Wren on Making Viral VFX Videos, and Life at Corridor | Bad Decisions Podcast #45

Wren Weichman is a VFX artist, filmmaker, and KZbinr, known for his exceptional talents in visual effects and storytelling. As a member of @Corridor Digital, he has worked on numerous projects such as "Mario Skate" and "Nerf Drone," garnering millions of views.
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Wren's Tedx Talk: • Why most visual effect...
Scale of Nuclear Explosion: • VFX Artist Reveals the...
Talking to Gareth Edwards: • VFX Artists React to B...
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Find out more about Wren:
/ sirwrender
/ @corridor
www.corridordigital.com
/ @talonfx
Episode 45 Timestamps:
00:00:00 Introduction
00:02:52 Discovering Visual Effects
00:07:16 Creating Videos on KZbin
00:12:53 Starting to Work at Corridor
00:14:27 The Evolution of KZbin Content Strategy
00:18:31 Wren Did THIS to Survive in LA
00:22:06 A Day in a life at Corridor
00:25:03 Exploding A Nuclear Bomb In LA (Not Really)
00:31:24 The Reality Of Making A Corridor Digital Video
00:39:15 Wren's Secret Strategy to a Viral Video
00:44:03 How to NOT Burn out!
00:49:37 Why Wren Loves 3D Printers
00:55:07 Using Unreal Engine for Corridor Videos
01:06:11 Talking to The Creator's Director (Gareth Edwards)
01:16:05 Current state of VFX in Hollywood
01:21:14 Sora AI and the Impact of AI on the Industry
01:38:42 The Future For Wren
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[@SirWrender]

Thanks again for having me guys!! You're awesome and make great vids! Keep it up!

[@AkrunLIVE]

Fantastic as always

[@badxstudio]

Brother it was our pleasure speaking with you. Keep up the amazing videos we always love watching them!! Talk again soon :)

[@lioneldasilva4889]

Hey Wren. So you make scale video with space but what if you were doing that with time also. Like compared to the age of the planet what does the time since WW2 represent. Just to show that in the grand scheme of the universe out little problem exist only in a spec of tine

[@CheebsCheeby]

You're the best, Wren!

[@FireJach]

Wren is the coolest guy in the crew, glad the algorithm showed me this podcast

[@jcp1984again]

Okay. What makes him the coolest? For me Wren is too loud, too hyperactive and too unapologetic. Niko is definitely my favorite.

[@mrdr9534]

​@@jcp1984again In my opinion they all seem like "good people", but my guess that "FireJach" possibly "prefers" Wren exactly due to the "qualities" that makes You "dislike him". And I.m.o. Wren comes across as very extrovert, enthusiastic and personable. Where as Niko seems to be more "cerebral" but less "personable" in his interaction with people, and possibly even comes across as a bit "aloof" at times... As always when it comes to matters of taste I say "too each their own", this of course just a case of preferences, and the world would be a very boring place if we all liked the same things. Best regards.

[@stellataylor7436]

Peter is definitely a close second

[@SirWrender]

@@jcp1984again lol I understand loud and hyperactive but am surprised to see unapologetic.

[@jcp1984again]

@@SirWrender , it's his way of leaning into his mistakes. He just seems so attention-seeking when he misspeaks for example. Instead of apologizing for mispronouncing a person's name, he just waits for the closeup edits to happen. 🤷 I find that super annoying.

[@DrErnst]

Wren is such a likeable optimistic and nice and humble dude!

[@badxstudio]

Couldn't agree more!

[@OleFromTheNorth]

Interesting oppinion on burnout. I had it twice and I'd describe it like not being able to get your pulse down. Lying in bed unable to calm down. I got it from overworking and being unable to improve in my job due to lack of time and planning ahead. I think the Corridor people are the most blessed guys regarding this. Working with them would be my dreamjob.

[@ukmonk]

I have worked in the movie industry (99% Hollywood big budget productions) for over 30 years, and I am amazed at how many directors cannot visualize a shot or are not in the slightest bit creative despite working in what is, a very creative industry. Nice video btw so thank you!

[@badxstudio]

Yeah that's very true. Thank you for watching.

[@rhashadcarter2051]

that’s insane

[@reimagineuniverse]

Also it is because it is fixed bid. Nothing stopping any director to go version 100 only to choose v3. Its vfx house to figure it out and we to burn out and free OT. System is broken.

