Extra detail was added to Monkey D. Luffy to avoid him looking like plastic rather than rubber.
While Monkey D. Luffy aims to become the king of the pirates, the manga infused with his contagious optimism and enthusiasm reigns supreme as the all-time best seller with 516.6 million copies sold since Eiichiro Oda created One Piece in 1997. The story that revolves around a treasure-hunt frenzy caused by the execution of Pirate King Gol D. Roger, which sees participants from around the world engage in questionable antics to ensure victory over the competition. The franchise has obtained longevity in other mediums with the ongoing anime television series consisting of over 1,000 episodes, and now Netflix has released a live-action version created by Steven Maeda and Matt Owens that stars Iñaki Godoy, Mackenyu, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero Gibson, Taz Skylar, Vincent Regan and Morgan Davies. Placed in charge of making the fantasy elements a cinematic reality for the eight episodes of the first season were Visual Effects Supervisor Victor Scalise and Visual Effects Producer Scott Ramsey who previously collaborated together on Cowboy Bebop.
Colton Osorio as Young Luffy and Peter Gadiot as Shanks have conversation with the Lord of the Coast.
While a guiding principle is that visual effects have to be grounded in order to be believable, there is a cartoony aesthetic to the source material and its animated spinoffs that fans expect to be honored. “It’s truly a fine balance because if you make it too cartoony the fans might love it, but then the general audience might think it’s too much,” Scalise notes. “When we first came on everybody said, ‘We didn’t want him [Monkey D. Luffy] to be like Plastic Man.’ Originally, the punches were going to be stiff, fast and straight, and when we started applying them to shots, they felt lifeless. We started putting little bends and wiggles and an extra weight on the fist to get wrinkles, and it brought the effect to life. It’s tough because when a rubber arm has motion blur there is no detail or texture when it’s punching fast. We went in and put a lot of extra hair on his arm. That was probably one of our biggest challenges, of how do you take an animated character and make them feel real but still honor the manga. It’s funny because the further you push it, the cooler stuff comes out of it too.”
The actual skies were retained for the ocean scenes with ships.
Paired with ARRI ALEXA LF cameras were Hawk MHX Hybrid Anamorphic lenses that produce a signature fisheye effect and extreme facial closeups for the show. “That was a challenge and a half!” laughs Ramsey. “When we got down to Cape Town we found out about the lenses. The biggest challenge was, ‘Do we have enough set to fit into this?’ Because they did morph out the sides quite a bit and our sets were only built out to certain areas, so there was quite a lot of set extensions. It increased the budget quite a bit because you’re always on a lens that is roughly a 25mm if not wider. Also, the warping on the sides was challenging.” The wide angle-lensing created an extra layer of visual effects work. “When you’re trying to roto and track, you don’t have straight lines,” Scalise states. “There’s a natural blur inherent in the lenses that now you’re rotoscoping a blurred edge and tracking sharping objects that go to the edge of the frame and get soft.” Atmospherics were aided by the choice of lenses. “If there is a light anywhere near the edge of frame there is a flare in that shot,” Scalise observes. “Sometimes you don’t see it until you look at the color channels and hidden in the blue channel is a lens flare,” Scalise remarks. “We were able to add a lot of glare halation to get layers, which give a sense of depth and a cheated atmospheric perspective.”
A digital double had to be made of Buggy the Clown (Jeff Ward), as he has the ability to disassemble, have his parts fly around and reassemble himself.
“When we first came on everybody said, ‘We didn’t want [Monkey D. Luffy] to be like Plastic Man.’ Originally, the punches were going to be stiff, fast and straight, and when we started applying them to shots, they felt lifeless. We started putting little bends and wiggles and an extra weight on the fist to get wrinkles, and it brought the effect to life. … That was probably one of our biggest challenges, of how do you take an animated character and make them feel real but still honor the manga. It’s funny because the further you push it, the cooler stuff comes out of it too.”
—Victor Scalise, Visual Effects Supervisor
The extensive water simulations were created by Goodbye Kansas Studios and Rising Sun Pictures.
Glare halation was added to give a sense of depth to the shots.
All eight episodes were cut before sending off the work to the vendors. “That allowed us to get the whole series filled,” Ramsey explains. “Episode 101 through to 108, we know exactly how the story is going to progress and the ups and downs, so by the time we get to Episode 108 it is a great finale, and that had to go through the showrunners, Netflix and Tomorrow Studios.” The visual effects work for 2,334 shots was broken down in accordance to the strengths of Goodbye Kansas Studios, Framestore, Ingenuity Studios, Rising Sun Pictures, Barnstorm VFX, Eyeline Studios, Scanline VFX, Mr. Wolf, Refuge, CoSA VFX, Incessant Rain and NetFX. “The good thing is that we have worked with a lot of our vendors for awhile now,” Scalise remarks. “Even when it comes to a shared shot, they have already talked to each other before, so the handoffs are good. It creates a lot of logistical complications, as well as sometimes the assets aren’t truly one-to-one, so there is extra work on both sides.”
Ships were shot in the parking lot at Cape Town Film Studios, which meant that the water had to be created digitally.
“The problem is when you have the real ships parked in a parking lot. Rising Sun Pictures did an amazing job with the ships. When we put their model next to the real one, I bet that most people will pick the real one as being CG. The Going Merry was a full ship build placed on a tractor trailer so it could drive around slowly. Then we had half of Miss Love Duck constructed, which was repurposed into Garp’s warship. There was also a salvage ship and Maui’s sloop. We had CG versions of all of them.”
—Victor Scalise, Visual Effects Supervisor
The wide-angle lenses greatly increased the amount of digital set extensions in shots.
Much of the action unfolds on the ocean with the pirate ships battling each other while trying to evade the law-enforcing Marines. “The problem is when you have the real ships parked in a parking lot,” Scalise notes. “Rising Sun Pictures did an amazing job with the ships. When we put their model next to the real one, I bet that most people will pick the real one as being CG. The Going Merry was a full ship build placed on a tractor trailer so it could drive around slowly. Then we had half of Miss Love Duck constructed, which was repurposed into Garp’s warship. There was also a salvage ship and Maui’s sloop. We had CG versions of all of them.” The water simulations were expanded upon in certain cases. “We actually shot the Lord of the Coast in the tank without planning on replacing the water except for the shots where the creature was going to interact with it,” Scalise reveals. “Once we got to the sequence, we went, ‘Screw it. Let’s completely replace the water in all of the shots so we can have much more control over continuity.’ When you look at the creature going into the water and how the water is interacting, it looks real.”
The Going Merry was a complete practical ship build that was placed on a tractor trailer so it could move.
Much of the action unfolds on the ocean with the pirate ships battling each other while trying to evade the law-enforcing Marines.
Real skies were captured rather than rely on huge bluescreens and compositing them in later in post-production. “It’s funny – some of the shots of the real skies feel as if they were composited!” Scalise laughs. “To save cost, we kept a lot of the natural skies for when we were on the boats. The amount of bluescreen to cover the boats with these lenses was almost impossible to get the sky. We decided early on not to use a lot of bluescreen and to place it on the horizon.” A classic size and scale problem is avoiding ships looking like miniatures out in the open water. “Size and scale turned out well,” Ramsey reflects. “The only point where it came into play was when we were doing Garp throwing the cannonball back at Luffy. They had parked the practical Going Merry, and it was shot over Garp’s shoulder, but when we got into post the shot didn’t feel like the distance that was wanted. We roto’d Garp out of that scene and replaced it with a 3D Going Merry.”
Camera tricks assisted in creating the impression that Monkey D. Luffy has the ability to stretch his limbs.
Iñaki Godoy as Monkey D. Luffy battles a group of Marines.
“Size and scale turned out well. The only point where it came into play was when we were doing Garp throwing the cannonball back at Luffy. They had parked the practical Going Merry, and it was shot over Garp’s shoulder, but when we got into post the shot didn’t feel like the distance that was wanted. We roto’d Garp out of that scene and replaced it with a 3D Going Merry.”
—Scott Ramsey, Visual Effects Producer
Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy) discovers the Going Merry while visiting a shipbuilding yard.
Italy influenced the world-building, as Loguetown was based on Sorrento and Shells Town on Positano, Italy. “We had plans going in to modify real-world locations so we weren’t going into full CG builds of environments for some of the bigger ones,” Scalise remarks. “We able to shoot other parts of the Amalfi Coast and turn that into different islands.” A signature massive aquatic creature is Lord of the Coast, created by Goodbye Kansas Studios. “We did it the traditional way in that once we had the look of the concept, we went into modeling and did all of the turntables,” Scalise states. “Overall, we liked the early concept art, which is in the show. The amount of detail into the muscle work and all of the different layers of animation where, if you look at it closely, there are a lot of moving things to the slime on the skin. The biggest thing that we went back and forth on was, originally, a bit of red was put into the fins and pulling that out was our biggest note.”
Admiral Garp utilizes a telepathic species of snail known as a Den Den Mushi to be able to vocally and visually communicate across the world.
