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The Optical — Movie Magic, VFX and Film Technology

The Optical — Movie Magic, VFX and Film Technology
A journey back through the annals of Cinefex magazine, talking about the movies and topics they covered 30+ years ago. We talk to people involved in the films, people who make movies, and people who love movies, and have a fun time doing it.

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Created by: Mark Boszko
Created on: 29 May 2014
Language: English


Add this to another station The Optical 005 - Cinefex 5, Ray Harryhausen, Clash of the Titans, The State of 3D, Roy Arbogast, Caveman (54.60MB; download) -- Complete show notes (with links) are available at http://opticalpodcast.com/episode_005 We chat with Jose Vazquez about Clash of the Titans, Ray Harryhausen?s other stop-motion creature films, Roy Arbogast?s work on the shark for Jaws and other physical effects, and experience the prehistoric comedy, Caveman. We also interview special guest Ed Marsh about the stop motion techniques in Chicken Run, and discuss the current state (and the future) of 3D movies. Listen for your chance to win a free 1-year print subscription to Cinefex magazine. Subscribe to the Podcast Subscribe in iTunes Enhanced AAC podcast feed MP3 podcast feed Sponsor Cinefex magazine The journal of cinematic illusions. Features Ray Harryhausen Clash of the Titans (1981) Jason and the Argonauts (1963) Roy Arbogast Jaws (1975) Caveman (1981) Follow along with our List on Letterboxd, featuring films weve covered, and upcoming films to watch. Guests Jose Vazquez, Harryhausen fan Ed Marsh, filmmaker and Stereoscopic Supervisor on several recent films Music All tracks by Digital Droo, featuring his new single, 2AM Research Materials Cinefex 5 ? July 1981, available in the Cinefex iPad app Revisiting Cinefex (5): Ray Harryhausen, Titans, Roy Arbogast and Caveman by Graham Edwards Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan documentary Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life by Ray Harryhausen and Tony Dalton More bits Celebrating Cinefex Willis O?Brien Revisited by Don Shy, on the Cinefex Blog Furia de titanes The 7th Voyage of Sinbad skeleton fight Ray Harryhausen?s Evolution footage The Harryhausen Chronicles behind the scenes documentary Stop Motion on Wikipedia Ray Harryhausen filmography George Pal?s Puppetoons The War of the Worlds (1953) Harryhausen?s Army training films and his Mother Goose stories can be seen in Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection Mighty Joe Young (1949) CGI water breakdowns by Important Looking Pirates Position Based Fluids demo from 2013, which may lead to more realistic CGI fluid simulations Ted smith talks about his work on the Titanic ?miniature? Boinx iStopMotion apps for Mac, iPad, and the Remote Camera app for iPhone Clash of the Titans (2010) He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Justice League Young Justice Fantasia (1940) The Thief of Bagdad (1940) free to watch on Hulu Visual Effects documentary about the technical achievements of The Thief of Bagdad. A 9-inch Bubo that you can put on your shoulder Aardman Animations Chicken Run Pillsbury Doughboy commercial from 1982 Flushed Away CGI animation Ghosts of the Abyss Under Pressure: Making The Abyss in slightly less than 37 parts on YouTube James Cameron and Vince Paces Fusion Camera System ?Ironically, director André de Toth was blind in one eye and unable to experience stereo vision or the 3-D effects. ?It?s one of the great Hollywood stories,? Vincent Price recalled. ?When they wanted a director for a 3-D film, they hired a man who couldn?t see 3-D at all!?? ? from House of Wax (1953 film) on Wikipedia Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) in 3D When the Movie is 3D, But the NLEs Are 2D featuring the diagram of 3D workflow from Journey to the Center of the Earth Avatar (2009) in 3D Prime Focus World?s 3D conversion work The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) in 3D Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) in 3D SCTV: Monster Chiller Horror Theater presents Dr. Tongues 3D House of Stewardesses The Eye as Camera from Laurie Andersons Nerve Bible (transcript) Up in 3D Douglas Trumbulls UFOTOG demo film for his new 120P/3D/4K ?Magi? process Showscan Showscan: A 70mm High Impact Experience ? in-depth article on showscan, including some mentions of ?a corporate film and commercial for the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors Corporation.? LArrivée dun train en gare de La Ciotat ? ?The story goes that when the film was first shown,
Selected by: Mark Boszko [ stations ], Thu, 29 May 2014 02:32:51 UTC
