I got the chance to contribute some fx-related pieces to Syfy.com – here’s the first which looks back at some of the best creature fx from the 70s and 80s. And I managed to speak to The Fly’s creature creator Chris Walas.
My second piece for Syfy is already online, and looks at the rise of CG in horror films. Loved re-visiting Event Horizon, Final Destination 2, The Host and Mama. Check it out here.
The Comic Con bug is crawling its way to New York. But even before it could sting its hoi polloi, an air of bacchanalia has already started to engulf. Reason? Pacific Rim: Uprising is all set to roll out its first look at the New York Comic Con 2017!
To be held across 5 to 8 October, the NYCC will be the next biggest fan convention after the San Diego edition conducted in July. Naturally, the fanfare is just as astronomical and the aficionados are looking forward to some big surprises.
The bigger one remains the official teaser of the second installment Pacific Rim per se, as the makers have promised to show a glimpse of the upcoming sci-fi monster adventure.
The story is set in the aftermath of The Battle of the Breach, and with the Jaeger program becoming the most powerful defense force ever seen. The movie is also set to feature the return of Kaiju, the colossal monsters who wreaked havoc on Earth in the previous film, as they rear their ugly head again.
Whilst the 2013 film fared positively at the box office, expectations are far greater from its sequel. And the upcoming trailer might just set the standards.
Acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro – who produced directed the first part – will serve as the story writer and producer in this sequel.
Directed by Steven DeKnight, Pacific Rim: Uprising is slated for March 2018 release.
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Blackmagic Design today announced that the final release of DaVinci Resolve 14, its professional editing, colour correction and digital audio software, is now available for download from the Blackmagic Design website.
DaVinci Resolve 14 is the biggest release in the history of the product, and has been designed to be a complete revolution in post-production. It is the world’s only fully integrated professional editing, colour correction and audio solution. It scales from a single user all the way up to the largest collaborative studio workflows.
New features include up to 10 times performance improvement, a whole new audio post production suite with fairlight audio built in, and multi user collaboration tools that let multiple people edit, colour and mix audio from multiple systems, all in the same project at the same time. In addition, DaVinci Resolve 14 includes hundreds of new features for editors and colourists, including over 20 new effects such as automatic facial recognition and tracking so customers can quickly refine and enhance faces in their shots.
“The public beta of DaVinci Resolve 14 has been downloaded more than any other version of the software in its history,” said Blackmagic Design CEO Grant Petty. “This new version is a major leap forward because it now gives every customer, from individual users to large studios, a way to seamlessly move between editing, grading, and audio. That means they can spend more time being creative and less time translating projects and switching between multiple applications!”
DaVinci Resolve 14
The software is like three high-end applications in one. Customers get professional editing, colour correction and new Fairlight audio tools. All it takes is a single click to switch between editing, colour and audio. For multi user studios, DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio features bin and timeline locking, secure chat, a graphical timeline comparison tool for accepting and merging changes, and more. These features dramatically change post-production from a linear to a parallel workflow. Customers no longer have to import, export, translate or conform projects. Everyone can work on the same project at the same time.
The free version of DaVinci Resolve 14, which includes more features than most paid software applications, is available for download from the Blackmagic Design website.
For even more creative options, customers can purchase the full DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio for $299 (Rs. 19,136). The paid DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio adds the new collaborative multi user tools, over 20 new Resolve FX including the advanced face enhancement tools, 4K and 120fps project support, stereoscopic 3D, optical quality blur and mist effects, film grain, de-noise tools and much more. Best of all, DaVinci Resolve 14 Studio does not require a connection to the internet or a cloud subscription to work.
DaVinci Resolve 14 runs on all major platforms, including Mac, Windows and Linux, making it easy to integrate with existing systems and workflows. Customers running Red Hat or CentOS Linux can even build their own workstations using low cost motherboards, extremely fast processors, massive amounts of RAM and up to eight GPUs for incredible real time performance.
