DNEG

Inspired by the Visual Effects Society's global 'Women Who Lead' initiative, our Women in VFX series puts the spotlight on our female superheroes across our global teams, exploring the different paths they’ve taken, the challenges they’ve navigated and the experiences that have influenced their careers.

Scroll to meet Varnica Mathur, Compositing Supervisor!

Women in VFX - Varnica Mathur headshot

Career Journey

Please briefly introduce yourself and share something unique about yourself that you’d like our readers to know about you.

Hey, I'm Varnica! I'm a Compositing Supervisor from India. I started my career in 2008 as a roto artist and have slowly yet steadily climbed the ladder from roto to prep to comp earning brownie points of experience along the way. My profession takes most of my time but whenever I can spare some nuggets, I love to be with family and my dogs, read books and travel domestically as well as internationally - not for the tourist sites, but for birdwatching and exploring the natural features, culture and cuisine!

What originally sparked your interest in VFX, and when did you realize you wanted to pursue it professionally?

I come from a family of creatives. All of them have conventional professions, yet most pursue art of different forms as primary hobbies. My father, even though he is a doctor, was fiddling with 2D animation and trying his hand at 3D Studio Max animation in his free time when I was in primary school and India had not yet stepped into the age of animation. That I would say was the first spark. Special effects-heavy Hollywood and occasional Bollywood films fuelled it. Even though I did not know much about VFX until high school, the concept was never very alien to me. It just needed a bit of deep diving for me to realise my love for it and eventually decide on my path.

Can you pick out a key milestone or event that shaped your career path?

Deciding to join the Compositing team at DNEG in 2013 was a key milestone in shaping my career path. It led to other milestones like being part of multiple Oscar-winning films like Blade Runner 2049, First Man, Dune and Dune: Part 2 in leadership positions - which was a big boost to me personally as well as professionally!

Technical Path

What are the core technical skills that have been essential in your role?

Keeping up to date with developments in the industry and software as well as upskilling regularly is essential. But above all, as a Comp Supervisor, being able to plan, adapt and replan has been a skill which has helped me succeed! No matter how well planned (or not!) a project is, I need to be ready for changes/challenges and build contingencies. I always have a Plan B on the go!

Personal Insights

What challenges (or mistakes) in your career have taught you the most, and how did you navigate them?

Working in the compositing department, which is the tail end of the VFX pipeline, comes with very unique challenges. Along with the challenge of collecting data/layers from all departments and making them look pretty together, we usually have the additional challenge of having to do it all on a tight deadline! Challenging schedules due to delayed dependencies is a regular affair. It has taught me to be more patient and resilient. I am now able to see and tackle these challenges from different perspectives. Most of all it has taught me to let go and understand priorities better. Packed days and rushed worklife makes me frustrated and anxious at times due to my inability to take out time to learn new pipeline updates and processes or testing them out. Thanks to my colleagues and HODs, I get help as soon as I ask; their advice and guidance is priceless! I am a work-in-progress, and I feel assured that I am getting better because of my supportive team.

What has been a defining moment that significantly changed your perspective or career direction?

Stepping into a supervisory role was definitely a defining moment in my career path. It changed my perspective entirely towards the projects and management of the project. I got to see and understand the bigger picture. With every passing project I learn what works and what does not and how to make it better, and I now have the opportunity to try my best to work towards uplifting the compositors in my team. Not only skill-wise, but also to keep them mentally relaxed in all the chaos this department entails. Keeping their schedule as organised as possible so they can deliver the best possible output!

Spotlight

How has compositing evolved throughout your career, and what developments or skills do you think will shape the future of the discipline?

Compositing has evolved tremendously throughout my career. When I started, the compositing team focused primarily on integrating elements and making everything look pretty. Today, Compositors are much more involved in the creative and technical decision-making process from much earlier in production. The shift to high-dynamic-range imagery, deep compositing, and increasingly complex CG environments has transformed compositing into a highly technical discipline that requires a strong understanding of lighting, color, photography, and pipeline workflows. At the same time, Nuke’s software development has significantly improved collaboration between departments. In the future, I believe AI will have an impact on compositing workflows. I don't see AI replacing compositors – the ability to make artistic judgments, understand storytelling, and create seamless, emotionally convincing imagery will remain fundamentally human skills. The compositors who thrive in the future will combine strong artistic fundamentals with technical adaptability. Understanding the basic rules of imagery and visual storytelling will remain essential, while familiarity with AI-supported tools, automation, scripting, and real-time workflows will become increasingly valuable. Ultimately, the role will continue evolving from simply combining images to being a creative problem solver who helps shape the final visual experience.

As a Compositing Supervisor, how do you balance your own creative input with guiding and supporting your team to achieve the director’s vision?

As a Comp Supe, one of my primary responsibilities is to deliver the directors' vision on time and on budget, while keeping the crew motivated. I had to learn fairly early how to translate the creative language of the directors and VFX Supes into compositing, element and process-based language for my team members. That is the toughest part. Once that’s clear, I (with help from my lead) can set upon making basic templates, collecting references, looking at developing hero shots, doing grading tests, searching for elements, etc. I have learnt not to micromanage the shot for the artist. Instead, I try to involve them in contributing to the process. There are no bad ideas. This helps in letting them take ownership of their work and be proud of the output that is liked by the director/VFX Supe.

What is your favourite project you have worked on and why?

The Dune films have been my favourite projects to work on. The clear direction and visibly extensive efforts put in while shooting the film is commendable. These projects use VFX as they are meant to be used - as a support system to tell the story beautifully and realistically. Shoots are mostly done on locations with real time lighting and environments. The workflows and processes do not follow the popular conventional ways, therefore the VFX looks extremely real. Not saying that it becomes easier, but it becomes more rewarding and more realistic. The teams working on these shows were also fantastic and pleasant to work with.

Advice to the Next Generation

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t fret, everything is going to be all right. Don’t be afraid to communicate your mind clearly. There is always help, you just need to reach out. Never say no to learning new things, even if it is related to other departments. It all helps!

What skills turned out to be more important day-to-day than you expected?

Strong communication. Stoic patience. Efficient management.

What technological shift is currently transforming VFX and your role?

I am excited to see how AI is going to support and shape the industry in the future. It has already started helping out with mundane, repetitive tasks which creates more time for creative freedom.

Anything else you would like to share with the next generation of women in the industry?

The Compositing department is at the end of the pipeline and is almost always bottlenecked. To excel in it requires patience, courage and sacrifices. It is extremely important to find the balance between personal and professional life. After all these years, I am still trying to find it. I strongly believe, in the end, it is all going to be worth it. Believe in your abilities, even before you have all the evidence to support them. Don't let self-doubt speak louder than your talent. Be curious, keep learning, and don't be afraid to take up space in the room. Seek out mentors, support other women, and remember that your unique perspective is a strength, not something to conform or apologize for. The industry needs diverse voices, ideas, and leaders, and your contribution matters. To future women in VFX, don't be intimidated by being the only woman in the room. Your creativity, technical expertise, and leadership belong there just as much as anyone else's. Stay curious, trust and value your perspective, and never stop developing your craft. I hope you'll help lead that change.