s Career Journey

Matt’s path to Random42 began with a Master’s in Digital Effects, followed by a career in VFX in the film and television industry. He has worked with major studios, rising from Junior FX Artist to Supervisor on high-profile projects, including a Disney-Marvel show.

“FX was always my true calling,” Matt reflects. His extensive experience in multiple departments, from tech animation to pipeline development, provided a solid foundation for his role at Random42. He now channels that expertise into visualizing the intricacies of the human body, creating animations that communicate complex science to diverse audiences.

A Passion for Precision: Matt’s Hobbies and Inspirations

Outside of work, Matt finds joy in building and painting scale models – a hobby he rekindled during the COVID-19 pandemic. “It has a similar balance of precision, technicality, and creativity to FX work, but it’s a nice change to be doing something with your hands rather than sitting at a PC.”

He also stays at the forefront of technical advancements in FX, particularly the integration of machine learning and generative AI into animation tools. “It’s still a little unclear exactly how this new tech will impact how artists work but we are already beginning to see the framework for machine learning models being integrated into key software.”

Advice for Aspiring Artists: Strive for Growth

One piece of advice has guided Matt throughout his career: “We tend to lean into things we find easy and shy away from things that are difficult. But that can make us narrow-minded and overly reliant on a limited set of skills. We should aim for well-rounded growth, which means playing to your strengths, but working on your weaknesses.”

This philosophy underscores Matt’s approach to both his work and his leadership, making him a driving force behind Random42’s success in the medical animation field.