Avatar: The Way Of Water VFX Supervisors On How Kiri Was Created And Much More [Exclusive Interview]
Ever since Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" blew audiences away by presenting a fully realized and believable digital character, it was clear that performance capture technology would be here to stay. Fast forward 20 years, and the technology has grown to such dizzying heights that there seems to be no limit to what the combined efforts of effects artists and performers can accomplish when it comes to creating new characters.
As proof, "Avatar: The Way of Water" doesn't just pick up the adventures of the Na'vi from the already impressive first film, but introduces new elements like the 14-year old Kiri (played by the 73-year old Sigourney Weaver) and the reborn-as-a-9-foot-avatar Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who plays scenes in real time with the shorter, 5-foot human General Ardmore (Edie Falco).
I had the chance to speak to two of the men responsible for accomplishing these visual feats,...
As proof, "Avatar: The Way of Water" doesn't just pick up the adventures of the Na'vi from the already impressive first film, but introduces new elements like the 14-year old Kiri (played by the 73-year old Sigourney Weaver) and the reborn-as-a-9-foot-avatar Colonel Quaritch (Stephen Lang), who plays scenes in real time with the shorter, 5-foot human General Ardmore (Edie Falco).
I had the chance to speak to two of the men responsible for accomplishing these visual feats,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Bill Bria
- Slash Film
Back in 2009, "Avatar" was an incredible step forward in the realm of visual effects. The fidelity and imagination James Cameron put into creating the world of Pandora and the Na'vi made some audience members never want to leave the theater. In the 13 years since its release, visual effects as an artform has been trying to replicate that magic, and while there have been indisputable improvements in technology, almost no film since then has matched the imagination of "Avatar."
"Avatar: The Way of Water" takes things to a whole new level. Obviously, technological advancements have aided the movie's breathtaking visuals, but technology can only get you so far in creating sequences you can't believe you're seeing on screen. Determining how good an effect is isn't simply assessing how realistic it looks, which is where tech really helps — truly great effects involve artistry, specifically around how they are composed within the frame of the movie.
"Avatar: The Way of Water" takes things to a whole new level. Obviously, technological advancements have aided the movie's breathtaking visuals, but technology can only get you so far in creating sequences you can't believe you're seeing on screen. Determining how good an effect is isn't simply assessing how realistic it looks, which is where tech really helps — truly great effects involve artistry, specifically around how they are composed within the frame of the movie.
- 12/21/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
The theatrical landscape has drastically changed in the 13 years since the original "Avatar" was released in theaters to massive financial success. But James Cameron necessarily has spent all that time since the 2009 release still in Pandora, creating his vision for a series of films that spans decades and tells a multi-generational story. Just as Cameron spent years developing new technology, he has also worked hard on the narrative side of things. The story of Jake Sully of the Jarhead clan would grow into something even more extensive than initially planned.
In the vein of massive productions like Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and even, to some degree, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cameron has carefully crafted an alien world filled with rich details. Pandora is filled with life and an ecosystem that makes the films feel even more real when paired with groundbreaking visual effects. However, none of this worldbuilding came easy,...
In the vein of massive productions like Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and even, to some degree, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Cameron has carefully crafted an alien world filled with rich details. Pandora is filled with life and an ecosystem that makes the films feel even more real when paired with groundbreaking visual effects. However, none of this worldbuilding came easy,...
- 12/21/2022
- by Ernesto Valenzuela
- Slash Film
Peter Jackson’s World War 1 film “They Shall Not Grow Old,” already one of this year’s top-grossing documentaries, began with 100 hours of archival footage from World War I.
Clearly, creating a new film out of century-old footage presents daunting challenges, but producer-director Jackson and his team resourcefully pushed ahead, assembling the film out of original material — much of it never before seen — from the archives of the Imperial War Museum.
“Whenever we got clean, sharp footage to work with, we were in great shape,” says Wayne Stables, a visual effects supervisor at Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta Digital. He worked outside his regular job to aid the filmmaker for six months as a colorist. Much of the footage was in bad condition, he says. “Most of it was moderately difficult, some of it was extremely difficult, and every so often God would smile upon us and we’d get something amazingly clean.
Clearly, creating a new film out of century-old footage presents daunting challenges, but producer-director Jackson and his team resourcefully pushed ahead, assembling the film out of original material — much of it never before seen — from the archives of the Imperial War Museum.