A digital double had to be produced for Buggy the Clown, as he can literally cause every part of his body to dissemble, fly around and reassemble. “I love that scene between Buggy and Luffy because almost every shot is a visual effect and their onscreen relationship was great,” Scalise remarks. “It’s a funny, dark, scary scene. One my favorite creatures that we built is the News Coo by Framestore. It was originally built for only three shots; however, when everybody saw it, anytime we could possibly figure out a place to sneak it in, we added it to another half dozen shots.” Ramsey favors the naval battle in Episode 105 between Garp and Luffy. “It was entirely shot at Cape Town Film Studios without water. Every shot is probably a visual effects shot. We brought in Rising Sun Pictures because they can do great ship models and CG water. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and kicks off Episode 105 really well.”
All eight episodes of the first season were cut before sending off the work to the vendors, with 2,334 visual effects shots created in total.
“[The naval battle in Episode 105] was entirely shot at Cape Town Film Studios without water. Every shot is probably a visual effects shot. We brought in Rising Sun Pictures because they can do great ship models and CG water. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and kicks off Episode 105 really well.”
—Victor Scalise, Visual Effects Supervisor
Italy influenced the world-building, as Loguetown was based on Sorrento and Shells Town on Positano.
Scalise concludes, “Everybody’s hope is that this [live adaption of One Piece] opens up the world to people because of the positive message of ‘do what you feel that you’re supposed to do versus what people are telling you what you should do.’ That relates to a lot of people and gives them an optimism, which this world probably needs right now.”
Watch a featurette on the making of One Piece Season 1 and some of the VFX work involved in the live-action adaption of the manga gemstone. Click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EIfmn5Gk9A
Images courtesy of Crafty Apes VFX and Prime Video.
The set for Bing-Bang Burger was actually a miniature, so careful attention had to be paid to make sure that the shadows were cast correctly.
When it comes to tall orders, I’m a Virgo Visual Effects Supervisor Todd Perry asked Crafty Apes VFX to produce a 13-foot high teenage protagonist named Cootie, who gets to experience the world beyond his sheltered existence for the first time in the satirical Prime Video series created by director/writer Boots Riley. “Boots didn’t want to use CG to make Cootie look bigger, so several different approaches were utilized for every shot,” states Aleksandra Sienkiewicz, Visual Effects Supervisor at Crafty Apes. “We had shots with puppets that we had to replace the head or augment the body. Or Cootie was shot in a miniature set with him being closer to the camera so he was appearing bigger. Or he was on a platform.” The methodology had to appear indistinguishable to the viewer. “For me, it was interesting to see because I grew up watching a movie like Elf where they did a lot of that kind of trickery,” remarks Ruth Stewart-Patterson, Production Manager at Crafty Apes. “We were doing our comp work and trying to make things look seamless.”
For the driving shots through the city Crafty Apes VFX had to add motion to hands of the puppet and do a face replacement.
“Boots [series creator/director/writer Boots Riley] didn’t want to use CG to make Cootie look bigger, so several different approaches were utilized for every shot. We had shots with puppets that we had to replace the head or augment the body. Or Cootie was shot in a miniature set with him being closer to the camera so he was appearing bigger. Or he was on a platform.”
I’m a Virgo is a superhero satire created by Boots Riley about a 13-foot tall teenager named Cootie.
Over a period of six months Crafty Apes created 210 shots. ”The thing about working on TV is when you break it down per episode or sequence, it’s easier,” Stewart-Patterson states. “You might have five sequences per episode, and sometimes you get episodes in different orders, but at the end day it’s like a movie where you go one sequence at a time and assign another team to a different sequence so that they work all together – the organization and the types of shots as well. For example, on some shots we’re integrating Cootie and on another one with CG. You have to gather the work together and figure out what pairs with what, and once you figure that out, then you try to keep these teams together as you go per episode or sequence.” Consistency had to be maintained throughout the seven episodes. “We try to keep similar shots with the same artist to make sure everything is cohesive and we’ve shared techniques with all of the artists,” Sienkiewicz remarks. “We would talk to Todd and Boots to make sure that we’re on the same page.”
Elements meant to be significantly larger, like Baby Cootie, were shot closer to the camera.
“For the scene when Cootie is on the car driving through the city, it was shot with a massive puppet on the car. We had to remove the rig, replace the head and add motion to the fingers so he looked realistic. There were a lot of 2D techniques that we used. The face was shot on a greenscreen so we had several different takes with various lighting conditions to choose from. We used cues [in the plates] to track in the face into the puppet and added a little bit of motion into the face.”
The specular quality of the puppet for Cootie was different from natural skin so lighting adjustments had to be made by Crafty Apes VFX.
Every shot was storyboarded to show how the actors would be positioned in front of the camera. “The elements we received from Todd Perry were awesome,” Sienkiewicz states. “The lighting conditions were always matching in the plates, and there were sometimes several plates that had to be merged together.” Since Cootie was closer to the camera and every character were on different planes, close attention had to be paid to shadows. Sienkiewicz explains, “In Episode 101, Cootie was super big in Bing-Bang Burger while the set was miniature. We had to make sure that the shadows of him are interacting with the walls and the other characters, as well as ensuring that the lighting conditions are matching. It was a different way of thinking compared to other shows I’ve worked on before.” Stewart-Patterson joined the project later on. “Our Shotgun mirrored their Shotgun, so it was easy to find what needed to be done, relay and see what’s left to do. It’s a lot easier when you have a road map rather than chaos,” Stewart-Patterson offers. Receiving editorial turnovers can be stressful because sometimes they come in earlier or later than expected, so flexibility is paramount. “We might get a turnover of 50 shots within an episode, so we pick out some key shots,” Stewart-Patterson details. “From there you can focus on those 10 shots and spread them out as you go further along in time. The trust between us and the client was strong, so picking the correct takes and making sure that we’ll get things done on time and scheduled properly was key to completing this project.”
Cootie has an intimate moment with Flora, who has the ability to rapidly flash a multitude of colors in a manner that resembles a hummingbird.
2D rather than 3D effects were the focus. “It was cool to see actual characters and models already in camera [rather than having to construct everything in CG],” Stewart-Patterson notes. “Aleks and Todd had a great relationship, so Aleks already knew where Todd was going to go and probably what his notes were going to be.” Boots Riley has a specific vision when it comes to how he wants to shoot and see the shots. “It was like a fresh breath of air,” Sienkiewicz remarks. “I’ve been in this industry for the past 13 or 14 years, and this was the first time I worked with miniatures, rather than build CG characters we needed to blend or augment their movements, or do face replacements. For the scene when Cootie is on the car driving through the city, it was shot with a massive puppet on the car. We had to remove the rig, replace the head and add motion to the fingers so he looked realistic. There were a lot of 2D techniques that we used. The face was shot on a greenscreen so we had several different takes with various lighting conditions to choose from. We used cues [in the plates] to track in the face into the puppet and added a little bit of motion into the face.” The puppet had more of a specular quality than normal skin. “There was some augmentation in terms of the brightness,” Sienkiewicz adds.
Series creator Boots Riley did not want to use CG to make Cootie look bigger, so several different approaches were utilized for every shot.
“A shot that stands out to me and was one of the most complex ones was Flora’s flashback in Episode 103. There was an oner shot that was 5,000 frames, and we had 13 plates that had to be stitched together because the motion was not seamless. In addition to that, it was at super speed so everything around her is still, so we had to stabilize all of the actors to make sure they don’t move or blink. If you wanted to change one thing, all of the 5,000 frames had to be rendered.”
The miniature house was shot against greenscreen and then composited into the plate photography.
Some sleepless nights were spent thinking about the project. “A shot that stands out to me and was one of the most complex ones was Flora’s flashback in Episode 103,” Sienkiewicz reveals. “There was an oner shot that was 5,000 frames, and we had 13 plates that had to be stitched together because the motion was not seamless. In addition to that, it was at super speed so everything around her is still, so we had to stabilize all of the actors to make sure they don’t move or blink.” Alternations could not be taken lightly. Continues Sienkiewicz, “If you wanted to change one thing all of the 5,000 frames had to be rendered. We divided shots between different artists. You need to find the perfect spot for making a transition where you can hide things, typically motion blur or foreground elements that make it look natural.” Flora has the ability to flash a multitude of different colors. Sienkiewicz explains, “Flora’s effect was cool. All of the Flora elements were shot at different speeds and colors. We also had plates with flashing lights that we needed to select frames that Boots liked. Because Boots liked the postvis that editorial did, we ended up asking editorial to export us AAF files that we could import into Nuke. Rather than go through minutes or hours of footage, we exactly knew which element he liked; that was our baseline for timing and then we could enhance and move forward with other effects. Boots never wanted things to look perfect; he likes an old, ragged look but with a modern twist. There was a lot of creative brainstorming about how we wanted this character to look like. Boots compared it to the Tasmanian Devil.”Another creature comes to mind for Stewart-Patterson. “When you play it fast it looks cool because it appears like a hummingbird changing colors.”