[@NathanKasper]

Your capacity to put out such high quality content so quickly is beyond admirable and I have the utmost respect for you and the entirety of the corridor crew! ❤

[@magaz]

I’ve been “doing” KZbin since 2006 and having tiny peaks and massive troughs. I’m in my biggest of those troughs currently. One of the biggest reasons I end up in troughs is because I strive to create videos that look good. But every time I hear big creators talk, they all say “quantity over quality. The quality will come” and I feel that over the years I have done myself a disservice by abandoning or not starting projects because I didn’t feel I could do them justice. Where in reality I see more growth when I just put the content out there. Thanks for sharing all these insights. If you guys see Sir Wrender in person, give him a solid high five from me!

[@pabloqsanchez]

The one and only, Wren! The goat!!

[@badxstudio]

What a freaking cool guy to talk to. Hope you enjoy the pod!

[@VFX]

Thank you for the great chat guys! I listened to it while doing my morning sculpting practice and hearing the 'It is impossible to have quality when you begin, you have to go for quantity first.' really sticked with me as words of encouragement thanks!

[@badxstudio]

Wow ..it's great... Glad you gained sth from this episode

[@JasonKey3D]

imo the 3 most energetic, fun people talking about 3D/vfx right now, love it ♥

[@veithnurtsch6155]

Wow!!! Do you have an episode with them?? ❤❤❤

[@badxstudio]

hahaha thanks Jason! The energy here is real x3 :D :D

[@veithnurtsch6155]

@@badxstudio when comes then interview with him !!!

[@facucabanne]

Yay! That's my portrait drawing of him right there ❤

[@SirWrender]

I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!

[@EdwinSchaap]

Wren is my favorite Corridor dude. Very enthusiastic and humble looking guy.

[@cedarandsound]

Wren has what we all hope to keep and hold onto, youthful curiosity.

[@badxstudio]

An Icon

[@BehindTheVoicePod]

Its crazy to know Wren's story. Its been such a fun time watching Corridor's videos and the scale videos really made me interested in making videos like that but not VFX but doing like an explainer style video with video games in mind. Its so crazy to know that he went to engineering and then shifted to KZbin and started watching Video Copilot. I had pretty much the same journey. The onyl difference is that I didn't wanna do engineering and the fact that I didn't become a VFX artist. I do video editing and motion graphics and use techniques of visual effects but don't really make specific projects with it. So cool to know the entire story.

[@kerhabplays]

Thank you guys for interviewing Wren. Goats.

[@badxstudio]

Absolutely my friend. We will continue to bring top-notch conversations to you

[@jasonmcdade8837]

Video copilot! Andrew Cramer trained all of us aye? 👍

[@badxstudio]

hahahaha he indeed did

[@redplanet76]

Great guy. I’ve watched him grow from his KZbin beginnings. Very talented.

[@badxstudio]

Wren is amazing

[@veithnurtsch1069]

leeets gooo! second try needed to stop at 13:00, now doing archviz and listening to you

[@ukmonk]

Ready Player One actually talked about this in the book version, they had Ai movies made up on the spot just by prompts!

[@needler2984]

This is absolutely mind blowing!!! Can’t wait to see a collaboration in the future😍 Both of you are just kings for getting Wren on the podcast🙏🏼

[@badxstudio]

We will definitely do it. Wren promised a studio tour when we go down to LA.

[@CamIsMac.]

This was a GREAT interview for Future Artists, Wren Wrecked it lol. And love that your Dad uses Ai for music.

[@dimitardrew]

58:21 Such a good feeling when Wren said he found you through your UE5 tutorial, crazy!

[@badxstudio]

Hahahha it was :D

[@emanfinding2603]

Fun to listen and a Great podcast -Thank you Legends

[@Nurolight]

Wren is the ultimate eternal optimist. I think the only other person I have ever seen with Wren's upbeat, can do attitude is the Stringer boss from Shot in the Dark (netflix series).

[@3DSage]

The best video I watched in a while! I really enjoyed this and I can't wait to hear more!

[@SuleBandi]

Great content guys, love to see Wren’s UE scene/breakdown using Cesium and UDS.

[@kuunami]

He must be a beast when it comes to 3D simulations because of his engineering background. Particles systems, dynamics, fluid simulations, fire simulations like Cinema 4d Pyro etc.

[@TheHAM1980]

Wren is awesome, great pod, guys!

[@badxstudio]

Thank you sir

[@xXWillyxWonkaXx]

This is such a great episode, so did not expect this. Amazing 👏🏼

[@badxstudio]

Thank you so much buddy.

[@DanielLionArts]

Loved this guys! Great work, fun times, have enjoyed Wren & many of the Corridor Crew’s videos for years, their interviews with fellow pros from the Hollywood VFX industry (the VFX Artists react videos) have been some of their best, though ~similarly you guys doing these long format podcast conversations are right up there with them bc you’re both so naturally you & honest (you me, we’re cut from the same cloth 😉) Keep it up guys!!!

