While we’re blogging away about this year’s upcoming feature films, here is a few words about another one, but this isn’t just any old movie, it’s allegedly going to be the best movie of the year.
Oz the Great and Powerful.
After its Superbowl spot, the world premiere of ‘Oz’ became an event that many cinema lovers kept a keen eye on, and by the sounds of things, the film did not disappoint.
Marvel Crossover on the cards?
In a press release this week, Marvel teased fans with hopes of a super hero get together of epic proportions.
Guess Who?
Although we can’t unveil the name of the top secret industry speaker at our next Academy Tour (on the 6th of March) I insisted that we dispatch a couple of ‘Guess Who?’ Q&A’s to get your minds racing, exciting!
Industrial Light and Magic - Path to the Death Star
As readers of our blog will know, we grab any Star Wars news by the horns, grind it into a couple hundred words, and blog the Sith out of it.
This occasion is no different, and while just last month, Star Wars fans everywhere were petitioning to get a death star built and launched into space, Industrial Light and Magic (VFX Brainchild of Star Wars creator George Lucas) were busy putting together a timeline of their journey, creating the Death Star for it’s first appearance in ‘Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope’.
It shows the milestones of an iconic studio as well as the creation of one of the most iconic images in cinematic history.
The power of 3D in your pocket!
Lovers of 3D will be over the moon to discover that they can now have the power of 3D in their pocket at all times, as the 3Doodler allows the owner to take their artistic imagination off of the page!
HaZ Dulull presents: Project Kronos
We were rather happy this week to hear from an old friend of Escape HaZ Dulull, a) because he has just been appointed as director for ‘IAM entertainment’ Hollywood, which is awesome! and b) because he is promoting his second VFX heavy short, Project Kronos.
Event for the animation and creative community: Monday 25th February.
This week we had a chat with our friends over at Made Visual Studio, who are screening an animated film about Monty Python legend Graham Chapman – (pretty awesome project right?) and its taking place next Monday, 25th of February at East London’s Rich Mix.
Weta Featurette-a
The Oscars is on Sunday (anyone staying up for them?) and in preparation, the team over at Weta Digital has released a couple of pretty awesome behind the scenes/breakdown featurettes, discussing the creation of ‘The Goblin Caverns’ and ‘Rivendell’.
Framestore Recreate 1865 America for Lincoln
Lincoln is very much a hit with the award bodies this year. Having only just recently hit the cinemas, the film has already scooped up a Golden Globe and a BAFTA as well as being nominated for 12 Oscars. And although this is all very lovely, we’re more interested in the stunning results achieved by Framestore for this epic biopic. Providing the backdrop of 1865 America, a country ripped in two by civil war, Framestore worked alongside the filmmakers to make a historically accurate recreation that was both invisible and believable. And having already proved their expertise on Spielberg’s previous project War Horse, Framestore have obviously earned the trust and respect of Steven and his team.
We're going through ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...
If you're a regular through our doors then you might have noticed a few changes. Here at Escape HQ we've been busy building, painting, schlepping, and revamping our office area, studios and break out space for a new and rather fresh look. There's still quite a few bits and bobs to do but here's a look at what we were then and what we are now...
A woman's touch...
The role of Visual Effects Supervisor is hugely important on set as well as during the whole post production process. This person works with both the Director and Clients to convert artistic concepts to stunning visual imagery.
Make 2013 your own! New course dates launched
2013 is set to be a massive year for film, (take a look at our recent blog post to see what cinematic delights we’re yet to sink out teeth into) so why not make it a massive year in film for you too?
Now THAT'S a portfolio!
Tomorrow, Escape Studios will be hosting another industry visit to the heart of Soho, where our friends over at Cinesite will be showing attendees exactly where the lifeblood of UK VFX is pumped from.
Pixar artists grab funding by the horns
These days, it is commonplace for new projects to be funded by creative idea fuelling website – ‘kickstarter’. This is not your only option of funding if you’re a legendary artist from Pixar though.
Paying homage to a VFX legend
The legend that created the lab process of travelling mattes, (that’s blue/green screens to the rest of us) sadly passed away last week, at the grand age of 96.
An Insight to Industrial Light and Magic
Industrial Light and Magic was created back in 1975 by the legend that is George Lucas, and has kept going ever since, racking up work on over 300 movies to date.
Lee's App of the week: The Walking Dead: Assault
I officially love The Walking Dead but hate the long breaks in between series (can I get an Amen to it's return this month!) so thankfully Skybound - the same company that publishes TWD comics - has produced a top-notch game app to see us through those tough times and give us our zombie slaughtering fixes.
From MPC to Cinesite, Fuel VFX to Weta Digital and everything in between! Escapee Leo Neelands.
Ska loving escapee Leo Neelands made a career change but 7 years ago, when upon the word of a trusty friend who recognised the potential of his artistic skills, he made his way down to London with nothing but a Wacom tablet and pen in his bindle and a bucket load of raw talent in his brain.