Course Overview

Live Demo + Q&A

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All live classes are recorded and posted within 1-2 business days.
Saturday, September 6th, 2025, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT
Saturday, September 13th, 2025 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT
Saturday, September 20th, 2025 11:00 am - 1:00 pm PDT

Class Description:

Learn how to bring a micro robot character to life in a live-action environment using Houdini 21’s powerful rigging, animation, and rendering tools. This hands-on course guides students through a complete indie VFX pipeline, from prepping mocap-driven rigs and procedural animation to rendering and compositing a final shot using Karma and Nuke. With storytelling at its core, the course emphasizes creative problem-solving and practical VFX workflows for emerging technical artists and filmmakers.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  • Think like a filmmaker, making creative and technical decisions with story, performance, and pacing in mind
  • Understand the fundamentals of shot management, including plate prep, scale, color, and scene continuity
  • Match 3D tracking and photogrammetry to live-action footage for believable integration
  • Import and retarget mocap data to a custom character rig using Houdini’s KineFX and/or Apex
  • Create secondary animation and audio-driven motion to enhance character performance
  • Render with Solaris, Karma, and COPs, using layered materials, accurate lighting, and ACEScg workflows
  • Composite a 3D character into live-action footage using Houdini and Nuke, balancing technical integration with artistic intent
  • Manage a small end-to-end pipeline, focusing on storytelling, visual cohesion, and efficient workflows

Course Materials

    1. Session Zoom Link

    1. Discord

    1. Session 1 Outline

    1. Session 2 Outline

    1. Session 3 Outline

Houdini for Filmmakers

  • $75.00
Session 1

Thinking Like a Filmmaker

Develop a director’s mindset while preparing your shot from concept through capture. In this session, you will learn how to approach VFX with storytelling intent, plan for post on set, and set up your shot for success.

  • Course Introduction + Instructor Background
  • Story Concept: The Miniature Robot
  • Filmmaking Mindset: Director, Editor, Producer
  • Shot Planning: Story, Mood, and Constraints
  • On-Set Strategy: Lenses, Motion, HDRi, and Photogrammetry
  • Capturing for Post: Reference and Material Data
  • Preparing Plates in Resolve (ACES + EXR)
  • HDRi Cleanup and Cleanplate Creation
  • Importing Assets into Houdini
  • Intro to Solaris and Cinematic Scene Layout
Session 2

Rigging, Animation & Design

In this session, we'll bring the robot to life. You’ll learn how to retarget mocap data, layer animation for expressive motion, and create a unique look using MaterialX and COPs for artistic detail.

  • Intro to KineFX Rigging and Mocap Retargeting
  • Layering Animation for Personality and Story
  • Adding Secondary Motion and Audio-Reactive Movement
  • Shader building with MaterialX
  • Using COPs to Generate the Robot’s Art Collage
  • Visual Integration: Matching Plate Lighting and Color
  • Generating slapcomps for 3 shots
  • Scene Updates and Prep for Final Rendering
Session 3

Rendering & Finishing

In the final session, we'll bring everything together. Learn how to composite your rendered elements in Nuke, integrate shadows naturally, and apply final color correction in Resolve for a polished cinematic look.

  • Render Setting in Houdini
  • Working with Rendered Image Sequences
  • AOV Compositing in Nuke
  • Integrating CG with Live-Action Plates
  • Creating and Blending Shadows
  • Matching Color and Atmosphere
  • Final Grading and Output in DaVinci Resolve
  • Review and Reflection on the Full Workflow

Instructor

Alexander Gabrielli

Filmmaker/3D Artist

Alexander Gabrielli is a Filmmaker, 3D Artist, and VFX Supervisor with an MFA in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts. He has built post and creative work for brands like Vaio, Meta, Gateway, and Synchrony Bank, and directed award-winning shorts, music videos, and commercials. Through his studio, MΘNSTRΘ Labs, Alex explores how procedural tools like Houdini can unlock new dimensions of storytelling.

LinkedIn Instagram Twitter YouTube Website

WHAT YOU NEED TO TAKE THIS COURSE

  • A computer (see SideFX system requirements)
  • Houdini (Apprentice version is free)
  • A second monitor (recommended)
  • Nuke (Educational License is free)
  • Optional: Headphones, microphone, webcam for interactive participation
  • (Student license available for $75/year. Email [email protected] for details.)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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REFUND POLICY:


Live-Session Courses
Students may request a refund up to 1 day before the start of the course. Students may also withdraw from Live-Session Courses at any time and are entitled to a pro-rated refund. The withdrawal date must be 1 day before the next class they intend to drop.

On-Demand Courses
All on-demand courses are non-refundable.

Refund a Class
Please send a request to get a refund via email to [email protected].
Your written request to drop any or all of your classes must include:
  1. Student’s full name
  2. Name of the course(s) being dropped

See you in Class!