Every shot was storyboarded to show how the actors would be positioned in front of the camera.
“The shots in Bing-Bang Burger was a real Cootie shot close to the camera, but the set was a miniature. He was touching his head, so there was lots of trickery to make it look realistic. The biggest challenge was to make sure that the puppet and the real elements were cohesive and working together. There was lots of comp trickery involved!”
Boots Riley wanted to have an old, ragged look, but with a modern twist.
Lots of compositing trickery was called upon when doing the face replacements on the puppet for Cootie. “The neck was one of the biggest issues, to make sure that he’s tucked in nicely behind the shirt,” Sienkiewicz states. “And even the chest, because the puppet was bigger that Cootie himself, so we needed to slim him down; there was some complex paintwork involved. There were a lot of rigs involved with the puppet, so there was massive cleanup in some of the shots. The shots in Bing-Bang Burger was a real Cootie shot close to the camera, but the set was a miniature. He was touching his head, so there was lots of trickery to make it look realistic. The biggest challenge was to make sure that the puppet and the real elements were cohesive and working together. There was lots of comp trickery involved!” The major task for Stewart-Patterson was being able to adapt to meet needs of the production. “When working closely with creatives, we try to reel them in but also give them as much space you can. It’s being able to assist and properly reflect to the client what creative changes might be or how much time it might take. This team really brought it in well, and the show looks great.”
Aziraphale’s wings were originally created for Season 1, but had to be recreated for Season 2 to allow for more complex motion requirements.
Created by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and adapted for the screen by Gaiman for Amazon Prime, British fantasy comedy series Good Omens follows the antics and adventures of angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant) after they are exiled from Heaven and Hell and team up to form an unlikely duo on Earth. Milk VFX Supervisor/Co-Founder Jean-Claude Deguara served as VFX Supervisor on Good Omens Season 1 before sliding into the client-side VFX Supervisor seat for Season 2. Matias Derkacz served as Visual Effects Supervisor for Milk on the second season.
“Before the ‘let it be light’ moment, we used one of the environments to create white flashes of energy that revolved around Crowley and Aziraphale. This approach provided the right amount of light, as this part of the sequence required it to be darker. But for the creation of the nebulas, we needed the opposite effect. We used a simplified version of the nebulas on the LED screens, which allowed us to achieve complex light changes. Having access to the LED screens allowed us to archive the correct light interaction on Crowley and Aziraphale, helping us achieve the desired impact.”
“I first got involved with Good Omens on Season 1 when I was Compositing Supervisor,” Derkacz says. “Working with Jean-Claude Deguara as a client-side VFX supervisor was brilliant. Working with him so closely on Season 1, I knew what he was after. I was part of all the discussions about how to creatively push forward the show and was involved with those conversations from the very beginning. Jean-Claude had some great ideas.”
The wings were animated to follow Crowley’s body movements in order to enhance their emotions.
Discussing his initial conversations about the look of the second season, Derkacz explains that he was brought on set for the opening sequence. “I was brought in to help with virtual production for the opening sequence. Before the ‘let it be light’ moment, we used one of the environments to create white flashes of energy that revolved around Crowley and Aziraphale. This approach provided the right amount of light, as this part of the sequence required it to be darker. But for the creation of the nebulas, we needed the opposite effect. We used a simplified version of the nebulas on the LED screens, which allowed us to achieve complex light changes. Having access to the LED screens allowed us to archive the correct light interaction on Crowley and Aziraphale, helping us achieve the desired impact. So, we created material which was not meant to be on camera, but to get the light interaction.”
“It required a lot of conversations back and forth with Douglas [director Douglas Mackinnon] and Neil,” Derkacz continues. “We had a great way of working where we could regularly check in on how things were going. We used real NASA pictures of nebulas as reference. We adapted the color palettes and shapes to make it more appealing to the eye, more interesting and different. That was the way that we approached that sequence. It was 100-plus shots that we had to actually deal with.”
One of the most pressing conversations for Visual Effects Supervisor Matias Derkacz and his team revolved around the look of the Land of Uz in Episode 2.
“[Aziraphale’s and Crowley’s wings] were created for Season 1, but we redid them as they needed more complex behavior. The wings were animated to follow Crowley’s and Aziraphale’s body movements to enhance their emotions. So, there was a bit more animation work involved with this. It was more complex in the way that feathers behaved since we had to have proper feather interactions. That was the biggest sequence for sure in terms of volume and complexity. It was a fun and challenging sequence.”
One of the main assets of the show, which played a role in the Before the Beginning sequence was Aziraphale’s and Crowley’s wings, which had to be recreated for Season 2. “The wings were created for Season 1, but we redid them as they needed more complex behavior,” Derkacz explains. “The wings were animated to follow Crowley’s and Aziraphale’s body movements to enhance their emotions. So, there was a bit more animation work involved with this. It was more complex the way that feathers behaved since we had to have proper feather interactions. That was the biggest sequence for sure in terms of volume and complexity. It was a fun and challenging sequence.”
Derkacz and his team were involved with only one shot on the Soho street, a shot where the camera starts high on a crane and then goes underneath a car.
Production Designer Michael Ralph was responsible for creating the numerous time periods and their look throughout the show. One of the most pressing conversations for Derkacz and his team revolved around the look of the Land of Uz in Episode 2. “That asset needed to be done in a specific way. There were always conversations about making sure what we had created didn’t look like the Grand Canyon or like any other part of the United States,” he says. “We had an early discussion with Jean-Claude to try and get the look set for that sequence, especially when Aziraphale comes out the portal. That environment was one we discussed thoroughly, and we ended up doing everything digitally. It was based on a mix of real photos, but some of the references we had were really similar to the Grand Canyon, so we had to get something similar like that but different enough for people not to comment on it.”
Production Designer Michael Ralph was responsible for creating the numerous time periods throughout the show. The environment for the Land of Uz was completely CG, based on a mix of real photos and references to the Grand Canyon.
Around 100 people from different departments were involved with the production of the second season. “We had a big team,” Derkacz adds. “We had to be quite smart in the way that we scheduled the work because it’s a TV series and there is loads of work. Scenes like the opening sequence and the first six minutes of the second season were really important. It hasn’t really been done before, is really abstract and took a lot of time to achieve. The way that we managed the workload was working on the amount of volume that we had and in the order of episodes that we were discussing at the time. Some assets might require weeks of work.”
The actors were shot standing on greenscreen and then seamlessly added to a fully CG cemetery.
“The only shot we were involved with on the Soho street was for a shot where the camera starts quite high and then goes underneath the car. That is a really cool shot. It’s a blend between two plates because you have the main plate of the crane, and when you go underneath the car it’s full CGI, and then you go around the car and you have a mix between a CG car and a real car, and then Crawley gets out of the car. All of that has to be done as a single camera move. That’s sort of Douglas’s [director Douglas Mackinnon] signature as he loves doing these transitions, and I think they were great and really helped the flow of the episode,”
When it came to creating the set extensions, the Soho street had been completed for Season 1 and was already an established asset. “The only shot we were involved with on the Soho street was for a shot where the camera starts quite high and then goes underneath the car. That is a really cool shot. It’s a blend between two plates because you have the main plate of the crane, and when you go underneath the car it’s full CGI, and then you go around the car and you have a mix between a CG car and a real car, and then Crawley gets out of the car. All of that has to be done as a single camera move. That’s sort of Douglas’s signature as he loves doing these transitions, and I think they were great and really helped the flow of the episode,” Derkacz details.
Fire was shot as an element and done in 2D, and integrated on the set due to safety protocols.
Derkacz and his team also worked on a significant shot for one of the wartime environments. “We did work on one crane shot where we go into London and there are some zombies and fires on the street. That was quite straightforward set extension, which we blended with the smoke that we had on set. We added fire that was shot as an element, and that was all done in 2D and integrated on the set because they couldn’t have that fire next to the people as it wasn’t safe; that was added in post. We also created an environment that was used in virtual production. We built numerous destroyed buildings and added CGI fire, which were used on set as an LED screen when Crowley is driving through,” Derkacz notes.
David Tennant as Crowley and Shelley Conn as Beelzebub experience a front-seat encounter of the devilish kind, courtesy of visual effects.
“The work that we did on the tongue of the demon was really fun. It’s a quick shot, but for that shot we had to create all the CG for the tongue and all of the saliva. It’s lots of work involved for only one shot, but the good thing about that is that you build the asset, you get the shot, and you have a part of the sequence that has been approved and you can move on. … I would say that the most challenging to create wasn’t a character, it was Aziraphale’s wings. All these minimal changes in color had to be translated to white wings, which was a really difficult and complex aspect, but the end result looked great.”
Zombies with long-range, tentacle-like CG tongues can be found on the street in London. Milk delivered more than 500 shots for the second season of the show.
