The Point of Truth: A Game-Changer for Creative Problem-Solving

I’m kicking off the New Year with a two-part blog focused on two tools for creative problem-solving in VFX. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your craft, we’ll explore two simple yet powerful concepts that can transform how you approach your work: The Point of Truth and The Entry Point.

These ideas aren’t just theoretical—they’re practical tools that will help you break down challenges, prioritize your efforts, and elevate your work to the next level. In this first newsletter, we’ll dive into the concept of the Point of Truth, a foundational method for diagnosing and fixing problems in your VFX. Then, in the second part, we’ll look at how to find and build on the Entry Point—the unique spark in every piece of work.

Many years ago, when I taught figurative drawing and sculpture, beginner students used a plumb line (a lead weight attached to a string to create a perfect vertical line) to check the alignment between the pit of the neck and the ankles.

If the neck and ankles didn’t line up correctly, you would decide which one was “true” and adjust the other to align with it. No matter how flawed their drawing or sculpture might have been, they could always choose one point they believed was correct, even if everything else was wrong.

Using that one point gave them a solid base for further checks. Eventually, they could expand to more points. But starting with just one was enough to shift from “ARGH, THIS IS TERRIBLE, BUT I DON’T KNOW HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER” to “This looks bad; let me figure out why.”

In VFX, we face a similar challenge: trying to match reality while struggling to identify why something doesn’t look right.

Finding a point of truth can help. A common example in compositing is black levels—what does the color black look like in the shot compared to your VFX addition? Black isn’t always black; it might look grey due to light or smoke. If the black levels between real footage and VFX don’t match, the result will feel off.

Even if you have 99 problems with your VFX, nailing the black levels gives you a starting point. From there:

By breaking things down to a point of truth, you create a manageable, structured approach. Over time, this process becomes second nature. My “plumb line” is now in my head—my eyes automatically check black levels before my brain consciously registers them.

There’s a downside to overanalyzing truth: doubting your gut instinct. In a creative field, your gut is invaluable and grows stronger with experience.

Me: That nose looks too big.

Student: It’s not—I measured it.

Me: Okay, but it still looks too big.

If the nose’s size is accurate but the rest of the head is too small, the nose will appear oversized. Trust your gut to identify what’s off, and u

By now, you should have a good sense of how the Point of Truth can give you clarity and focus when tackling tough VFX challenges. Start practicing it, and you’ll see how it shifts your perspective from overwhelm to actionable steps.

Next time, we’ll explore the Entry Point—a method for finding the one thing that’s working in your creative work and using it as a springboard for improvement. It’s a perfect complement to the Point of Truth and will help you see your work in a whole new light.

Until then, keep creating and trust your process!