Get to Know | Philippe

In this release, we are pleased to introduce Philippe Larivière, one of our talented compositing artists in Saguenay, who brings his energy and adventurous spirit to every project!

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE?
As a Compositing Artist, my role is to make the magic happen — blending elements together so they look like they were always meant to be. I take CG, live-action, FX, and a combination of tools to create a seamless and polished image that tells the story right. It’s part creative problem-solving, part pixel-pushing — just enough to keep things interesting.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED IN THE FIELD OF VISUAL EFFECTS?
Before diving into VFX, I specialized in documentaries, with projects ranging from First Nations stories to outdoor adventures — it gave me the chance to meet some truly extraordinary people. During my studies, I chose the postproduction branch, and that’s where I first encountered compositing. I fell in love with it right then, did my internship at FOLKS, and well... here we are!

IN WHAT PROJECT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF YOUR WORK?
The projects I’m most proud of are actually three of the latest ones I’ve worked on. I had the chance to dive into the world of de-aging and face replacement using machine learning. It was a massive learning curve, as these were the first projects of their kind here at FOLKS. Taking the theory and applying it to real production was a tough challenge, but incredibly rewarding. It involved a lot of problem-solving, learning new techniques, and figuring out how to navigate the limitations. Once I got the hang of it, I was able to share that knowledge with the rest of the team across different studio locations and help kick off similar projects.

IF YOU HAD TO NAME A COLLEAGUE WHO INSPIRES YOU, WHO WOULD IT BE?
My friend and mentor, Vincent Forand, took me under his wing not long after I started at FOLKS. The guy’s a magician when it comes to compositing — though it can be a challenge to keep up when he dives deep into explaining his latest tool, he’s shared an endless amount of knowledge. He’s our custom tool wizard and seems to know every corner of Nuke. Patient, kind, and I honestly have no idea where he gets the energy to endure all my shenanigans. We’re lucky to have him.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT WORKING IN SAGUENAY?
Honestly, it’s amazing to be able to work in VFX while living in the countryside. Small city, close to the mountains, zero traffic (seriously, it’s glorious). It’s a great place to live and work — the best of both worlds.

IF YOU COULD TRANSFER TO ANOTHER PITCH BLACK LOCATION, WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
If the opportunity presented itself, it would be hard to say no to Vancouver. Bigger mountains, warmer winters with more snow, and less mosquitoes — now that sounds like a dream!

WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT PEOPLE MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW?
The mountains have always been my playground. I used to be all-in on rock and ice climbing, but last year I transitioned into ultra trail running — and it just clicked. My next big event is an 82km race on the SF1 in Quebec, and with a course record sitting just under 17 hours, let’s just say, it’s going to be a long (but beautiful) day out there.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SHOT?