Derek Jakobi as Metatron, Jon Hamm as Gabriel and Liz Carr as Saraqael in a flashback scene from Heaven of Gabriel (Jon Hamm) before he’s demoted from Heaven and loses his memories. (Image courtesy of Amazon Prime)
There was lots of work put into the creature work and into key characters as well. “I really enjoyed all of the creature work that we did, especially the geckos,” Derkacz says. “The work that we did on the tongue of the demon was really fun. It’s a quick shot, but for that shot we had to create all the CG for the tongue and all of the saliva. It’s lots of work involved for only one shot, but the good thing about that is that you build the asset, you get the shot, and you have a part of the sequence that has been approved and you can move on. So, it’s pretty much based on deliveries and as well on the volume of work for the full team. I think I enjoyed the process most, working with a wonderful team from the beginning until the end. I would say that the most challenging to create wasn’t a character, it was Aziraphale’s wings. All these minimal changes in color had to be translated to white wings, which was a really difficult and complex aspect, but the end result looked great.”
Angel Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and demon Crowley (David Tennant). According to Milk VFX Visual Effects Supervisor Matias Derkacz, the biggest challenge wasn’t to create a character, it was the wings. (Image courtesy of Amazon Prime)
Milk delivered more than 500 shots for Season 2. “What is great about Good Omens in terms of visual effects work is that it isn’t like a typical VFX TV series. Good Omens is really complex in the sense that you build an asset which is only used once. We are going back in time and we build all of this for the shot and then that’s it; we never come back to it. It’s really fun to work on a show like that because you do such much,” Derkacz concludes.
Images courtesy of Fin Design + Effects and Netflix.
A major environment build for Fin Design + Effects was constructing Vienna with moving traffic.
Thought to be dead mercenary, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) returns in the Netflix sequel Extraction 2 where the action shifts from Bangladesh to Austria under the direction of Sam Hargrave. Further complications arise when attempting to rescue a crime lord’s family from a Georgian prison. Contributing to the mayhem is Visual Effects Supervisor Björn Mayer and an army of vendors. One of the contributors was Fin Design + Effects, which over a period of six months produced 150 shots that consisted of a 360-degree panoramic view of Vienna and the climatic glass-awning fight scene.
“The thing that prepared me the most was watching the first one, and you get a sense that it’s going to be a gritty action movie [like] John Wick, but much more in your face,” states Will Towle, Visual Effects Supervisor at Fin Design + Effects. “There are different types of visual effects movies. You have Guardians of the Galaxy, which are your bombastic huge-effects shows. Then you’ve got your more down-to-earth invisible effects stuff like Extraction 2, which fits well in my compositing background. The challenge for this kind of movie is that you have to get the audience to buy into it and see the peril that the characters are in. Compositing is all about those finishing touches and adding believability. I’m also a believer that wherever possible we should use live-action effects. You can’t get more real than real. Quite often you can use them in combination with CG to bring the CG up to the next level.”
Despite building a large set piece for the awning fight sequence, major set extensions were required to replace the bluescreen.
Clear and concise instructions were articulated by Mayer. “Björn knows what he wants, and they had actually built quite a big set of the awning, but we ended up replacing all of it because you have reflections in the pieces of glass such as crew members and bluescreen,” Towle remarks. “It gave us a good starting point and base to ground our CG. Early on, Björn and I talked about other references. Pictures were shared of what this sequence might look like. We started with broad strokes and we slowly zoomed into the tiny details like anisotropic filtering, dirt maps on the glass, and kept adding layers of detail to the CG build until it looked photoreal.” Rotomation of the characters was a critical part of the process. “Because we were replacing the glass in every shot and glass is highly reflective, that required us to do accurate digital doubles of four or five characters, and those had to be rotomated into every single shot,” Towle explains. “This is not work we’ve done too extensively before, so new pipeline tools had to be written to help with that, and new animation tools as well.”
Everything had a basis in plate photography, which helped to provide a ground truth for the CG.
Guiding the shot design process were storyboards and previs. “We can start placing our cameras and see what pieces of the build might need to be up-res’d because there is a level of detail scale where the further from camera it is, the fewer details we put in to save render time and disk space,” Towle explains. “Björn and his team had flown a helicopter over Vienna and taken thousands of photos from all different positions, which was fantastic for getting a sense of the environment and what the sun looks like at the time of day that the sequence is taking place. Vienna’s midday sun is bright with not much atmosphere. We also did a lot of research on Google Maps. We flew cameras over the area on Google Earth and did some photogrammetry to build a proxy city early on to figure out camera angles and what buildings we would see from what camera height.”
“The challenge for this kind of movie is that you have to get the audience to buy into it and see the peril that the characters are in. Compositing is all about those finishing touches and adding believability. I’m also a believer that wherever possible we should use live-action effects. You can’t get more real than real. Quite often you can use them in combination with CG to bring the CG up to the next level.”
—Will Towle, Visual Effects Supervisor, Fin Design + Effects
Half of the 150 shots were entirely digital. “I would love to keep as much plate as I can, but, unfortunately, for a lot of these shots we did have to replace them with CG,” Towle states. “The challenge there was making it look as much like the reference as possible. It helped us in a way to go full CG. In almost every shot the characters are still plate, and for this show, to assist us keep the sequence on track in terms of color and lighting, we created a neutral grading pipeline for Fin Design + Effects; this is the first time we’ve done that. What that entailed was neutral grading every single shot in the sequence, and that allowed us to create our Vienna city in a neutral graded environment as well. It enabled us to light, render and drop a shot in that is looking good already and you’re nudging the last five percent in compositing. But we still had live-action elements, and with those come rebuilding edges, roto and bluescreen removal.”
The hardest part of the glass-awning fight sequence was replacing the reflections and refractions of the crew and bluescreen.
Constructing the DC Towers and surrounding Vienna were the biggest photoreal environments for Finn Design + Effects. “How are we going to build the city and add moving traffic to it?” Towle observes. “We had to have moving reflections on every surface and nearby buildings as well. That was something we were definitely anticipating. Also, the way that light travels through glass and compositing glass has some fundamental difficulties. Glass is all reflections and refractions; that’s classically quite difficult to comp because if you have a CG render of a pane of glass and you’re seeing through it, you don’t have a depth channel for the stuff you’re seeing through it. You have a depth channel of the piece of glass. We had to come up with a way to defocus all of this stuff properly. To effectively achieve that in compositing we came up with a method to stripe out the reflections and refractions from the pieces of glass, defocus them separately using a different depth channel and recombine them all. That was all done in comp.”
Deep compositing was critical in being able to manipulate and produce the correct reflections and refractions in the glass.
“[T]hey had actually built quite a big set of the awning, but we ended up replacing all of it because you have reflections in the pieces of glass such as crew members and bluescreen. It gave us a good starting point and base to ground our CG. Early on, Björn [Visual Effects Supervisor Björn Mayer] and I talked about other references. Pictures were shared of what this sequence might look like. We started with broad strokes and we slowly zoomed into the tiny details like anisotropic filtering, dirt maps on the glass, and kept adding layers of detail to the CG build until it looked photoreal.”
—Will Towle, Visual Effects Supervisor, Fin Design + Effects
Rotomation was utilized extensively for the characters and their digital doubles.
“For the hero shots that were close to the glass,” Towle continues, “we rendered it in two different layers and comped it back together in deep compositing so we didn’t have to render with holdouts. We could push and pull layers every so slightly using deep compositing. Then, just as we expected, the build of the city was extremely challenging. We started with a photographic base that was our ground truth, then put it on a sphere to see how it looks. You begin to notice things that are not in the correct perspective, like warped buildings. You can go, ‘That building needs to be reprojected onto geometry, while this one has to be full CG.’ We used it as a guide for how detailed our environment had to be. The furthest-away stuff was on a sphere. As you got a bit closer, it was put on cards, even closer on geometry, and the closest full CG. That allowed us to keep our render times down and still get a believable photoreal result.”
A last-minute alternation was to give the concluding Valhalla scene more of an epic ethereal quality.
After being the sole visual effects vendor on 10th century British saga The Last Kingdom, BlueBolt gets to apply five seasons worth of expertise to the Netflix feature film The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die. The story revolves around Uhtred of Bebbanburg attempting to unite England after the death of King Edward. “This is not a documentary,” observes Richard Frazer, VFX Supervisor at BlueBolt. “We have to start from a point of authenticity and then take some creative license because we’re still making a piece of entertainment.” The methodology did not change going from a series to feature format. “Apart from the Valhalla stuff, there wasn’t anything crazy dissimilar to what we’ve done before. We looked at it as if we were making one and a half or two episodes of the show.” Post-production lasted for seven to eight months. “The shot count of 375 doesn’t sound like much but they were extremely complex,” Frazer explains. “The main difference is that it’s one big linear focus [rather than doing pre-production, shooting and post-production of different episodes at the same time]. There wasn’t any overlap with anything else that was going on.”
Sky replacements were part of the visual effects work, such as turning scenes from day to night.