DaVinci Resolve 14
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We Don’t Hire Nerds or Geeks, we hire individuals with creative skills and ability to make a difference. If you think you are the one, then we would like to meet you.
GelaroGrace Studio is an emerging Delhi-NCR based Company founded by young bloods in 2013. Our vision is to creating something meaningful and worth working. In the past 4 years we have worked upon many Feature Films & Tv Series projects with many of our clients. Working in GelaroGrace Studio is always a process of meeting new challenges and learning something new each and every day. We also serve our high quality services for several international clients.
We are looking for the talented artists with creative mind for our upcoming Feature Films and TV Series projects. If you think you are the one then join us and become the part of some of the most creative and prestigious on floor. So go through the Job descriptions mentioned below and apply whichever suits you best.
For more information, please visit https://www.gelarogracestudio.com/
We are currently hiring for the following positions(Fresher & Experienced).
Please send your updated resume to: hr@gelarogracestudio.com
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The second annual B.C. India summit in ‘Digital Media and Entertainment’ is all set to roll ahead commencing on the eighteenth of September 2017 in Canada at Vancouver, British Columbia (B.C.) Canada India Business Council is organising it in collaboration with Creative B.C. and the B.C. Ministry of jobs, trade and technology.B.C. is a leading creative hub at the forefront of entertainment technology offering the 3 ‘T’ advantages of – Tax credits, Talent and Time zone.
It will be hosted at the Marriott Hotel in Downtown Vancouver. There will be panel discussions at the summit encompassing success stories in this sector and why Indian/International studios are opting for British Columbia as their North American headquarters. The summit will also include discussions on how B.C.’s internationally renowned educational institutions support talent development, acquisition and retention in the digital media and entertainment space.
All the details of the summit can be checked in the following website link https://www.canada-indiabusiness.com/B.C.-partnership-summit—2017
B.C. Film and VFX report
British Columbia features a creative cluster of world-class television, visual effects, animation and post-production companies. There is over 2.5 million square feet of studio space and over 60 studios. With the right mix of technology, talent and strong links to Hollywood, British Columbia has earned a reputation as one of the world’s leading creative media centers, producing award-winning content for global audiences.
Recent studio productions such as Deadpool, War of the Planet of the Apes, Okja, World of Warcraft, Star Trek Beyond, Tron 3 and The Big Friendly Giant (BFG) were produced there.
The westernmost province of Canada has exhaustive and innovative capabilities in animation, VFX for creative media and leading edge entertainment technology. As a matter of fact, production companies spent approximately $2 billion on a total of 287 domestic and international productions in British Columbia in 2014/15. The advantages that it brings have led companies like Sony Pictures Imageworks, Industrial Light and Magic, Double Negative and more to base many of their VFX projects.
B.C. Gaming Report
Twenty seven percent of Canadian digital gaming companies are based in the B.C. Province alone. It is home to a numerous world-class companies specialising in game development.British Columbia is an international centre for console, social and mobile game production, as well as an emerging hub for virtual reality technology. The province offers highly skilled talent, a cost-competitive and convenient west coast location and targeted incentives. Leading gaming companies including Capcom Game Studio, EA (Electronic Arts), Microsoft, Sega, Eastside Games and 100 plus more studios have a presence in Vancouver.
With strong links to the U.S. west coast, Asia and Europe, its interactive gaming sector is integrated with world markets and can handle the full range of development starting from concept to production.
In 2016, Mercer rated Vancouver as the top North American city for quality of living fifth in the world for the same. Vancouver is also ranked third in the Economist’s Global Liveability Report out of 140 cities. These studies reflect B.C.’s high level of stability, health care, culture, environment, education and infrastructure. Other major cities in British Columbia such as its capital city, Victoria and even Kelowna have emerged as strong game development hubs, attracting international players such as Disney’s Club Penguin and GameHouse Canada.
The Provincial Government is also supportive in terms of:
British Columbia: Leader in Digital Media
Testimonials
When the talk is about the leading destinations for film, animation and VFX, Vancouver shares the lead with L.A. A city known for its film industry, Vancouver provides “big three” competitive advantages in the digital media and film sector.
