BEYOND THE ONIROS FILM AWARDS®
VIP Interview with Val Nabilskiy, writer, producer, director, and VFX artist of the music video ‘My Melody’
by Alice Lussiana Parente
Today, we introduce Val Nabilskiy, the talented director and visual artist behind the music video My Melody. In this interview, we delve into the challenges of post-production and explore how the best visual effects often appear “invisible” to the audience, by seamlessly blending into the scene.
Val Nabilskiy, director of the music video ‘My Melody‘ – valnabilskiy.com
1. What inspired you to pursue filmmaking, and when did you first realize you wanted to become a filmmaker?
I’ve been fascinated by cinema since childhood—always curious about how it’s made and everything connected to it. This genuine passion is what brought me into the film industry.
2. You directed, produced, wrote and curated the VFX for the music video. How was this experience for you?
In my personal projects, I always balance creative and technical work, and this one was especially demanding. Finding new solutions to complete it within a reasonable timeframe was both challenging and exciting. It was a great experience that will definitely come in handy for future projects.
3. In the music video, you recreated stunning historical locations. Can you share what inspired these settings?
Were there any particular eras, architectural styles, or visual influences that played a key role in shaping the look and feel of the video? I’m a huge fan of European medieval culture and architecture, as well as fantasy. When designing the world for this film, I drew inspiration from the architectural gems of France, England, and the Czech Republic—treasures left to us by past generations. I wanted the visual style to feel like an illustration from a fantasy book.
4. What challenges did you face in bringing these historical locations to life on screen?
The biggest challenge was the time it required—there was a lot of intricate work on textures and shapes.
5. I can only imagine the countless hours you dedicated to the post-production of this project, from editing to VFX and final touches. Can you walk us through your creative process during this phase? How do you approach the challenge of bringing your vision to life in post-production, and what techniques or strategies do you use to stay focused and maintain your artistic intent throughout the process?
Yes, you’re right—it was really engaging, though sometimes a bit monotonous. When working on projects of this complexity, planning is essential to have a clear roadmap. That said, it’s important to note that planning doesn’t always work perfectly when it comes to creative decisions and processes. But it definitely helps minimize time wasted. One of the biggest challenges was optimizing the process. It’s no secret that if you want to fully stress your computer, computer graphics will do the job. A major part of the challenge was making sure the whole project could run on just one computer, which influenced some of the visual choices. My previous experience working with different VFX teams was incredibly helpful.
6. Who are the filmmakers that inspire you the most? Are there specific films, storytelling techniques, or visual styles that have influenced your approach to filmmaking?
I’m a huge fan of cinema, and there are so many films that inspire me. For instance, I’m a big fan of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings—it was revolutionary for its time and for the world of cinema as a whole. The visual style and storytelling were fascinating. I also really enjoy all James Cameron’s films. I have a long list of favorite films and directors.
7. How do you stay updated with the latest VFX trends and technologies?
This is where practice comes in. I work a lot as a visual effects artist, and it’s a really exciting field. I’m always keen to learn new tools and discover new ways they can be applied.
8. Can you describe a challenging project you’ve worked on and how you overcame the obstacles?
The most challenging projects are the ones that look like they don’t have any visual effects at all. It’s the hardest kind of work. Experience in photography and cinematography really helps with these types of projects. The best compliment is when the audience doesn’t even notice the visual effects, as if everything was shot in real life.
9. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? And what advice would you give to a young filmmaker?
One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever received is to do what truly interests you. That way, you’ll effortlessly improve your skills and enjoy doing interesting work every day. Honestly, it’s hard to add anything to such great advice.
10. What’s next for you? What current projects are you working on?
I’m currently working on a new short film. We’ve finished shooting, and it’s now in post-production. It’ll be ready to watch very soon.