Outside of the usual numerous blood shots, the main focus was the battle at the end. “You cut to this wide battle shot [there were four or five of them], and for the three seconds that it’s onscreen there are all of these nuances of the advancement in the configuration of the two sides that have to be communicated,” Frazer states. “The Valhalla sequence was something that came in quite late and wasn’t planned for. It was filmed as scripted with Uhtred in the hall at Beddanburg. He hears this commotion, goes over, and it’s like a mirror of the hall that he has just left. It was shot that way and never meant to be visual effects. The film was locked and sent off for reviews to one of the executives who wanted it to be this much bigger thing at the end. We were nervous because it was going to take quite a significant bunch of money to get it done, and it’s such an important moment. Uhtred is on the cusp between life and death. It couldn’t be cheesy. If you die in battle, you either go to Valhalla, which is an eternal banquet with all of your fallen comrades for the rest of time, or to Fólkvangr. where you can be out in the countryside, if getting drunk for eternity isn’t your thing!”
CG water was avoided for the series but required for the feature version.
Classical paintings of Valhalla were too grand and over the top in their scale, which ran counter to the tone of show. “We did reference a shot where we go to the Isle of Man and there is a Viking longhouse, which was based on a real one that was discovered,” Frazer remarks. “For the Hall of Valhalla, we went to the production designer who had designed the Hall of Bebbanburg and said, ‘It has to feel otherworldly but grounded in a reality that Uhtred understands because of the implication that it might be a hallucination that he is having.” A blinding bright light appears in the doorway of the hall. “It was based on the Hall of Beddanburg, which was practically built and expanded into this infinite space. At the end were these giant doors that opened out onto the meadows of Fólkvangr. Originally, you were supposed to see through the doorway to the meadows beyond. We played with the exposure and levels of haze and reached this level where it was blown out and light streaking through. The executives liked that as a look because it implied something ethereal beyond, but still felt quite grounded,” Frazer says.
“The Valhalla sequence was something that came in quite late and wasn’t planned for. It was filmed as scripted with Uhtred in the hall at Beddanburg. He hears this commotion, goes over, and it’s like a mirror of the hall that he has just left. It was shot that way and never meant to be visual effects. The film was locked and sent off for reviews to one of the executives who wanted it to be this much bigger thing at the end. We were nervous because it was going to take quite a significant bunch of money to get it done, and it’s such an important moment. Uhtred is on the cusp between life and death. It couldn’t be cheesy.”
—Richard Frazer, VFX Supervisor, BlueBolt
Motion capture – with a shield and baseball bat in hand – was essential in producing the necessary number of soldiers for battle sequences.
Epic warfare is a signature part of series storytelling for The Last Kingdom, with the climax of the feature being based on the Battle of Brunanburh. “There were probably more records or poems written about the aftermath,” Frazer notes. “I don’t know how much the specific military beats within it are accurate to the real historical event. They wanted to have Untred and his forces overwhelmed and outnumbered, but by using tactics he manages to save the day. Uhtred concedes ground in order to expose their flank to a pincer maneuver attack. As much as we were trying to shoot that with drones on the battlefield, in the end it was too difficult to do that as a physical maneuver with the number of people we had. We shot a bunch of empty plates of the battlefield and did it completely CG to show the nuances of that maneuvering, which is counter to what I normally do. You should always start from a place of having real people, but at least what we attempted to shoot with the drone served as reference to rebuild all of that with our CG characters.”
It was a challenge to have the opposing armies crushing against each other enough while not making it visually confusing for the viewer.
“[The Hall of Valhalla] was based on the Hall of Beddanburgh, which was practically built and expanded into this infinite space. At the end were these giant doors that opened out onto the meadows of Fólkvangr. Originally, you were supposed to see through the doorway to the meadows beyond. We played with the exposure and levels of haze and reached this level where it was blown out and light streaking through. The executives liked that as a look because it implied something ethereal beyond, but still felt quite grounded.”
—Richard Frazer, VFX Supervisor, BlueBolt
The Uhtred side consists of Wessex and mercenary soldiers that wear uniforms, while the opposing Allied side is made of Danes and Islanders dressed entirely different from each other. “We had to find a way to create base characters and then randomize those to make them appear as individuals with the various head dressings, accessories and fur,” Frazer explains. “If you’re in a wide battle shot you need to have many variations of the actions that people are doing, otherwise you quickly start seeing repeats. We had motion capture suits in the office with a shield and baseball bat and would churn out whole new actions. We tried to get as many different people in the suits as possible to vary it up.” The battle was shot in a bowl in Hungary. “The Allied side comes down a raised hill, and Uhtred and his side come in between the treelines. We used that because when you’re in amongst all of the fighting, you need to see things above people’s heads to orientate yourself,” Frazer describes.
Approximately 370 visual effects shots were created by BlueBolt, which was the sole vendor for the feature as well as the five seasons of The Last Kingdom.
“As much as we were trying to shoot [the final battle scene] with drones on the battlefield, in the end it was too difficult to do that as a physical maneuver with the number of people we had. We shot a bunch of empty plates of the battlefield and did it completely CG to show the nuances of that maneuvering, which is counter to what I normally do. You should always start from a place of having real people, but at least what we attempted to shoot with the drone served as reference to rebuild all of that with our CG characters.”
—Richard Frazer, VFX Supervisor, BlueBolt
BlueBolt was responsible for the arrival of the armada. “It was the first shot we started and the last one that was delivered!” Frazer reveals. “It went through a lot of variations. The long shot from Season 2 that I composited of Uhtred on a slave ship, which came from inside the boat, across the bow of the deck and then up and wide, and pulls back showing the ship sailing across the sea – the director originally wanted to create something like that. One area that we haven’t touched on the show is CG water. We tend to use stock plates and work from there. That worked well for all of the shots of ships in the previous seasons, but if there is a specific countermove that is wanted, you’re limited with what you can do based on the spot plates that you were able to source. We tried doing the big pullback as it came through the ships and rigging. It wasn’t quite working. We scrapped it midway through and came back to it. That was the most challenging shot [of the movie]. The ocean itself is some stock footage that we sourced, but then the wake and all of the interaction of the boats are entirely CG. That was the tricky part.”
Watch BlueBolt’s VFX breakdown video of large, complex CG battle scenes and army formations as well as other elaborate environments for Seven Kings Must Die. Click here: https://www.blue-bolt.com/ourwork/seven-kings-must-die.
The methodology for each visual effect shot was determined on a case-by-case basis.
Working on the Disney+ fantasy series American Born Chinese holds a special place in the heart of Visual Effects Supervisor Kaitlyn Yang (Raised by Wolves), because the content on the screen and the creative talent in front and behind the camera reflected her ethnic heritage in an authentic and meaningful way. The story reimagines the myth of the Monkey King by giving the trickster god domestic life troubles in the present day and mines the humor in trying to gain self-acceptance beyond the borders of China. There is no shortage of fantasy elements as a battle between the forces of good and evil ensues with two high school students thrust right in the middle of the heavenly conflict.
“In my opinion, visual effects are best served when it’s in a supporting role. They’re invisible or we tap into the magic realism whenever the visual effects need to be front and center because story calls for it.”
—Kaitlyn Yang, Visual Effects Supervisor
American Born Chinese wanted to make sure that everything was grounded with a focus placed upon magic realism.
“Just in the script phase, right off the bat you have a falcon changing into a tiger changing into a fish! How do we do that? That ultimately becomes the perfect handoff of what was shot practically and just seeing enough of something to whet your appetite. It was kind of a morph that was more into the sparkle-lighting effects realm aided by the sound design. The camera is moving so fast that you’re like, ‘Oh, now it’s going to happen.’ There were so many of those all in the row that was so mesmerizing to watch.”
—Kaitlyn Yang, Visual Effects Supervisor
The Monkey King is capable of 72 transformations, with one of them being a falcon.
“I was extremely thrilled when I got the email, and not having so many women visible I felt like I was chosen by the claw in Toy Story!” states Yang, who is the founder and CEO of Alpha Studios. “Having the braintrust [of Asian creators, heads of departments and cast] with lived experiences allowed us to know when to take liberties and pay homage,” Yang states. “You see so many nods to Asian traditions throughout the series. We had a lot of good ideas to pick from, and then figuring out which ones fit the tone and vibe that [showrunners] Kelvin Yu and Destin Daniel Cretton had already envisioned in their head and how to amplify that.”
Stunts were pivotal in pulling off the fantasy action sequences, with wirework being utilized by martial arts icon/Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh.
Having being responsible for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Cretton was experienced in dealing with a visual effects-heavy production while other directors were not as experienced, such as [director] Lucy Liu. “It was never that we are designing specifically for their vision,” Yang remarks. “They were always willing for new ideas and improvements, but key words were passed around here and there. Like any good storytelling, it’s about a feeling that you’re trying to capture. How fast was the waterfall moving and could that contribute to the intense dialogue that the dad and son are having? In my opinion, visual effects are best served when it’s in a supporting role. They’re invisible, or we tap into the magic realism whenever the visual effects need to be front and center because story calls for it.”
Determining the pacing and look of effects such as waterfalls was the desired tone for the scene.
