Whether we like it or not, AI is a tool that is revolutionary for filmmakers. De-aging technical processes have now taken to adopting Deepfake methods to accurately recreate the faces of younger versions of actors or place them on doubles. The Hollywood Reporter has now learned that actors Tom Hanks and Robin Wright will be reuniting along with Robert Zemeckis for a new project where they will be de-aged using AI technology.
Deepfakes are controversial content. They allow the artist to use someone’s likeness at their disposal. The agency CAA has recently signed a deal to partner up with the tech firm Metaphysic Live. The program is set to be used in Zemeckis’ planned film titled Here, which is based on a graphic novel that will follows the lives of inhabitants of a single room through many years. To show the passage of age, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright...
Deepfakes are controversial content. They allow the artist to use someone’s likeness at their disposal. The agency CAA has recently signed a deal to partner up with the tech firm Metaphysic Live. The program is set to be used in Zemeckis’ planned film titled Here, which is based on a graphic novel that will follows the lives of inhabitants of a single room through many years. To show the passage of age, Tom Hanks and Robin Wright...
- 1/31/2023
- by EJ Tangonan
- JoBlo.com
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright may look a little younger in the upcoming movie “Here” from director Robert Zemeckis.
The film, which reunites the “Forrest Gump” co-stars after nearly 30 years, will use new hyperrealistic technology, including AI-generated face replacements and de-aging, to allow its stars to tell a story that spans generations. Based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, “Here” takes place in New England — starting as wilderness and later becoming the site of a home — against a tale of love, loss, hope, struggle and legacy.
Miramax is producing the film, which co-stars Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly and will be distributed by Sony Pictures. The upcoming technological advancements stem from a partnership between AI technology firm Metaphysic and Hollywood agency CAA. The pact, which was announced on Tuesday and kicks off with the production of “Here,” was formed to develop new generative AI tools and services for film, television and other areas of entertainment.
The film, which reunites the “Forrest Gump” co-stars after nearly 30 years, will use new hyperrealistic technology, including AI-generated face replacements and de-aging, to allow its stars to tell a story that spans generations. Based on Richard McGuire’s graphic novel, “Here” takes place in New England — starting as wilderness and later becoming the site of a home — against a tale of love, loss, hope, struggle and legacy.
Miramax is producing the film, which co-stars Paul Bettany and Kelly Reilly and will be distributed by Sony Pictures. The upcoming technological advancements stem from a partnership between AI technology firm Metaphysic and Hollywood agency CAA. The pact, which was announced on Tuesday and kicks off with the production of “Here,” was formed to develop new generative AI tools and services for film, television and other areas of entertainment.
- 1/31/2023
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Robert Zemeckis has found the latest technological innovation to add to his digital filmmaking toy box — and he’ll be showing it off with the help of his “Forrest Gump” stars Tom Hanks and Robin Wright.
As announced this morning, Zemeckis will roll back the clock on Hanks and Wright and their co-stars in the Richard McGuire adaptation “Here” thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership with the AI studio Metaphysic. Using a new tool called Metaphysic Live, the creators of “Here” will be able to create high-resolution, photorealistic faceswaps and de-aging effects on top of actors’ performances live and in real-time without the need for further compositing or VFX work.
The technology first caught Zemeckis’ eye via Metaphysic’s 2022 appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” where co-founders Tom Graham and Chris Ume used hyperreal generative AI techniques to create photorealistic avatars of Elvis Presley. Prior to “America’s Got Talent,” Ume made headlines...
As announced this morning, Zemeckis will roll back the clock on Hanks and Wright and their co-stars in the Richard McGuire adaptation “Here” thanks to a first-of-its-kind partnership with the AI studio Metaphysic. Using a new tool called Metaphysic Live, the creators of “Here” will be able to create high-resolution, photorealistic faceswaps and de-aging effects on top of actors’ performances live and in real-time without the need for further compositing or VFX work.
The technology first caught Zemeckis’ eye via Metaphysic’s 2022 appearance on “America’s Got Talent,” where co-founders Tom Graham and Chris Ume used hyperreal generative AI techniques to create photorealistic avatars of Elvis Presley. Prior to “America’s Got Talent,” Ume made headlines...
- 1/31/2023
- by Jim Hemphill
- Indiewire
Tom Hanks and Robin Wright, along with additional cast members, will be de-aged for Robert Zemeckis’ upcoming Miramax movie Here, an adaptation of Richard McGuire’s graphic novel that is set in a single room and follows its inhabitants over many years. This will be accomplished using a new generative AI-driven tool dubbed Metaphysic Live.
On Tuesday, artificial intelligence company Metaphysic, run by Tom Graham, revealed that it has entered into a strategic partnership with CAA to develop generative AI tools and services for talent, though details of the agreement were not revealed. In a statement, Joanna Popper, chief metaverse officer at CAA, said the agency looks forward to working with Metaphysic, as its tech “combined with their ethics-first approach and thought leadership” could “unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond.”
