Key Takeaways
- Vancouver Film School’s 2-day In-Production Bootcamp lets actors, animators, and makeup artists collaborate on an animated K-Pop dance sequence inspired by Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters.
- Participants will train with renowned choreographer Joe Tuliao and connect with VFS alumni who contributed to the record-breaking Netflix hit.
- Attendees gain hands-on experience in choreography, performance capture, animation compositing, and production makeup in a professional, collaborative environment.
If you’ve ever dreamed of living the ultimate K-Pop experience – now you can! From October 18–19, Vancouver Film School is bringing the magic of K-Pop to our campus through our next In-Production Bootcamp!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for animators, actors, and makeup artists to collaborate with top industry talent – including renowned choreographer Joe Tuliao – on an animated K-Pop dance scene. PLUS, hear from VFS alumni who worked on Netflix’s hit film KPop Demon Hunters, produced right here in Vancouver by Sony Pictures Animation! Save your spot before they’re gone!
In just a few short months, K-Pop Demon Hunters has become a global phenomenon. It’s shattered records – from becoming Netflix’s most-watched film ever at 266+ million views to topping the Billboard charts – primarily due to its appeal to kids and adults alike. The movie’s well-rounded characters and sick beats have proven so infectious, that side-effects include spontaneous dance breaks and watching the film on repeat with your child (who knows the words to every song better than you do).
WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE BOOTCAMP
The Bootcamp is designed to be collaborative, immersive, and production focused. Over two days, participants will step into the world of K-Pop to create a short, animated dance scene. While animators and actors will work hands-on throughout the Bootcamp, makeup artists will observe and learn from a professional artist at work.
By the end of the Bootcamp, participants will have contributed to the creation of a unique, fully composited animated dance sequence that’s inspired by one of Netflix’s most successful global films.
Day 1: Industry Panel & Workshops
Industry Panel with Joe Tuliao and VFS alumni who contributed to KPop Demon Hunters. Actors take a voice acting workshop with Omari Newton (VFS Head of Acting), choreography training with Joe, and audition for one of 5 featured roles for the dance scene. Animators take a hands-on workshop in compositing live-action performances into animation. Makeup artists attend a professional demo by Iris Solar (VFS Makeup Design Program Manager) as she transforms a performer into a KPop Demon Hunters-inspired creature (the ultimate cosplay experience!).
Day 2: Production of the Short Animated Dance Scene
Selected dancers perform their choreography in full K-Pop cosplay, animators composite live performances into an animated sequence, makeup artists and other attendees observe & support the final production.
JOE TULIAO: CAPTURING THE MAGIC OF MOVEMENT
At the heart of the Bootcamp is Joe Tuliao, a Filipino-Canadian choreographer, director, and performer known for his innovative approach to movement and performance. Joe choreographed the breakout K-Pop fantasy dance sequence in Lionsgate’s Joy Ride directed by Adele Lim, and has earned accolades such as the Leo Award for his choreography and direction of Warren Flandez’s “Love Song” music video.
Joe’s robust body of work demonstrates how choreography can elevate cinematic storytelling, weaving music and movement into moments that stay with audiences long after the credits roll. During the Bootcamp, Joe will guide participants through the creative process, from learning choreography to understanding how performance translates into animated storytelling.
HEAR FROM THE VFS TALENT BEHIND KPOP DEMON HUNTERS
One of the driving forces behind the success of KPop Demon Hunters is the creative power of 24 Vancouver Film School alumni who worked on the production across multiple departments. From animation and modeling to lighting, compositing, pipeline, and production coordination, VFS graduates were deeply embedded in nearly every stage of the process.
During the Bootcamp, attendees will meet a select group of these alumni – including Matt McDonald (Lighting & Compositing Artist), Daniel Orozco (Visualization TD), and David Cadena (Senior Production Coordinator) – who will share firsthand how their VFS education prepared them for the challenges of one of the year’s biggest hits. By learning directly from these professionals, Bootcamp participants will gain insight into the pipelines, creative decisions, and collaborative spirit that helped make KPop Demon Hunters a worldwide phenomenon.
Here’s how VFS’s 24 alumni contributed:
- Visualization & Animation: Alumni helping to conceptualize and animate key sequences
- Lighting & Compositing: Ensuring the film’s vibrant K-Pop aesthetic translated seamlessly on screen
- Pipeline & Technical Direction: Streamlining workflows to keep a complex, global production moving
- Production Coordination: Bridging teams across departments and ensuring creative milestones were met
This cross-disciplinary involvement demonstrates not only the versatility of VFS’s animation training but also the essential role our graduates play in global productions.
VFS’s In-Production Bootcamp is your opportunity to capture the magic of K-Pop over one weekend.WHY THIS BOOTCAMP MATTERS
Vancouver Film School’s In-Production Bootcamps aren’t just workshops – they’re opportunities to experience the creative industries in action. Each one is designed to mirror the collaborative, multidisciplinary nature of real-world productions, giving emerging artists the chance to test their skills in a professional environment.
VFS’s latest Bootcamp goes a step further by connecting participants to a global cultural milestone. By working with choreographers, animators, and makeup artists tied to a record-breaking Netflix hit, attendees will gain not only technical skills but also an understanding of how creative storytelling resonates with audiences worldwide.
Whether you’re an aspiring actor, animator, or makeup artist, this Bootcamp is your chance to step inside the process, learn from the very best, and walk away with a tangible production experience.
HOW TO JOIN VFS’S K-POP BOOTCAMP
Spots are extremely limited! Click here to learn more and register.
- Dates: Saturday, October 18 – Sunday, October 19
- Time: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. PDT (both days)
- Location: VFS Film Campus, 151 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC
- Cost: $150
FAQ
1. Who are the VFS alumni that worked on KPop Demon Hunters and what roles did they have?
- Aldo Martinez – Production Assistant
- Alice Bolwell – Lighting & Compositing Artist
- Andrea Matamoros – Modeling Supervisor
- Arthur Oliveira Marimon da Cunha – Pipeline TD
- Christian Gloor – Software Engineer
- Daniel Orozco – Visualization TD
- Daniel Sadalla – Senior VFX Production Coordinator
- Daniela Campos Gomez – Rough Layout Lead
- David Cadena – Senior Production Coordinator
- Elaine Yan – Production Assistant
- Ian Parra Patino – Compositing Lead
- Igor Cruz – Senior Production Coordinator
- Insun Ryu – Intermediate Modeler
- Isaac Miranda Rosas – Motion Graphics Artist
- Jessica Hwang – Lighting TD
- Ji Youn Park – Animator
- Kara Vallega – Lighting & Compositing Artist
- Kenny Poon – Lighting & Compositing Artist
- Luis Paulo Carvalho – 3D Modeler
- Manuel Armonio – Texture Painter
- Mario Miozzo – Associate Animator
- Matt McDonald – Lighting & Compositing Artist
- Morgan Caruso – Lighting & Compositing Artist
- Raoul Crosby – Lead Production Pipeline Technician
2. What programs are these alumni from?
3. How does VFS train aspiring artists for the entertainment industry?
Through intensives, hands-on training and an emphasis on creative portfolio building, students at Vancouver Film School are fully-trained for the entertainment industry in 1 short year.