Amongst the creative and technical challenges to produce 1,100 visual effects shots for the eight episodes was the ability of the Monkey King to do as many as 72 transformations, which are dictated by the scenario and where he has to go next. “Just in the script phase, right off the bat you have a falcon changing into a tiger changing into a fish!” Yang notes. “How do we do that? That ultimately becomes the perfect handoff of what was shot practically and just seeing enough of something to whet your appetite. It was kind of a morph that was more into the sparkle-lighting effects realm aided by the sound design. The camera is moving so fast that you’re like, ‘Oh, now it’s going to happen.’ There were so many of those all in the row that was so mesmerizing to watch.”
Among the invisible effects were smartphone screen inserts.
“The first and last episodes were always planned to be visual effects heavy. In Episode 108, we have this intense battle in the sky that we had to somehow make believable. There were so many moving parts, figuring out how to digitally duplicate something that we had practically. I started out as a special effects artist. I will always have a love of getting as much in-camera as possible knowing even if most of it doesn’t appear in the final frame that it’s going to be the coolest reference we’re going to have.”
—Kaitlyn Yang, Visual Effects Supervisor
The glass explosion was achieved practically.
For the opening chase in Episode 101 where a multitude of transformations occur, previs was produced by DigitalFilm Tree that was informed by Stunt Coordinator Peng Zheng. “He and his team shot at their practice ring on iPhones and mobile phones to give us a sense of the camera movement and how one scene stitched with another,” Yang explains. “That helped so many departments to visualize what do we need to do and where the handoff was. I hope that people will love the chase scene as much as we loved putting it together. That sequence, in particular, took the most days, shot count and budget. It was not only a fun sequence but set the tone for the rest of the season. That was one of the first sequences that we shot.” The transformation shots might be described as kung fun magic. “We didn’t do as many as 72 transformations, but perhaps for later seasons! Knock on wood! I grew up with Hong Kong cinema, so I love the types of choreography that you don’t see too much nowadays that have just enough surrealism and magic that ties it together. It’s so fast-moving you can’t look away,” Yang states.
Approximately 1,100 visual effects were created for the eight episodes.
“We took all of the tools in the toolbox and deployed them whenever we saw fit. In Episode 101, we LiDAR-scanned our sets knowing that we had to do extensive set extensions. We worked closely with the art department which had done extensive research and also relied on Gene Luen Yang, the writer of the book with the same name, because he has done extensive research.”
—Kaitlyn Yang, Visual Effects Supervisor
Most of the visual effects were temped by Pixelloid working alongside DigitalFilm Tree, “not necessarily to the degree of the final look that we ultimately settled on, but providing us with a stepping stone to keep improving upon,” Yang notes. “By cut five or six we were able to see some version of the effect already built in. The effects that went through the most iterations were probably for the Heaven episode. That was mainly shot on bluescreen, and we definitely used all of the time on the clock for that one to fine tune the lighting and matte painting. The first and last episodes were always planned to be visual effects heavy. In Episode 108, we have this intense battle in the sky that we had to somehow make believable. There were so many moving parts, figuring out how to digitally duplicate something that we had practically. I started out as a special effects artist. I will always have a love of getting as much in-camera as possible knowing even if most of it doesn’t appear in the final frame that it’s going to be the coolest reference we’re going to have.”
Nothing like having a battle between deities in a high school where teenage angst reigns supreme.
The methodology was devised on a case-by-case basis. “We took all of the tools in the toolbox and deployed them whenever we saw fit,” Yang explains. “In Episode 101, we LiDAR-scanned our sets knowing that we had to do extensive set extensions. We worked closely with the art department which had done extensive research and also relied on Gene Luen Yang, the writer of the book with the same name, because he has done extensive research.” Human Engine ran a portable scanning station on set to assist with the construction of digital doubles. “We had people flying into the sky or walking on water or cliff jumping. Even before wire removal and background replacements, watching the dailies was so cool. We were able to get some CG doubles, but for most of it we had an incredible stunt team that showed their homage to Asian cinema. Hopefully, the audience will be so immersed that everything we put on the screen will be taken as is, because the best compliment for visual effects is not to even know that it was there.”
Watch mesmerizing transformations of the Monkey King in DNEG’s “VFX Breakdown” for American Born Chinese. Click here: https://vimeo.com/844316668
The hardest shot to get right for ILM was encountered when the bag is removed and reveals the de-aged Indiana Jones for the first time.
Receiving the franchise baton from Steven Spielberg (Jaws), James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari) embarks on the fifth and final adventure with a character who made archeology, fedoras and bullwhips cool, and provided Harrison Ford with his third iconic cinematic persona. Joining in the fun and global mayhem that ensues in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is Oscar-winning VFX Supervisor Andrew Whitehurst (Ex Machina) along with ILM VFX Supervisor Robert Weaver.
An array camera car captured plates for the tuk-tuk chase that occurs on the streets of Morocco, which was handled by Soho VFX.
Much has been made of the opening 25 minutes that resembles lost footage from the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark and features a de-aged Harrison Ford. “We started by looking at archival material and building our CG head and A/B between the two, which was a useful comparison,” states Whitehurst, who was on the project for three years. “Early on we had scanned Harrison Ford, so we had him as he is now, which could also be used for checking proportions. There was never ever a particular shot that we thought, ‘This is the one we’ll use to test.’ We all knew that the bag coming off of the head was going to be the most important shot because it’s the first time you see him, and it was also going to end up in the trailer. That was shot early on, and we got working on it earnestly.”
When de-aging Mads Mikkelsen it was more important that he resembled the character of Jürgen Voller rather than his younger self.
De-aging was accomplished by utilizing ILM FaceSwap. “It’s was a terrifying challenge that I wanted to step into and take on,” Weaver remarks. “Things are always evolving, and we’re good at keeping up and leading development in all areas that are necessary to perfect the techniques. Andrew had a good summary of it by stating it’s an umbrella suite of tools. By adding the machine learning to the mix, it’s contributing yet another tool to the arsenal to accomplish what is needed. We did rely on archival footage from past films, and it helped tremendously in many different ways, but it didn’t replace our previous techniques, which we still need to build a fully CG asset that is believable standing on its own as well. It was necessary to treat each shot individually.”
The World War II prologue features a chase on top of a train with Toby Jones, the only character not de-aged. The chase includes an all-CG shot of Ford running across the train.
FaceSwap is not treated as a magic bullet. “What we have is a selection of tools and the ability to mix between the various outputs of these processes that we can look at and go, ‘We’ll take the eyes from here and some of the skin tone from this,’” Whitehurst notes. “To be able to create like a painter would be in that final likeness, and to maintain that performance. The brilliance of it is having the ability to use a little bit of this and more of that. For another shot it is not working, so you have to use a different combination of approaches.”
The parade sequence, which had Edinbourgh stand in for New York City, was the responsibility of Rising Sun Pictures.
Remarkably, Harrison Ford was still able to fit into the original costume. “The long and short of it is, Harrison is super fit and energetic,” Whitehurst states. “He will act like 40-year-old Harrison for those moments.” Ford has a distinct running style described as a cross between Jack Sparrow and Tom Cruise. “We took a lot of time to study his running in various films, and we had an all-CG shot of him running across the train,” Weaver notes. “Essentially, we had to get those mannerisms into that run while working out the cadence of what is necessary to step over the pipes and jump between cars.”
The prologue was intended to resemble recently-discovered lost footage shot during the making of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
“[De-aging Harrison Ford] was a terrifying challenge that I wanted to step into and take on. … By adding the machine learning to the mix [in ILM’s FaceSwap], it’s contributing yet another tool to the arsenal to accomplish what is needed. We did rely on archival footage from past films, and it helped tremendously in many different ways, but it didn’t replace our previous techniques, which we still need to build a fully CG asset that is believable standing on its own as well. It was necessary to treat each shot individually.”
—Robert Weaver, VFX Supervisor, ILM
The de-aging of Ford was accomplished through machine learning and a variety of techniques known as ILM FaceSwap.
When de-aging Mads Mikkelsen, a different creative choice was made. “Mads as younger man is fuller in the face, which didn’t feel right for the character,” Whitehurst reveals. “When we started looking at how we were going to FaceSwap Mads, we decided not to refer extensively to what Mads actually looked like when he was 30. It was more about figuring out what young Jürgen Voller looked like. That was done with a whole bunch of paint tests. We figured out the look for that, and then were able to roll that through the shots. It’s interesting because young Jürgen Voller kind of looks like young Mads Mikkelsen, but also not – that benefits the character.”
ILM created a fully CG environment for the scenes that take place in Syracuse, Sicily circa 214 B.C..
“It was amazing. We could rotate that plane through multiple axis a great deal, and it was full size. But it could also shake around, so we were inside a lot. The physicality was real. That made it tricky because the camera is shaking in the inside, or the plane shaking against the background that shouldn’t be shaking, but the believability of the motion that you get from the people inside of the plane is worth the pain because it sells it.”