Perhaps most recognized as the talent behind @DeepTomCruise or deepfakes featured on America’s Got Talent, the...
On Tuesday, artificial intelligence company Metaphysic, run by Tom Graham, revealed that it has entered into a strategic partnership with CAA to develop generative AI tools and services for talent, though details of the agreement were not revealed. In a statement, Joanna Popper, chief metaverse officer at CAA, said the agency looks forward to working with Metaphysic, as its tech “combined with their ethics-first approach and thought leadership” could “unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond.”
Perhaps most recognized as the talent behind @DeepTomCruise or deepfakes featured on America’s Got Talent, the...
- 1/31/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Metaphysic, which captured attention in 2022 by using artificial intelligence to create avatars of Elvis Presley on America’s Got Talent, has formed a strategic partnership with CAA to develop generative AI tools and services for global talent.
Formed in 2018, the pioneering company also cracked the zeitgeist with its @DeepTomCruise channel on TikTok.
“Metaphysic are industry leaders in using generative AI and machine learning to create photorealistic
Hollywood-quality content, combined with their ethics-first approach and thought leadership they
unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond,” said Joanna Popper, Chief
Metaverse Officer, CAA. “Artificial intelligence will have a transformative impact on content creation and
intellectual property. CAA has always been at the forefront of new technological frontiers and we are
excited to work with Metaphysic in bringing the most exciting opportunities to our clients and the
industry.”
Metaphysic was named the sole AI provider for Here, the next film from...
Formed in 2018, the pioneering company also cracked the zeitgeist with its @DeepTomCruise channel on TikTok.
“Metaphysic are industry leaders in using generative AI and machine learning to create photorealistic
Hollywood-quality content, combined with their ethics-first approach and thought leadership they
unlock an incredible opportunity for the entertainment industry and beyond,” said Joanna Popper, Chief
Metaverse Officer, CAA. “Artificial intelligence will have a transformative impact on content creation and
intellectual property. CAA has always been at the forefront of new technological frontiers and we are
excited to work with Metaphysic in bringing the most exciting opportunities to our clients and the
industry.”
Metaphysic was named the sole AI provider for Here, the next film from...
- 1/31/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s truly a measure of the pandemic that the 19th annual Ves Awards (to be held virtually on April 6) was dominated by Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” with 13 nominations (topped by photoreal episode). Like the Oscar shortlist, there was an absence of big budget, VFX-intensive studio films. But, truth be told, Season 2 of Jon Favreau’s engaging “Star Wars” bounty hunter series offered the industry’s most innovative tech (wrapped around Industrial Light & Magic’s improved StageCraft virtual production system).
Pixar’s “Soul” was the top animation contender with five nominations, while the feature competition was split between “Project Power,” the Netflix superhero film, Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches” (which streamed on HBO Max), and Disney’s live-action “Mulan” (which streamed on Disney+), each garnering three nominations.
Joining “Project Power” and “The Witches” in the top photoreal feature category were Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” and “The Midnight Sky...
Pixar’s “Soul” was the top animation contender with five nominations, while the feature competition was split between “Project Power,” the Netflix superhero film, Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches” (which streamed on HBO Max), and Disney’s live-action “Mulan” (which streamed on Disney+), each garnering three nominations.
Joining “Project Power” and “The Witches” in the top photoreal feature category were Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” and “The Midnight Sky...
- 3/2/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The nominations for the 19th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards have been announced with “The Mandalorian” and “Soul” leading.
“The Mandalorian” leads with 13 nominations including outstanding visual effects in a photoreal episode. “Soul” was next with five nominations, followed by “The Witches” and “Project Power.”
The Ves awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony and will stream worldwide on April 6.
“Traditions find a way to persist,” said Lisa Cooke, Ves Board Chair. “With vision and a lot of hard work, we are proud to host our annual celebration of the artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world – virtually. We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and engages the audience in new and innovative ways. The Ves Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of all our nominees!
“The Mandalorian” leads with 13 nominations including outstanding visual effects in a photoreal episode. “Soul” was next with five nominations, followed by “The Witches” and “Project Power.”
The Ves awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony and will stream worldwide on April 6.
“Traditions find a way to persist,” said Lisa Cooke, Ves Board Chair. “With vision and a lot of hard work, we are proud to host our annual celebration of the artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world – virtually. We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and engages the audience in new and innovative ways. The Ves Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of all our nominees!
- 3/2/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The Visual Effects Society today announced the nominees for its 19th annual Ves Awards, which recognize VFX artistry in 25 categories spanning film, TV, animation, commercials and video games. Winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, April 6.
Disney+’s The Mandalorian leads all TV shows and films with 13 noms, and Disney/Pixar’s animated Soul tops the film side with five. Project Power and The Witches tied for second among movies with three noms apiece in a decidedly strange year for VFX-heavy projects.
