# Visual effects

Source: https://storiara.com/glossary/visual-effects
Last updated: 2026-09-14
Author: Nick Harty, Storiara

> Visual effects, or VFX, are shots or parts of shots created or changed digitally after filming, including set extensions, green screen composites, screen replacements, wire and rig removal, digital crowds, and CG creatures. During breakdown each VFX need is tagged per scene so the VFX supervisor can count shots, bid them, and plan what must be captured on set.

## Small VFX shots that breakdowns miss

Creature and explosion shots rarely slip through a breakdown. Small fixes like screen replacements and sign removal often do. Reading for VFX means asking, for each scene, "what will we need to change in this image that we can't change with a camera?" Some examples from a contemporary drama with no obvious effects:

| Script moment | VFX need | On-set capture |
|---|---|---|
| Maya reads a text from Joe | phone screen replacement | tracking markers or a green screen on the phone, or a playback app |
| INT. MAYA'S VOLVO - MOVING - NIGHT (stage) | background plates composited in windows | plates shot in prep, LED wall or green screen |
| Cole's gunshot wound | blood hit enhancement | clean plate, reference photos |
| EXT. MAIN STREET, 1994 | remove modern signs, EV chargers | clean plates, notes on what's in frame |
| Ana's roll over the car hood | wire/rig removal if pulled | clean plate without rig |

None of those scripts say "VFX." The [VFX supervisor](https://storiara.com/roles/vfx-supervisor) catches most of them, but only if the [script breakdown](https://storiara.com/glossary/script-breakdown) flags them first.

## From breakdown to shot count

The script breakdown tags VFX at scene level. The VFX team then works shot by shot with the director's [shot list](https://storiara.com/glossary/shot-list) and [storyboards](https://storiara.com/glossary/storyboard), because cost depends on the number of shots and how hard each one is. A single scene tagged "phone screen replacement" might be six shots or one.

A simple VFX breakdown row looks like this:

| Sc. | Description | Type | Est. shots | Capture notes | Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Volvo interior, night drive | window composites | 14 | plates: 3 angles, 20 min each | medium |

Vendors bid against rows like that. The [VFX producer](https://storiara.com/roles/vfx-producer) tracks shot counts against the budget through post, and shot counts usually grow once the edit settles, which is why budgets carry a VFX contingency.

## Practical or digital

Scenes that could use either [special effects](https://storiara.com/glossary/special-effects) or VFX need a decision before the schedule is set. Real rain means rain towers, a water truck, and a wet cast. Digital rain means cleaner shoot days and more post money. The breakdown notes should record the choice so both departments budget correctly. Often the answer is both: practical rain on the actors in the foreground, digital rain in the deep background.

## On set

VFX shots bring their own needs to the call sheet: a VFX supervisor or data wrangler, tracking markers, green or blue screens, lens and camera data, HDRI and reference photos, and clean plates after the take. These take time between takes, so a scene with many VFX shots needs more time per setup than its page count suggests. For budgeting, our post on [VFX and music budgeting](https://storiara.com/blog/vfx-and-music-budgeting-high-impact-line-items) covers how to carry these costs.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a VFX breakdown?

A document, usually built by the VFX supervisor or producer, that lists every scene and shot needing visual effects, what the effect is, estimated shot counts, the on-set capture needed, and a cost estimate or vendor bid. It starts from the script breakdown.

### Do small indie films need a VFX breakdown?

Yes, even if it's a short list. Removing a boom from frame, replacing a phone screen, or painting out a modern sign in a period film are all VFX shots, and they are cheaper to plan for than to discover in the edit.

### What color are visual effects in a script breakdown?

The traditional color scheme predates digital effects and has no fixed color for VFX. Software and productions pick their own. Whatever you choose, keep VFX separate from blue special effects.