—Andrew Whitehurst, VFX Supervisor
Filmmaker Mangold and frequent cinematographer Phedon Papamichael favor using wide lenses for closeup shots resulting in more of the surrounding environment appearing in the frame. “There are probably more closeups of a 40-year-old Indiana Jones in this movie than there are in all of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” Whitehurst observes. “The important thing was being able to accommodate how they wanted to shoot it. I don’t want anyone to ever feel compromised. If it means pushing in and getting close because narratively and dramatically that is going to have the most impact, we should do that.” Among the action sequences is Indiana Jones trying to outrun a subway train while riding horseback. “For the closeups, the train is CG. We had a beautiful set build at Pinewood of the whole station and a little bit into the tunnel. Then we had a long black tent that extended out so he could ride a horse down [the tunnel], so we were able to shoot the plates. but the train was always going to be CG. The actual tunnel itself is CG as well,” Whitehurst says.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge appears in the aircraft gimbal, which was shot on a bluescreen stage. (Photo: Jonathan Olley)
“We do a lot of dynamic studies and various simulations to see what our perceptions are. A lot times in our work, things that are physically correct are not what we’re looking for, so we need to augment them. But in the case of the airplane and all of the atmospherics, James [Director Mangold] had a clear idea in his mind as to what these atmospheric dynamics should be, and he essentially likened them to a waterfall flowing out into the past. That was our cue to build this massive storm and put the dynamics onto the planes that are believable… It was a fine balance to walk.”
—Robert Weaver, VFX Supervisor, ILM
Ford strikes a classic pose while Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael scouts a set. (Photos: Jonathan Olley)
A signature stunt is Indiana Jones leaping from tuk-tuk to tuk-tuk during the street chase in Tangiers. “That was shot in Morocco,” Whitehurst reveals. “We have a guy in a tuk-tuk who will then jump into the other tuk-tuk. We did a CG takeover of the tuk-tuk that he leapt from and have a CG van colliding into it.” Stunts were a crucial partner. “I’ve worked with Ben Cooke, who was Supervising Stunt Coordinator a couple of times. Dan Bradley is an incredibly experienced second unit director. Once we figured out where we wanted to shoot the tuk-tuk. which was Fez in Morocco, Dan went there. The dialogue needed to happen, so we roughly knew how long the sequence had to be, as well as where we were going in and out of it. But the script didn’t describe specific action beats. Dan walked around Fez and said, ‘We could do this with the tuk-tuks right here.’ On the basis of that, we were able to previs the sequence. We scanned and photographed Fez and the vehicles down the whole route because we knew that there was going to be process back at Pinewood for all of the dialogue between our principals. Because everything was previs, we knew what the angles were going to have to be. We decided to put the edit together as we were shooting the process work so we knew that everything was going to cut together okay. Then it’s a case of paring things down in the edit and refining until we get the completed sequence.”
Frequent collaborators filmmaker James Mangold and Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael enter the world of Indiana Jones together for the first time. From left: Production Designer Adam Stockhausen, Mangold and Papamichael on set. (Photo: Jonathan Olley)
ILM was also responsible for the third act. “There are some fantastic escapades that happen with the airplane going through the eye of the storm and coming into 214 B.C.,” Weaver states. “They did an amazing job on set shooting a partial version of the airplane, and we would add an extended version of that through CG at various times. There were other times where things couldn’t be filmed practically, and it would have to be completely CG, partially airborne and jumping out.” The proper weight of the aircraft had to be conveyed to add to the sense of peril. “We do a lot of dynamic studies and various simulations to see what our perceptions are,” Weaver remarks. “A lot times in our work, things that are physically correct are not what we’re looking for, so we need to augment them. But in the case of the airplane and all of the atmospherics, James had a clear idea in his mind as to what these atmospheric dynamics should be, and he essentially likened them to a waterfall flowing out into the past. That was our cue to build this massive storm and put the dynamics onto the planes that are believable, getting enough wind flex that is believable but doesn’t feel like those wings are going rip off in any minute. It was a fine balance to walk.”
“I always push to get as much as we possibly can in-camera, particularly if it’s something that is interacting with the characters because you get better performance. The physicality is there because it’s real. If you can’t do that, we try to find reference that is as close as we can get to that and then analyze it even for the small things.”
—Andrew Whitehurst, VFX Supervisor
A rig was built for the interior of the plane by the special effects team led by Alistair Williams. “It was amazing,” Whitehurst explains. “We could rotate that plane through multiple axis a great deal, and it was full size. But it could also shake around, so we were inside a lot. The physicality was real. That made it tricky because the camera is shaking in the inside, or the plane shaking against the background that shouldn’t be shaking, but the believability of the motion that you get from the people inside of the plane is worth the pain because it sells it. Then that helps when we cut to the exteriors and have felt this violence, and now we can see that in the wider shots.” Practical elements are essential even when shots become fully CG. “I always push to get as much as we possibly can in-camera, particularly if it’s something that is interacting with the characters because you get better performance. The physicality is there because it’s real. If you can’t do that, we try to find reference that is as close as we can get to that and then analyze it even for the small things. For example, the hanger doors open, we see the bomb for the first time and the engines fire up. One of the things with old airplane V engines is when the propellers start to spin, too much fuel is going into the engine, so it’s not up to speed yet, so you get this big blast of flame that comes out through the exhaust. We did that, and it looks cool as well. It adds that extra flavor and verisimilitude to it that there is a bit more texture,” Whitehurst says.
Cinematographer Phedon Papamichael prepares a driving scene on a bluescreen set. (Photo: Jonathan Olley)
Combining reality and fantasy is a staple of the Indiana Jones franchise, such as having a portal appear in the sky for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. “Indy films are slightly earthy, grubby-real, but then have an element of the supernatural on top,” Whitehurst observes. “We stylistically absolutely had a precedent in the previous films. One of the things that James and I talked about a lot was a Douglas Trumbull cloud tank, where it’s something that feels physical and real but has an interesting aesthetic quality to it as well. Certainly, we were looking at that when designing the inside of the portal as we fly towards 214 B.C. and when we come out of the other side. We designed something that had an interesting physicality to it so it felt like something that nature might produce. We had these arms wrapping around the horizon as if it was coming to Earth trying to grab [it], with this portal in the center of it. There was an oddness to it. But we were also referencing actual cloud formations and odd storm footage a lot to get the movement and the shapes within that form. There was an overall sculptural design aspect to it that we wanted it to narratively feel like, which was threatening, but also getting that naturalism into it that is very Indy.”
Interestingly, Ford still fits into the original costume and has remained extremely fit. (Photo: Jonathan Olley)
A complete CG environment build was the Sicilian city of Syracuse circa 214 B.C.. “It was down to the level of being able to fly through the streets,” Weaver reveals. “Basically, we wanted to take away any limitations that James may have in telling the story. Wherever he wanted to put the camera, it was going to be completely believable and period appropriate.” In total, 2,350 visual effects shots were created by ILM, Rising Sun Pictures, Important Looking Pirates, Soho VFX, Midas VFX, The Yard VFX and Crafty Apes. “The tricky thing with a movie like this is, there were so many locations and numerous times where every single scene is something new,” Whitehurst states. “Somebody asked me, ‘What was it like to make this?’ It was like doing 12 commercials simultaneously, and a lot of them are very different. That’s the hard part. There is a little action beat towards the end when Helena is on a motorbike chasing Voller. I loved it when we did the previs. I thought it was going to be a fun moment. We shot it with Phoebe Waller-Bridge on a soundstage. She was awesome, and we blasted her with water and wind all day long. Phoebe just did it and completely sold it. Also, there is an awesome shot with Phoebe right under the tail of the plane as it’s bouncing down the runway, and you feel it slam down just next to her. I love that whole beat. It feels exciting, present in the action. The performance is great, and the work is beautiful.”
Watch a featurette on “behind the action” of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Click here:
Coming into contact with the Question Boxes enables characters to transform and acquire different superpowers.
Claiming the crown of the top-grossing video-game adaptation of all time is The Super Mario Bros. Movie with a worldwide box office totaling $1.3 billion, which is nearly three times what was earned by second place Warcraft. The overwhelming success was caused by Nintendo partnering with filmmakers Aaron Horvat, Michael Jelenic and Pierre Leduc, screenwriter Matthew Fogel, Illumination Mac Guff and Universal Pictures to produce a story that at times literally pays homage to the source material while also pushing the boundaries of expectations, as demonstrated by the reptilian villain Bowser channeling his inner Ozzy Osbourne and Elton John to sing heartfelt songs dedicated to the unreceptive Princess Peach.
Lumalee is a volumetric character, so classic shading techniques could not be utilized.
In the middle of the zany craziness is Illumination veteran Milò Riccarand, who was the Head of CG on the project and has seen the evolution of effects utilized by the Paris-based animation studio since Despicable Me became a global sensation. “The way we use effects has changed hugely because technology and software has evolved a lot,” Riccarand states. “We have a huge render farm. Directors want something bigger, more realistic and interesting. That’s what I love about it.” When doing simulations in animation, it’s all about achieving the proper balance between plausibility and stylization. “We do a lot of proprietary software and jump at the possibility to do what we need in order to achieve the look that the director wants, whether it be physical or cartoony,” Riccarand says. Sequences were mapped out using storyboards and previs. “We did two passes of previs, one animated and the other with characters. This is because the interaction between the characters, the cast and camera can be tricky, as their relationship with each other needs to be like a dance in order to get a good position.”
