Kommitted to the Craft

Kommitted to the Craft

There can be a lot said for someone who dedicates himself to the craft of visual effects and whose abilities border on VFX genius.  Even more can be said for that person, who before embarking on a directing career, thoroughly immerses himself in all aspects of the film genre.  It is therefore more than commendable to take note of the directorial commitment displayed by one Nathan McGuinness of, where else? - Kommitted Films.

At 35, Perth, Australia native McGuinness is best known as the Academy Award-nominated co-founder/creative director of the VFX company, Asylum. Growing up the son of a TV marketing executive, McGuinness developed an early taste for the medium.  Needless to say, he lived and breathed production and post, riding the wave of 80s technology, working his way up the VFX ladder to his current perch among the industry creative leaders.  Then in 2005, McGuinness launched production company KOMMITTED and quickly amassed over 25 projects including recent high-profile spots for such advertising agencies Deutsch/NY, Blattner/Bruner/PA, and Leo Burnett/Chicago.

Nowadays, the VFX-man and director inhabit extremely organized and balanced parallel universes.  Not only is McGuinness able to manage Asylum, but he also is able to keep focused on his directorial career.  And although it could be said that McGuinness’ reel consists of work that one might expect from a VFX person, it should also be noted that it is exactly his ability to extract the visual narrative that makes him such a good directorial storyteller.  “What’s happening now,” says McGuinness, “is that clients are starting to see me outside of the VFX box.  My goal is to reach a standard that will point the way to my longevity as a director.” 

The circuitous route to directing that McGuinness had chosen for himself has now become a very precise path.  “Learning the balance to go from supervising a visual effects sequence for big name feature director and then switching gears to direct my own spots, has humbled me in a way most people don’t understand,” muses McGuinness.  “The point is that I’m not trying to oversell myself, moreover, I’m really trying to prove myself.”   

Constantly re-inventing his skill set, the director points to his evolution over the past few years.  “I know how lucky I am to have worked with some of the biggest directors out there,” says McGuinness.  “Directors like Tony & Ridley Scott, Michael Bay, Peter Weir, Steven Spielberg.  But those jobs were based in the world of special effects.  Now the challenge is my ability to re-direct myself from a service person to one in control.”  It may look like a challenge, but in reality McGuinness was born to be behind a camera.  “Directing is a love of mine,” he states, “and I’m the happiest and most content when I’m doing just that.”  And yet McGuiness is ready to take his time to build upon his new passion.  “No matter how good you are as a VFX person, you are not a director.  And although I have a solid visual background, directing is an entirely different world.”

That may be so, but the world is getting smaller by the day for McGuinness.  His emergence into the directing foray has been an organic one – one that has proven to be smoothly transitional.  While most clients know him for his VFX abilities, his ability to land the job is by no means a guarantee.  “At the end of the day, I’m still judged as a director.”  Although there may be a few questions regarding his transition, the director is simply put, a storyteller at heart.  Innately aware of the many facets of narrative, the question from clients should not be ‘can he direct?’ but ‘what wonders will he bring to the table this time?’

McGuinness’ methodical approach to his emerging directorial career is calmly impressive.  Prepared to be tolerant about its progression, the aspiring director is enormously committed to this new world, new career, and new roster of clients.  “Another advantage I bring to the table,” says McGuinness, “is one amazing crew.  I’ve been blessed to have worked with some of the most talented production personnel out there.  Without them, I wouldn’t be able to commit to directing.”

So as the director patiently awaits his moment to make his mark into the feature foray, he happily stays grounded in the commercial realm.  “I know the path I’m on will take me where I need to go,” says McGuinness.  “And I am certain that the challenges ahead of me now will definitely get me where I need to be."