Susan's Weekly News Mashup: Sunday Jan 22

Hello again!  It’s mashup time! This week’s goodies include some nice spots from our Advisory Board members over at Psyop, some behind-the-scenes with Fincher, a history of Lucas’ latest (well, it turns out, not-so-latest, just lately completed), a great “rise from the ashes” story, a Keanu Reeves documentary of analog v. digital filmmaking, a great interview with Terry Gilliam, Wes Anderson’s newest trailer, a look at the year in VFX and a reel breakdown for “Hugo”. Did we miss anything? As always, we welcome your feedback and comments.

Psyop for IBM
From Motionographer 
To say that Psyop has it down pat would be an understatement. In this latest batch of spots for IBM, Psyop rolls out a trifecta of pure goodness. Each piece is so well crafted as to stand alone, but together they showcase a range — both creative and technical — that few studios can rival. It’s true what they say: Good things come in threes.

Digital storytelling: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
From FX Guide
In his latest film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, director David Fincher once again brought digital filmmaking tools to the fore to help tell the story of a man’s search for the truth about a 40 year old murder case. Fincher shot Dragon Tattoo on the RED One MX and EPIC, and relied on more than 1000 visual effects shots throughout the film. We talk to Method Studios and Digital Domain about their effects contributions, and to Blur Studio which was responsible for the startling main titles.

The Furious Dogfights of George Lucas' Red Tails 
From Popular Mechanics
Visual effects supervisor Craig Hammack tells Popular Mechanics how his team—with a little help from producer George Lucas—created the ultrarealistic dogfight sequences between World War II planes in this new film about the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Bark Side: 2012 Volkswagen Game Day Commercial Teaser
From YouTube 
A canine chorus barks a familiar tune. Keep an eye out for our 2012 Game Day commercial—it will all make sense. Love Star Wars and Volkswagen? Create an Intergalactic Invite to your Big Game party here: ‪http://vw.com/star-wars-invite 

New f/x company, 32Ten, rises
From Variety 
Former employees of Industrial Light & Magic and the failed Kerner Optical have banded together to form a new practical effects company, 32Ten Studios.

The Year in Visual Effects
From BTL news
Ah, those digits. On computers tracking finances and trading commodity futures, they weaken the Euro, send gas prices higher, and create all manner of mischief. But in computers creating century-old Parisian landscapes, World Wars, and highly sympathetic revolutionary apes, among other imaginings, they create the very stuff of box office receipts and critical plaudits. And for a handful of them on VES and Oscar nights, they manifest award statues as well.

Terry Gilliam: On Ideas, Unlearning & Avoiding Debt
From The 99 percent
Film director Terry Gilliam has one passion in life: to make movies that truly affect his audience, to enhance their dreams (or their nightmares), and to welcome them into an alternate reality. In his 40+ years of filmmaking, giving us classics like Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Brazil, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Twelve Monkeys, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, few would argue that he has ever failed in this mission.

Moonrise Kingdom trailer
From Apple trailers
Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Directed by Wes Anderson
Starring Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman

Keanu Reeves:  Side by Side Doc
From Stash Media
Keanu Reeves gathers A-list Hollywood filmmakers for his new doc “Side by Side” exploring the video vs film question.

Hugo Visual Effects Reel
From Wired
This visual effects reel from 'Hugo' shows how some scenes were digitally manipulated.