Vying for the Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature prize are Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Midnight Sky, Project Power, Tenet and The Witches. The films up for
Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature are Da 5 Bloods, Extraction, Mank, News of the World and Welcome to Chechnya.
Soul will battle it out for the Visual Effects in an Animated Feature trophy against fellow Pixar pic Onward,...
Disney+’s The Mandalorian leads all TV shows and films with 13 noms, and Disney/Pixar’s animated Soul tops the film side with five. Project Power and The Witches tied for second among movies with three noms apiece in a decidedly strange year for VFX-heavy projects.
Vying for the Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature prize are Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Midnight Sky, Project Power, Tenet and The Witches. The films up for
Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature are Da 5 Bloods, Extraction, Mank, News of the World and Welcome to Chechnya.
Soul will battle it out for the Visual Effects in an Animated Feature trophy against fellow Pixar pic Onward,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Eric Brevig — who received an Academy Award for the VFX on 1991's Total Recall — has joined Deluxe-owned VFX house Method Studios as a senior VFX supervisor and creative director.
Reporting to Erika Burton, Method's executive vp global features VFX, Brevig will also work closely with fellow Method senior VFX supervisor and creative director Kevin Baillie to spearhead the company’s virtual production and real-time VFX workflows. The company maintains bases in Los Angeles; Vancouver; New York; Montreal; Melbourne, Australia; San Francisco; Atlanta; and Pune, India.
Brevig, who also earned Oscar nominations for the VFX on Pearl Harbor ...
Reporting to Erika Burton, Method's executive vp global features VFX, Brevig will also work closely with fellow Method senior VFX supervisor and creative director Kevin Baillie to spearhead the company’s virtual production and real-time VFX workflows. The company maintains bases in Los Angeles; Vancouver; New York; Montreal; Melbourne, Australia; San Francisco; Atlanta; and Pune, India.
Brevig, who also earned Oscar nominations for the VFX on Pearl Harbor ...
Eric Brevig — who received an Academy Award for the VFX on 1991's Total Recall — has joined Deluxe-owned VFX house Method Studios as a senior VFX supervisor and creative director.
Reporting to Erika Burton, Method's executive vp global features VFX, Brevig will also work closely with fellow Method senior VFX supervisor and creative director Kevin Baillie to spearhead the company’s virtual production and real-time VFX workflows. The company maintains bases in Los Angeles; Vancouver; New York; Montreal; Melbourne, Australia; San Francisco; Atlanta; and Pune, India.
Brevig, who also earned Oscar nominations for the VFX on Pearl Harbor ...
Reporting to Erika Burton, Method's executive vp global features VFX, Brevig will also work closely with fellow Method senior VFX supervisor and creative director Kevin Baillie to spearhead the company’s virtual production and real-time VFX workflows. The company maintains bases in Los Angeles; Vancouver; New York; Montreal; Melbourne, Australia; San Francisco; Atlanta; and Pune, India.
Brevig, who also earned Oscar nominations for the VFX on Pearl Harbor ...
The Visual Effects Society announced nominees for the organization’s 17th annual awards on Tuesday.
Leading the way in the film and TV fields, respectively, were Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and Netflix’s “Lost in Space.” Each picked up six nominations. Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” received the most nominations among animated feature contenders with five.
“Ready Player One” also landed five nominations, while “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and “Welcome to Marwen” each earned three. “Christopher Robin” and “First Man” picked up a pair apiece, while “Ant Man and the Wasp” landed one. Those films joined “Avengers: Infinity War” on the Academy’s list of 10 semifinalists for the category, each of which displayed their wares at the organization’s annual Visual Effects Bake-Off on Jan. 5.
Notably, Marvel’s “Black Panther” and Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” — the final two films on the Academy’s bake-off...
Leading the way in the film and TV fields, respectively, were Marvel’s “Avengers: Infinity War” and Netflix’s “Lost in Space.” Each picked up six nominations. Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” received the most nominations among animated feature contenders with five.
“Ready Player One” also landed five nominations, while “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” and “Welcome to Marwen” each earned three. “Christopher Robin” and “First Man” picked up a pair apiece, while “Ant Man and the Wasp” landed one. Those films joined “Avengers: Infinity War” on the Academy’s list of 10 semifinalists for the category, each of which displayed their wares at the organization’s annual Visual Effects Bake-Off on Jan. 5.
Notably, Marvel’s “Black Panther” and Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns” — the final two films on the Academy’s bake-off...
- 1/15/2019
- by Kristopher Tapley
- Variety Film + TV
The Visual Effects Society has revealed nominations for the 17th annual Ves Awards, which will recognize the best VFX artistry and innovation in film, animation, TV, commercials and video games.
Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars and Netflix’s Lost In Space lead the film and TV categories this year with six nominations, respectively. Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 tops the animation field with five noms.
