Rich Phillips is chief technology officer for Arts Alliance Media, one of the pioneers of digital cinema. In this, the first article in an ongoing series of articles about the cloud, Phillips and I talk about how the evolving technology is changing the cinema business including distribution and exhibition.
Universal Pictures’ record-breaking blockbuster Jurassic World features a number of practical shots that were designed, built, and filmed at 32Ten Studios in San Rafael, California. The most prominent were the gates that welcomed visitors to the prehistoric theme park Jurassic World. Those gates, which needed to appear massive on screen, were actually 19-foot set pieces built at 32Ten under the supervision of model maker Mark Anderson.
Archimedia has announced the release of Iris 1.0, a suite of applications that overcomes six specific areas where file-based media production and distribution traditionally bog down. “People who are involved with file-based workflow recognize these areas immediately,” says Mark Gray, CEO of Archimedia. “They are places in file-based workflow that are fundamentally different than linear workflow, and where unprecedented challenges slow things down.”
Pixel Underground, a Sim Group company, has completed a major facility expansion that includes the addition of a cinema-style 4K grading theatre. The new construction also includes a 4K online finishing suite.
Rodeo FX completed 50 visual effects shots for the latest Brad Bird movie, Tomorrowland, including digital matte painting, blue screen compositing, scene enhancements, CG effects and simulation, and a thrilling sequence in which the central characters escape in a rocket-propelled bathtub pod moments before their farmhouse explodes.
Colorfront’s Transkoder automated, standalone system for digital file conversion, has been certified by Dolby Laboratories for the creation of Dolby Atmos Digital Cinema Packages.
Pacific Wave Media worked on the sound for director Richard Zelniker’s As Night Comes, which was mixed on a Genelec 1029 system and then was recently screened for distributors in the Zanuck Theater and The Little Theater, both on Fox’s studio lot.
Vintage Racer is the story of classic car enthusiasts and their pursuit of fast cars primarily from the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. Led by director, Randall P. Dark and executive producer, Stephen Brent Jenkins, the program was shot on location at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Sportscar Vintage Racers Association’s Brickyard Vintage Racing Invitational.
Editor’s Note: Writer Timo Klinge recently sat down with Ben Osmo, production sound mixer and Oliver Machin, sound department coordinator & vehicle FX recordist about their experiences in the desert of Nambia, Africa during the recent production Mad Max: Fury Road. This article was provided by Ambient Recording and is reprinted here with the company’s permission.
Helicopter Film Services used the Aerigon aerial remote camera head from Intuitive Aerial to shoot aerial footage used throughout Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. The footage was fed directly into ILM’s VFX pipeline.