Add this to another station The Optical 004 - Outland, Altered States, Open Moco, and Sensory Deprivation (53.90MB; download) -- Complete show notes (with links) are available at http://opticalpodcast.com/episode_004 We chat with film fan Brian Covey about the development of the front-screen Introvision technique for Outland or as I like to call it, Sean Connery: Space Cop! and the early computer effects and makeup for Altered States, interview Brad Justinen and Shane McKown of Motion Sickness about their Open MoCo project, and take our own dip on a sensory deprivation tank for SCIENCE! Also listen for your chance to win a free 1-year print subscription to Cinefex magazine. Subscribe to the Podcast Subscribe in iTunes Enhanced AAC podcast feed MP3 podcast feed Sponsors Cinefex magazine The journal of cinematic illusions. float|seattle Take yourself on a blind date? with yourself. Features Outland Introvision Altered States Sensory deprivation tanks Follow along with our List on Letterboxd, featuring films weve covered, and upcoming films to watch. Guests Brian Covey ? Lover of film. Brad Justinen and Shane McKown of Motion Sickness and Open MoCo Sean McCormick of float|seattle Music All tracks by Digital Droo, specifically his Warpgate Music playlist Research Materials Cinefex 4 ? April 1981 Revisiting Cinefex (4): Outland and Altered States by Graham Edwards US Patent 5,061,061 ?Front projection composite photography system combining staged action with two projected images?, including diagrams More bits Mark Roberts Motion Control Harmonic drive for motion control rigs Intervalometer for time lapse photography Hypnagogic imagery Flying-spot scanner HUVr hoverboard hoax, featuring Tony Hawk, Christopher Lloyd, Moby, and a baffling array of celebrities Red Dawn (1984) Stigmata DMT: The Spirit Molecule As ever The Optical theme by Digital Droo The Optical aperture logo by Mike Gower
Selected by: Mark Boszko [ stations ], Thu, 29 May 2014 02:32:44 UTC
Add this to another station The Optical 003 - Cinefex 3, Walter Murch, Sound Design, Saul Bass Title Design, and Phase IV (56.48MB; download) -- Complete show notes (with links) are available at http://opticalpodcast.com/episode_003 We chat with TV writer and producer Ian Brier about Walter Murch?s early sound design for THX 1138, American Graffiti, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now, as well as Saul Bass? science fiction film Phase IV, interview Scott Leberecht and Christina Lee Storm about Life After Pi and the current state of the VFX industry, and talk with MK12 partner Ben Radatz about Saul Bass? career in title design. Also listen for your chance to win a free 1-year print subscription to Cinefex magazine. Subscribe to the Podcast Subscribe in iTunes Enhanced AAC podcast feed MP3 podcast feed Sponsor Cinefex magazine ? The journal of cinematic illusions. Features Walter Murch?s sound design for THX 1138, American Graffiti, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now Life After Pi The title design of Saul Bass Phase IV Follow along with our List on Letterboxd, featuring films we?ve covered, and upcoming films to watch. Guests Ian Brier ? Television Writer and Producer, and Walter Murch aficionado. Scott Leberecht and Christina Lee Storm ? documentary filmmakers Ben Radatz ? co-founder of MK12, experimental filmmaker, designer, and writer Music All tracks by Digital Droo Research Materials Cinefex 3 ? December 1980 Revisiting Cinefex (3): Empire, Walter Murch and Phase IV by Graham Edwards In the Blink of an Eye by Walter Murch The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film by Michael Ondaatje Saul Bass: A Life in Film and Design by Jennifer Bass and Pat Kirkham Art of the Title - Saul Bass Art of the Title - MK12, including the Quantum of Solace titles More bits Gravity wins Oscar for Best Visual Effects On the Media: Wilhelm ? the history of the Wilhelm scream Quintaphonic sound, and also a mention on the Quadraphonic sound page on Wikipedia Heart of Darkness (the book) by Joseph Conrad, first published in 1899, about a trip up the river in Africa at the turn of the century, and Kurtz is an ivory trader. Hearts of Darkness - A Filmmaker?s Apocalypse (the documentary) featuring on-location home movies shot in the Philippines by Eleanor Coppola during the production of Apocalypse Now. Jim Morrisson at UCLA VFX Artists March at Dolby Theater Modus VFX firm goes out of business as of March 6, 2014. VFX Soldier Maurice Binder, Pablo Ferro, Iginio Lardani, and Daniel Kleinman, title designers Lissajous curve ? ?Not to be confused with spirographs, which are generally enclosed by a circular boundary, whereas Lissajous curves are enclosed by rectangular boundaries.? The Life of John Whitney, Computer Animation Pioneer ?Catalog? 1961 ? ?John Whitney?s demo reel of work created with his analog computer/film camera magic machine he built from a WWII anti-aircraft gun sight.? You can see some lissajous figures around the 5:50 mark that, if slowed down, look much like some of the curves seen in the Vertigo titles. Filming the Invisible, showcasing the nature photography of Ken Middleham. Saul Bass? Lost Original Ending for Phase IV Discovered in Los Angeles Special Thanks Eric Alba Scot Byrd Ian Albinson at Art of the Title As ever The Optical theme by Digital Droo The Optical ?aperture? logo by Mike Gower
Selected by: Mark Boszko [ stations ], Thu, 29 May 2014 02:32:37 UTC
