Blade Runner Behind the Scenes (1982)

Few films in the science fiction genre have had the visual impact and lasting influence of Ridley Scott's Blade Runner (1982). Initially branded a failure due to it's lackluster box office performance (Released just a few week or so after E.T.) and bleak depiction of the future, the film went on to find a worldwide fan base due to its popularity on home video. It is often singled out as one of the most influential films due to its ground breaking production design and visual effects work (which were presided over by Close Encounters of The Third Kind visual impresario Douglas Trumbull, using most of the crew from that film). The resulting images are the most striking depictions of a sprawling modern metropolis since...well, Metropolis (1927)

below is the link to more archive photos...

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.416152811808206.1073741846.394337563989731&type=3

Behind the scenes pictures from "Jaws"

Just posted some new behind the scene pictures from "Jaws" which really gives you a good pictorial  insight into the complex mechanics of making the live action shark (Dubbed "Bruce" after Spielberg's lawyer allegedly.). These were taken on location in Martha's Vinyard nearly 30 years ago. Enjoy

Link Below:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405834162840071.94332.394337563989731&type=1

Has Iron Man jumped the mechanical shark?

Let's face it this looks silly...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=v8tUoZrdsts

Star Trek Into the Darkness international Trailer released

Proposal- Global archive for Visual Arts in Film/ Television/ Video Games

There has never been a successful archive/Museum to preserve the art of the moving image in the United States. I find it fascinating that for all the wealth in Hollywood no one has ever been philanthropic enough to create a museum to preserve the visual history of movies. I suspect the main reason is the cost to maintain and acquire exhibits and the logistics required to run such an endeavor.

What I wish to propose is an Online museum where the donations would be made by people within the community.

I want to expand that idea to include digital art work and effects from television shows and video games.

In relation to video games, most people tend to regard VGs with a certain amount of distain. It is widely believed that this form of entertainment cannot be considered art. I would submit that this judgement is incorrect. Just look at "Journey" a downloadable game on the Playstation 3 and you'll quickly see what I mean.

I have created a "prototype" through Facebook of what I had in mind. This is simply a visual effects archive but it gets across the concepts that I am proposing.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coolvfx-visual-effects-archive-page/394337563989731

These images stored here would be for educational and historic preservation and not for resale or distribution. They would be donated by studios, individuals and companies interested in preserving entertainment history.

Ultimately this would be created by a custom database designer and not on Facebook. People wishing to access it would simply have to auto sign an agreement stating they will not distribute the images for profit.

In addition to photos, illustrations would be scanned and scripts and digital files would stored as well.

Proposal- On Visual Effects Unionization. Absorb dont expand

If there is one thing the studios are afraid of is another union that could potentially shut down film and television production with the threat of a strike. Perhaps that's why there has been so little traction in the formation of a visual effects union. Many people believe that it will only chase the studios away from companies here in the United States, seeking lower rates in third world countries where no unions exists. Many supporters of the idea of unionization believe that once one country unionizes , it will create a domino effect and eventually they too will Unionize their workers. It's hard to say for sure what will happen but one thing is for certain, it wont come without great resistance.

One possible solution would be to absorb digital animators into IATSE locals in their respective states. VFX producers/coordinators could be unionized through the DGA. Their negotiations regarding contracts, wages and benefits etc could be handled by representatives through a special division of that local who specializes in digital animators salaries, etc.

This is not the first time this has happened. The video playback and video assist operators on film crews are unionized through the sound union division and their rates are determined by that section of the sound union.

This proposal helps alleviate the confusion and bureaucracy that will undoubtably occur with the quick creation of a new union within Hollywood which the studio heads will no doubt resist.

The unionization of these workers is inevitable but hopefully there will be a compromise that everyone will be able to live with.

global consortium for talent in technology

The recent meeting held by the visual effects community that was simulcast on line to every country in the world (via youtube) has brought attention to the struggling artists who work within the entertainment community. Several studio closures (The most recent was Rhythm and Hues which received the Oscar for Life Of PI) have brought this issue serious scrutiny. In addition to the need for a trade union which will negotiate fair labor practices and wages for every member of it's organization, I submit that a global database of talent is needed so that production companies can quickly locate talent and personnel all over the world when needed. Thus providing employers with quick access to the talent pool.

Beyond what the IMDB is capable of providing, a global database would provide information and availability of all individuals and contain information on the software and hardware they are familiar with. It would include cameramen, digital artists, pre-vis artists producers and coordinators, it people, and other high tech professionals who work in the industry. It should provide links to agent representation who can negotiate rates if necessary.

This database would be part of a global network which would allow producer to find talent in any country and link them to them directly.