Vine FX exhibits original screen graphics for The Amateur

After losing his fiancée in a London terrorist attack, brilliant CIA cryptographer Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) has his life come crashing down. When his supervisors refuse to take action, his intelligence becomes the ultimate weapon for justice as he embarks on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible.

After a successful call with Disney and the film’s VFX supervisor, the Vine FX team’s concept board – originally designed for a single sequence – quickly evolved into a suite of visual designs spanning into a large-scale effort that shaped the visual language of the film. From there, the team had responsibility for developing the advanced technologies used within The Amateur’s world of modern espionage. From creating dynamic interfaces to designing distinct visual languages, the work highlighted the team’s creative expertise; harnessing screen-graphics as a storytelling tool.

Spearheaded by Head of Graphics and CG Supervisor Tim Kilgour, the project marked the launch of Vine FX’s first dedicated graphics department. “This project wasn’t just about graphics,” said Kilgour. “It was about reimagining how technology is portrayed on screen. We weren’t just creating visuals, we were telling a story through every pixel, every interface.”

Designing the Future of Intelligence Interfaces

At the core of the project, Vine FX’s newly formed graphics department was a fresh blend of creativity and technical skill. Taking conceptual ideas and elevating them, creating screen interfaces that were both aesthetically striking and deeply integrated with the story.

“What started as one sequence expanded to multiple environments and screens,” said Kilgour. “It meant designing distinct visual languages for the CIA, operatives, and tracking systems, all while staying cohesive.”

“Our approach was to make the interfaces feel alive, not just a static screen,” said Kilgour. The design process emphasised dynamic storytelling, using movement, colour, and rhythm to guide the audience through complex narrative beats without overwhelming them. “We designed interfaces that explained the narrative without drawing too much unnecessary attention,” noted Laura Usaite, Managing Director at Vine FX.

Tim Kilgour led the conceptual phase, developing a futuristic yet believable CIA interface inspired by advanced 3D rendering tools, AI systems, and even pop culture references like Knight Rider. “I took inspiration from tools like Houdini,” said Kilgour. “We created a CIA interface that looked advanced but not too futuristic. It was a fine balance of technology and storytelling. What we didn’t want was visible code scrolling up and down, like in the old days of computer graphics. We wanted something seamlessly intuitive, where you didn’t actually see all the workings in the background.” So Kilgour and his team reimagined what these screen graphics could be. “We wanted almost ‘organic’ technological interfaces,”  he explained. “And the director loved the idea of AI working invisibly in the background.”

Graphics That Drive the Story 

The interfaces weren’t just visual flourishes, they became integral to the film’s storytelling by providing context. “Our graphics became a silent narrator, guiding the audience through the story and moving the plot forward” said Usaite. “The graphics had so much screen time they started to feel almost like another character within the storylines’ relationships. They became crucial to explaining the narrative.”

The result of the team’s intuitive, visually distinctive interfaces enabled their work to be featured heavily in the film, its promotional trailers and marketing materials.

A Collaborative Creative Force and Technological Achievement 

Close coordination with ILM ensured the smooth integration of Vine FX’s graphic work into various shots. “We got on like a house on fire with the ILM team,” said Kilgour. “The collaboration was so smooth, it felt like our teams had worked together for years.”

The final graphics were developed through a highly collaborative process. “It wasn’t a single design by me,” said Kilgour. Every artist played a role. “All of them worked together to make it happen, and they all had influence on the design. It wasn’t a top-down approach,” Kilgour emphasized. “Everyone contributed. From junior to senior staff, creative input was encouraged. There was no hierarchy in our creative process and we urged the whole team to bring their ideas forward. I believe this kind of collaboration makes our work richer and some of our best moments came from those contributions.”

Though the technical challenge was immense, the team thrived under pressure. “Each challenge was an opportunity to grow and improve our skills,” said Kilgour. They delivered more than 130 composite shots, multiple unique interfaces for different environments, and rapid iteration to match editorial pacing.

The project required rapid adaptation and precise execution so the graphics and compositing departments worked hand-in-hand to establish seamless integration of the visuals. “We had two departments collaborating internally – graphics and comp,” said Usaite. “So any adjustments needed were just a department over which was brilliant for efficiency, we simply worked internally to get the best results. Our internal adaptability became our greatest strength.” The project demonstrated Vine FX’s ability to handle complex, high-profile feature films and developed a scalable workflow for future graphic design projects.

“We’re not just a team, we’re a learning ecosystem.” added Kilgour. The project also saw the studio implement advanced security and workflow management systems alongside their now full-fledged graphics department.

Setting the Stage for the Future

The successful delivery of this project has paved the way for Vine FX’s future in high-end screen graphics and film. “This was our first major project, and we’ve built something scalable and creatively strong,” Kilgour states.

This project was more than just a technical achievement. The studio established a brand new department, updated its security workflows and stands as a testament to the power of collaboration, creativity, and forward-thinking visual storytelling.