Nigerian CG artist and VFX supervisor David Davies has spoken candidly about his journey through Nollywood in a wide-ranging interview with Shade Wesley-Metibogun, touching on the creative demands of major productions, the rise of AI, and his vision for African cinema.
Davies, who specialises in environment creation, lighting, cinematics, look development and real-time production, has contributed to several productions that have reached cinemas and global streaming platforms including Netflix and Prime Video.
His credits span Jagun Jagun, Lisabi 1 and 2, Mikolo, Casa de Novia, Koma, King of Thieves 1 and 2, and Seven Doors, among others. From Jagun Jagun to Lisabi: David Davies on building believable worlds, embracing AI and elevating African cinema.
The projects that pushed him furthest When asked which film challenged him most creatively, Davies pointed to two. On Jagun Jagun, he was responsible for building Ogundiji’s mansion as a digital environment, ensuring it blended with live-action footage so convincingly that audiences would not question its authenticity.
As VFX Supervisor on that project, he led the creation of an entirely new civilisation from scratch, including a recreation of parts of Ijora, Lagos, as they may have appeared in the early 1990s.
He said: “We also built environments that didn’t exist physically. It was one of those projects that constantly challenged my creativity.”
But it was Lisabi that he ultimately identified as the most creatively stretching experience, citing the pressure of designing assets and creatures that felt genuinely believable within the world of the story rather than simply visually impressive.
Davies described artificial intelligence as a tool rather than a threat, comparing it to earlier technological shifts like the move to 3D software and real-time engines. In his view, AI can handle repetitive tasks and free artists to focus on emotional and narrative decisions, though he acknowledged that some roles may evolve as the technology matures
He added: “For me, AI isn’t something to fear. It’s something to understand and use responsibly. The artists who learn how to work alongside it will be in a much stronger position than those who ignore it. At the end of the day, AI can generate images or ideas, but it still takes a human to give those ideas purpose, emotion, and a story worth telling.”
Credit: Legit
