While debates about the use of A.I. take center stage across the entertainment industry, the technology has been quietly assisting animation and visual effects crews for years. It had made some of the most astonishing visual images possible when artisans have been asked to do what was previously thought impossible.
When helmer Peter Sohn wanted characters based on the elements of fire, water, air and earth for his new film “Elemental,” VFX supervisor Sanjay Bakshi and his team at Pixar looked to A.I. to make the process smoother. The look of the characters depended on adjustments that would align them with Sohn’s vision.
“We used A.I. for a very specific kind of problem, and we used a machine learning algorithm called neural style transfer,” says Bakshi. “Our animation is so highly scrutinized. We go through so many review cycles for every shot and the animators are...
When helmer Peter Sohn wanted characters based on the elements of fire, water, air and earth for his new film “Elemental,” VFX supervisor Sanjay Bakshi and his team at Pixar looked to A.I. to make the process smoother. The look of the characters depended on adjustments that would align them with Sohn’s vision.
“We used A.I. for a very specific kind of problem, and we used a machine learning algorithm called neural style transfer,” says Bakshi. “Our animation is so highly scrutinized. We go through so many review cycles for every shot and the animators are...
- 6/11/2023
- by Karen Idelson
- Variety Film + TV
Peter Jackson received lifetime achievement award.
George Clooney’s Netflix sci-fi The Midnight Sky has won the top award at Tuesday night’s (April 6) 19th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards.
The Oscar-nominated feature earned prizes for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature and Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project for the shuttle Aether.
Netflix stablemate Mank won for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature.
Pixar’s Soul was honoured in five categories including Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, and Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature for the rigorous afterlife accountant Terry.
In the TV categories,...
George Clooney’s Netflix sci-fi The Midnight Sky has won the top award at Tuesday night’s (April 6) 19th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards.
The Oscar-nominated feature earned prizes for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature and Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project for the shuttle Aether.
Netflix stablemate Mank won for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature.
Pixar’s Soul was honoured in five categories including Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, and Outstanding Animated Character in an Animated Feature for the rigorous afterlife accountant Terry.
In the TV categories,...
- 4/7/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
“The Midnight Sky” and “Soul” were the big film winners at the 19th annual Ves Awards, which were presented on Tuesday night by the Visual Effects Society.
George Clooney’s cautionary sci-fi drama “The Midnight Sky” won two awards, including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that most closely corresponds to the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Winners in the category have gone on to win the Oscar 10 times in the past 18 years, but the last film to do so was “The Jungle Book” in 2017.
The Pixar film “Soul,” which was shortlisted but not nominated for the VFX Oscar, won five awards, the most of any film or television program. In addition to Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, it won for its animated character, created environment, effects simulation and virtual cinematography.
“Project Power” also won two awards, while additional film prizes went to “Mank,...
George Clooney’s cautionary sci-fi drama “The Midnight Sky” won two awards, including Outstanding Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature, the Ves category that most closely corresponds to the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. Winners in the category have gone on to win the Oscar 10 times in the past 18 years, but the last film to do so was “The Jungle Book” in 2017.
The Pixar film “Soul,” which was shortlisted but not nominated for the VFX Oscar, won five awards, the most of any film or television program. In addition to Outstanding Visual Effects in an Animated Feature, it won for its animated character, created environment, effects simulation and virtual cinematography.
“Project Power” also won two awards, while additional film prizes went to “Mank,...
- 4/7/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
George Clooney’s existential sci-fi drama, “The Midnight” Sky,” moved a step closer in the VFX Oscar race Tuesday, taking top honors at the 19th annual Ves Awards. The Netflix film (with VFX by Framestore) also earned the model award for the Aether spacecraft. Strangely, though, the unforgettable Ballet of Blood scene, containing simulated zero-g and remarkable liquid simulation, wasn’t even nominated, yet this highlight could prove decisive if “The Midnight Sky” wins the Oscar.
But that’s a big if in this wide open race that also includes Christopher Nolan’s time-inverted “Tenet” (which is finally available on the Academy’s online voting portal) and dark horse “Love and Monsters,” with its terrific array of Ray Harryhausen-like creatures. In the last four years, the Ves has only aligned with the Academy once (for “The Jungle Book”). Then again, the Ves nod could be enough to put “The Midnight Sky...
But that’s a big if in this wide open race that also includes Christopher Nolan’s time-inverted “Tenet” (which is finally available on the Academy’s online voting portal) and dark horse “Love and Monsters,” with its terrific array of Ray Harryhausen-like creatures. In the last four years, the Ves has only aligned with the Academy once (for “The Jungle Book”). Then again, the Ves nod could be enough to put “The Midnight Sky...
- 4/7/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Updated with full list of winners: George Clooney’s Netflix sci-fi thriller The Midnight Sky, Disney/Pixar’s animated Soul and the Disney+ Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian were the marquee winners Tuesday at the 19th annual Ves Awards.
The Visual Effects Society’s annual celebration, which honors the year’s best in film, animation, TV, commercials and video games, was hosted as per usual by Patton Oswalt (and his green monster alter ego) and was presented virtually because of the pandemic.