Rick Mischel of Sony Pictures Imageworks explains, “It’s got proximity to Los Angeles, which is still the centre of entertainment industry. It is where the big clients are, it is where the big projects get launched. What is important for working collaboratively with the respective creative communities, is that Vancouver is in the same time-zone as L.A.”
Mischel further added, “There’s a creative mass of talent in the animation and VFX industry in Vancouver. It has seen exponential growth. And that creative mass of talent means that there is a pool of people to draw for creating amazing projects.”
The B.C. India partnership summit at Vancouver is undoubtedly a good news for the digital media and entertainment space. There will be a superb creative and business buzz at the venue. See you in Vancouver!
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After long episodes of scepticism and negotiation farrago within the production, the makers of Suicide Squad sequel have finally found the man to helm the project.
Prima facie reports suggest well known Hollywood director Gavin O’Connor has been roped in to write and direct Suicide Squad 2, as Warner Bros studios’ can now finally go ahead with the much-stalled project.
David Ayer helmed the first part of the supervillain ensemble which went on to gross $745 million in worldwide collections. However, the movie garnered largely negative reviews while the fans were left disappointed too. In the aftermath, Ayer stepped aside to work in Gotham City Sirens, leaving a void in this project that would be filled only recently.
O’Connor has films like The Accountant, Jane Got a Gun, Warrior among a few else under his belt, but the anti-hero vehicle is set to be his biggest assignment to date. The 52-year old will now have his plates full by having to conjure a script from the scratch and get the filming underway, much to the production’s respite.
Based on DC Comics, Suicide Squad 2 will go on floors in mid-2018, with Margot Robbie, Will Smith and Jared Leto all confirmed to reprise their roles as Harley Quinn, Deadshot and the Joker, respectively.
Gavin O’Connor
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Hooq, a video-on-demand service in South-East Asia, has now got exclusive SVOD rights to bring three of Marvel’s latest series – Inhumans, Runaways and Cloak and Dagger – on the same day as the US telecast on their platform for the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, via a newly inked deal with The Walt Disney Company South-East Asia.
While the first chapter of Marvel’s Inhumans has been released last week worldwide in IMAX theatres, the following episodes will then be available on Hooq from the end of September with additional exclusive content, not seen in IMAX theatres. Next up will be Marvel’s Runaways which debuts on digital on 21 November 2017. Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger will be released later on in 2018. All these will have all episodes screened same day as the US telecast.
These three new series will join the collection of Marvel movies and series already on the Hooq platform – the recent Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2, Agent Carter, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Marvel’s The Avengers, Thor, Iron Man, Iron Man 2, and Captain America – The First Avenger.
This exclusive deal comes shortly after Hooq announced their collaboration with Disney earlier this year, to bring their latest movies onto the platform via Transactional VOD (TVOD).
“Hooq is always looking for new ways and partnerships to bring exciting and quality content to our viewers. This tie-up with Disney, which now allows our viewers to catch their favourite series Inhumans, Runaways and Cloak and Dagger on the same day as the US telecast is something we are very proud of and brings the world of Marvel’s superheroes closer to Asia. Marvel’s series’ now available on Hooq is the first of many things to come with this tie-up and we will continue to push boundaries, to evolve and stay committed to delivering unique, compelling and edgy stories to millions of our customers in the region,” said Hooq CEO Peter Bithos.
“We are excited to extend our collaboration with Hooq in bringing these iconic Marvel shows day and date with the US telecast to digital audiences across Southeast Asia. We are pleased to offer our Marvel fans yet another platform to enjoy their favourite TV shows” said The Walt Disney Company Southeast Asia VP and GM of media networks Amit Malhotra.
Marvel’s Inhumans
Marvel’s Inhumans is the latest series from Marvel Studios and its first chapter is shot completely in IMAX cameras. After the royal family of Inhumans is splintered by a military coup, they barely escape to Hawaii where their surprising interactions with the lush world and humanity around them may prove to not only save them, but Earth itself.
