Executive VFX Producer, APostLab Trainer
Could you introduce yourself and share how you first connected with APostLab?
I’m Scherin, and I work as a VFX producer at LAVAlabs, a VFX studio based in Germany. I first heard about APostLab through Niko, we’ve known each other for many years and have worked on several projects together. About three or four years ago, he invited me to join the workshop in Athens as an observer, just to get a sense of how it worked and to meet the trainers and participants.
As an observer, I couldn’t join all the sessions or hear about the confidential projects, but I did get a good impression of the scale and quality of the workshop.
And this year you returned as an official trainer. How did it feel?
Public speaking has always been difficult for me — I’ve even blacked out before — so becoming a trainer felt intimidating. But Niko encouraged me gently, without pressure. He believed I could do it, and together we prepared my presentation little by little.The trust from him and from Neeltje made all the difference. It created a safe space where I could face something I’ve avoided for years. The exchange with the other trainers was incredible. Even outside the sessions—during lunches or dinners—we had such rich conversations about the industry, our struggles, and our experiences. It was inspiring.
Could you share one key moment or learning that stayed with you from the workshop?
The biggest thing for me was the honesty and transparency. In German we say “Wahrheit wie ein Wasserfall”—a waterfall of truth. Not overly positive or negative, just factual. That’s something I really admired.
The workshop creates awareness:
Why are certain departments strict about schedules?
Why do changes in picture lock impact budgets?
Why can’t deliveries magically shift just because the edit ran late?
It’s all about understanding the needs of the other side and learning to balance decisions. And no one is romanticizing a perfect production scenario, everything is explained realistically.
Trust was also a major theme for me. Trust is the foundation of every relationship—work, private life, everything. You create trust, and with trust people give back more. That subtle but constant reminder was a huge lesson.
It sounds like APostLab also had an impact on you personally.
Absolutely. Trust, awareness, collaboration—these aren’t things you learn from software. They come from personality and reflection. And I really appreciated that the workshop never turned trust into a “big shiny billboard,” but it was always present underneath everything.
Why treat streamers one way and then turn around and treat your own service providers differently? Why not see them as partners? Film production lasts months. Partnership brings value that money alone can’t.
What was it like for you to work directly with participants?
Honestly, the appreciation. As a first-time trainer, I didn’t know what to expect, but the participants who approached me came with genuine curiosity. Some would say, “This might be a stupid question,” and I always told them there are no stupid questions—the fact that you’re asking means you care.
A highlight was the team from Seal Skin. On the first day they immediately came to discuss their project, and although they had just met through the workshop, their collaboration felt natural. They needed a test, Dennis offered to do one, and from then on they checked in every day—dedicated, respectful, and appreciative.
To me, they captured what the workshop is about: give and take, collaboration, and support. Their encouragement even helped me through my presentation nerves. And that’s the magic—experience levels didn’t matter. We were all learning from each other.
Shifting gears, what kind of work are you currently doing, and is there a project you’re particularly excited about?
One project I can talk about is Mother Mary. The trailer was just released. It’s an A24 film with Anne Hathaway and Michaela Coel, directed by David Lowery. We started VFX work two and a half years ago and finished this year.
It’s a very complex film thematically—female friendship, awareness, success, failure, self-connection and much more. Seeing the trailer after so much time and distance was emotional. Watching it with the team in our little cinema, celebrating the shots—“Hey, that’s my shot!”—made me forget all the stress of deadlines and pressure.
Another project I’m really looking forward to is a documentary that’s currently securing financing. It’s about the first nation predicted to disappear due to climate change. It explores families, traditions, spirituality—real lives that will be wiped out because we cared to less. It’s a film with purpose, meant to create awareness. If it gets greenlit, it will be one of the projects I’m most excited about next year.
Finally, do you have any advice for someone who wants to explore VFX or VFX producing?
Be a good person. Be a team player. Everything else can be learned—it’s just software. But passion, curiosity, and attitude are what matter. Our industry is a privilege. We can look how we want, dress how we want, be ourselves. That freedom should make us appreciate what we have.
Bring passion. Everything else can be taught.
Interview conducted by Monse Higareda Patrón (December, 2025).
