Outlook Magazine - Fall 2024

CRAFTSMAN OF VISUAL EFFECTS

Designed by Andrew Steidtmann (’15)

n astronaut floats through space outside of a capsule, a musician walks up the vertical pitch of a skyscraper, a man is ensnared in quick-crawling ivy,

dancers are transformed into fire and water – anything is possible in the world of VFX – visual effects. And with a global industry projected to reach nearly $20 billion over the next decade, there is no limit to the creative world Andrew Steidtmann (’15) will help bring to life. Steidtmann, a senior compositor at Barnstorm VFX in Burbank, Calif., leads teams that integrate visual materials into the final cuts of films, commercials, television, music videos and more. “These may be filmed elements, matte paintings, FX simulations, computer generated renders and green screen replacements,” he said. Steidtmann’s portfolio includes Tim Burton’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” and several series such as Netflix’s “Away,” HBO’s “Euphoria,” ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy,” CBS’s “SWAT” and an upcoming Disney+ series. He’s also worked on music videos for Taylor Swift and Maroon 5, with one of his favorite projects being Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes.”

“I really enjoy the variety of projects that I get to work on, but I have a soft spot for the ‘High Hopes’ music video,” he said. “It’s a band I really like, and I got to work with a tight-knit, small team with a lot of time to get it looking great.” Steidtmann first became interested in 3D modeling in high school. At UW Stout, the entertainment design (since renamed animation and digital media) major learned more about the industry and focused on film and visual effects, honing his skills and refining his work. “While what I do as a compositor is considered ‘art,’ a term that actually fits closer would be ‘craftsmanship.’ I enjoy this kind of work and the inspiration is self-perpetuating. Seeing others do cool VFX work makes me also want to do cool VFX work,” he said. Steidtmann also works on personal projects, like small game design or photography. “That’s where I end up putting a lot of my creative expression,” he said.

High Hopes Music Video

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Outlook 2024