Add this to another station The Optical 002 - Cinefex 2, The Empire Strikes Back, Howie Weed, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and 1941 (58.55MB; download) -- Complete show notes (with links) are available at http://opticalpodcast.com/episode_002 In our second episode, we chat with passionate fan Rob Rhyne about The Empire Strikes Back, interview modelmaker, creature creator, and digital artist Howie Weed about his career and work on The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition, and we quickly chat with Duncan Boszko to get a perspective on Greg Jeins physical miniature models in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1941, and The Hunt for Red October from someone who was born after the advent of CGI. Also listen for your chance to win a free 1-year print subscription to Cinefex magazine. Subscribe to the Podcast Subscribe in iTunes Enhanced AAC podcast feed MP3 podcast feed Sponsor Cinefex magazine The journal of cinematic illusions. Features The Empire Strikes Back Greg Jeins model work in Close Encounters of the Third Kind and 1941 How are miniature models made? Guests Howie Weed ? Model maker, creature creator, digital artist, long-time ILM-er, and the guy inside the Wampa suit in The Empire Strikes Back: Special Edition. Rob Rhyne, Empire Strikes Back superfan, Developer, Designer, and CEO of MartianCraft. Duncan Boszko, writer, aspiring filmmaker, and with a play in the 2014 Young Playwrights Festival at the Young Playwrights Program at ACT. Music All tracks by Aaron Cherof: 0:35:05 Crowd Clout 1:43:42 A Foe Pause 2:02:00 Mamnae Research Materials Cinefex 2 ? August 1980 Cinefex 3 ? December 1980 ? article ?Tauntauns, Walkers and Probots? by Paul Mandell The Making of The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced Edition) by J.W. Rinzler Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back by Alan Arnold Building Empire: A Filmumentary by Jamie Benning ? a fan documentary, where he edits behind-the-scenes, alternate footage, and trivia track information into the film itself. The Making of 1941 by Glenn Erickson Mary Ellen Trainor Close Encounters of the Third Kind: The Making of Steven Spielbergs Classic Film by Ray Morton More bits The Empire Strikes Back: Despecialized Edition ? a fan edit that keeps as much of the HD releases as possible, but reverts the effects and cut to the original look, even going so far as to re-build the effects from available sources when necessary. Lucasfilm confirms that the original editions on the released DVDs are taken from the 1993 Laserdisc masters. Dick Smiths Do It Yourself Monster Make-Up by Dick Smith, introduction by Rick Baker Stage Makeup: Fifth Edition (1975) by Richard Corson The original wampa suit footage can be seen starting at about five minutes into Building Empire As ever The Optical theme by Digital Droo The Optical aperture logo by Mike Gower
Selected by: Mark Boszko [ stations ], Thu, 29 May 2014 02:32:28 UTC
Add this to another station The Optical 001 - Cinefex 1, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Alien, and Daren Dochterman (58.14MB; download) -- In our premiere episode, we talk about Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Alien, chat with Daren Dochterman, VFX Supervisor on Star Trek: The Motion Picture — Director’s Edition, I admit my 2001 shame, and we ask: just what is an “optical,” anyway? Sponsor Cinefex magazine — The journal of cinematic illusions. Features Star Trek: The Motion Picture Star Trek: The Motion Picture (The Director’s Edition) What is an “optical”? Alien Guests Daren R. Dochterman, VFX Supervisor on Star Trek: The Motion Picture — Director’s Edition. Sites: betafive.com, blog.darendoc.com, and Star Trek Phase II Ron “AAlgar” Watt and Matt Rowbotham, of the Post Atomic Horror podcast Tom Schmidt, Art Director and VFX Artist, heading Percolate Digital Music All tracks by Digital Droo: 0:34:50 — Wake Up Sweating - Active Lancer Original Soundtrack 1:09:25 — La La’s Theme - Beginnings 1:26:50 — Looking for a Sign (Active Lancer Theme) - Active Lancer Original Soundtrack 2:02:45 — Minor Things - Beginnings Research Materials Cinefex 1 — March 1980 Cinefex 2 — August 1980 The Making of Star Trek The Motion Picture by Susan Sackett Chekov’s Enterprise by Walter Koenig The Book of Alien by Paul Scanlon and Michael Gross Wikipedia: Optical effect and Optical printer Revisiting Cinefex (1): Star Trek and Alien, and Revisiting Cinefex (2): Empire, Greg Jein and Star Trek by Graham Edwards Making the Alien, Inside Alien, Alien Studio Production Report, and Alien Model Build — The Narcissus by Gavin Rothery More bits The Handheld Mathematics of Geometer Ron Resch, who designed the iris-like V’ger Maw. Ron Cobb’s Alien Icons “Hey Really Giger” on SuperEgo and the installment where the “Hey Really” joke actually happens at the 3:16 mark Trinity Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie You Are My Lucky Star — Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds in Singin’ in the Rain As ever The Optical theme by Digital Droo The Optical “aperture” logo by Mike Gower
Selected by: Mark Boszko [ stations ], Thu, 29 May 2014 02:31:48 UTC