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July 16, 2025

Visual effects biz booms in Byron

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‘Stop deep-sea mining before it starts’ – Byron paddle out July 20

Australia’s surfers, swimmers, and ocean community are paddling out for an important cause at Clarkes Beach on Sunday, July 20 from 12pm.

Other News

Motorcycle accident at Koreelah

Around 1.30pm, on Monday, 14 July, a Westpac Rescue Helicopter was tasked by NSW Ambulance to the motorcycle accident at Koreelah.

Missing young surfer found alive on island

Volunteer crews from Marine Rescue Wooli and Coffs Harbour are this morning continuing the search for a missing 19-year-old male surfer off One Tree Trail, on the state’s Mid North Coast.

Tribute to Paul ‘Campo’ Campton as police reappeal for information on the fatal hit-and-run in Bangalow

The Byron Shire Rebels Rugby will pay tribute to  Paul ‘Campo’ Campton this Saturday as they host Casuarina in Bangalow. 

Stadiums, health and extinction on the ballot in Tasmania, as majors race to the bottom

Just over a year since its last state election, Tasmania is about to return to the polls, as the beautiful but troubled island state sinks further into debt and dysfunction.

Curious chimps and nosy kids: new study shows it’s only natural to love drama

What do toddlers and chimpanzees have in common? A deep, unshakable interest in other people’s business.

Right to protest

Mandy’s belief is that a right to protest means little if you can’t disrupt. This attitude is the reason...

Cumulus visual effects crew: clockwise from young recruit Raph Atkins (with bike) are Richard Hall, Philippa Bennett, Mahdi Manar, Sandra Mondange, Alex Pinches, Stan Jones and Simone Fichera. Photo Jeff Dawson

South Golden Beach teen Raph Atkins might be too young to drive, but he’ll soon be walking the red carpet as one of Australia’s youngest visual effects artists to work on Sony Pictures’ soon-to-be-released 3D live-action/CGI animated adventure comedy, Peter Rabbit.

Raph put aside his school books early in 2017 when Cumulus VFX director Will Gammon offered him a full-time traineeship. He hasn’t looked back. Located at Byron Bay’s Habitat, Cumulus is a creative studio boasting some of Australia’s leading visual effects artists.

Raph says, ‘I’m working with incredibly experienced artists at Cumulus, some who are three times my age. And while the deadlines put us under the pump, it sure beats school! I knew relatively nothing about VFX when I started here, but in the last 12 months I’ve worked on a number of great films, including Peter Rabbit, and I’m constantly being challenged to come up with creative solutions.’

Mr Gammon, whose own film credits include Lord of the Rings – Return of the King, Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire, and Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince, is now expanding the Cumulus team with a new intake of full-time trainees.

He says, ‘We have almost 20 staff, including 15 visual effects artists in the studio, and I’m on the lookout for the region’s brightest creative thinkers to grow our team.

Applications

‘Applications for traineeships with Cumulus open on January 15 for a February start. We’re looking for individuals interested in working in the exciting field of visual effects for feature film, virtual reality and to fill technical roles as systems administrators and coding geniuses. Please email a 60-second video demonstrating your passion for this amazing opportunity to [email protected].’


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