Pablo Helman: a master of visual effects in Hollywood

Pablo Helman, born in Buenos Aires in 1959, is a renowned visual effects supervisor who has worked on some of Hollywood’s most iconic films. With a career spanning more than three decades, he has collaborated with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, and George Lucas, revolutionizing the industry with technical innovations in films like The Irishman, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and Wicked. He has been nominated four times for the Academy Award, and his work has left a mark on the evolution of digital cinema.

Beginnings in Argentina

Before entering the world of cinema, Helman had a music career in Argentina. He was the drummer for the band Los Moros, with whom he recorded three albums and earned a gold record. This early artistic experience laid the foundation for his future creativity in the audiovisual field.

Transition to visual effects

In the 1980s, Helman moved to the United States to study composition at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His interest in technology and visual storytelling led him to join the team at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the prestigious visual effects company founded by George Lucas. There, he began working on projects that combined his passion for music and image.

Notable collaboration

Throughout his career, Helman has worked with some of Hollywood’s most influential directors:

• Steven Spielberg: He contributed to films like War of the Worlds (2005) and The Fabelmans (2022), bringing his innovative visual effects vision.
• Martin Scorsese: He collaborated on The Irishman (2019), where he implemented digital de-aging techniques for the main actors, and on Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
• George Lucas: He worked on Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones (2002), a film that earned him his first Oscar nomination.

Nominations and awards

Helman has received four Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects:

• 2003: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
• 2006: War of the Worlds
• 2020: The Irishman
• 2025: Wicked

He also won the Saturn Award for his work on Attack of the Clones.

Technical innovations

In The Irishman, Helman led the development of groundbreaking technology that allowed for digital de-aging of actors like Robert De Niro and Al Pacino without the use of facial markers. This innovation represented a milestone in the visual effects industry, enabling more natural performances from the actors.

Challenges in Wicked

In the film adaptation of the musical Wicked (2024), Helman faced the challenge of recreating the iconic “Defying Gravity” number. Making the protagonist fly in a realistic and novel way required innovative solutions, including the use of blue screens instead of green due to the character’s skin color. Additionally, close collaboration with actress Cynthia Erivo—who performed her own stunts while singing live—added authenticity to the scene.

Recognition at film festivals

In 2024, during the Mar del Plata International Film Festival, Helman was honored with the Silver Astor Award for Lifetime Achievement, recognizing his contributions to cinema and his global impact on the industry.

Reflections on his career

Helman has expressed that his main goal is not to accumulate awards, but to innovate in how stories are told through visual effects. For him, the most important thing is the ability to move audiences and immerse them in worlds that once existed only in the imagination.