WACO — VFX Compositor

Paramount Network · Tasks: fire element compositing, light simulation, debris & smoke integration, complex roto · Tools: After Effects, Mocha Pro, Photoshop

Scope: Created burning hallway and room sequences for the climactic inferno, combining practical fire elements, debris, smoke, and sparks.

Solution: Augmented a few shots of practical flames, but primarily built fire from empty plates by collaging multiple fire elements to roll across ceilings, walls, and around corners. Matched color and motion to practical references, simulated firelight reflections, added drifting embers, layered smoke and debris, and applied heatwave distortion in close shots. Managed frantic handheld tracks and heavy roto to integrate actors and props into the burning environments.

Outcome: Seamlessly blended collaged practical fire with digital atmospherics to deliver immersive, high-intensity sequences that captured the chaos and destruction of the compound fire.