For example. A perspective from Keith Adams
As part of our irregular For Example series – which look at how key visual effects artists work with their tools – we talk to vfx supervisor and artist Keith Adams about shooting plates and, for example, lining up perspective. Keith is at SPIN VFX Atlanta.
CVMP bonus fxinsider video – real-time 3D shape modeling
In this bonus video for fxinsider members, we present a seminar given by Olga Sorkine, Assistant Professor of Computer Science at ETH Zurich, at CVMP. Her talk was entitled ‘Really real-time 3D shape modeling and animation’.
By the people and for the people: the VFX of Lincoln
fxguide sits down with Framestore in London to discuss the invisible effects behind Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln. Includes breakdown making of images.
A fractured fairytale: Hansel and Gretel
Behind the flying effects, animatronic enhancements and fun blood and gore of Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters.
Shotgun’s feisty new business model (you’re going to like it!)
Shotgun Software announces new pricing model for its flagship review, approval and asset management and pipeline tools.
R&H Chapter 11 (updated Feb 14)
There are reports from Deadline that R&H will file for bankruptcy protection, with Variety adding that “several buyers reported interested”, but it is not over yet for R&H and nor should it be.
From the Sci-Tech Red Carpet
On Saturday night, the science and tech behind the images on the big screen had its time in front of the camera on the red carpet at The Academy’s Scientific and Technical Awards. We’ve got a gallery from the carpet as well as a recap of all the awards.
BAFTA Film Awards winners
Winners were announced for the EE British Academy Film Awards today, Sunday February 10th, at London’s Royal Opera House.
Back into the danger zone: Top Gun 3D
How Legend3D converted Tony Scott’s seminal 1986 film Top Gun to 3D, plus a look back at the film’s miniature plane and in-camera effects.
16th annual D.I.C.E. Awards
The 16th annual D.I.C.E. Awards have been handed out in Las Vegas, with indie game Journey one of the major winners.
Rendering an engine bot
Behind the scenes of Mikros’ shape-shifting robot for a Total lubricants spot. Includes a befores and afters breakdown video.
Visual Effects Society Winners of 11th Annual VES Awards
Winners and photos from the 11th Annual VES Awards.
VES commercials: crowds and cars by Framestore
Two of the commercials up for nomination tonight at the VES Awards are by Framestore. We take a look at Pepsi’s ‘Crowd Surfing’, featuring some unique crowd animation, and the Nissan Altima ‘Wouldn’t it be cool?’ spot which deconstructs a car.
The best of the Super Bowl spots – part 2
Our second Super Bowl XLVII article goes Gangnam Style with Mirada’s Wonderful Pistachios VFX, Method’s Kia hotbots and more from The Mill.
Sci-Tech Oscars: technical coolness
fxguide goes in-depth with three of this year’s SciTech winning technologies: wavelet turbulence, pose space deformation and PDI/DreamWorks’ Light tool.
VES commercials: Nike Biomorph
We talk to Digital Domain visual effects supervisor Aladino Debert about ‘Biomorph’, a promo spot for Nike’s Flyknit tech that is nominated for a VES Award for both Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial and Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Commercial or Broadcast Program.
Rhythm & Hues reportedly receives $20m cash injection
Industry website The Wrap is reporting that visual effects studio Rhythm & Hues is to receive an ’emergency $20 million capital infusion from three major Hollywood studios in order to keep its doors open through April’, citing three sources with knowledge of the situation.
The best of the Super Bowl spots – part 1
Part 1 of fxguide’s look behind the scenes of the Super Bowl ads looks at work by Method Studios, MPC and The Mill. UPDATED with the Space Babies making of.
Prime Focus London commercials div to go into administration
Prime Focus London’s Commercials division is to be placed into administration, according to a ‘Company Update’ regulatory story posted on the London Stock Exchange’s website, and on Prime Focus London PLC’s corporate site.
New Silhouette v5 Released
We don’t normally publish press releases at fxguide, but the new version of Silhouette V5 deserves a callout. New features like Imagineer-licensed planar tracking, IK rotoscoping, and new shape-baed morphing make this a major release. Click through for full details…
The inside story behind Disney’s Paperman
How 2D and 3D animation styles were merged in the wonderful Oscar-nominated short film Paperman.
A new wave of brilliant invisible effects
A breakdown of face replacements in Chasing Mavericks, house extensions in Hyde Park on Hudson, CG traffic in Banshee and conjoined twins from Maattrraan.
VES Announces the 2013 Board of Directors
The Visual Effects Society announced the 2013 Board of Directors, including the continuation of Jeffrey A. Okun as Chair…
Models and miniatures: a celebration. Special VES coverage
Behind the scenes of the ‘Outstanding Models’ VES Award nominees, plus an fxinsider bonus interview with New Deal Studios on their miniature effects for The Dark Knight Rises.
Octane Render: realtime ray tracing
OTOY has released their Octane high end GPU ray tracing renderer – with farm offline and LIVE rendering about to go into beta. If you want a glimpse into one future for very high end gaming, look at what Octane is doing today.
Working in zero light for Zero Dark Thirty: VFX making of
EXCLUSIVE: How Image Engine dealt with explosions, stealth helicopters and almost ‘zero light’ for the Oscar-nominated ‘Zero Dark Thirty’. Updated with VFX breakapart videos.
Bonus interview – Double Negative’s Paul Franklin
In this bonus interview for fxinsider members, Mike Seymour talks to Double Negative vfx supervisor Paul Franklin. Paul discusses technology at DNeg and how it was used on films such as the BAFTA nominated: The Dark Knight Rises.
How to make a cinema ad 15 million will watch – every month
Behind the scenes of this fully-CG ‘evolution of flight’ Cineplex spot by Dashing Collective. Includes video breakdowns.
Making a musical: Les Miserables
How director Tom Hooper overcame the challenges of bringing Les Miserables and its magical reality to the big screen.
House of Moves: in-house transmedia production
House of Moves has developed a powerful game engine pipeline that is now being used internally on TV spots. This expansion by HOM is both extremely flexible with directors seeing their final imagery much earlier, but assets can move across almost all media, from games to print.