Back in 2015, when Universal Pictures rebooted the Jurassic Park franchise with an entirely new concept, few insiders predicted that Jurassic World would wind up the top-grossing film of the year in terms of domestic box office — topping both a Star Wars movie and an Avengers sequel. What was certainly more predictable was the fact that there would... »
On Thursday, June 9, the organization OTT.X will hold its inaugural diversity summit at the Skirball Cultural Center in the Santa Monica Mountains. Focused on the entertainment industry and free to attend, the specific purpose of the all-day conference is to spotlight nascent streaming services with regard to opportunities for minority groups and underrepresented... »
In the Hulu miniseries Pam & Tommy, the makeup and hairstyling team recreated ’90s icons Pamela Anderson, a model and actress, and Tommy Lee, drummer for the Los Angeles rock band Motley Crue. During that decade, the two performers met, shacked up, got married, and created an infamous sex tape, around which the miniseries is... »
For 10 years, Illusion Industries has serviced Hollywood films, television shows, music videos, and commercials with all manner of unique props, special makeup effects, full-blown creatures, and articulated puppets. Todd Tucker, the Founder of Illusion Industries, has 30 years of experience in the industry, having originally traveled from NorCal down to SoCal to chase his Hollywood... »
Having made 18 previous films together in their 30-year cinematic collaboration, director Steven Spielberg and cinematographer Janusz Kaminski undertook perhaps their biggest challenge yet in updating the 1957 stage musical West Side Story, which had already been adapted into a film—to great acclaim—in 1961. Foremost among myriad obstacles in the 2021 telling of West... »
In a lavish November 2 ceremony and after-party at the Skirball Cultural Center in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Los Angeles-based Visual Effects Society (VES) offered top recognitions to a group of heralded craftspeople who have been responsible for unprecedented success in the overall cinematic field. While the VES—established in 1997—offered honorary memberships to... »
When Production Designer Patrice Vermette of Montreal, Canada undertook the task of bringing the world of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel Dune to life in three dimensions, he knew the challenge was monumental. Not only were there legions of fans of the original book, there had also been a 1984 film adaptation which was, in... »
For the historical six-episode Netflix miniseries Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood, Cinematographer Felix Cramer was tasked with recreating early-20th century Munich, Germany. A native of that country himself, Cramer first inundated himself with 100 photos and graphics from the period. “I think, for us, it was really interesting to see how the Oktoberfest—especially because that... »
For Appian Way’s producer Jennifer Davisson, among the many properties offered to the company she and overall proprietor Leonardo DiCaprio were analyzing for production potential was pilot Chuck Yeager’s autobiography, with regards to adapting it into a feature film. While that project did not move forward into the development phase, another Appian Way executive... »
In the spring of 2019, Production Designer Chris Seagers and Director Ridley Scott were embroiled in a film project when Scott asked Seagers to initiate the design on the futuristic science-fiction project Raised by Wolves, which Scott was executive producing through his Scott Free production company. “We segued straight onto that,” Seagers said of... »
