David Fincher is a philosopher as well as a perfectionist. When asked about the significance of his 8K remastering of “Seven” (premiering April 19 at the Chinese IMAX in 4K as part of the TCM Classic Film Festival), he told IndieWire, “If you think of it in string theory, it’s like a volumetric capture of where all these careers were at, and what these people wanted and needed and infused the thing with.”
Fincher was referring, of course, to Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, and the rest of the cast and crew who made his breakout 1995 serial killer neo-noir. The film was a brilliant analog product of the era (with only seven weeks of prep) but also ahead of its time in conveying a dark, creepy, nihilistic police procedural that got under our skin like no other film.
“It is what it is, warts and all,” Fincher said.
Fincher was referring, of course, to Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Spacey, and the rest of the cast and crew who made his breakout 1995 serial killer neo-noir. The film was a brilliant analog product of the era (with only seven weeks of prep) but also ahead of its time in conveying a dark, creepy, nihilistic police procedural that got under our skin like no other film.
“It is what it is, warts and all,” Fincher said.
- 4/19/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
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
On Mank, VFX supervisor Wei Zheng paired state-of-the-art technology with old-school filmmaking techniques, to help David Fincher craft a singular portrait of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Marking Zheng’s sixth collaboration with the director, the Netflix drama follows alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), as he finishes the script for Citizen Kane.
By implementing matte painting and rear projection, along with other tools and tricks, Fincher and his team minimized the budget necessary to assemble an authentic period piece, manipulating L.A. exteriors when necessary, or avoiding them altogether. Ultimately, what these tools offered Fincher was complete control of every image, and interestingly, the director himself served as the film’s overall VFX supervisor, though he chose to go uncredited.
At the same time, it took a village to bring his vision to life. Supporting him in his ambitions, alongside Zheng (Artemple Hollywood), were VFX supervisors Simon Carr (Territory Studio...
By implementing matte painting and rear projection, along with other tools and tricks, Fincher and his team minimized the budget necessary to assemble an authentic period piece, manipulating L.A. exteriors when necessary, or avoiding them altogether. Ultimately, what these tools offered Fincher was complete control of every image, and interestingly, the director himself served as the film’s overall VFX supervisor, though he chose to go uncredited.
At the same time, it took a village to bring his vision to life. Supporting him in his ambitions, alongside Zheng (Artemple Hollywood), were VFX supervisors Simon Carr (Territory Studio...
- 3/5/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
One of the major craft achievements of “Mank” was how David Fincher’s visual effects team meticulously recreated ’30s-era LA in black-and-white. The work has been shortlisted for the VFX Oscar and garnered a Ves nomination for supporting visual effects.
“Most of the effects were what we call our ‘body and fender’ work, where [David] shot something and it’s not quite right and it needed to be replaced,” said visual effects producer Peter Mavromates. “For example, during the Louis B. Mayer birthday party at San Simeon, he didn’t want to deal with real fire in the fireplace, so those are all added [in CG] afterwards. He’s all about efficiency on set.”
Also added were the cloudy skies during the shooting of an elaborate home movie with Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried) tied to a stake. “Sky replacement of shots were for consistency using the Unreal game engine with 3D model placement,...
“Most of the effects were what we call our ‘body and fender’ work, where [David] shot something and it’s not quite right and it needed to be replaced,” said visual effects producer Peter Mavromates. “For example, during the Louis B. Mayer birthday party at San Simeon, he didn’t want to deal with real fire in the fireplace, so those are all added [in CG] afterwards. He’s all about efficiency on set.”
Also added were the cloudy skies during the shooting of an elaborate home movie with Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried) tied to a stake. “Sky replacement of shots were for consistency using the Unreal game engine with 3D model placement,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
It’s truly a measure of the pandemic that the 19th annual Ves Awards (to be held virtually on April 6) was dominated by Disney+’s “The Mandalorian” with 13 nominations (topped by photoreal episode). Like the Oscar shortlist, there was an absence of big budget, VFX-intensive studio films. But, truth be told, Season 2 of Jon Favreau’s engaging “Star Wars” bounty hunter series offered the industry’s most innovative tech (wrapped around Industrial Light & Magic’s improved StageCraft virtual production system).
Pixar’s “Soul” was the top animation contender with five nominations, while the feature competition was split between “Project Power,” the Netflix superhero film, Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches” (which streamed on HBO Max), and Disney’s live-action “Mulan” (which streamed on Disney+), each garnering three nominations.
Joining “Project Power” and “The Witches” in the top photoreal feature category were Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” and “The Midnight Sky...
Pixar’s “Soul” was the top animation contender with five nominations, while the feature competition was split between “Project Power,” the Netflix superhero film, Robert Zemeckis’ “The Witches” (which streamed on HBO Max), and Disney’s live-action “Mulan” (which streamed on Disney+), each garnering three nominations.
Joining “Project Power” and “The Witches” in the top photoreal feature category were Netflix’s “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” and “The Midnight Sky...
