Story-Driven Visual Effects
These VFX projects showcase narrative-focused compositing developed through professional training and real-world productions. Each project emphasizes collaboration, visual clarity, and storytelling, with visual effects designed to integrate seamlessly into the emotional rhythms.
Featured VFX Project
Once Upon A MAMM (2025)
Opening Film — Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon
Once Upon A MAMM is the opening film for the Mighty Asian Moviemaking Marathon, created to celebrate twenty years of community and creative history. Developed under an extremely compressed timeline, the project required a focused and collaborative approach to visual effects.
Shanthini Balasubramanian wrote, directed, and produced the film while also leading the visual effects workflow. Working alongside a small team of compositors from Think Tank Training Centre and external collaborators, the team completed 19 visual effects shots in under two weeks.
Rather than prioritizing spectacle, the work focuses on clarity, pacing, and emotional continuity. While time constraints shaped many creative decisions, the project remains a labor of love built on trust, teamwork, and shared creative commitment.
VFX Leadership & Collaboration
Shanthini Balasubramanian served as Writer, Director, Producer, and Visual Effects Artist, leading the visual effects pipeline from planning through final delivery. She contributed hands-on compositing while coordinating a small team of artists, completing 19 visual effects shots under a compressed timeline. The work prioritized story clarity, continuity, and seamless integration to support the narrative.
The visual effects were completed in collaboration with compositors from Think Tank Training Centre and independent artists, working through clear communication and shared problem-solving under tight deadlines.
Process & Takeaways
Once Upon A MAMM was produced under real-world constraints that required adaptability and fast decision-making. While time limitations shaped the final result, the project reflects a collaborative, story-first approach to visual effects. The experience strengthened Shanthini Balasubramanian’s ability to balance creative leadership with hands-on execution in a team-driven environment.
