Watch the replay of the presentation that Head of FX, Fabian Nowak, hosted on the FX of Predator : Badlands at the Houdini HIVE x Houdinimatic Paris event.
Discover how subtle visual effects can have a powerful impact on cinematic storytelling.
In this exclusive conference recording, Fabian Nowak, Head of FX at The Yard, takes viewers behind the scenes of the technical FX work created for the cave fight sequence between the Predator brothers Dek and Kwei. Presented during the inaugural Houdini Hive x Houdinimatic Paris event on June 20 at ISART Digital, this session is packed with practical production insights for FX artists, Houdini users, and VFX professionals.
Following his first presentation at FMX 2026, Fabian revisited and expanded on the techniques and technical set-ups developed by The Yard’s FX team. The presentation demonstrates how carefully crafted, subtle effects can elevate a scene and reinforce its storytelling.
Throughout the session, Fabian breaks down the creation of several key effects, including:
- Plasma sword effects
- Armor interactions
- Sparks and impact effects
- Crystal debris generated by the cave environment
Beyond the artistic decisions, the talk also offers an in-depth look at The Yard’s production pipeline and R&D process. Fabian shares how the team approached:
- Organizing scalable USD hierarchies
- Creating reusable production-ready HDAs
- Developing flexible Houdini setups for complex FX workflows
- Building efficient procedural tools for feature-quality visual effects
Whether you’re a Houdini artist looking to improve your workflow, an FX TD interested in production pipelines, or a VFX professional seeking real-world case studies, this presentation provides valuable insight into how subtle FX work can enhance realism and strengthen visual storytelling.
Watch the full conference recording below and explore the techniques, workflows, and production methodologies behind this sequence from The Yard’s FX team.