Winners will be announced during a ceremony February 5 at the Beverly Hilton hosted by Patton Oswalt. Also at the gala, the annual Ves Visionary Award will be presented to Westworld‘s Jonathan Nolan, while the Ves Award for Creative Excellence will be presented to Game of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Here are the nominees announced Tuesday in 24 categories:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Daniel DeLeeuw
Jen Underdahl
Kelly Port
Matt Aitken
Daniel Sudick
Christopher Robin
Chris Lawrence...
Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Infinity Wars and Netflix’s Lost In Space lead the film and TV categories this year with six nominations, respectively. Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 tops the animation field with five noms.
Winners will be announced during a ceremony February 5 at the Beverly Hilton hosted by Patton Oswalt. Also at the gala, the annual Ves Visionary Award will be presented to Westworld‘s Jonathan Nolan, while the Ves Award for Creative Excellence will be presented to Game of Thrones masterminds David Benioff and D.B. Weiss.
Here are the nominees announced Tuesday in 24 categories:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature
Avengers: Infinity War
Daniel DeLeeuw
Jen Underdahl
Kelly Port
Matt Aitken
Daniel Sudick
Christopher Robin
Chris Lawrence...
- 1/15/2019
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
While “Avengers: Infinity War” topped the 17th annual Ves Awards (to be held February 5th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel) with six nominations, “Black Panther,” Marvel’s other Oscar frontrunner, was shut out. And Damien Chazelle’s acclaimed “First Man,” another frontrunner, was included in the supporting category as a result of its invisible VFX. Disney’s “Mary Poppins Returns,” meanwhile, was also snubbed.
However, joining “Infinity War” in the top VFX category were a surprising list: “Ready Player One” (with five nominations), “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Christopher Robin” and “Welcome to Marwen.” Joining “First Man” for supporting VFX were “12 Strong,” Bird Box,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Outlaw King”.
In animation, Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” was the big winner with five nominations, followed by Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” with four. They were joined by Illumination’s “The Grinch” and Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs.
However, joining “Infinity War” in the top VFX category were a surprising list: “Ready Player One” (with five nominations), “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Christopher Robin” and “Welcome to Marwen.” Joining “First Man” for supporting VFX were “12 Strong,” Bird Box,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Outlaw King”.
In animation, Pixar’s “Incredibles 2” was the big winner with five nominations, followed by Sony’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” and Disney’s “Ralph Breaks the Internet” with four. They were joined by Illumination’s “The Grinch” and Wes Anderson’s “Isle of Dogs.
- 1/15/2019
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Cinema lives or dies by illusion. To make stories work, movies must take audiences to another place, suspend their disbelief and thrill them. And effects, whether created in-camera or in post-production or a combination of the two, have always been among the tools used by filmmakers to make that happen.
But despite their vital role, visual effects have qualified for a five-slot Oscar category in only the past decade, and films deemed “heavy” on VFX have often found themselves on the outs in the acting and writing categories.
The effects category has evolved over time. In 1963, the special effects award was removed and two categories — one for visual effects and one for sound effects — were created. Then, from 1977 to 1979, a maximum number of five VFX nominees were permitted, though 1979 was the first year to max out nominations. From 1980 to 1995, two or three films could be nommed in the VFX category...
But despite their vital role, visual effects have qualified for a five-slot Oscar category in only the past decade, and films deemed “heavy” on VFX have often found themselves on the outs in the acting and writing categories.
The effects category has evolved over time. In 1963, the special effects award was removed and two categories — one for visual effects and one for sound effects — were created. Then, from 1977 to 1979, a maximum number of five VFX nominees were permitted, though 1979 was the first year to max out nominations. From 1980 to 1995, two or three films could be nommed in the VFX category...
- 1/9/2019
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
Is there room for late entries “Bumblebee,” “Mary Poppins Returns,” “Mortal Engines,” and “Welcome to Marwen” in the Oscar VFX bakeoff on January 5th? We’ll find out Monday when the Academy releases its shortlist of 10 qualifiers.
With the “E.T.”-inspired “Bumblebee,” Laika CEO Travis Knight dove into directing live-action for the first time. But he was acutely aware of the details that go into animated performance, having Industrial Light & Magic channel its energy into stripping down and simplifying the beloved Autobot for his ’80s origin story.
With most of the emotion coming from his big blue eyes when interacting with Hailee Steinfeld, Bee achieves a nuanced performance. The biggest challenge for Ilm, though, was turning the simplified G1 designs into realistic-looking characters, using cutting edge tech to achieve the vintage looks.
Rob Marshall’s “Mary Poppins Returns” offers live-action/CG convergence at its cutting-edge best. The director was...
With the “E.T.”-inspired “Bumblebee,” Laika CEO Travis Knight dove into directing live-action for the first time. But he was acutely aware of the details that go into animated performance, having Industrial Light & Magic channel its energy into stripping down and simplifying the beloved Autobot for his ’80s origin story.
With most of the emotion coming from his big blue eyes when interacting with Hailee Steinfeld, Bee achieves a nuanced performance. The biggest challenge for Ilm, though, was turning the simplified G1 designs into realistic-looking characters, using cutting edge tech to achieve the vintage looks.
