The Academy Tackles Storytelling in the Digital Age


Tech and storytelling converged during a fascinating series of discussions at the Academy on May 15 about Zero Dark Thirty, Argo, and Star Trek Into Darkness, hosted by screenwriter John August. After showing a funny collage of clips about ditching cell phones and

Chris Wedge Gets Epic


Epic is not only Blue Sky's best movie but also director Chris Wedge's most personal, too: a swashbuckling, samurai action/adventure that takes place in a lush, microscopic forest world. It beautifully translates N.C. Wyeth for Alice in Wonderland meets The Adventures

Full Trailering of Planes


The official Planes trailer has taken flight, highlighted by Mark Mancina's majestic score, accentuating the connection to Cars. There's bonding between cars and planes before Dusty the wily crop duster (Dane Cook) soars high above and far away from Radiator Springs

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Education

SIGGRAPH Previews Production Sessions

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Events, Festivals, Movies, Oscar, Shorts, stop-motion, Tech, Trailers, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

The tech behind Pacific Rim, Frozen, Monsters University, and Oz the Great and Powerful will be on display at SIGGRAPH 2013. Held this year in Anaheim on July 21-25, the production sessions are part of the Computer Animation Festival. Read more

World Building and the Science of Fiction

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Events, Festivals, Movies, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

On Saturday, I participated in a very unique live and interactive festival at USC: “The Science of Fiction: World Building in Action,” sponsored by USC | 5D Institute. The brainchild of production designer and 5D co-founder Alex McDowell (Man of Steel), I collaborated with professionals and students in creating a futuristic LA 2020 and learned more about how and why we build worlds for a more immersive narrative experience. It was “a giant circus trick” creating a new world in a day. Read more

Animation Mentor Offers VFX Fundamentals

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Animation Mentor is now accepting applications for the inaugural Summer 2013 term of its new VFX Fundamentals series of online courses devoted to addressing industry challenges and concerns. Students are encouraged to visit the Registration Portal early to ensure their choice of industry professional instructor and class time. Read more

SIGGRAPH 2013 Call for Submissions

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Events, Music, performance capture, previs, Shorts, Tech, VFX, Videogames, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

SIGGRAPH 2013 is coming to Anaheim July 21-25 for its 40th year and is asking for your submissions. Read more

Animation Mentor Launches AMP Studio Pipeline

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Music, Shorts, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Animation Mentor is taking a more holistic approach to its venerable online school of animation and VFX with the creation of the AMP studio production pipeline along with the addition of a VFX curriculum and restructured animation program. After consulting with animation and VFX studios, it was decided to better train students in more of a hands-on, battle tested environment to better prepare them for professional careers. Read more

CTN Animation Expo Returns to Burbank

Posted on November 10, 2012 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Education, Events, Festivals, Movies, Shorts, stop-motion, Tech | Leave a comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creative Talent Network Animation Expo (CTN EXPO) is back Nov. 16-18, highlighted by Glen Keane and Brenda Chapman offering talks along with a host of creative talent and special events for professional artists, art students and industry executives. Read more

Trailering ToyTalk Launch

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Bill Desowitz in Animation, Education, Tech, Trailers | Leave a comment

Former Pixar execs Oren Jacob, Martin Reddy, and Bobby Podesta have formed a new Northern California-based family entertainment company, ToyTalk, that turns the Toy Story premise on its head by having toys talk to kids.  Remember Teddy from A.I.: Artificial Intelligence? Well, imagine a talking teddy bear on the iPad that uses artificial intelligence and scripted voices. Watch the company teaser trailer to glimpse more. Read more

Animation Mentor Offers Lighting Workshop

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Bill Desowitz in Animation, Education, Events, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Animation Mentor announces the launch of a new workshop designed specifically for animators interested in using light from a filmmaker’s perspective:

Lighting Your Shot

Six-Week Workshop | $499

Accepting Registrations for Winter 2013 Term Read more

5D to Explore The City and the Book

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Books, Education, Events, Movies, previs, Production Design, Tech, VFX, Videogames, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Immersive design consortium 5D Institute will explore the dynamic world of storytelling in interactive, virtual spaces during the next summit, The City and the Book, Sept. 20 and 21 at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Read more

SIGGRAPH 2012: Talking Croods VFX

Posted on August 11, 2012 by Bill Desowitz in 3-D, Animation, Below the Line, Cinematography, Education, Events, Movies, Tech, VFX, Virtual Production | Leave a comment

Markus Manninen, the VFX supervisor on DreamWorks’ The Croods, appeared with two of his colleagues on a SIGGRAPH panel to discuss the role of VFX at the animation powerhouse. He gave me a sneak peek of the sophisticated naturalism coming March 22, 2013. Read more

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