Life and VFX aren’t just partners — they’re cosmic co-conspirators. One frames reality, the other bends it. Together they turn imagination into pure widescreen wonder. And, the man who dances effortlessly between these two worlds, VFX alchemist Pete Draper, lit up IFFI 2025 with his electrifying masterclass on ‘The Complete VFX Production Magnanimity’.

With a career spanning over 25 years and hits like ‘Baahubali’, ‘RRR’, and ‘Eega’ to his name, Draper delivered a whirlwind deep dive into the art and craft of blockbuster visual effects — right from pre-production scheming to post-production polish, according to an official gist of the session put out by the organisers yesterday.

Filmmakers, VFX artists and cinema enthusiasts flocked to Goa yesterday to hear the secrets of turning imagination into jaw-dropping reality And, what an experience it was!

“The best VFX doesn’t replace reality; it enhances it. Every costume, camera angle, prop, and frame counts. Leaving decisions for post-production invites chaos, cost overruns, and endless iterations,” Draper declared.

He showcased the meticulous planning that fuels cinematic magic: scripts broken down scene by scene, lensing and camera moves pre-visualized, props and digital doubles scanned to millimeter precision and layered shots choreographed for maximum impact, even controlling fire and crowds in real time.

Draper highlighted on-the-spot problem solving with a waterfall sequence, where key beats were blocked, tested, and locked in minutes, saving months of post-production.

Collaboration is the real superpower. Tight coordination between directors, cinematographers and VFX teams ensures every shot aligns with the artistic vision. Draper emphasized that even small details like logging lens metadata or clearing stray cables can save days of post-production headaches.

From storyboards to iterative concept work, crowd simulations to seamless digital extensions, Draper proved that VFX is as much about strategy, planning, and teamwork as it is about pixels.

Concluding his session, Draper reminded attendees: “Plan smart, log everything, and collaborate like your film depends on it — because it does. VFX is magic, but only if you orchestrate it with care.”