5 Minutes With… VFX Supervisor Jesper Kjolsrud

Can you give us an overview of how you got into visual effects?

I studied art and discovered a computer graphics university course in the north of Sweden. I had no idea you could actually do VFX as a job, so applied more for being interested in computers and art. In my year, Paul Franklin (Inception, Interstellar) was the guest tutor and he lured me and a friend over to MPC. A year and a half later a bunch of us left to start DNEG, and before I knew it, it had become a career.

Did you always aspire to be a VFX Supervisor? What route did you take to get there?

Not at all. I was quite content in being a 3D artist, but I somehow ended up going on set very early in my career. With the experience of both working on set and in a studio, it became a natural thing to supervise.

What part of being a VFX Supervisor do you enjoy most?

When I see something that I didn’t expect but just works. It can be a layout, an FX sim where the dynamics nail it, a lighting slap comp I don’t have anything to say about, or a final comp where everything comes together above expectations. Those times my job is easy!

Can you talk us through some of the highlights of your career?

I’d say working client side was the most rewarding experience in VFX so far. It was gruelling in terms of time but being involved on that level was great fun. I’d love to do it again when time allows.

What brought you to Outpost and what would you say the culture is like for an artist?

I ended up speaking with Andy Williams in our LA office and he thought I’d be a good fit for Outpost, so he set up a call with Duncan in Bournemouth.

For me Outpost is a company run by people who understand artists and their needs. What we do should be fun and Outpost is great at facilitating that.

You’ve just wrapped on the Man Who Fell to Earth. What were some of the creative challenges for this particular show?

Anything to do with the alien planet Anthea. We needed to make it work from sequences on the planet surface all the way to looking back at the planet from space. The designs were driven by our in-house Art Director, Steve Molloy, which helped a lot as we all had access to his vision throughout the show.

Outpost worked on concept art through to completion on The Man Who Fell to Earth. How do you feel the results differ when working earlier in the production process?

Apart from crossing the finishing line, I love the early stages when you try to figure everything out. No matter which production it is.

Ideas that need a design after the filming can be done by the same person or team that’s been there from the beginning. You get a better understanding of everything, from story to designs, and hopefully you are in a better position to contribute to things like methodologies. It might mean taking on more responsibility but that also gives a bigger sense of ownership over the work.

Finally, some quickfire questions:

What’s the one thing you always keep on your desk?

A notebook.

You can eat one thing for the rest of your life – what is it?

Homemade pizza made straight on the BBQ.

What would be your superpower? 

Teleportation.

What are you currently learning?

How to get enough exercise when working from home.

Any pets?

I just replaced a hamster when my daughter’s no. 7 died the other day.

Favourite way to relax?

Doing very little at my summer house in Sweden.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

I’d love to sail around it!

What irritates you?

When I can’t make sense of something. And Boris.

Guilty pleasures?

I used to golf excessively but then a pandemic happened and ruined everything.

Favourite song?

Spirits by Strumbellas according to Spotify.

Last present you bought yourself?

A PS5 when I lucked out with Argos’s stock inventory a year ago. I think I’ve used it maybe five times since. The Nintendo Switch is more fun.