- 3/2/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
The nominations for the 19th Annual Visual Effects Society Awards have been announced with “The Mandalorian” and “Soul” leading.
“The Mandalorian” leads with 13 nominations including outstanding visual effects in a photoreal episode. “Soul” was next with five nominations, followed by “The Witches” and “Project Power.”
The Ves awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony and will stream worldwide on April 6.
“Traditions find a way to persist,” said Lisa Cooke, Ves Board Chair. “With vision and a lot of hard work, we are proud to host our annual celebration of the artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world – virtually. We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and engages the audience in new and innovative ways. The Ves Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of all our nominees!
“The Mandalorian” leads with 13 nominations including outstanding visual effects in a photoreal episode. “Soul” was next with five nominations, followed by “The Witches” and “Project Power.”
The Ves awards will be handed out in a virtual ceremony and will stream worldwide on April 6.
“Traditions find a way to persist,” said Lisa Cooke, Ves Board Chair. “With vision and a lot of hard work, we are proud to host our annual celebration of the artistry, ingenuity and passion of visual effects practitioners around the world – virtually. We are seeing best in class work that elevates the art of storytelling and engages the audience in new and innovative ways. The Ves Awards is the only venue that showcases and honors these outstanding artists across a wide range of disciplines, and we are extremely proud of all our nominees!
- 3/2/2021
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
The Visual Effects Society today announced the nominees for its 19th annual Ves Awards, which recognize VFX artistry in 25 categories spanning film, TV, animation, commercials and video games. Winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony on Tuesday, April 6.
Disney+’s The Mandalorian leads all TV shows and films with 13 noms, and Disney/Pixar’s animated Soul tops the film side with five. Project Power and The Witches tied for second among movies with three noms apiece in a decidedly strange year for VFX-heavy projects.
Vying for the Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature prize are Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Midnight Sky, Project Power, Tenet and The Witches. The films up for
Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature are Da 5 Bloods, Extraction, Mank, News of the World and Welcome to Chechnya.
Soul will battle it out for the Visual Effects in an Animated Feature trophy against fellow Pixar pic Onward,...
Disney+’s The Mandalorian leads all TV shows and films with 13 noms, and Disney/Pixar’s animated Soul tops the film side with five. Project Power and The Witches tied for second among movies with three noms apiece in a decidedly strange year for VFX-heavy projects.
Vying for the Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature prize are Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey, The Midnight Sky, Project Power, Tenet and The Witches. The films up for
Supporting Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature are Da 5 Bloods, Extraction, Mank, News of the World and Welcome to Chechnya.
Soul will battle it out for the Visual Effects in an Animated Feature trophy against fellow Pixar pic Onward,...
- 3/2/2021
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
While the “Mank” visual effects team meticulously recreated ’30s-era LA in black-and-white, David Fincher took a special interest in directing the photo-real CG animals from Industrial Light & Magic that inhabit the Hearst Castle private zoo.
In a brief but memorable series of exchanges with the animals during their chatty moonlight stroll, Mank (Gary Oldman) and Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried), are definitely upstaged by the scene-stealing Capuchin monkeys, elephants, and giraffes. “David wanted specific performances from all the animals,” said Ilm VFX supervisor Pablo Helman (“The Irishman”). “He wanted the [four] monkeys to be agitated, the giraffes to spring in a certain way, and the elephants to have a response.”
Fincher, who served as his own production VFX supervisor (alongside VFX producer Peter Mavromates), treated the animals as a sort of Greek chorus with their own story beats, interjecting ironically on the political discussion about corruption and imprisonment, for example. When one...
In a brief but memorable series of exchanges with the animals during their chatty moonlight stroll, Mank (Gary Oldman) and Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried), are definitely upstaged by the scene-stealing Capuchin monkeys, elephants, and giraffes. “David wanted specific performances from all the animals,” said Ilm VFX supervisor Pablo Helman (“The Irishman”). “He wanted the [four] monkeys to be agitated, the giraffes to spring in a certain way, and the elephants to have a response.”
Fincher, who served as his own production VFX supervisor (alongside VFX producer Peter Mavromates), treated the animals as a sort of Greek chorus with their own story beats, interjecting ironically on the political discussion about corruption and imprisonment, for example. When one...
- 2/3/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
It’s been less than two weeks since David Fincher’s Mank arrived on Netflix and while it’s proved quite divisive (as our review attests), there’s still much to technically marvel at when it comes to the 1930s-set Hollywood tale. We’ll have a conversation with cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt coming later this week, and today a look at the visual effects has arrived.
While it’s not your average VFX-heavy tentpole, Fincher’s technical precision clearly extends beyond the set as proven in these three breakdowns from Artemple and Savage Visual Effects, who were joined by Industrial Light & Magic, Ollin VFX, Outback Post, and Territory Studio in working on the film’s VFX.
Featuring background additions, sky replacements, a fake spinning coin, the reflection of a movie on eyeglasses, a CGI fly, and much more, it’s quite remarkable what’s hidden in plain sight from the viewer.