Rob Marshall’s “Mary Poppins Returns” offers live-action/CG convergence at its cutting-edge best. The director was...
- 12/14/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Deluxe has signed an agreement to acquire visual effects company Atomic Fiction, which has studios in Montreal and San Francisco.
The company will join Method Studios, Deluxe’s vfx brand, as part of a strategy to deepen the company’s talent base and capacity to take on the biggest and most challenging visual effects projects for features, episodic TV, advertising and brands.
Founded in 2010 by Kevin Baillie and Ryan Tudhope, Atomic Fiction has collaborated with director Robert Zemeckis on a number of projects, including “The Walk,” Allied” and the upcoming “Welcome to Marwen.”
The company also worked on the Oscar-winning effects of “Blade Runner 2049” (pictured); on Paramount’s “Star Trek Beyond”; Fox’s “Deadpool”; HBO’s “Games of Thrones”; and season 3 of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve always felt that it’s important to surround myself with the best of the best in their craft,...
The company will join Method Studios, Deluxe’s vfx brand, as part of a strategy to deepen the company’s talent base and capacity to take on the biggest and most challenging visual effects projects for features, episodic TV, advertising and brands.
Founded in 2010 by Kevin Baillie and Ryan Tudhope, Atomic Fiction has collaborated with director Robert Zemeckis on a number of projects, including “The Walk,” Allied” and the upcoming “Welcome to Marwen.”
The company also worked on the Oscar-winning effects of “Blade Runner 2049” (pictured); on Paramount’s “Star Trek Beyond”; Fox’s “Deadpool”; HBO’s “Games of Thrones”; and season 3 of Netflix’s “Stranger Things.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve always felt that it’s important to surround myself with the best of the best in their craft,...
- 7/26/2018
- by Peter Caranicas
- Variety Film + TV
"The Walk," which recreates Philippe Petit's amazing high-wire act across the World Trade Center Twin Towers in 1974, has been shortlisted for the VFX Oscar. And on Tuesday it was the subject of a special case study on virtual production held at Sony for a joint tech committee comprised of the Asc, Adg, Ves, the Previs Society, the PGA and the Icg. Indeed, final 28-minute balancing act over New York City was a virtual production wonder, overseen by VFX supervisor Kevin Baillie of Atomic Fiction, who has collaborated with Robert Zemeckis since his pioneering performance capture crusade. Read More: "Nyff Opens with Thrilling 'The Walk' in Spectacular 3D" In fact, Zemeckis’ original intention was to make "The Walk" as a performance-captured animated feature. But that was before Disney closed down his ImageMovers studio. However, he still got Petit to don the mo-cap suit and virtually pantomime his legendary high-wire balancing act as part of an.
- 12/17/2015
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
This story originally appeared in The Race Begins issue of TheWrap’s Oscar magazine. Robert Zemeckis‘ dazzling 3D IMAX drama “The Walk” looks as if it easily cost nine figures, but the film’s visual effects supervisor swears it was nothing of the sort. “We made this film for $35 million in 43 days,” said Kevin Baillie of the vertigo-inducing movie, which re-creates high-wire artist Philippe Petit’s 1974 walk between the World Trade Center buildings (and hopes to rebottle the Oscar lightning that struck the 2008 Petit Man On Wire.” “How did they come so far so frugally without falling on their faces?...
- 12/8/2015
- by Tim Appelo
- The Wrap
For visual effects wizards Kevin Baillie and Camille Cellucci working on "The Walk" was one of the toughest but most rewarding challenges of their long careers. As they explain in our webcam chat (watch below), convincing audiences that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was walking on a tight-rope stretched across the twin towers of the World Trade Center took a combination of training, practical effects, and CGI slight of hand. -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions “Joe learned to walk the wire himself,” says Baillie. “He trained for eight days before the shoot with Philippe Petit himself, who actually has the wire he strung across the twin towers still up in his front yard: he walks it everyday, even though he’s in his mid-sixties.” This gave Levitt the confidence to actually walk the wire for a lot of the shoot, but not all of it. “For...
- 11/10/2015
- Gold Derby
For visual effects wizards Kevin Baillie and Camille Cellucci working on "The Walk" was one of the toughest but most rewarding challenges of their long careers. As they explain in our webcam chat (watch below), convincing audiences that Joseph Gordon-Levitt was walking on a tight-rope stretched across the twin towers of the World Trade Center took a combination of training, practical effects, and CGI slight of hand. -Break- Subscribe to Gold Derby Breaking News Alerts & Experts’ Latest Oscar Predictions “Joe learned to walk the wire himself,” says Baillie. “He trained for eight days before the shoot with Philippe Petit himself, who actually has the wire he strung across the twin towers still up in his front yard: he walks it everyday, even though he’s in his mid-sixties.” This gave Levitt the confidence to actually walk the wire for a lot of the shoot, but not all of it. “For...