“Whenever we got clean, sharp footage to work with, we were in great shape,” says Wayne Stables, a visual effects supervisor at Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta Digital. He worked outside his regular job to aid the filmmaker for six months as a colorist. Much of the footage was in bad condition, he says. “Most of it was moderately difficult, some of it was extremely difficult, and every so often God would smile upon us and we’d get something amazingly clean.
- 2/8/2019
- by Valentina I. Valentini
- Variety Film + TV
A World War I documentary in 3D with colorized archival footage that looks as new as the day it was shot. What sounds like an impossible feat becomes a riveting reality in the hands of director Peter Jackson and his New Zealand Weta crew of restoration miracle workers, led by digital VFX supervisor Wayne Stables. In They Shall Not Grow Old, the lord of The Lord of the Rings uses a treasure trove of material — more than 600 hours worth — from England’s Imperial War Museum to bring the Great War to vivid life.
- 1/30/2019
- by Peter Travers
- Rollingstone.com
With its epic battles and CG dragons, HBO’s Game of Thrones on Saturday night won a remarkable sixth Emmy for outstanding special visual effects at the Creative Arts Emmys.
It beat out fellow nominees Altered Carbon, Lost in Space, Stranger Things and Westworld.
On the strength of the show's “Beyond the Wall” episode, Emmys in VFX were awarded to Joe Bauer, overall VFX supervisor; Steve Kullback, VFX producer; Adam Chazen, VFX associate producer; Michelle Blok, previs lead; Sam Conway, special effects supervisor; Ted Rae, VFX plate supervisor; David Ramos, VFX supervisor; Wayne Stables,...
It beat out fellow nominees Altered Carbon, Lost in Space, Stranger Things and Westworld.
On the strength of the show's “Beyond the Wall” episode, Emmys in VFX were awarded to Joe Bauer, overall VFX supervisor; Steve Kullback, VFX producer; Adam Chazen, VFX associate producer; Michelle Blok, previs lead; Sam Conway, special effects supervisor; Ted Rae, VFX plate supervisor; David Ramos, VFX supervisor; Wayne Stables,...
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed its 276-member-strong class of 2013.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
The list, published by The Hollywood Reporter, includes actors, cinematographers, designers, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, makeup artists and hairstylists, "members-at-large," musicians, producers, PR folks, short filmmakers and animators, sound technicians, visual effects artists, and writers.
Jason Bateman, Rosario Dawson, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Milla Jovovich, Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Emily Mortimer, Sandra Oh, Jason Schwartzman, and Michael Peña are among the roster of actors, while "The Heat" and "Bridesmaids" helmer Paul Feig made the directors' cut.
"We did not change our criteria at all," says Academy president Hawk Koch of this year's larger-than-usual class. "Yes, this year there is a tremendous amount of women, a tremendous amount of people of color, people from all walks of life. This year, we asked the branches to look at everybody who wasn't in the Academy but who deserved to be.
- 7/4/2013
- by Laura Larson
- Moviefone
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today the 276 members of the entertainment industry invited to join organization. The list includes actors, directors, documentarians, executives, film editors, producers and more. Of those listed below, those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy's membership in 2013. "These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today," said Academy President Hawk Koch in a press release. "Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy." Koch also told Variety, "In the past eight or nine years, each branch could only bring in X amount of members. There were people each branch would have liked to get in but couldn't. We asked them to be more inclusive of the best of the best, and each branch was excited, because they got...
- 6/28/2013
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Academy just added 276 Oscar voters.
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
That’s 100 more than last year, and part of an easing of a longstanding cap on the number of new members allowed to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences each year.
AMPAS usually adds between 130 and 180 new members, replacing those who have quit or passed away. The membership now stands around 6,000.
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Lopez, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emmanuelle Riva, and Chris Tucker are among the actors who have been invited to join, the organization announced today.
Other interesting additions: the musician Prince, Girls and Tiny Furniture writer/director/actress Lena Dunham,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Anthony Breznican
- EW - Inside Movies
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 276 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitations will be the only additions to the Academy’s membership in 2013.
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
“These individuals are among the best filmmakers working in the industry today,” said Academy President Hawk Koch. “Their talent and creativity have captured the imagination of audiences worldwide, and I am proud to welcome each of them to the Academy.”
