Greg Flannagan

From the beginning, Greg Flannagan believed New Zealand could produce visual effects work that stood alongside the world’s best. When he co-founded Cause and FX in Auckland in 2011, the opportunity was not simply to create another post-production studio, but to build one that paired high-end craft with the speed, trust and cohesion of a close creative team.

That model has been tested in some of the industry’s hardest moments. During COVID-19, Greg backed his crew and pursued international work rather than retreating. When the 2023 Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes brought productions to a halt, he used the pause to improve bidding and production workflows, strengthen leadership and accelerate the studio’s AI and pipeline tooling. The rebound was significant, with FY26 becoming the strongest year in the company’s history.

Cause and FX is now one of New Zealand’s largest independent visual effects studio, contributing to major productions including The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Star Trek, Chief of War and Twisted Metal. The studio has also expanded into immersive work for Sphere in Las Vegas, helping diversify its pipeline beyond traditional film and television. Its growth has been underpinned by disciplined operations, secure infrastructure and a purpose-built Takapuna facility capable of supporting global-scale projects.

Greg’s leadership is most visible in the culture he has protected while scaling. He has invested in internal leadership development, built pathways for emerging talent and helped create a team where curiosity, accountability and collaboration shape the daily work. As Cause and FX grows its international footprint, Greg is focused on keeping the studio technically sharp, creatively ambitious and grounded in the people-first approach that helped it earn global trust.