MUMBAI: Amidst ongoing debates within the film industry over spiraling budgets and compressed schedules, Creative director Sam Bhattacharjee presents a transformative vision for the future of visual effects (VFX). Introducing the Active VFX era, Bhattacharjee emphasises a shift from automation to collaboration—where technology responds dynamically to creative intent, empowering artists and streamlining workflows.
Having pioneered India’s first AI-led feature film, ‘IRaH’, his experience looks to underscore the need for smarter post-production tools. He notes, “We didn’t need faster tools. We needed smarter ones,” highlighting the industry’s opportunity to evolve beyond traditional bottlenecks.
From his UK-based studio, ‘Do It Creative, Sam has developed three integrated platforms — ‘FaceForge’, ‘DSync’, and ‘DColor App’ — designed to enhance precision, consistency, and creative continuity. These tools are not about instant automation but about enabling filmmakers and artists to make subtle adjustments in real-time, reducing manual effort and protecting artistic choices.
“Active VFX is a philosophy where visual effects tools are not static post processes but real-time collaborators. This approach aims to make the entire pipeline responsive to the evolving needs of a project — helping directors refine performances without reshoots, preserving emotional nuance across languages, and simplifying colour grading” he explains.
Currently in beta, Sam’s tools are shifting the industry from labour-intensive fixes to intent-driven design, respecting and elevating the craft of visual effects artists. He emphasises that AI’s role is supportive: “We’re not here to replace the craft. We’re here to protect the choices that make films meaningful.”
As projects like “Housefull 5” and “Sardar Ji 3” demonstrate a resurgence in scale and complexity, he believes that we are entering a new era of VFX — one where technology expands creativity and the artist’s power.