[@badxstudio]

hahah Thank you so much Daniel ...You are an OG.. we loved talking to Wren

[@theloniuspoon]

this channel has the best interviews in the game right now, can we get on Chris Do?

[@badxstudio]

Gonna get him on the list ;) Thanks

[@geraldo.goncalves]

This is great! What a talk 👏🏼

[@badxstudio]

And we shall continue to bring you the best convos every week!

[@geraldo.goncalves]

@@badxstudio and I shall watch all of them every week. ❤️

[@TheHAM1980]

This whole video is Golden Retriever Energy ❤❤😂😂

[@jame950]

I wish i could be as happy about life as wren

[@Vesohag]

Nice to get this one recommended. Must be a good video ;)

[@Appleloucious]

One Love! Always forward, never ever backward!! ☀☀☀ 💚💛❤ 🙏🏿🙏🙏🏼

[@badxstudio]

Absolutely

[@ragulfx6701]

Worth 105 minutes💥 waiting for Houdini tutorial series 🗿

[@pizza_later]

The high five at 58:25. 😂

[@OlliHuttunen78]

Very cool episode once again! Wren is the best!

[@badxstudio]

Thanks bro ...Definitely he is

[@_bymahi_]

Amazing. I love this episode👌

[@badxstudio]

We love you mahi

[@nitentv5142]

Daaaaaam is so cool see you guys togheter!

[@betchphoto]

Legendary inspired, thanks guys!!!

[@badxstudio]

Wren is indeed inspiring. Thank you for watching

[@matguy1000]

idk if theres any warhammer 40k fans here but the dude on the left could play magnus the red in film

[@underwaterdojo]

I’m excited. 🎉 i love Wren!

[@badxstudio]

He is amazing, You will love this episode

[@algi1]

I think those people underestimate the effects of generative algorithms who think that using them only affects the product they create with it. It has huge affects on visual culture and creative industries. Low effort garbage will flood us on every channel.

[@C0RRUPT3DITOR]

First video I'm seeing by you and I love it already! Also, might I say, Farhad's hair is.. so inexplicably god-like. It's so cool!!

[@jasmerloveschickenrice]

YO WHAT A COLLABORATION

[@badxstudio]

i know right!!

[@b3rhunter]

Oh shit!!! This’ll be good!

[@badxstudio]

You are going to love this episode buddy

[@renderpeach]

Love Wren.

[@DarkSwordsman]

0:55 the only reason it's so controversial is training material. If you train it on copyrighted works without permission, it infringes the copyright of those works and does not fall under fair use.

[@AJR3]

Oh man, all I could think of when I heard 7TB of a cache for the ant simulation was that they must have cached that super inefficiently. 20 million particles is not very many in the fluid simulation world, and their surface mesh wasn't all that detailed to suggest extreme density. Granted that was a video from a while ago and I am sure they have learned a fair bit since haha. Lots of interesting stuff to hear about through the episode though!

[@SirWrender]

Because of the scale, the simulation was many thousands of frames long, and saved out as an Alembic sequence. Jordan simulated it in Houdini but for me to use it in C4D/Octane I couldn't use Houdini's native file format. It was also his first time simulating something like that so yeah there's probably places to improve efficiency. But we finished it! And then deleted the cache haha

[@AJR3]

@@SirWrender Oh yes, the fun times of getting data between packages to render. I think there are always going to be pros and cons for different formats there that affect either disk space or computation time. Ultimately you pulled it off and had the resources for your solution which is all that really matters! And always exciting to try new things too

[@ChrisVeveReise]

Yo this was an mazing podcast!

[@badxstudio]

Thanks a lot Chris

[@elizap3034]

I relate to the UE5 rant haha

[@3nertia]

Have you guys seen the animated series Pantheon?

[@UgandarTeja]

Interesting Podcast!

[@badxstudio]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@DrErnst]

You always need to be ready to be wrendering! 1:03:05

[@kavikabi9339]

Tim Miller !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guys really ??????????? You can't remember his name ? Im at Malaysia even shouting here his name... Wren you are great as always.

[@noamerzen]

that's an amazing video

[@paulhibbert]

I love Wren so it was difficult to hear someone I really look up to defending KZbin’s algorithm. As a mid-level creator the algorithm is a very different beast than anything he has ever faced as a now very famous creator. He became famous long before the algorithm started killing channels for seemingly no reason. Just ask iJustine what she thinks of KZbin’s algorithm. Every weekend gives me anxiety because it’s release day and I wonder if this week is the week KZbin decides no one needs to see my stuff anymore.