The 2013 invitees are:
Actors
Jason Bateman – “Up in the Air,” “Juno”
Miriam Colon – “City of Hope,” “Scarface”
Rosario Dawson – “Rent,” “Frank Miller’s Sin City”
Kimberly Elise – “For Colored Girls,” “Beloved”
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – “Lincoln,” “The Dark Knight Rises”
Charles Grodin – “Midnight Run,” “The Heartbreak Kid”
Rebecca Hall – “Iron Man 3,” “The Town”
Lance Henriksen – “Aliens,” “The Terminator”
Jack Huston – “Not Fade Away,” “Factory Girl”
Milla Jovovich – “Resident Evil,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The 2012 Orange BAFTA ceremony tonight was, as expected, dominated by Michael Hazanavicius’ silent black-and-white love story The Artist.
Taking home seven awards in total, including ‘Best Film’, ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Actor for Jean Dujardin’, ‘Best Original Screenplay’, ‘Original Music’, ‘Cinematography’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, The Artist won almost every category it competed in.
Although Dujardin was a surprise over George Clooney for Best Actor, there was no shock for Best Actress with the BAFTA going to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, which was also honoured for the extraordinary Make-up & Hair category.
In the supporting category The Help’s Octavia Spencer won Supporting Actress and Christopher Plummer won Best Supporting Actor for Beginners, as expected.
Outstanding British Film and Adapted Screenplay went to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Senna (Documentary, Editing) and Hugo (Production Design, Sound) also winning two Baftas.
In a huge surprise Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I...
Taking home seven awards in total, including ‘Best Film’, ‘Best Director’, ‘Best Actor for Jean Dujardin’, ‘Best Original Screenplay’, ‘Original Music’, ‘Cinematography’ and ‘Best Costume Design’, The Artist won almost every category it competed in.
Although Dujardin was a surprise over George Clooney for Best Actor, there was no shock for Best Actress with the BAFTA going to Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady, which was also honoured for the extraordinary Make-up & Hair category.
In the supporting category The Help’s Octavia Spencer won Supporting Actress and Christopher Plummer won Best Supporting Actor for Beginners, as expected.
Outstanding British Film and Adapted Screenplay went to Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy with Senna (Documentary, Editing) and Hugo (Production Design, Sound) also winning two Baftas.
In a huge surprise Pedro Almodovar’s The Skin I...
- 2/12/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
The Artist wins seven BAFTAs including Best Film, Leading Actor for Jean Dujardin and Director and Original Screenplay for Michel Hazanavicius
Meryl Streep wins Leading Actress
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, The Iron Lady and Senna win two BAFTAs each
The Artist was named Best Film at tonight.s Orange British Academy Film Awards hosted by Stephen Fry, held at London.s Royal Opera House. The film also won six other awards: Director, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Costume Design as well as a performance award for Jean Dujardin who won the Leading Actor BAFTA.
Meryl Streep was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady; the film was also honoured in the Make-Up & Hair category.
The Help.s Octavia Spencer won the Supporting Actress category and Christopher Plummer won Supporting Actor for his performance in Beginners.
Outstanding British Film and...
Meryl Streep wins Leading Actress
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, The Iron Lady and Senna win two BAFTAs each
The Artist was named Best Film at tonight.s Orange British Academy Film Awards hosted by Stephen Fry, held at London.s Royal Opera House. The film also won six other awards: Director, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Costume Design as well as a performance award for Jean Dujardin who won the Leading Actor BAFTA.
Meryl Streep was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady; the film was also honoured in the Make-Up & Hair category.
The Help.s Octavia Spencer won the Supporting Actress category and Christopher Plummer won Supporting Actor for his performance in Beginners.
Outstanding British Film and...
- 2/12/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
HollywoodNews.com: British Academy Film Awards… and the winners are…
“The Artist” was named the year’s best film at the Orange British Academy Film Awards, as it is expected to win again at the Academy Awards in two weeks.
Winners Announced
The Artist wins seven BAFTAs including Best Film, Leading Actor for Jean Dujardin and Director and Original Screenplay for Michel Hazanavicius
Meryl Streep wins Leading Actress
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, The Iron Lady and Senna win two BAFTAs each
The Artist was named Best Film at tonight?s Orange British Academy Film Awards hosted by Stephen Fry, held at London?s Royal Opera House. The film also won six other awards: Director, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Costume Design as well as a performance award for Jean Dujardin who won the Leading Actor BAFTA.
Meryl Streep was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her performance as...
“The Artist” was named the year’s best film at the Orange British Academy Film Awards, as it is expected to win again at the Academy Awards in two weeks.
