Purchase tickets to this event at https://deadlyexposure.ca/
Director, producer and founder of DHFX Studio and Transfigure Films brings over 15 years of industry experience to Toronto for an exclusive masterclass exploring the creative, technical and financial decisions behind cinematic special effects.
VANCOUVER, BC – October 30, 2026 – Vancouver-based filmmaker, director, producer and special effects artist Dallas Harvey will be presenting a two-hour industry masterclass at the 2026 Deadly Exposure Industry Conference, presented by the Blood in the Snow Film Festival in Toronto, Ontario.
Taking place on Saturday, November 21, 2026, from 1:45 PM to 3:45 PM EST, the masterclass, titled “Producers & Directors Working with Practical and CGI FX,” will explore the essential relationship between filmmaking, practical special effects, digital visual effects and the production decisions that bring ambitious cinematic concepts to life.
The session will be held at the Tranzac Club in Toronto as part of Deadly Exposure, Canada's genre film industry conference, which runs November 19–21, bringing together filmmakers, producers, distributors, financiers and industry professionals working across horror, science fiction, thriller and other genre productions.
Bringing Practical and Digital Effects Together
With more than 15 years of experience in film and television, Harvey brings a multidisciplinary perspective to special effects, drawing on his work as a practical FX artist, department head, filmmaker and producer.
The masterclass is designed specifically for emerging and established directors and producers who want to better understand how effects-driven sequences are developed, budgeted, scheduled and executed throughout the filmmaking process.
Rather than approaching practical effects and CGI as competing technologies, the session will examine how the two disciplines can complement one another to achieve stronger cinematic results.
Participants will gain insight into the critical decisions that begin during script development and continue through pre-production, principal photography and post-production.
Topics will include:
Practical FX vs. CGI: Determining which effects should be created physically, digitally or through a hybrid approach.
Budgeting and Scheduling: Understanding how creative FX decisions impact production costs, crew requirements, fabrication timelines and shooting schedules.
Pre-Production Planning: Developing effective FX breakdowns, concepts, storyboards, technical requirements and department workflows.
Working with Actors: Understanding how prosthetics, creature suits, makeup effects and physical effects influence performance, movement and comfort.
Cinematography and Production Design: Planning camera angles, lighting, blocking and environments to maximize the effectiveness of practical and digital illusions.
On-Set Execution: Coordinating directors, cinematographers, special effects teams, makeup departments and VFX supervisors.
Post-Production Integration: Understanding where digital enhancements, compositing, cleanup and CGI can extend practical effects and improve the final image.
A central focus of the presentation will be helping filmmakers recognize that the most effective visual effects are not simply created on set or in post-production, but are developed through informed creative and production decisions long before filming begins.
An Industry Perspective Built on Practical Experience
As the founder of DHFX Studio, Harvey has spent more than a decade and a half designing and creating practical special effects for film and television.
His work encompasses prosthetic makeup, creature and character design, realistic anatomical effects, silicone body duplicates, animatronics, practical blood effects, digital sculpting, 3D scanning and printing, and specialized prop fabrication.
His experience includes work on productions such as The Exorcist, Reapers, 7 Demons and numerous independent horror and science-fiction films.
In addition to his production career, Harvey has a background in professional special effects education, having developed and taught specialized makeup and digital design programs, including instruction at Vancouver's Blanche Macdonald Centre.
Through DHFX Studio, he continues to provide professional training and workshops in practical special effects, prosthetic fabrication, digital sculpting and emerging production technologies.
From Special Effects Artist to Filmmaker
Harvey's transition into writing, directing and producing original genre films has further shaped his approach to visual effects.
As the founder of Transfigure Films, he is developing and producing original horror and science-fiction properties that place practical craftsmanship, cinematic storytelling and production efficiency at the forefront.
His latest directorial project, CUTS, a brutal Halloween slasher short featuring a masked killer clown, has also been named an Official Selection of the 2026 Blood in the Snow Film Festival.
The film will screen in the festival's Dark Visions opening-night program on November 16, 2026, at 7:00 PM EST, just days before Harvey's Deadly Exposure masterclass.
Produced by Transfigure Films with practical special effects by DHFX Studio, CUTS demonstrates Harvey's filmmaking approach, combining physical effects, specialized makeup, atmospheric cinematography and digital post-production techniques.
The short also serves as a proof of concept for a feature-length CUTS project currently in development.
Harvey's previous short film, The Archivists, was also an Official Selection at Blood in the Snow in 2025.
Supporting the Next Generation of Canadian Genre Filmmakers
Now in its ninth year, Deadly Exposure provides a meeting place for Canada's independent genre filmmaking community.
The conference combines industry discussions, professional development, networking and access to established filmmakers, distributors, production companies and financiers.
Harvey's masterclass aims to give directors and producers a practical understanding of how to communicate effectively with FX departments, make informed creative decisions and approach ambitious effects sequences with realistic production expectations.
For independent filmmakers working with limited resources, understanding when to employ practical effects, CGI or a combination of both can significantly influence the quality, cost and efficiency of a production.
Masterclass Information
Event: Deadly Exposure Industry Conference 2026
Presented by: Blood in the Snow Film Festival
Masterclass: Producers & Directors Working with Practical and CGI FX
Presenter: Dallas Harvey – Special FX Artist, Director & Producer
Date: Saturday, November 21, 2026
Time: 1:45 PM – 3:45 PM EST
Location: Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, Ontario
Audience: Directors, producers, filmmakers and film industry professionals
Tickets and Registration: https://deadlyexposure.ca/
About Dallas Harvey
Dallas Harvey is an award-nominated Canadian special effects artist, filmmaker, writer and producer based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
With more than 15 years of experience in the film and television industry, Harvey specializes in practical effects, prosthetics, creature design, anatomical effects, digital fabrication and genre filmmaking.
He is the founder of DHFX Studio, a special effects design and fabrication company, and Transfigure Films, an independent production company focused on original horror, science-fiction and genre entertainment.
His work combines traditional practical effects craftsmanship with contemporary digital technology, while his filmmaking projects focus on developing original genre properties for Canadian and international audiences.
About Deadly Exposure
Presented by the Blood in the Snow Film Festival, Deadly Exposure is a Canadian genre film industry conference focused on professional development, industry networking and the business of independent genre filmmaking.
The 2026 conference takes place November 19–21 at the Tranzac Club in Toronto, offering panels, masterclasses, industry roundtables and opportunities for filmmakers to connect with key figures from Canada's film and television industry.
Official Website: https://deadlyexposure.ca/
Media Inquiries and Interview Requests
Dallas Harvey
Director / Producer / Special Effects Artist
Founder – Transfigure Films & DHFX Studio
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Email: dallasharveyfx@gmail.com
Website: https://www.transfigurefilms.com
Media interviews, professional biographies, behind-the-scenes production photographs and additional information about Dallas Harvey's film and special effects work are available upon request.