Marvel’s Runaways
Marvel’s Runaways will be the first TV adaptation of the Marvel comic of the same name, where a group of teenagers find out not only do they have superpowers, but that their parents are supervillains. Torn between filial piety and being heroes, they will face adversaries like never before.
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger
Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger, also follows the characters of the Marvel comic of the same name. Heroes Tyrone Johnson and Tandy Bowen share a symbiotic relationship as a crime fighting duo since they are light and darkness incarnate. These series are all set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
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Videocon d2h “Asia’s Most Promising DTH service” has packets of happiness not only for kids but also for their parents with its broad range of TV channels for kids infotainment. Kids love a variety of content which matches their psyche like animated cartoons, rhymes shows, mythological characters. AnimationXpress team explored the fascinating world of kids entertainment and we spoke to Videocon d2h CEO Anil Khera about the same.
The regular kids channels in Videocon d2h range from Nick, Hungama, Disney Channel, Pogo, Discovery Kids, Baby TV, Disney XD, Disney Junior which offer a rainbow of entertainment as well educative programmes for kids, many of them being animated cartoons.
The Indian pay TV today finds its satellite reflectors cabling out of every other residence, signifying its far-reach and prosperity. Founded in 2009, Videocon d2h which is known as “India’s most trusted brand” offers a myriad of channels which includes several regional languages.
Currently, Videocon d2h has its own two customized kid centric services, d2h Kids and d2h Rhymes. d2h Kids focuses on the growth of creativity of child through the means of animation programmes, ranging from action and adventure to mythology and comedy. d2h Rhymes showcases a wide variety of nursery rhymes and jingles for kids and helps to develop their interest via sing along content like English and Hindi karaoke. It is entirely a break free service. d2h Rhymes has also turned out to be more popular of the two.
CEO Anil Khera says, “Our karaoke rhymes are really popular, as it makes it easier for the kids to know the actual lyrics of their favourite rhymes. Even if they can’t read it themselves, their parents can sing along those rhymes and help their kids to learn rhymes faster.”
The targeted age groups of d2h kids and d2h rhymes are between six to twelve and two to six years respectively. The shows are broadcasted in English as well as Hindi with both services available at a very affordable price of Rs.35 per month.
The shows which the kids watch normally have an influence on their behaviour and perception. Hence, it is vital to showcase only the content that contributes to their edification and psychological development. To this, Anil Khera says, “I think animated shows have a very good impact on the kids as they always love to do what their favourite animation characters do and that is the reason we don’t prefer to showcase any show where the main character is playing a spoilt kid.”
Among all the shows, the ones based on mythology have endeared the kids a lot. The mythical tales of the Indian gods and goddesses fascinate the young audience and maybe that is the reason why there are more shows of this genre coming up, opines Anil. He feels, “Kids have always been very fascinated by the adventurous stories of gods fighting with demons. They love the victory of good over evil. That is why they like watching such shows in animation which teaches them something good and entertains them as well.”
And, moreover they don’t get to see about these on daily basis, either they have to wait for some festive occasion so that some regular channel would show such content or else they have to watch other daily soaps about such topics on the GEC channels, which is rather boring for them.
There is a plenty of good feedback from parents stating that d2h rhymes has been tremendously helpful for them. As it is a break free channel, it makes their kids totally engrossed in the catchy animated rhymes for a long time and the parents get to do some other work simultaneously.
It has also been very surprising for them to see their kids humming new rhymes each day. Shows like Pet Pals, Turtle Island, Mythology Hour are among the more popular shows, as the kids tend to have an inclination towards shows that are adventurous and involve problem solving.
The tender age of kids is the time when they are curious about knowing the world and have hundreds of questions in their mind. There is also a need for engagement and entertainment which is at times unavailable in the real world due to today’s hectic lifestyle. Videocon d2h has filled these gaps in a relevant yet entertaining manner. Today, the popularity of the kids channels of Videocon d2h is trending ahead due to its outstanding content. It is indeed a sunshine of happiness!
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