Michael Canepa - BA (Hons) CGI and Visual Effects
Specialism – VFX Artist / On Set Supervision
Michael Canepa has emerged as one of this year’s standout compositors, combining a strong technical foundation with a clear eye for visual storytelling. He earned an IMDb credit for his work on Apocalypse Box, a live-action/CG hybrid short produced in collaboration with film students, industry and a team of VFX artists. He is a regular presence in weekly Rushes, where he offers constructive feedback and iterates confidently on his own work - inspiring students and improving his own work as a result of this.
Michael’s final major project focuses on atmospheric VFX integration, drawing inspiration from Blade Runner 2049 and Fire Force to create a 20-second narrative sequence blending greenscreen footage with a fully CG environment. The project showcases a refined compositing pipeline, combining Maya-rendered AOVs, HDRI lighting, and Nuke workflows. Key techniques include AI-assisted depth mapping using the DepthAnything plugin and dynamic distortion effects with Heatwave to support a key visual climax. Throughout, he has shown a clear grasp of cinematic pacing and image composition. Michael has also collaborated with with other students to get optimised set-captured photogrammetry for compositing on the three key shots (shown below), demonstrating reliability on set, management and precision in post.
Beyond university, Michael is developing a freelance career based in Gibraltar. He has filmed and edited commercial content for clients including GBC and My Wines, where he delivered fast-turnaround media under pressure. His ability to blend practical production with VFX post workflows makes him a well-rounded artist ready to support a range of studio or freelance projects.
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