MultiHub Forum

I'm a junior VFX artist working on a short film, and I'm trying to deconstruct the incredible, photorealistic creature animation from that recent blockbuster, specifically how they achieved such seamless integration of the CG model with the live-action plates, including the subtle interaction with water and light. I've studied the available breakdown reels, but they often gloss over the technical specifics. For experienced compositors or CG supervisors, what are the most critical but often overlooked steps in the pipeline for achieving that level of realism, particularly in matching lighting and adding authentic imperfections to the digital asset?