[@Keve.H]

Corridors maskot❤🎉🎉

[@Ilan1000]

Love the shirt Farhad, what brand is it??

[@VeeIsDead]

all I got outta that was, LET'S PLAY was 10 years ago thing, now it doesnt work lol

[@bogeywogey]

hey man, I just found your channel. I think its best place to ask question about 3d modeling. Hi! I'm a CS student working on a final year project called UniGuide, a mobile app to help new students navigate the University of Management and Technology (UMT) campus. Imagine exploring UMT like you would in PUBG, but with detailed building interiors! Students can open the app, choose their location, and get a pre-defined path to their desired department, including its location within the building. The challenge? I'm new to 3D modeling, mapping, and game development. I've been researching for a week but haven't found a clear solution for creating the full 3D UMT campus map. Any advice from the community on how to approach this part of the project would be greatly appreciated!

[@BestEverFoodReviewShow]

Yay wren

[@badxstudio]

Hell yeahhh

[@akashmallik6237]

Please make a course for making video games....😀😀😀

[@dagonzalez1757]

But how did he meet Freedie?

[@sevenstill]

Now thats a collab🤌🤌🤌

[@badxstudio]

You know it ;)

[@xXWillyxWonkaXx]

agree

[@dhayamurugeshvfx2943]

You guys are real gold diggers... digging gold podcast every single time😁😁

[@badxstudio]

Hahahah got us there for a sec :D

[@thelastattempt666]

Was using the AI for that animation considered a "bad decision" too? Just wondering

[@ThatLostGamer]

Full screen contact me once about signing up with them, but I turned them down. I don't see any benefit with doing something like that.

[@prisondude]

Wish was in that role I don't have the skills

[@carlosmarx2380]

there's no way Wren is 36 years old. I always thought he was like 25, or 30 at max

[@SirWrender]

Well, still 35 for now haha

[@optimus6858]

Farhad is turning into a lion 😅

[@badxstudio]

lololol

[@XvirusX]

i think wren should join peter to making games in unreal game develoapment really challenging and i think he whould like that if he learn it becuase you need to resolve so many problams when you make a game and its fun after you resolve problames even knowing that i failed and quit i still loved that more then anything i done but its so hard and i think becuase wren is a genius he will learn it faster then me and will make more challenging stuff then me also

[@GrechStudios]

Wren says that AI will be great for people who make creative decisions, like himself, because AI cannot replace the decision makers. The problem is that in a world where people need to work to make a living, there won’t be creative decision jobs for everyone to participate in. Lots of people work not because they want to do their job, but because they have to. So what happens to society when their non-creative jobs are replaced “en mass” throughout every industry? It seems like jobs will be displaced faster than they can be replaced.

[@insertanynameyouwant5311]

I`m like him in his first days in LA but I don`t have a car

[@kojisan1]

Cool interview, but we really don't need to see you guys reacting the whole time. It's really weird.

[@danish_nabiji1006]

😂 fr

[@codyeasonBGR]

Ya this way you set up your interviews look. Is very difficult to watch. watching you two nod at the same time seems odd. This is better then say a zoom and has taught me a bit about how I would edit this type of content thank you.

[@CheebsCheeby]

No one wants your input.

[@alimohamadpur]

your father listens to Haideh?

[@badxstudio]

Yes :) Everyday

[@PappyVPoodle]

dude is the guy on the left even real???? it looks like farhad is just a slightly delayed opy of the guy on the right. idk

[@Apheleion]

the thing is people don't understand is that vfx works on layers, and these puked up videos give you no layers, so editing an ai video is near impossible or the work is so much more intense that it would just have been easier to make a video from scratch. With your dad playing songs of the deceased singer your are just marionetting a dead corpse.

[@nizeyimanasharif6500]

Bruv you’re talking my life 😅😅copy paste

[@EdLrandom]

17:23 PBD? the financial pyramid scammer?

[@Theorium]

رن پرچمش بالاس

[@MichaKowalczyk]

Yep I agree with some of the comments here. This 3 window setup is super weird. Super distracting watching you guys looking like every 3 sec into camera. It’s cringe af. Make some kind of a setup or overlay with videos going in background.

[@ASDRONEDOC]

I am glad I saw this. But I wanted to hear from Wren, instead of just hearing Faraz going on and on and on and ON. Let the guest speak, man, please.

[@Whosakh]

Womp womp

[@deathseverance]

I loved this episode

[@badxstudio]

We love you

[@Mr.SpicyIce]

The kings of making garbage.

[@gjsauravff7861]

Your Instagram?

[@badxstudio]

Just look for “badxstudio” :)