- 11/10/2015
- Gold Derby
You might think that James Marsh’s Oscar-winning 2008 documentary Man on Wire was the last word on Philippe Petit’s unforgettable walk between the towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. The Walk proves otherwise. Filmmaker Robert Zemeckis wanted to dramatize what could only be talked about, inferred or glimpsed in the non-fiction movie. With the help of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, cinematographer Dariusz Wolski, production designer Naomi Shohan, and visual effects supervisor Kevin Baillie, he’s created an amazing film that makes dazzling use of cinematic storytelling and deserves to be seen in 3-D. The casting of Gordon-Levitt was inspired, not just because he speaks fluent French...
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[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]...
- 10/8/2015
- by Leonard Maltin
- Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy
The California-based effects studio has opened its flagship facility in Montreal.
The first project to go at the Montreal hub is The Walk, based on the story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit that Robert Zemeckis co-wrote, co-directs and co-produces.
“We are excited to be building upon Atomic Fiction’s growth, and evaluated several possibilities for this expansion,” said Atomic Fiction co-founder Kevin Baillie. “There is an incredible talent base of VFX artists in Montreal, which makes it an ideal place to put down roots.”
Baillie said Atomic Fiction has committed to a six-year lease on a customised 15,000 sq ft space.
Atomic Fiction is headquartered in Oakland and is best known for effects work on movies such as Star Trek Into Darkness, Transformers Age Of Extinction and Flight, among others.
“Since our inception, we’ve centralised all of our render farms and core computing power in the cloud, which allowed us to ramp up very quickly in Montreal...
The first project to go at the Montreal hub is The Walk, based on the story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit that Robert Zemeckis co-wrote, co-directs and co-produces.
“We are excited to be building upon Atomic Fiction’s growth, and evaluated several possibilities for this expansion,” said Atomic Fiction co-founder Kevin Baillie. “There is an incredible talent base of VFX artists in Montreal, which makes it an ideal place to put down roots.”
Baillie said Atomic Fiction has committed to a six-year lease on a customised 15,000 sq ft space.
Atomic Fiction is headquartered in Oakland and is best known for effects work on movies such as Star Trek Into Darkness, Transformers Age Of Extinction and Flight, among others.
“Since our inception, we’ve centralised all of our render farms and core computing power in the cloud, which allowed us to ramp up very quickly in Montreal...
- 9/25/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
In his review of the film Flight, The Observer.s Phillip French describes the scene in which Denzel Washington.s plane goes down as .worth the admission price in itself..
Other reviewers such as Ed Gibbs from the Age have echoed French.s praise, with Gibbs writing .Breathtaking scenes on board the doomed jet defy expectation, raising the bar beyond even Zemeckis's own Cast Away for sheer believability and terror..
Chris Tookey from the Daily Mail, who only gave the feature two stars, was also in awe for the crash, stating, .Robert Zemeckis.s Flight is at its best with the opening, super-realistic air crash, which will have you gripping the arm-rests..
So, whether you liked the film or not, it seems everyone is giving Flight.s half-an-hour crash sequence two thumbs up..
Enter Kevin Baillie from Atomic Fiction, whose VFX work on the film ranged from .placing sky and...
Other reviewers such as Ed Gibbs from the Age have echoed French.s praise, with Gibbs writing .Breathtaking scenes on board the doomed jet defy expectation, raising the bar beyond even Zemeckis's own Cast Away for sheer believability and terror..
Chris Tookey from the Daily Mail, who only gave the feature two stars, was also in awe for the crash, stating, .Robert Zemeckis.s Flight is at its best with the opening, super-realistic air crash, which will have you gripping the arm-rests..
So, whether you liked the film or not, it seems everyone is giving Flight.s half-an-hour crash sequence two thumbs up..
Enter Kevin Baillie from Atomic Fiction, whose VFX work on the film ranged from .placing sky and...
- 6/21/2013
- by Emily Blatchford
- IF.com.au
The Visual Effects Society has announced the nominees for their 11th Annual Ves Awards. From film to animation to television to commercials and video games, the Ves Awards honor the outstanding visual effects artistry.
"Life of Pi's" Ang Lee will be honored with the Visionary Award. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 5, at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's the complete list of nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Joe Letteri
Eileen Moran
Eric Saindon
Kevin L. Sherwood
Prometheus
Paul Butterworth
Charley Henley
Allen Maris
Richard Stammers
Life of Pi
Thomas Fisher
Susan Macleod
Guillaume Rocheron
Bill Westenhofer
The Avengers
Susan Pickett
Janek Sirrs
Jeff White
Guy Williams
Battleship
Grady Cofer
Pablo Helman
Jeanie King
Glen Mcintosh
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Rust and Bone
Béatrice Bauwens...
"Life of Pi's" Ang Lee will be honored with the Visionary Award. Winners will be announced on Tuesday, February 5, at the Beverly Hilton.
