Ryan Prestridge: Matte Painting TD Reel

Pacific Rim: Trailer 2

"Thor - Dark World" Trailer

Loki looks like he could be the lead singer of a band in this trailer.

Man of Steel: Trailer 3

Elysium: Trailer

Something really cool about this movie. Let's hope its cool.

The Hobbit: Post Production Featurette

Bought The Hobbit on Bluray about a week ago, and haven't stopped watching it. I love this move even more, even after seeing it on the big screen. The video blogs that accompany the bluray give a nice tour into the creation of the film, and if you haven't seen it, here is video blog 9 about the post production process. Items covered in this featurette include: sound design, sound engineering and foley, color correction, animation, and compositing - subjects that are right up our alley. In a small way, you'll get a taste of the stress involved in creating all of the work in a compressed timeframe. Enjoy!

Silent Hill: Opening Title Sequence Featurette

I saw this featurette and immediately thought of the many students who I come across who love drawing, painting and conceptual development, but shy away from 3D. I know very well that you are familiar with this opening title sequence and admire it and so do I. We appreciate the tone it has, the use of lighting, cameras, character development, and the excellent execution to achieve the unsettled feeling for the viewer. None of this happens without the initial drawings created from the storyboard, it would be too difficult to plan and approve otherwise. This featurette walks one through the many storyboards to achieve this idea, but most importantly, pay close attention to when they show your Maya viewports. The models are simple, but what makes this sing is the work done in the lighting and camera. Its a piece that I believe most of you can pull off in my classes, I've seen it. All you have to do is to commit to the vision you have and do whatever it takes to achieve your goal. Hope this featurette inspires you. Fire it up!

Iron Man 3: Trailer 1

Iron Man 3, seems like Tony Stark gets into more trouble recovering from the affects of the The Avengers. A darker version where it seems that the suits turn on him. Premiering in April.

Wreck It Ralph: Trailer 1

Appearing this holiday season - ha ha, we can't wait. If the picture below doesn't make you want to watch the movie, just stay home. Where else can you see Bowser, Zangief, M. Bison, and Pac Man ghosts (just to name a few) sitting in a support group. Genius!

Fire it up!

Dark Knight Rises: Trailer

This looks and feels way different from the first two installments, and as I watch, without knowing story, I wonder what looks to be a prison / arena shot below, and why the football field is collapsing, its just nuts! The entire trailer, dark and subtle is great to see.

Enjoy and Fire It Up!

Total Recall: Trailer 1

Ah something to look forward to this summer, and for those of you who are too young to know that this is a remake, here is the trailer from the 1990 version. I remember liking the story back then, we sure have improved as far as vfx goes.

Green Lantern Movie: Wondercon Trailer

Kung Fu Panda 2: Trailer 2

Hooray! The sequel to my bestest, most favoritest, awesomest, movie of all time! This looks great. The movie has more action, more characters, and bigger sets.

Black Swan: VFX Reel

Saw this movie finally, and thought it was great - had me guessing all the way till the end. Lots of the visual effects are subtle, but they really add to overall look and feel of the movie.

Rango: Clip

Click image or link below to view the clip. We'll probably be watching Rango sometime soon with the kids...I really like what I see so far: Great character animation, lighting, texturing, the overall production looks superb. I think it'll be a good time. Be sure to get out there and watch the movie. Show your support! or Buy the Bluray

Fire it Up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xg6YyN3FqqQ >>

Inception: Best VFX 2011

"Inception" wins the 2011 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. If you haven't seen it, the movie is mindbending, be sure you watch it on Blu Ray or on a large screen. This video showcases some of the inner workings of one of the more memorable shots of the film. The movie is rich visually, and if you are wondering about the story, just do your best to pay attention, you could get lost.

Priest: Trailer

Coming in May 2011. The trailer is pretty cool, based on a Tokyopop graphic novel, the movie looks like a new and interesting take on an age old war. What do you think, "Legion", meets "Aliens", meets "Road Warrior"?

Tranformers 3: Dark of the Moon

Green Lantern: Trailers

Tron 2 Legacy: Trailer 3

Here is the the third trailer from the movie, showing more environments, characters and story. Man, I can't wait.