The well-constructed and engaging show (leave it to the VFX crews to pull that off during the Year of the Zoom Ceremony) included honorary awards presented to Peter Jackson, who received the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award presented by his Lotr star Cate Blanchett and featuring a tribute with Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, James Cameron and Gollum himself in one of several bits of...
The Visual Effects Society’s annual celebration, which honors the year’s best in film, animation, TV, commercials and video games, was hosted as per usual by Patton Oswalt (and his green monster alter ego) and was presented virtually because of the pandemic.
The well-constructed and engaging show (leave it to the VFX crews to pull that off during the Year of the Zoom Ceremony) included honorary awards presented to Peter Jackson, who received the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award presented by his Lotr star Cate Blanchett and featuring a tribute with Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, James Cameron and Gollum himself in one of several bits of...
- 4/7/2021
- by Patrick Hipes
- Deadline Film + TV
Pixar’s “Soul,” George Clooney’s “The Midnight Sky” and “The Mandalorian” led the winners at the 19th annual Visual Effects Society (Ves) Awards.
Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host for the 10th time for the virtual ceremony which celebrated the art of visual effects across 25 categories.
“Soul” was named top animated film, winning five awards. “The Mandalorian” was named best photoreal episode and garnered three awards, and “The Midnight Sky” was named the photoreal feature winner, garnering two awards.
Sacha Baron Cohen presented the Ves Award for Creative Excellence to acclaimed visual effects supervisor, second unit director and director of photography Robert Legato, ASC. Cate Blanchett presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Jackson. The “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker was lauded in a virtual tribute that featured Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, James Cameron and Gollum.
Full List of Winners:
Outstanding Visual Effects...
Comedian Patton Oswalt served as host for the 10th time for the virtual ceremony which celebrated the art of visual effects across 25 categories.
“Soul” was named top animated film, winning five awards. “The Mandalorian” was named best photoreal episode and garnered three awards, and “The Midnight Sky” was named the photoreal feature winner, garnering two awards.
Sacha Baron Cohen presented the Ves Award for Creative Excellence to acclaimed visual effects supervisor, second unit director and director of photography Robert Legato, ASC. Cate Blanchett presented the Ves Lifetime Achievement Award to Peter Jackson. The “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker was lauded in a virtual tribute that featured Andy Serkis, Naomi Watts, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellen, James Cameron and Gollum.
Full List of Winners:
Outstanding Visual Effects...
- 4/7/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The looks in animated films combine lots of research, wild imagination and thought. For Pixar’s “Soul,” the artists had to construct the real world of New York City as well as the abstract world Great Before, where protagonist Joe ends up after he plunges down a manhole and hovers between life and death — that presented a whole new challenge: making the intangible concrete.
“One thing on this film, when we’re working with something that you can’t see or imagine, is you have to take it very seriously,” says production designer Steve Pilcher. They decided against going for “quick gags, like a soul world with soul cars,” but “you don’t go for gags, you go for, what would it really be like? And not in terms of reality, but how does it work contextually, visually, with the rest of the film?”
For the Great Before, Pilcher was...
“One thing on this film, when we’re working with something that you can’t see or imagine, is you have to take it very seriously,” says production designer Steve Pilcher. They decided against going for “quick gags, like a soul world with soul cars,” but “you don’t go for gags, you go for, what would it really be like? And not in terms of reality, but how does it work contextually, visually, with the rest of the film?”
For the Great Before, Pilcher was...
- 1/28/2021
- by Carole Horst
- Variety Film + TV
The blowback has begun. The question is: Is it over?
Delivering on promises to retaliate after the assassination of general Qasem Soleimani, Iran conducted missile strikes on at least two U.S. bases in Iraq, including the Al-Assad airbase. The strikes were touted by Iran as a “successful attack … in the name of the martyr” Soleimani.
Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman confirmed that “Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq,” targeting “at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and...
Delivering on promises to retaliate after the assassination of general Qasem Soleimani, Iran conducted missile strikes on at least two U.S. bases in Iraq, including the Al-Assad airbase. The strikes were touted by Iran as a “successful attack … in the name of the martyr” Soleimani.
Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman confirmed that “Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq,” targeting “at least two Iraqi military bases hosting U.S. military and...
- 1/8/2020
- by Tim Dickinson and Ryan Bort
- Rollingstone.com
“War for the Planet of the Apes” from Weta Digital could well be on its way to the elusive VFX Oscar after winning four Ves trophies Tuesday night at the Beverly Hilton (including the top feature prize). Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” won for supporting VFX, Pixar’s “Coco” earned four awards (including VFX for animation), and “Game of Thrones” took home five awards (including VFX for TV).
The “Apes” finale, directed by Matt Reeves, benefited from a Shakespearean performance from Andy Serkis as Caesar, with Weta working its wizardry in much harsher conditions for the performance-captured animation. Not surprisingly, “Apes” additionally won for Caesar, the effects simulations for the thrilling avalanche, and compositing. However, although both “Rise” and “Dawn” captured Ves prizes, neither won the Oscar, so “War” is not a certainty in its race with “Blade Runner 2049.”