Here's the complete list of nominees; for winners/nominees of other award-giving bodies, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Joe Letteri
Eileen Moran
Eric Saindon
Kevin L. Sherwood
Prometheus
Paul Butterworth
Charley Henley
Allen Maris
Richard Stammers
Life of Pi
Thomas Fisher
Susan Macleod
Guillaume Rocheron
Bill Westenhofer
The Avengers
Susan Pickett
Janek Sirrs
Jeff White
Guy Williams
Battleship
Grady Cofer
Pablo Helman
Jeanie King
Glen Mcintosh
Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Feature Motion Picture
Rust and Bone
Béatrice Bauwens...
- 1/8/2013
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Fuel VFX has received two award nominations from the Visual Effects Society.
The.peer-voted accolade for the company's work on Ridley Scott.s Prometheus follows the near-collapse of the VFX house, which was saved in October 2012 when Animal Logic acquired its assets.
Fuel co-founder Paul Butterworth was nominated for .Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. for Prometheus (alongside non-Fuel nominations Charley Henley, Allen Maris and Richard Stammers).
The Fuel team of Xavier Bourque, Sam Cole, Simone Riginell and Denis Scolan - representing the hard work of all 16 compositors who worked on the film at the company - were nominated for Prometheus (Engineers & the Orrery) in the "Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture" category.
Fuel has also provided effects on a number of Marvel films including Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Fuel continues to run from its Newtown, Sydney-based offices where Animal Logic...
The.peer-voted accolade for the company's work on Ridley Scott.s Prometheus follows the near-collapse of the VFX house, which was saved in October 2012 when Animal Logic acquired its assets.
Fuel co-founder Paul Butterworth was nominated for .Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture. for Prometheus (alongside non-Fuel nominations Charley Henley, Allen Maris and Richard Stammers).
The Fuel team of Xavier Bourque, Sam Cole, Simone Riginell and Denis Scolan - representing the hard work of all 16 compositors who worked on the film at the company - were nominated for Prometheus (Engineers & the Orrery) in the "Outstanding Compositing in a Feature Motion Picture" category.
Fuel has also provided effects on a number of Marvel films including Thor and Captain America: The First Avenger. Fuel continues to run from its Newtown, Sydney-based offices where Animal Logic...
- 1/8/2013
- by Brendan Swift
- IF.com.au
David O. Russell's "Silver Linings Playbook" danced atop the 17th Annual Satellite Awards winning Best Picture, Editing, Director, Actor (Bradley Cooper), and Actress (Jennifer Lawrence). In the supporting acting categories, Anne Hathaway took home the Best Supporting Actress award for "Les Miserables," while Javier Bardem won Best Supporting Actor for playing the big bad in "Skyfall."
Winners were announced Sunday, Dec. 16, at the InterContinental Hotel at Century City in Los Angeles.
Here's the complete winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 17th Annual Satellite Awards (for a complete list of Awards Season winners/nominees, click here):
Motion Picture
Argo .
*** Silver Linings Playbook
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Les MISÉRABLES
Skyfall
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Lincoln Dreamworks/Touchstone
Life Of Pi
Zero Dark Thirty
Director
*** David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook
Ben Affleck -- Argo
Kim Ki-duk -- Pieta Drafthouse Films
Ben Lewin -- The Sessions
Steven Spielberg --...
Winners were announced Sunday, Dec. 16, at the InterContinental Hotel at Century City in Los Angeles.
Here's the complete winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 17th Annual Satellite Awards (for a complete list of Awards Season winners/nominees, click here):
Motion Picture
Argo .
*** Silver Linings Playbook
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Les MISÉRABLES
Skyfall
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Lincoln Dreamworks/Touchstone
Life Of Pi
Zero Dark Thirty
Director
*** David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook
Ben Affleck -- Argo
Kim Ki-duk -- Pieta Drafthouse Films
Ben Lewin -- The Sessions
Steven Spielberg --...
- 12/17/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The International Press Academy has announced the nominees of the 17th Annual Satellite Awards. "Les Miserables" led the pack with 10 nominations including Best Picture.
Winners will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the InterContinental at Century City in Los Angeles.
17th Annual Satellite Awards Nominees:
Motion Picture
Argo .
Silver Linings Playbook
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Les MISÉRABLES
Skyfall
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Lincoln Dreamworks/Touchstone
Life Of Pi
Zero Dark Thirty
Director
David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook
Ben Affleck -- Argo
Kim Ki-duk -- Pieta Drafthouse Films
Ben Lewin -- The Sessions
Steven Spielberg -- Lincoln
Kathryn Bigelow -- Zero Dark Thirty
Actress in a Motion Picture Name
Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook
Emilie Dequenne Our Children
Keira Knightley Anna Karenina
Emmanuelle Riva Amour
Laura Birn Purge
Laura Linney Hyde Park On Hudson
Jessica Chastain Zero Dark Thirty
Actor in a Motion Picture
John Hawkes The Sessions...
