Consulate Creative Director Mike Stolz on the Ever-Changing the Future of VFX

“Mike Stolz is a seasoned flame artist and creative director specializing in beauty and fashion. After graduating from Parsons School of Design in New York, Mike began his career in illustration, producing editorial works for the New York Times and others.

His passion for design and love of computers led him to digital animation. Eventually, he became the head of the graphics department at Bloomberg Television and an instructor at Parsons, teaching 3D animation in Maya. He then started compositing in flame and later became a founding partner of the design house Manic, where he worked closely with brands such as Mercedes Benz, Loreal, Coca-Cola, and many more.

For the last decade or so, Mike has been leading the visual effects team at Consulate, collaborating with the best creatives and directors in the business for the finest brands in beauty, fashion, and luxury. With over 25 years of experience in high-end compositing and effects, Mike and his team bring the highest level of taste and professionalism to every job.

LBB> There are two ends to the VFX spectrum - the invisible post and the big, glossy ‘VFX heavy’ shots. What are the challenges that come with each of those?
Mike> The big, flashy shots are always fun to work on, but I find the biggest challenge is to maintain the artistry while satisfying everyone with an aesthetic interest: the editor, director, client, etc. I sometimes prefer the invisible work. I love to create significant change and solve problems while keeping the original beauty and integrity of the film so nobody even knows I was there.”

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