Speaking of which, Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner” sequel won two...
The “Apes” finale, directed by Matt Reeves, benefited from a Shakespearean performance from Andy Serkis as Caesar, with Weta working its wizardry in much harsher conditions for the performance-captured animation. Not surprisingly, “Apes” additionally won for Caesar, the effects simulations for the thrilling avalanche, and compositing. However, although both “Rise” and “Dawn” captured Ves prizes, neither won the Oscar, so “War” is not a certainty in its race with “Blade Runner 2049.”
Speaking of which, Denis Villeneuve’s “Blade Runner” sequel won two...
- 2/14/2018
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
You Know Films and Amoeba Entertainment will produce the eco-horror film and become the first Us companies to benefit from the 25% Finnish cash rebate.
The incentive launches in 2017 and applies to money spent on local goods, services and salaries in conjunction with production work carried out in the Nordic country.
Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, oversees the incentive and Rabbit Films will provide production services in Finland.
Production is set for Finland next summer. You Know Film CEO Alex Noyer’s (pictured) directorial debut Sielu will star Finland’s Jukka Hilden and follows a group of backpackers in the Finnish archipelago who turn on each other when they are affected by a neuro-spore.
Noyer co-wrote the script with Jon and Al Kaplan based on an original idea by Stuart Birchall and Leila Mousavi.
Amoeba Entertainment’s Robyn K. Bennett produces with Noyer, while executive producers are You Know Films, Amoeba Entertainment...
The incentive launches in 2017 and applies to money spent on local goods, services and salaries in conjunction with production work carried out in the Nordic country.
Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation, oversees the incentive and Rabbit Films will provide production services in Finland.
Production is set for Finland next summer. You Know Film CEO Alex Noyer’s (pictured) directorial debut Sielu will star Finland’s Jukka Hilden and follows a group of backpackers in the Finnish archipelago who turn on each other when they are affected by a neuro-spore.
Noyer co-wrote the script with Jon and Al Kaplan based on an original idea by Stuart Birchall and Leila Mousavi.
Amoeba Entertainment’s Robyn K. Bennett produces with Noyer, while executive producers are You Know Films, Amoeba Entertainment...
- 11/4/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
eOne Films has acquired North American rights to the SXSW rom-com and plans a late 2014 theatrical release.
Liz Tuccillo directed and wrote Take Care and produced with Leslie Bibb and Grace Naughton. John Melfi served as executive producer with Sixteen19’s Jonathan Hoffman and Pete Conlin.
The rom-com stars Bibb and Thomas Sadoski as well as Marin Ireland, Betty Gilpin, Nadia Dajani, Michael Stahl-David and Tracee Chimo.
The story centres on a woman who persuades her ex-boyfriend to look after her while she convalesces from a car crash.
eOne Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
Liz Tuccillo directed and wrote Take Care and produced with Leslie Bibb and Grace Naughton. John Melfi served as executive producer with Sixteen19’s Jonathan Hoffman and Pete Conlin.
The rom-com stars Bibb and Thomas Sadoski as well as Marin Ireland, Betty Gilpin, Nadia Dajani, Michael Stahl-David and Tracee Chimo.
The story centres on a woman who persuades her ex-boyfriend to look after her while she convalesces from a car crash.
eOne Films brokered the deal with UTA Independent Film Group negotiated on behalf of the filmmakers.
- 8/21/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Entertainment One Films has acquired North American rights to Liz Tuccillo’s Take Care, the romantic comedy that stars Leslie Bibb and Thomas Sadoski. A late 2014 release is in the works. Tuccillo, who co-wrote the bestseller He’s Just Not That Into You and wrote on HBO’s Sex And The City, served as writer and producer and made her directorial debut on the romantic comedy, which premiered at SXSW this year.
Bibb plays Frannie, who is immobilized after a car crash and she brushed off by everyone she can count on. Desperate, she persuades her ex-boyfriend (Sadoski) to take care of her much to the chagrin of his current girlfriend (Betty Gilpin). Marin Ireland, Nadia Dajani, Michael Stahl-David and Tracee Chimo co-star. Bibb and Grace Naughton also produced along with exec producers John Melfi, Sixteen19’s Jonathan Hoffman and Pete Conlin.
The deal was negotiated for eOne Films by Katharyn Howe.
Bibb plays Frannie, who is immobilized after a car crash and she brushed off by everyone she can count on. Desperate, she persuades her ex-boyfriend (Sadoski) to take care of her much to the chagrin of his current girlfriend (Betty Gilpin). Marin Ireland, Nadia Dajani, Michael Stahl-David and Tracee Chimo co-star. Bibb and Grace Naughton also produced along with exec producers John Melfi, Sixteen19’s Jonathan Hoffman and Pete Conlin.
The deal was negotiated for eOne Films by Katharyn Howe.
- 8/21/2014
- by The Deadline Team
- Deadline
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