Blacksmith
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2015
- Employees
- 11-50
- Offices
- 3
About Blacksmith
Blacksmith is an independent, artist-owned and artist-led visual effects and finishing boutique based in New York, with a West Coast studio in the Los Angeles area. Its work spans commercial advertising, game cinematics, music videos and cinematic promos, combining visual effects, computer-generated imagery and color finishing.
The studio’s capabilities cover both conspicuous visual transformations and effects designed to blend into live-action photography. Its artists handle complex 2D and 3D compositing, beauty work, clean-up, set extensions, digital characters and creatures, simulations and invisible effects. CG production includes modelling, texturing, lighting, look development and animation, allowing the team to develop digital elements through to their integration into finished images.
From production through finishing
Blacksmith supports projects before and during filming through technical previsualization, creative consultation and on-set VFX supervision. These services connect decisions made with directors during production to the effects and finishing work that follows. Its dedicated color department provides grading and mastering for SDR, HDR and projection, while finishing services include high-resolution production and delivery in multiple formats for broadcast and streaming.
The company expanded from its initial focus on 2D and 3D visual effects into dedicated color grading and a bicoastal production operation. Its New York and Los Angeles teams work together on visual effects and color assignments, supporting projects across production and post-production.
Commercial and entertainment work
Blacksmith’s portfolio includes Apple’s “Haystack,” Adidas’s “Hey Jude,” Budweiser’s “Let It Pour,” Zillow’s “Journey” and work for Diablo IV: “Vessel of Hatred.” Other campaigns include projects for Mercedes-Benz, Meta, OpenAI and Liquid I.V., reflecting work across technology, automotive, apparel, entertainment and consumer brands.
The studio collaborates with commercial filmmakers including Martin de Thurah, Kim Gehrig, Rupert Sanders, Derek Cianfrance, Salomon Ligthelm and Jon Watts. Its combination of effects production, shoot supervision, color and delivery supports collaboration with directors and agencies across the development and completion of a campaign.
More about Blacksmith
Founders and leadership
- Founders Charlotte Arnold, Tom Bussell and Iwan Zwarts previously worked together in senior creative leadership at The Mill. Arnold is an executive producer; Bussell and Zwarts are visual effects supervisors and creative directors.
- As of October 2026, the reported leadership team also includes Perry Tate, Head of Production, and Nicole Saccardi, Executive Producer.
- The dedicated color department features resident colorists Terry Simpson and Kevin Ratigan.
Operating approach
The studio describes its production model as agile and artist-driven, emphasizing direct collaboration with directors, creative problem-solving and reduced overhead compared with larger post-production houses.
Recognition
- Blacksmith was named Shots VFX Company of the Year in 2021 and 2023.
- The report records a 2021 AICP Best in Show win for Blacksmith’s work on Zillow’s “Journey.”
Notable credits
30 creditsOffices
Where Blacksmith is based
- 401 Broadway, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10013, United StatesNew York, United States
New York Headquarters
HeadquartersGlobal headquarters and primary visual effects and color post-production suites in Tribeca.
- 8654 Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232, United StatesCulver City, California, United States
Los Angeles Studio
Direct West Coast visual effects and color finishing branch. Los Angeles and Culver City labels refer to the same facility.
- Los Angeles, California, United States
Los Angeles office
Open roles
Find your next role at Blacksmith