Honoring the Academy® Award winning and nominated films, VFX artists, Cinematography, SciTech achievements, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Animation, Film Editing and Documentary each year. | | | |
Art of the Edit
Luma Pictures Takes On The Avengers
Luma Pictures took on another Marvel superhero production - The Avengers. Luma completed nearly 200 shots, focusing on creating the interior of the Helicarrier by digitally extending and enhancing a practical set. The company also reprised its role in creating Thor's supernatural armor.
Feature
Debra Kaufman |
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Cinematography
Where Digital Meets Stop-Motion in ParaNorman
The stereo 3D stop-motion animated feature ParaNorman from Laika puts the emphasis on handcrafted puppets and details. But digital plays an important, behind-the-scenes role, not just in painting out rigs but in creating ghosts, dramatic, witch-filled skies, crowds and set extensions. Laika's visual effects supervisor Brian Van't Hul, compositing supervisor Steve Emerson and CG/look dev supervisor Andrew Nawrot talk about the creation and integration of the digital with the real in ParaNorman. (Potential minor spoilers in the article)
Editorial
Debra Kaufman |
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Art of the Edit
Argo's Invisible Effects Create 1970s Tehran
Argo tells the recently declassified true story of six Americans who escaped the 1979 takeover of the US Embassy in Tehran -- by pretending to be filmmakers! With Argo's filmmakers unable to shoot in Iran, audiences travel there through the "invisible effects" created by Method Los Angeles, whose teams provided compelling illusions that serve as the perfect backdrop for this tale of life and death sleight of hand.
Feature
Debra Kaufman |
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Cinematography
Hitchcock: Behind the Lens with Jeff Cronenweth, ASC
Psycho still retains its shock value, and the new movie Hitchcock, directed by Sacha Gervasi (Anvil!) and starring Anthony Hopkins as the iconic filmmaker and Helen Mirren as his wife Alma Reville, makes it quite plain how this horror-suspense film became an icon. Set during the filming of Psycho, Hitchcock features the artistry of cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth, ASC, who references the mid-century era with a Technicolor-inflected look and captures an intimate view of Hitchcock’s personal life.
Feature, People / Interview
Jeff Cronenweth, ASC |
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Cinematography
Skyfall: Dailies & DI from London to California
To ensure color consistency from dailies to DI for Skyfall, Company 3 London and EFILM collaborated to create an integrated pipeline, newly branded EC3. Skyfall cinematographer Roger Deakins, ASC, BSC was able to enjoy dailies graded by his long-time CO3 Santa Monica colorist working out of London, and the two facilities coordinated color science and calibration for an overall consistent look throughout the process.
Feature
Debra Kaufman |
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Digital Delivery
Zero Dark Thirty’s Pipeline Partners Digilab and Codex
London-based workflow provider Digilab and manufacturer Codex teamed up to create a rock-solid pipeline for Zero Dark Thirty, which shot in rugged conditions on location in India and Jordan. Digilab's James Eggleton and Codex's Marc Dando describe how they created a custom pipeline to meet the production's needs.
Editorial, Feature
Debra Kaufman |
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Art of the Edit
Unique VFX Challenges for Live One-take Shooting on Les Miz
Les Misérables, based on Victor Hugo's novel of crime and redemption in 19th Century France, has been a huge hit in theatres. Though it's gained acclaim for director Tom Hooper's technique of one-take shots of actors singing the songs, digital visual effects have provided many key elements. Les Miz represents a unique combination of in-camera effects, 2D and 3D compositing, adding elements, removing elements -- and not a single green screen shot.
Editorial, Feature
Debra Kaufman |
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Stereoscopic 3D
Tim Squyres Edits Life of Pi
Tim Squyres, who was nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Life of Pi, got hooked on film when he took an introductory film course at Cornell University in upstate New York. Squyres talks to Creative COW about the challenges of editing Ang Lee's first digitally shot feature film, which was also a stereoscopic 3D release.
Feature, People / Interview
Tim Squyres |
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Film History & Appreciation
Bill Taylor, ASC Commended with the John A. Bonner Medal
VFX pioneer Bill Taylor, ASC has been voted to receive the John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation by the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which was presented at the 2013 Scientific and Technical Awards. Inspired by Ray Harryhausen and some of the greatest icons of effects history, Bill has achieved feats of his own. We had the opportunity to speak with him about his luminary career.
Feature, People / Interview
Bill Taylor, ASC |
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Cinematography
NO Relies On 1980s Cameras To Tell A Historic Tale
Nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film after having played Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival and the Telluride Film Festival, NO is a gripping film about the peaceful overthrow of Chilean strong man General Augusto Pinochet. To make it more intriguing, the filmmakers opted to shoot with Ikegami cameras from 1983, to match existing footage from the era. It's not a decision they took lightly, and their calculations paid off.
Feature, People / Interview
Debra Kaufman |
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Cinematography
Claudio Miranda, ASC Makes New Rules for Shooting Life of Pi
When director Ang Lee brought on cinematographer Claudio Miranda, ASC to shoot Life of Pi, the two were faced with a multi-pronged challenge. For Lee, the movie was to be his first shot digitally as well as his first 3D stereoscopic film, and he relied on Miranda, who had experience in both. But Miranda had other challenges, including shooting the movie's extensive water scenes as well as a key character -- the tiger -- who wasn't there. In this article, Miranda explains how he made it all work, to create what is arguably the year's most gorgeous movie.
Feature, People / Interview
Claudio Miranda, ASC |
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Indie Film & Documentary
Mondays at Racine Documents Beauty Salon for Cancer Fighters
Filmmaker Cynthia Wade - who previously won an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject for Freeheld - has recently finished Mondays at Racine, a moving piece about two sisters who open up their beauty salon every Monday to cater to breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Focusing on two characters, the film delves deeply into the emotional lives of the women and how the salon, Racine, serves as a place of nurturing and companionship.
Feature, People / Interview
Debra Kaufman |
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