FX’s Shōgun transports us so vividly into the world of feudal Japan that it comes as a surprise that it was shot right here in BC.
This seamless immersion is thanks to Vancouver’s own Michael Cliett (The 100, Vice) and his visual effects team who earned a well-deserved Emmy for their collective efforts as part of Shogun’s record-setting 18 Emmy wins in a single year.
Michael’s crew dedicated countless hours and endless focus to delivering a visually stunning depiction of 17th century Japan with meticulous detail and painstaking historical accuracy.
Join us as Michael delivers a VFX masterclass on the world-building behind the exceptionally conceived and beautifully rendered hit series.
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Michael Cliett
Michael Cliett is an Emmy winning visual effects supervisor, most recently serving as the overall VFX supervisor for the acclaimed series Shōgun for which he won the Emmy for Outstanding Special Visual Effects in a Season or Movie. Beginning his career some 20 years ago as a VFX artist on Joss Whedon’s Serenity, he then continued for a number of years as a VFX artist and CG supervisor on some of the top TV shows and films of the time, along with amassing several Emmy nominations. In 2011 he transitioned into VFX supervision while overseeing the VFX on several feature films in India. Upon returning to North America, Michael continued working in a supervisory capacity on shows such as Falling Skies and the Twilight film series. He was the overall series VFX supervisor and VFX producer for the Warner Bros. series The 100, where he also received his 4th Emmy nomination as well as directing a pivotal episode in the final season of the show. When Shōgun came calling, it presented itself as a dream project for Michael. Like so many, Michael is a fan of James Clavell and the classic novel as well as having a real love and fascination with Japanese culture and history. A fascination that started in his childhood while living in Tokyo. And so as ambitious and as challenging as Shōgun promised to be, it would prove to be the perfect fit for Michael. In addition to heading up the visual effects for the show, he also directed many sequences as second unit director.
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Designing the World of Shōgun with VFX Supervisor Michael Cliett
FX’s Shōgun transports us so vividly into the world of feudal Japan that it comes as a surprise that it was shot right here in BC. Join us for a visual effects masterclass on the world-building behind the hit series.
Image: © FX