Kino Industry Session: SFX on a Short Film Budget

Rebecca Wheeler is a Special Effects Makeup Artist and Prosthetics Designer whose credits include House of the Dragon, Bridgerton, Aquaman2 , Boiling Point and Kino’s own Sins of the Flesh.

Great special effects don't start in the makeup chair—they start in pre-production.

Whether you're writing, directing or producing a short film, understanding when to involve the SFX department can have a huge impact on your budget, schedule and final result. Too often, Special Effects Makeup is considered too late, leading to unnecessary compromises and missed creative opportunities.

In this session, Rebecca will show you how early collaboration with the SFX department can strengthen storytelling, improve planning and help filmmakers make smarter creative decisions.

Topics include:

- When should you bring in an SFX artist?

- How much should you budget for practical effects?

- Practical effects, VFX or a hybrid—which is right for your project?

- How can early planning save time and money?

- What information does an SFX artist need before filming?

How do lighting, camera angles and collaboration across departments affect the final result?

Using real-world examples from film and television, Rebecca will share practical advice to help you avoid costly mistakes, maximise your budget and create practical effects that best serve your story.

Presented by Kino Short Film.

This is an 18+ event. This venue has a strict No ID, No entry Policy. Physical government photo ID required, we do not accept photos or copies of ID’s.