The VFX Factor: Falling in Love with Every Aspect with Minoo Haghdad

Minoo Haghdad is a 3D generalist at The Embassy in Vancouver. Since joining the studio in 2021 Minoo has worked on a diverse range of projects across film, television and advertising. Her credits include Warrior Nun, Superman & Lois, The Spiderwick Chronicles and advertising work for Disney and GMC.

LBB> VFX is a true craft in the classic sense of the word. Where did you learn your craft?

Minoo> I've always been a huge fan of science fiction movies, especially those with mind-blowing visual effects. Movies like Avatar and shows like Game of Thrones continue to fuel my fascination with visual effects and creativity in general. I was really blown away when I first watched both of them and they spurred me on to learn more.

To pursue my VFX passion, I enrolled in an intensive one-year VFX course in Iran. My mentor during this course was Amid Rajabi, who is a globally well-known VFX instructor. The course covered various aspects of VFX, from 3D modelling, lighting, look development, rendering, and compositing. Eventually I gravitated towards becoming a 3D generalist as I fell in love with every aspect of creating CG imagery. 

Now even though I am a few years into the industry, I still find that VFX is an ocean of knowledge and skills to explore. So far it's been an exciting journey, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!

Superman & Lois

LBB> How did you first get into the industry? What was your very first job in the industry and what were the new skills that you learned at that time? 

Minoo> I came to Canada in December 2020, all fresh and excited, but with no work experience in the VFX industry. I spent a few months searching for a job, scouring the job market every day with my demo reel of personal projects.

Most studios had transitioned to remote work in 2020, which meant that all my job interviews were conducted virtually via video calls. This also presented a new challenge, as it was my first time being interviewed in English!

When I interviewed, and eventually got the job at The Embassy I was ecstatic. I had been an admirer of the studios’ work for many years and was excited to land a role there. In the first few months I learned a lot, from technical skills to soft skills, learning how to balance work loads and manage my time to meet deadlines as part of a large VFX team.

Eventually The Embassy has become like a second home to me. I genuinely love what I do, and every project I work on provides unique challenges. I am immensely grateful to be a part of this talented and amazing team.

LBB> How have you navigated your role in the switch to remote work? Tell us about your experience.

Minoo> My transition to remote work over the last few years has been a unique challenge. My position at The Embassy is my first job in the industry and my interview for the role was held through a video call, which was a very new experience for me too.

Initially of course everything was unfamiliar. Using a VFX pipeline was a new experience, and I had to get up to speed on a lot of new software. Like anyone starting out in their careers I was filled with a lot of doubt. How would I be trained? How will I handle my assigned tasks? What were the new steps and processes I needed to follow? Who could I turn to for guidance when I encountered questions or issues? And of course, the ever-looming concern – what if I made a mistake?

Despite all these uncertainties, there was one thing I held onto tightly: self-trust. I reminded myself that I had already overcome numerous obstacles to reach this point. What's more, I quickly realised that all my colleagues were there for me remotely, ready to lend a helping hand whenever I needed it.

Disney Resorts

LBB> What were your first creative milestones in the industry – the projects you worked on that you were super proud of? 

Minoo> My very first project at The Embassy was working on season two of the Netflix series Warrior Nun. My responsibilities included texturing and shading for the exterior cathedral scenes where the Nuns had their epic battles. I also took charge of lighting and look development for the entire sequence set in the cathedral. 

To be honest, I remember feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness when I received this assignment because it was a huge task for someone just starting their career in the industry! It was amazing to see those shots turn out so well.

Another early project I worked on was the popular series 'Superman and Lois'. I was responsible for the shading and look development of an exploding truck. I’m a big Superman fan, so this one was a little special for me, even if it was just for a brief moment on screen!

Finally on the commercial side I really enjoyed working on a campaign for Disney World Resorts. It was a great opportunity to work with beloved characters from the Disney classics such as the Lion King, Finding Nemo, Moana and Aladdin.