While it’s not your average VFX-heavy tentpole, Fincher’s technical precision clearly extends beyond the set as proven in these three breakdowns from Artemple and Savage Visual Effects, who were joined by Industrial Light & Magic, Ollin VFX, Outback Post, and Territory Studio in working on the film’s VFX.
Featuring background additions, sky replacements, a fake spinning coin, the reflection of a movie on eyeglasses, a CGI fly, and much more, it’s quite remarkable what’s hidden in plain sight from the viewer.
- 12/16/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
David Fincher isn’t giving up on “Mindhunter” just yet. However, the director admits that the Netflix series about the FBI’s initial attempts to profile serial killers may not have much of a future given its price tag.
“I don’t know if it makes sense to continue,” Fincher told Variety during an interview for a cover story on the making of “Mank.” “It was an expensive show. It had a very passionate audience, but we never got the numbers that justified the cost.”
Plus, the second season was a nightmare to produce. Fincher fired the initial showrunner and tossed out eight scripts, as well as the “show bible,” which outlined all the details of “Mindhunter’s” on-screen universe. He ended up moving to Pittsburgh to oversee production on the season.
“It was exhausting,” says Peter Mavromates, a co-producer on “Mindhunter” and “Mank.” “Even when he wasn’t directing an episode,...
“I don’t know if it makes sense to continue,” Fincher told Variety during an interview for a cover story on the making of “Mank.” “It was an expensive show. It had a very passionate audience, but we never got the numbers that justified the cost.”
Plus, the second season was a nightmare to produce. Fincher fired the initial showrunner and tossed out eight scripts, as well as the “show bible,” which outlined all the details of “Mindhunter’s” on-screen universe. He ended up moving to Pittsburgh to oversee production on the season.
“It was exhausting,” says Peter Mavromates, a co-producer on “Mindhunter” and “Mank.” “Even when he wasn’t directing an episode,...
- 11/18/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Necessity is the mother of invention, and nothing proves this proverb more true than the evolution of film and television production technology in the age of Covid-19. While the field has always changed rapidly even in normal times, the pace of change and adaptation has accelerated over the past six months.
This adjustment has posed many questions. Beyond personal protective equipment, mandatory testing, on-set safety monitors, walking lunches and corona contingency fees, will the pandemic have enduring effects in the creative, collaborative endeavor that is filmmaking? The technology to work remotely has essentially been in place for some time, but will the pandemic finally push us over into a new normal?
Numerous existing technology trends are being suddenly supercharged by the necessities imposed by the coronavirus. Shooting close to home has never been more appealing, and that impulse aligns neatly with ongoing advancements in LED backings and virtual production. In the world of image processing,...
This adjustment has posed many questions. Beyond personal protective equipment, mandatory testing, on-set safety monitors, walking lunches and corona contingency fees, will the pandemic have enduring effects in the creative, collaborative endeavor that is filmmaking? The technology to work remotely has essentially been in place for some time, but will the pandemic finally push us over into a new normal?
Numerous existing technology trends are being suddenly supercharged by the necessities imposed by the coronavirus. Shooting close to home has never been more appealing, and that impulse aligns neatly with ongoing advancements in LED backings and virtual production. In the world of image processing,...
- 11/11/2020
- by David Heuring
- Variety Film + TV
Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried and Lily Collins enter the glamorous world of 1930s Hollywood in the first look images for David Fincher’s Mank.
In the photos for the drama set before Citizen Kane hit the big screen, Oldman transforms into famed Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and Seyfried becomes starlet Marion Davies. The Netflix drama, written by Jack Fincher, follows the titular screenwriter as he rushes to get the Oscar-winning film’s screenplay to Orson Welles.
The first look photos, which Netflix released on social media platforms Saturday, also see Lily Collins as Rita Alexander, sharing a toast with Oldman’s Mankiewicz. Netflix revealed the insider look at Fincher’s re-imagining of Hollywood’s classic age on the 79th anniversary of Citizen Kane‘s wide theatrical release.
Mank also stars Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Sam Troughton, Tuppence Middleton, Ferdinand Kingsley and Tom Burke. Joseph Cross, Jamie McShane, Toby Leonard Moore,...
In the photos for the drama set before Citizen Kane hit the big screen, Oldman transforms into famed Hollywood screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz and Seyfried becomes starlet Marion Davies. The Netflix drama, written by Jack Fincher, follows the titular screenwriter as he rushes to get the Oscar-winning film’s screenplay to Orson Welles.
The first look photos, which Netflix released on social media platforms Saturday, also see Lily Collins as Rita Alexander, sharing a toast with Oldman’s Mankiewicz. Netflix revealed the insider look at Fincher’s re-imagining of Hollywood’s classic age on the 79th anniversary of Citizen Kane‘s wide theatrical release.
Mank also stars Arliss Howard, Tom Pelphrey, Sam Troughton, Tuppence Middleton, Ferdinand Kingsley and Tom Burke. Joseph Cross, Jamie McShane, Toby Leonard Moore,...
- 9/5/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
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