vfxblog

Animal Logic's Nicholas Ponzoni on 'Birth of a Spartan' Halo trailer

‘Birth of a Spartan’, an Xbox 360 Halo: Reach trailer directed by Noam Murro for agencytwofifteen, features visual effects by Animal Logic. The trailer follows Carter-259, the future leader of Noble Team, as he undergoes the medical augmentation procedures to become a Spartan III super soldier. Here's my interview about the work with vfx sup. Nicholas Ponzoni at fxguide.com.

SPIN's Jeff Campbell on Legion vfx

In Legion, now out on DVD, the future of mankind rests with the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany) fighting against God's angels of fury. Former effects artist turned director, Scott Stewart, looked to SPIN VFX to help realise 260 shots of digital angel wings, digi-doubles, set extensions and environments. Here's my interview at fxguide with SPIN visual effects supervisor Jeff Campbell about his work for the film.

Modus FX on Dinolab II

For Dinolab II, a Discovery Channel Canada production, Quebec-based Modus FX wrangled several digital dinosaurs to portray the creatures being put through their paces in a stadium-sized laboratory. Modus FX president Marc Bourbonnais talks about the visual effects for the show.

Motion Theory interview on IBM 'Data Baby' spot

In ‘Data Baby', a beautiful spot for IBM directed by Mathew Cullen, Motion Theory visualised a world in which data envelops and surrounds a new-born infant. Part of a series of seven commercials, the spot utilised specially developed C code to give the data a more humanistic feel. Check out my interview at fxguide with visual effects supervisor John Fragomeni and art director Angela Zhu about the work.

Astro Boy vfx supervisor Yan Chen

For Astro Boy, Imagi Animation Studio's 2009 computer animated re-invention of the Osamu Tezuka Japanese manga series first published in 1952, and now on DVD, director David Bowers created a fresh look and feel to the popular boy robot story. Visual effects supervisor Yan Chen talks about creating this new Astro world.

MPC's Richard Stammers on the vfx in Robin Hood

For Robin Hood, director Ridley Scott's take on the classic tale, MPC created hundreds of visual effects of medieval castles, an invading French armada, CG troops and many, many arrows. Here's my interview at fxguide with MPC visual effects supervisor Richard Stammers about his work for the film.

Cutting Edge vfx for Beneath Hill 60

For Beneath Hill 60, the story of a secret group of Australian tunnelers recruited to Germany in the First World War, Cutting Edge completed 120 visual effects shots ranging from matte paintings, smoke and rain enhancements to fully digital explosions. Here's my interview at fxguide with visual effects supervisor Ron Roberts about the film.

VFX supe Mattias Lindahl on Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass, director Matthew Vaughn's take on the graphic novels by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr., tells the story of unlikely superhero Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson). Double Negative oversaw 835 visual effects for the film, ranging from city backdrops to a jet pack flight over New York. Here's my interview with visual effects supervisor Mattias Lindahl about the work.

Weta Digital's Joe Letteri on The Lovely Bones

In The Lovely Bones, now on DVD, director Peter Jackson's taste for the fantastical is seen in the in-between heaven world inhabited by young girl Susie Salmon after she has been murdered. Responsible for realising Jackson's vision for the heavenly sequences was Weta Digital. Visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri spoke with a number of outlets, including vfxblog, about Weta's approach to the film.

Rising Sun Picture's visual effects for Mao's Last Dancer

Bruce Beresford’s Mao’s Last Dancer, the story of a poor Chinese boy’s journey to a top American ballet troupe, features just over 70 visual effects shots from Rising Sun Pictures, including traditional greenscreen composites, a matte painted stage backdrop and crowd replication. In this interview for fxguide, I talk about the seamless work with visual effects supervisor Tim Crosbie.

Digital Domain creates Gears of War 3 trailer - 'Ashes to Ashes'

For 'Ashes to Ashes', a trailer for Epic Games' 2011 Xbox 360 release Gears of War 3, Digital Domain utilised Unreal Engine to give a cinematic glimpse of some of the game's characters and plotlines. Here's my interview with Director Vernon R. Wilbert Jr., also the trailer's visual effects supervisor at fxguide.