MovieEditor is running a Linux Conference at Siggraph on the 3rd of August. Most of the major studios use Linux, including DreamWorks with more than 1,500 Linux desktops and 3,500 Linux servers. The MovieEditor Conference is an all-day event on computer-based filmmaking in downtown Los Angeles. Studio technology chiefs and other experts discuss ongoing work using Linux in feature animation and visual effects.

Massive software is well known for its epic shots in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but with the release of Massive 2.0 – we asked just how practical is it to use Massive in a ‘normal’ TV Ad spot? In this week’s podcast we talk to A52’s 3D team leader Craig Xray Halperin, about what it took for A52 to go from not even having the software to creating 10,000 agents celebrating two Clydesdale horse teams meeting in St.Louis on the 4th of July.

We test drive the wondertouch Motion plugins and ask the question – will this help unlock some of the potential of Motion? Why isnt Motion more widely used? Are the Wondertouch plugins worth it? And we ask Wondertouch President Alan Lorence how he came up with the new emitters?

In this weeks fxpodcast, we sit down with Marc Petit, Vice President Product Development and Operations. During the interview we discuss NAB, Toxik, the state of the current systems software, his thoughts about Apple’s recent move to Intel, and more.

Known for their work in such films as Flight of the Phoenix and Constantine, Mr & Mrs Smith represents the 17th feature film project for Furious FX. In our first fxPodcast, Mike Seymour chatted with Scott Dougherty and David Lingenfelser about the company’s work on the job. Check out some before and after frames while you listen to the interview. (update: fxPodcast is now live)

We’re excited to announce that DVDs of fxguide LIVE’03 and LIVE’04 are now available for purchase. They can be ordered by clicking here. Each year is two-disc DVD recording of the 3-hour fxguide LIVE seminars done in Las Vegas at NAB, complete with example setups. fxguide LIVE’05 DVDs from this year are currently in production and are planning to be released mid-summer.

What will the Apple Intel deal likely mean for VFX artists? Is this a significant move towards a new work environment or does the type of CPU chip in the Mac not really matter either way these days? – After all Apple is much more of a software company than ever before in its history? We spoke to numerous insiders on and off the record to gather up a take on what this may mean over the next 24 months and beyond, many sources had strong opinions but were ne

The Sunday before NAB started with two fxguide sessions — one for smoke and the other for flame. Immediately after the flame session, the “first” Autodesk User Group Meeting took place and showcased what has been under development for the last year at discreet. In this article, we’ll take a look at what was shown regarding the effects products….

Perhaps the hit of NAB – the Apple booth was packed with people keen to see the new Professional tools launched at the show. We review the releases and talk to Author Damien Allen about Motion 2.