This was the 9th iteration of the CVMP conference, and it certainly lived up to its billing. The conference struck just the right balance between academic research and commercial production, providing a hugely rich and diverse array of ideas, challenges, successes and future endeavours.
VFX - want to see how it's really done?
Fancy taking a peak behind the VFX scenes at Framestore's cinema? Framestore are one of the biggest post houses operating on Soho (London's VFX Hub...) today. They've worked on everything from The Golden Compass to Avatar to the Skyfall titles). We're conducting our last Open Day of the year there next Wednesday and we're rather excited about it!
In the beginning there was... FIFA International Soccer?
It wasn’t long ago that FIFA 13 was crowned the king of 21st century sports games, with 4.5 million copies sold in the five days after its launch, (1.23 million of those being in the first 48 hours) it’s figures worldwide trounced sporting rivals such as NHL 13 (0.48m), and Madden 13 (1.65m), more importantly though, it exceeded its closest rival, Pro Evolution Soccer, (0.86m) which had Christiano Ronaldo spearheading the advertising campaign, who in this case, off of the pitch, as well as on, has been left in the shadow of this year’s FIFA ambassador Lionel Messi.
Become a superhero this Christmas
With Christmas fast approaching, and many people dreading the inevitable high street conquest, my colleagues and I have decided to put together a string of blog posts, enlightening our readers to some unique presents for technology, film and games fans, that will hopefully put a bigger smile on the recipients face AND save the buyer from the perils of the high street hoards.
Escapee Paul Daiko joins MPC London
I caught up with escapee Paul Daiko this week, upon his appointment at world renowned post-house, MPC London.
Discover the Artist Within… at the 2D – 3D Showdown!
What sets 2D and 3D visual effect artists apart? Most would say, not a lot. Both teams of artists are necessary in the creation of stunning CG visuals. But have you ever wondered why someone would choose one path over another? What makes the ultimate Compositor or 3D VFX artist?
Escapee Holly Pickering: Success story now live!
We had the pleasure of catching up with games aficionado and escapee Holly Pickering last week.
1 day left to register for CVMP 2012...
Do you want to be in the know of the newest technology and techniques in the VFX industry? Do you want to meet with some of the brightest VFX talent in the UK and Europe?
Then CVMP is the perfect place for you to be on the 5th and 6th of December!
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan
Some good news for VFX fans this week, as VES announce that a complete documentary film about the legendary Ray Harryhausen, will be shown at a number of festivals early next year, and better still, those who can’t make these screenings, will be able to get their hands on ‘RAY HARRYHAUSEN: SPECIAL EFFECTS TITAN’ (quite the title, eh?) as soon as March 2013.
Being an avid Harryhausen fan, I own a signed copy of his classic book ‘The Art of Ray Harryhausen’, and have had the great pleasure of attending an intimate lecture held by this ‘Special Effects Titan’ back in 2009.
Watering that Creative Seed
The VFX industry has emerged to become the most fervent, vibrant and limitless creative platforms of the 21st century, and has created a world where, equipped with the right skills and determination, the phrase ‘the sky is the limit’ is rarely an understatement.
The Honeymoon Promotions!
To celebrate their recent nuptials, The Foundry and Luxology are offering NUKE, MARI, HIERO and modo with up to 30% off in the special Honeymoon Promotions.
Web series spot light; Forward Unto Dawn
Hello, it’s me again. Have you all been well? I hope you have. You may remember me from my recent stint of blogs about web series that have started to use VFX, and left you with a passionate plea to start watching Red vs Blue, the longest running web-series in the world, based on the Halo games. Well here I am again, because the internet just doesn't stop, and recently it’s been turning out some real gems in terms of visually invigorating moving pictures.
Python Tips & Tricks from a NUKE Master; Recording Now Available!
Last Monday, November 19th, we ran a very popular webinar with Victor Perez, a master when it comes to using Python inside NUKE. A whopping ninety nine people attended this live webinar to hear what Victor had to share, and we’ve had an incredible number of requests from people who couldn’t attend to share the webinar recording. For us, this interest has been very encouraging, and we look forward to bringing you more webinars like this.
Big News From IKinema
Recently we’ve had a few snippets of pretty big news from our friends over at IKinema.
So here are the three little tidbits that we have for you –
Rhythm & Hues deliver a tantalizing visual treat with 'Life of Pi'
Despite popular disbelief, deeming the world created by author Yann Martel in his novel ‘Life of Pi’, as “unfilmable”, the guys at Rhythm & Hues Studios have put together a mind blowing piece of cinema that is sure to visually stun audiences around the globe.
Faces in the Trees...
One of my favourite things about the internet is the ability it has to present many different art forms as they happen, and in fantastic quality.
Prime Focus World on "3D'ing" Tim Burton's 'Frankenweenie'.
We spoke to our friends over at Prime Focus World last month, in conjunction with their completed work on the stereo conversion of Tim Burton’s stop motion comedy horror - Frankenweenie. PFW worked closely and moreover, exclusively, with Disney and Burton on the picture, and the opportunity to chat about the project was just too good to miss!
Framestore to host online Q&A with F1 giants McLaren
F1 fans out there may have found themselves watching a new animated series over the last few months, following the fictional antics of McLaren drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.
Last Call To All Pixel Farm Fanatics...
This is your last chance to get your name down on the guest list for our private event “A Pint With The Pixel Farm” on the 21st of November at The Sun and 13 Cantons, Soho.