Name: Marcus Dryden 

Job Title: VFX Supervisor/Creative Director 

What field of TV/Film do you work in?

VFX – basically creating the things you can’t create in front of the camera to help tell the story.

Over my career, I have worked in advertising, TV and Film VFX as a VFX supervisor and Creative Director

What does your day-to-day routine look like in your role?

It changes dramatically, which is why I love it! Most projects go through 3 main stages of production – prep, shoot and post – I am involved in all 3. Prep and post are office-based in the studio or a city location in London or LA . The shoot can be based anywhere in the world –day and night. The dynamic nature of the work and the people I collaborate with make the challenges of the job very rewarding.

What are your earliest memories of being interested in a career in film/TV or media (or specifically visual effects)?

28th May 1980, sitting in a cinema watching The Empire Strikes Back. I was transported viscerally into a galaxy far far away and never looked back. From that day forward I wanted to make films and be involved in the process of creating the impossible.

TV/Film & Media is a notoriously difficult field to break into – how did you navigate your way into the industry?

I kept trying and never gave up. I kept sending my CV to companies, kept making my own films, teaching myself and (I'm going to age myself here) but there was no internet so I'd find books and magazines about screen craft and VFX – like Cinefex, American Cinematographer and Cinefantastique. Then when I got my first job in the industry I got my head down, worked, absorbed and learned as much as I could.

Are there any particular projects you have worked on or achievements in your career that you are particularly proud of?

Working on Andor was a particularly special moment for me, working inside the world that had first incepted my love of cinema and being part of the team that recently won an Emmy for it, felt both surreal and humbling. One of my proudest achievements is the first film I co-directed with my wife, Raw Documents – a documentary about British Hip Hop. It was self-funded and independently produced. During the process of making it, we formed a special bond which we still have to this day 23 years later. It taught me how to effectively collaborate with others and balance the creative with technical aspects of storytelling.

How did Shiplake or what you studied after Shiplake influence your passion?

Shiplake gave me the confidence to not be defined by my environment and situation, to be curious and tenacious with my passions and to explore different things without fear of failure. My non-traditional creative passions were very much supported by the staff at Shiplake at the time in conjunction with supporting me academically, which gave me the confidence to work in an industry which relies on being both artistic and technical simultaneously.

What skills and personal attributes do you need to have to be successful in the Film or TV industry?

There are a few key soft skills you need but the key ones are being kind, enthusiastic and patient. We work long hours, day and night, in fast-paced situations. These key attributes help make you part of a team, which is very rewarding when you see your work on the screen.

What are the biggest challenges that face your industry but also your role?

The industry: diversity and my role: time.

Diversity: we need to endeavour to find and promote talent from a more diverse range of genders, social backgrounds and ethnicities. Films take a village of people to problem solve, collaborate and exchange ideas – the wider the experience of this pool the better the solve!

Time: finding a work-life balance is very tricky in our industry. We often travel a lot and work long hours, which is not great for family life, but it can be done.

Why is Film/TV important to society?

Storytelling has been an integral part of human existence since time began! Learning about other cultures, real or imaginary, and escaping to faraway worlds, laughing, crying and experiencing the gamut of human emotions from stories will and always should be important and is our legacy to generations to come.

Less ethereal and more practical is that spending in UK film production was 1.97 billion in 2022 – employing over 100,000 people in the UK and many more globally.

The UK is one of the premiere destinations for film production in the world and the talent is 2nd to none. 

Who are you most inspired by in your industry?

I have always been inspired by the underdogs – creative mavericks who want to break the mould and innovate. Spike Jonze, John Dykstra, Phil Tippet, Ken Ralston, John Knoll, Paul Lambert, Chris Cunningham, Nia DaCosta, Chris Townsend, Mohen Leo.

If there’s one piece of advice that you could give your younger self – or someone aspiring to a career in Film/TV what would it be?

Be patient. Keep learning. The more experience you get the more ready you will be – "Do or do not, there is no try"...

What do you miss about Shiplake and are there any memories from your time at the college you would like to share?

The community. Shiplake was such a diverse community of people and I felt really at home amongst people from all over the world with different perspectives and experiences. The range of skill sets and passions that were supported; sports, music, art, theatre and academic, created a great atmosphere that was incredible to be a part of. One of my best memories was playing a gig in the Tithe Barn with my band at the time. Our band was made up of different people from different years all coming together with the love of music.

A massive thank you to Marcus for such an insightful interview, it was a priviledge to learn about such a unique and exciting career.

If you are interested in his work, Marcus's IMDB can be found here and his Linkedin profile here. 

If you are an Old Viking and would be interested in sharing how you turned your passion into a career, please contact connected@shiplake.org.uk.