Winners Announced
The Artist wins seven BAFTAs including Best Film, Leading Actor for Jean Dujardin and Director and Original Screenplay for Michel Hazanavicius
Meryl Streep wins Leading Actress
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Hugo, The Iron Lady and Senna win two BAFTAs each
The Artist was named Best Film at tonight?s Orange British Academy Film Awards hosted by Stephen Fry, held at London?s Royal Opera House. The film also won six other awards: Director, Original Screenplay, Original Music, Cinematography, Costume Design as well as a performance award for Jean Dujardin who won the Leading Actor BAFTA.
Meryl Streep was awarded the BAFTA for Leading Actress for her performance as...
- 2/12/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
"The Adventures of Tintin" dominated the nominations but it was "Rango" that received the most trophies at the 10th Visual Effects Society (Ves) awards. Stan Lee received the the Lifetime Achievement Award and visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull received the George Melies Award. Patton Oswalt hosted the event held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Antonion Banderas, Lou Ferrigno, director Chris Miller, Marc Webb, and Jennifer Yuh Nelson presented awards. But the surprise appearance by Martin Scorsese was the highlight of the evening.
Here's the full list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 10th Annual Ves Awards, to visit our Awards Avenue coverage of other award-giving bodies, winners and nominees, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
Captain America: The First Avenger
Charlie Noble
Mark Soper
Christopher Townsend
Edson Williams
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Tim Burke
Emma Norton
John Richardson
David Vickery...
Here's the full list of winners (highlighted) and nominees of the 10th Annual Ves Awards, to visit our Awards Avenue coverage of other award-giving bodies, winners and nominees, click here:
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Feature Motion Picture
Captain America: The First Avenger
Charlie Noble
Mark Soper
Christopher Townsend
Edson Williams
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Tim Burke
Emma Norton
John Richardson
David Vickery...
- 2/9/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
The visual effects that we are seeing in movies these days are absolutely mind blowing. At this point it doesn't seem like there's any excuse for a film to have bad visual effects unless the people hired lack talent, or the studio is keeping the cash in their pockets.
There's a lot of good nomination this year such as Captain America, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Out of all of these I think that Planet of the Apes might take home the top prize, those apes were incredibly freaky looking. Weta did an amazing job with this movie, and out of all the other nominations this was the movie I was most impressed by. What are your thoughts? What movie did you think have the best visual effect in 2011?
Here's the full press release with all of the nominations:
Los Angeles,...
There's a lot of good nomination this year such as Captain America, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean 4, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon. Out of all of these I think that Planet of the Apes might take home the top prize, those apes were incredibly freaky looking. Weta did an amazing job with this movie, and out of all the other nominations this was the movie I was most impressed by. What are your thoughts? What movie did you think have the best visual effect in 2011?
Here's the full press release with all of the nominations:
Los Angeles,...
- 1/9/2012
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
By Sean O’Connell
hollywoodnews.com: Over the weekend, the Visual Effects Society announced the nominees for its 10th Annual Ves Awards ceremony, recognizing summer tentpoles (“Harry Potter,” “Captain America”) and surprise hits (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Hugo”) for their outstanding visual effects artistry in 23 categories of film, animation, television, commercials, special venues and video games.
“The standard of the creative work that is being considered this year is unbelievably high across all categories,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the Visual Effects Society. “The judges faced a huge challenge because all of the work was so far above the norm. We’re honored to have the opportunity to focus the spotlight on the outstanding work that has contributed to some of the highest grossing films and broadcast projects of all time.”
As previously announced, Stan Lee will be honored with the Ves 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award and...
hollywoodnews.com: Over the weekend, the Visual Effects Society announced the nominees for its 10th Annual Ves Awards ceremony, recognizing summer tentpoles (“Harry Potter,” “Captain America”) and surprise hits (“Rise of the Planet of the Apes,” “Hugo”) for their outstanding visual effects artistry in 23 categories of film, animation, television, commercials, special venues and video games.
“The standard of the creative work that is being considered this year is unbelievably high across all categories,” said Jeffrey A. Okun, Chair of the Visual Effects Society. “The judges faced a huge challenge because all of the work was so far above the norm. We’re honored to have the opportunity to focus the spotlight on the outstanding work that has contributed to some of the highest grossing films and broadcast projects of all time.”
As previously announced, Stan Lee will be honored with the Ves 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award and...
- 1/9/2012
- by Sean O'Connell
- Hollywoodnews.com
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