Samson & DelilahStephen Nakamura Colors Waiting for Superman
Oscar-winning documentarian Davis Guggenheim recently turned to Santa Monica-based Company 3 and colorist Stephen Nakamura for the DI work on his powerful new documentary, Waiting for Superman. Nakamura, who has brought his sensitivity and technical savvy to blockbuster features including James Bond action thriller Quantum of Solace and upcoming Russell Crowe adventure Robin Hood, was... »
I.E. Effects Boosts Stereo 3D Pipeline with Isilon Storage
I.E. Effects has installed an Isilon IQ6000x cluster storage system at its Culver City location. With several large stereoscopic projects currently active, the Isilon system expands the company’s ability to manage the data and throughput requirements of multiple jobs. For clients this means increased efficiency and reliability for demanding stereo 3D projects. The clustered Isilon... »
Digital Vision and CineForm Partner to Support Silicon Imaging’s SI-2k Camera
Digital Vision has partnered with CineForm as a key element of its forthcoming Nucoda 2009.1 release. The new color grading/DI software, which will be unveiled at Broadcast Video Expo in London, Feb. 16-18, will include native support for the CineForm RAW format used by Silicon Imaging’s highly acclaimed SI-2k camera. “Following a popular industry trend... »
The Making of Avatar
James Cameron’s long-awaited epic fantasy Avatar is definitely “titanic” in size and scope. “It’s got a big story—that’s where it starts,” said producer Jon Landau, who also produced Cameron’s last film, Titanic. “Jim created a story that called for a world that did not exist. The technology did not exist before Titanic. The technical... »
Men Who Stare At Monitors
Visual FX supervisor Thomas J. Smith has overseen digital effects on pictures where you know you’ll be watching a lot of digital sleight-of-hand, like The League of Extraordinary Gentleman and The Chronicles of Riddick, and also films you wouldn’t immediately expect to be FX heavy, like all three Ocean’s films with George Clooney. He... »
Sony Pictures Entertainment Opens New DI Facility
Sony Pictures Entertainment recently opened Colorworks—a full-service DI facility on its Culver City lot. The 14,000 square-foot facility housed in the studio’s Stage 6, (formerly a Technicolor facility), offers realtime, 4K and stereoscopic 3D processing, catering to feature film and TV episodic work. »
This Is It—The Film That Almost Never-Never Was
The back-story to the highly publicized Michael Jackson concert film, This Is It, is almost as interesting as its enigmatic foreground entertainer. What they had planned to do was a series of concerts with a 90-foot LED screen projecting stereoscopic music videos and vignettes behind the stage, and at times, Jackson would even interact... »
Eric Forsberg On Shooting Sex Pot 3D
Perhaps the biggest indication of the re-emergence of 3D is the fact that low-budget production icon, The Asylum is producing several 3D films for the direct-to-video and television markets. Company partner in charge of production, David Latt explained that “our buyers wanted it, Blockbuster specifically. If they want it, we’re going to do it.... »
Pac Title Closes Its Doors
Pacific Title & Art Studio, whose history goes back to the silent era, has gone into receivership. And without the prospect of new financing, the 90-year old firm is likely to be liquidated, it was revealed in an email to employees from David McCarthy, the company’s chief executive. The head of the postproduction and VFX... »
Angels and Digits
“Is the Pope Catholic?” one often hears as a rhetorical rejoinder to an obvious question—questions like, “Will Dan Brown’s latest book be turned into a movie?” or “Will the Church refuse to cooperate when it is?” However, if somebody else asks an obvious question in your presence— ”Will the movie version star Tom Hanks?”... »
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Director Series
Joe Johnston Conjures The WolfmanFebruary 2010 | By Scott Essman
Former Industrial Light and Magic art director Joe Johnston became a feature film director over 20 years ago when he came aboard... »
Danish Director Blends Comedy and Tragedy in An Education
January 2010 | By Mary Ann Skweres
The critically acclaimed film, An Education, which garnered the Audience Award at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, has quietly slipped into Oscar contention. From... »
Exclusive Film Reviews
Up in the AirDecember 2009 | By Len Klady
Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) has an amiable disposition that belies the fact that it’s best to stay out of his path. You see he’s... »
The Young Victoria
December 2009 | By Len Klady
The enduring image of Queen Victoria, whose reign dominated the bulk of the 19th century, is of a benevolent, elderly grandmother. Though she was... »