Winners will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 16 at the InterContinental at Century City in Los Angeles.
17th Annual Satellite Awards Nominees:
Motion Picture
Argo .
Silver Linings Playbook
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Les MISÉRABLES
Skyfall
Moonrise Kingdom
The Sessions
Lincoln Dreamworks/Touchstone
Life Of Pi
Zero Dark Thirty
Director
David O. Russell -- Silver Linings Playbook
Ben Affleck -- Argo
Kim Ki-duk -- Pieta Drafthouse Films
Ben Lewin -- The Sessions
Steven Spielberg -- Lincoln
Kathryn Bigelow -- Zero Dark Thirty
Actress in a Motion Picture Name
Jennifer Lawrence Silver Linings Playbook
Emilie Dequenne Our Children
Keira Knightley Anna Karenina
Emmanuelle Riva Amour
Laura Birn Purge
Laura Linney Hyde Park On Hudson
Jessica Chastain Zero Dark Thirty
Actor in a Motion Picture
John Hawkes The Sessions...
- 12/3/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
Paramount Pictures. dramatic thriller Flight, stars Denzel Washington as Captain Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot who miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. Afterwards, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on that plane. Flight tells a harrowing story about one man.s amazing, heroic feat and how, in the process of defending himself, he discovers his true grace and valor.
The film stars Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Geraghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, and James Badge Dale.
Flight presents the first pairing of Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and director Robert Zemeckis, who marks his return to live-action dramatic storytelling after years of success on the forefront of directing and producing movies utilizing motion capture technology.
The film stars Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Geraghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, and James Badge Dale.
Flight presents the first pairing of Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and director Robert Zemeckis, who marks his return to live-action dramatic storytelling after years of success on the forefront of directing and producing movies utilizing motion capture technology.
- 11/10/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
I really need to get to work on my Oscar predictions in the technical categories and I'm sure in the process of doing so I'll have to figure out just where exactly Robert Zemeckis' Flight will land. While I wasn't a huge fan of the film overall, I won't deny the opening 30 minutes or so are excellent and the moments in the plane with Denzel Washington in the pilot's seat are some of the most harrowing minutes in a film this year. Today the SoundWorks Collection has released a new video taking a look at the sound team on the film including Randy Thom (Supervising Sound Editor & Sound Designer) and Dennis Leonard (Supervising Sound Editor & Sound Designer) and I've also got a visual effects breakdown of the crash sequence featuring Visual Effects Supervisor, Kevin Baillie from Atomic Fiction. Thom and Leonard have worked with Zemeckis in the past including...
- 11/7/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Wamg recently attended the Flight press conference held at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. The great thing about press conferences is that you really get a nice glimpse into the creative effort that goes into any given film. For Flight, we got to hear director Robert Zemeckis, screenwriter John Gatins, star Denzel Washington, and other cast members talk about their various approaches and experiences with Flight.
For Zemeckis, Flight marks the return to live-action filmmaking. The innovative director has spent the past decade directing and producing films that utilize motion capture technology and indeed Zemeckis has long been on the forefront of special and visual effects technology in films. However, strong characters with compelling emotional journeys anchor all of his films, including Flight.
Gatins extensively researched real-life air disasters. At that time, the legendary Us Airways .Miracle on the Hudson. river landing accomplished by heroic pilot Sully Sullenberger, was still ten years away.
For Zemeckis, Flight marks the return to live-action filmmaking. The innovative director has spent the past decade directing and producing films that utilize motion capture technology and indeed Zemeckis has long been on the forefront of special and visual effects technology in films. However, strong characters with compelling emotional journeys anchor all of his films, including Flight.
Gatins extensively researched real-life air disasters. At that time, the legendary Us Airways .Miracle on the Hudson. river landing accomplished by heroic pilot Sully Sullenberger, was still ten years away.
- 11/1/2012
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Paramount Pictures. dramatic thriller Flight, stars Denzel Washington as Captain Whitaker, a seasoned airline pilot who miraculously crash lands his plane after a mid-air catastrophe, saving nearly every soul on board. Afterwards, Whip is hailed as a hero, but as more is learned, more questions than answers arise as to who or what was really at fault and what really happened on that plane. Flight tells a harrowing story about one man.s amazing, heroic feat and how, in the process of defending himself, he discovers his true grace and valor.
The film stars Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Geraghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, and James Badge Dale.
Flight presents the first pairing of Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and director Robert Zemeckis, who marks his return to live-action dramatic storytelling after years of success on the forefront of directing and producing movies utilizing motion capture technology.
The film stars Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle, Kelly Reilly, John Goodman, Bruce Greenwood, Melissa Leo, Brian Geraghty, Tamara Tunie, Nadine Velazquez, and James Badge Dale.
Flight presents the first pairing of Academy Award® winners Denzel Washington and director Robert Zemeckis, who marks his return to live-action dramatic storytelling after years of success on the forefront of directing and producing movies utilizing motion capture technology.
- 10/24/2012
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
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