VFX: Game of Thrones

Karakter have posted up a great article on their concept work for the visual effects of Season 2 of Game of Thrones. Detailing their approach to a television series that is producing effects on the comparable level to some films of the past decade such as Troy. But they insist that the effects hold a certain humbleness so as not to distract from the story (and superb acting) at play.

A few more interesting pointers revolve around paying attention to timeline & budget and building from the existing world where possible. It's quite an excellent look into a side of the production that isn't necessarily publicised as much. I'm still extremely impressed with how the pulled off Harrenhal - really does look like a dragon ripped through there.

Check out the link for more.

Twelve*4

g. from J. Xavier Velasco on Vimeo.

I have recently decided upon the objective of my Master's Project - to achieve a unique visual style through developing a unique visual style and using the visual effects to introduce elements of the way that I perceive the world into live action footage. Everything will reflect my personality  and perception of the world - the way that thing's and people appear, the way that that thing's move and interact with each other.

I know it probably sounds a little complicated but in my mind I have a very clear image of how this will work. Imagine walking past someone in the street - you see them but you don't really SEE them. All you see is what they project to the outside world - where you might see a huge bearded mean-looking fellow riding a motorbike, those that know him might see something different all together - like a cute little creature with endless compassion. That's what I mean - just by looking at someone and inevitably judging them from their appearances, it doesn't mean that you know them or see them at all.

Some main inspiration points that I am drawing on for this project are the works of Tim Burton, Chris Landreth and the film Tron.

The short film 'g.' provided me with some more inspiration today. The look and feel of the film is awesome, but the way that the story is what really inspires me.

Eleven*9

Reulf from Charlesque on Vimeo.

Eleven*5

 I discovered this short film 'Connected' a couple of days ago. It's very cool, quite niche - they have done alot with not very much at all. 3 actors, essentially 1 location in Denmark (w. some very nice matte painting & colour grading) and created something that I find really appealing. It also helps me on the road to creating my short film (currently writing the script). I am reassessing the base story - trying to think of EVERYTHING, so that I am not making too much work for myself for the next couple of years.

 The film is set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland and is a story of survival in a wasteland and the greed that comes with desperate need to survive. It's eerie, full of the flaws of human kind and quite compelling. What is most interesting to me is what they achieved with their visual effects - they achieved the entire sense of the wasteland with some spectacular matte paintings, some colour grading and some particles around the place. This provides some food-for-thought for me in regards to the visual effects side of my own film, and very possibly the story. My film is in it's beginning; existing as a rough outline of the story - very susceptible to inevitable change. I just need to narrow down the key elements of my story and what I want to achieve with the film and go from there!

As for Connected, unfortunately it is not available for embedding, but here is a link to their site - which includes the production blog;

Connected

Nine*6

I have been trying to type this entry for two days now, and I am at the point that I want to do a few other posts so I really have to get on with this.

I came across an article on Phillip Bloom on Monday night. It was on his recent visit to Skywalker Ranch to demo some camera's to the Lucasfilm crew out there, namely George Lucas, Rick McCallum and Mike Blanchard. The camera's that he was giving the run down on were the Canon 5DmkII and the Canon 7D - but focusing on their potential for use in film as opposed to still photography. As someone who is looking to make a short film over the next 2 years (Master of Arts Practice project) I was very quickly very interested in this article and followed it to Bloom's personal blog which went more in depth into what he did whilst out at the Ranch for 5 days.

Skywalker Ranch from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

It's amazing what can be done with a digital slr, I must say that i was unprepared for the superb quality of the video. No wonder ILM/Lucasfilm are looking into the cameras, moreso Lucasfilm than ILM. Lucasfilm just finished up principle photography on Red Tails and are looking into the cameras for use in shooting some cockpit scenes (WWII Fighters) which sounds as though they are once again moving ahead of the times. The maneuverability within a cockpit with a slr opposed to a full size film camera is of a definite advantage to the film maker - obviously allowing them the freedom for new angles, perspectives and techniques that the physical size of film cameras immediately dismiss. As Bloom mentions in his blog, they are also considering the cameras for some work on the upcoming live-action TV Series; which I am very curious to hear/see more about but that will not be appearing on our radar for a while longer. Obviously the range of the applications for these camera's is of obvious interest to those in the film industry looking to further the techniques of filming, or at least alternative methods.

Following this train of research has given me something to think about in regards to my Master's Short Film. There is an accompanying seminar that is to be written and given in the latter part of the course's duration which focuses on your project and area of focus. I think I will look into new and alternative methods of filming and incorporating visual effects. The specialisation of My Master of Art Practice is Visual Effects, which will focus on digital sets, set extensions and the like.