By combining detail and stylization, the fur and skin of Donkey Kong appears to be realistic and appealing.
There is no shortage of characters with short legs in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which stems from respecting the original silhouettes and poses of the original character designs. “To be fair, it’s not just the short legs,” Riccarand remarks. “The legs can be short in one and become long in another one. A principle of animation is squash and stretch. That can come across as being elastic, which is hard on CFX because you want to do something that is physically realistic, so you have to find a way to do that.” Mario transforms whenever he makes contact with Question Boxes, which allow him to acquire various powers. “It’s a joint collaboration between effects, compositing and lighting departments. We are doing a lot of work in Nuke in order to have particles flowing on his face or forming a force field. Numerous layers had to be comped and lit,” Riccarand says.
One of the most complex sequences and environments was executing the cosmic car chase that takes place on the Rainbow Road.
A chase sequence takes place on a prism-colored cosmic transitway. “The Rainbow Road was a complex challenge for us,” Riccarand notes. “The camera had to chase all of the characters, which was difficult technically. The road was a volumetric entity with clouds inside. To make everything look lit [was challenging]. It’s a rainbow, so it’s not something solid. Our render department helped us to sort it out and be able to render that.” Supercharged vehicles add to excitement. “Those were a lot of fun!” Riccarand laughs. “This is not a live-action movie, so we can do what we want with the characters. You get crazy moments with the cars. The Koopa General drives this huge car that takes up all of the road.” The cloud elements assisted in conveying the proper size, scale and speed. “Each shot was set-dressed in order to get the best angle for the camera. We added tiny elements in frame that are going by quickly and cause you to say, ‘They’re going fast.’”
A signature environment is the Mushroom Kingdom that Mario and Princess Peach walk through.
Bowser lives on a volcanic world and resides in Lava Lake Keep. “It was not scary to do because our proprietary software helped us to deal with the smoke,” Riccarand states. “But when it comes to scale and a thousand shots to do, we had to be smart to find a good solution that doesn’t cost too much. You can’t have multiple simulations rendering overnight to have them ready for the day after. The lava had to be stylized to work with the characters in the scene. It was a bit more cartoony, but with realistic lighting.” A staple of video games is to have a world filled with giant mushrooms. Explains Riccarand, “People love that! The Mushroom Kingdom was a nice set to do. There was a lot of modeling and procedural environments in order to do the set extensions. It is something iconic from the game, so the viewer knows what they are looking for; so we needed to pay attention in order to not disappoint them.” Scenes in World Bowser take place at night, while the Mushroom Kingdom action unfolds in the daytime. “Night sequences are easier to hide things with mist and darkness, and you can use high contrast lighting. When you’re outside in sunny daylight, it’s more complex to light the characters in a believable and interesting way.”
While following through with his nefarious plans, Bowser also has a habit of singing love songs dedicated to Princess Peach.
“Those [supercharged vehicles] were a lot of fun! This is not a live-action movie, so we can do what we want with the characters. You get crazy moments with the cars. The Koopa General drives this huge car that takes up all of the road. … Each shot was set-dressed in order to get the best angle for the camera. We added tiny elements in frame that are going by quickly and cause you to say, ‘They’re going fast.’”
—Milò Riccarand, Head of CG/FX Supervisor, Illumination Mac Guff
The simulations for lava had to be stylized to ensure that the environments did not clash with the cartoony character designs.
Some scenes are a direct homage to actual gameplay. “That was fun because the idea was to take something that exists in the game, however, then put it into a more cinematic environment,” remarks Riccarand. “It had to respectful but on a bigger scale.” There was constant feedback from Nintendo, with signature elements like Question Boxes being incorporated into the storytelling. “The Question Boxes are opaque with a little light source inside. They are the same design as Nintendo, but had to have some magic in order to have them fit into the movie.” Something not part of the gaming experience was having Bowser sing in a concert inspired settings and lighting. “That was one of the craziest ideas! It’s like a jazz concert, but him singing to his girl. We have some good key lights and lots of reference from jazz concerts. The idea was to put the character in the light and simply have him singing. One of our co-directors, Pierre Leduc, previously was our animation director on a lot of movies, so his experience helped us in getting the proper silhouettes and poses.”
A lot of fun was had in getting to design, create and execute the various vehicles that could not exist in a live-action movie.
“[The volcanic world of Bowser] was not scary to do because our proprietary software helped us to deal with the smoke. But when it comes to scale and a thousand shots to do, we had to be smart to find a good solution that doesn’t cost too much. You can’t have multiple simulations rendering overnight to have them ready for the day after. The lava had to be stylized to work with the characters in the scene. It was a bit more cartoony, but with realistic lighting.”
—Milò Riccarand, Head of CG/FX Supervisor, Illumination Mac Guff
A scene from the commercial that begins the movie.
Simulations such as the water from the bursting pipes in the bathroom are more driven by comedic rather than realistic timing. “In two frames you can go from no water to a huge splash of water,” Riccarand observes. “It’s interesting because that’s when effects works with animation. It’s a joint venture between the two. Before doing the effects, the animator will say, ‘I would love to have a splash here and there.’ Afterwards, in effects, we try to make that happen.” Talking in an infantile voice and expressing pessimistic views is the imprisoned star known as Lumalee. “It’s a volumetric character, so it’s not the classic shading. This type of character is difficult to animate because it’s a star shape. In the beginning you’d think, ‘I will not be able to do some extreme movements.’ But you absolutely can. In the end credits, Lumalee is playing the saxophone.”
Actual gameplay was incorporated into the storytelling and upgraded with a cinematic sensibility.
“The Mushroom Kingdom was a nice set to do. There was a lot of modeling and procedural environments in order to do the set extensions. It is something iconic from the game, so the viewer knows what they are looking for; so we needed to pay attention in order to not disappoint them.”
—Milò Riccarand, Head of CG/FX Supervisor, Illumination Mac Guff
Nintendo was closely involved with the production to ensure that aesthetic of the video game was maintained.
Grooming for the moustaches of the Mario Bros. and Donkey Kong was achieved through proprietary software. “Donkey Kong has numerous layers of fur,” Riccarand explains. “It has to have a lot of detail to feel real, but it doesn’t need to be realistic. There is a closeup shot of the hand of Donkey Kong, and you see one of his fingers at a huge scale. I couldn’t do the skin realistically, as it needs to be pleasant to look at. We did a lot of tests to produce something that looks real and that has good subsurface scattering, but the texture and painting of it is appealing.” Plenty of destruction occurs in the finale battle that unfolds in Brooklyn. “FX Supervisor Simon Pate drove this sequence. You have the superpowers of the characters plus various simulations everywhere, like smoke and dust. You want to do things that are not too scary but good to see and impressive. It can be hard to do a battle like that in the daytime, but the lighting helps a lot.” Advancements were made in the area of compositing. Riccarand notes, “We did a lot of new work on lens aberrations, and the in-house renderer has been greatly improved because with each movie we want to render more and more. Technology gets better, and people ask for more! But that’s what makes this type of job interesting. You’re always trying to find the best and new ways to do things.”
Lead Animator and Key Stop Motion Animator Laurie Sitzia animates the interaction between Anni and Kalina during the tunnel sequence.
If you want to see the global talent practicing the art of storytelling through animation, the recent trend towards anthologies appearing on the streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+ are providing the platform for viewers to do so. After using a series of nine anime shorts to showcase the influence of Japanese cinema on George Lucas and the Star Wars universe, Lucasfilm has expanded the worldview for Star Wars: Visions Volume 2 to include U.K. stop-motion maestros Aardman for I Am Your Mother. The tongue-in-cheek story, directed by Magdalena Osinska, cleverly shifts the dysfunctional volatile father-son dynamic to a nurturing mother-daughter class conflict and transforms a beloved supporting character into a self-promoting salesman.
One of the most difficult physical actions to pull off was getting the puppets to hug each other in a believable manner.
“The theme of family is something I love to explore in my work, and a lot of the characters in ‘I Am Your Mother’ are inspired by people I’m familiar with, so this largely informed the visual aesthetic,” Osinska explains. “I intentionally wanted the main characters to be alien, as that was inspired by my arrival in the U.K. as a Polish national. I was an alien, so our characters are literally aliens! In terms of animation, I was keen for a female animator to develop these mother-daughter relationships. Our lead animator, Laurie Sitzia, developed and tested Anni and Kalina. We had in-depth conversations with Laurie about mother-daughter relationships, about Anni and Kalina’s background, motivations and emotions throughout the film. We talked about the closeness and warmth of their relationship, but also that relatable feeling of being embarrassed by your parents, and being able to show these layers of feelings through the puppet’s performance.”
As for the visual language, it was important to retain a warmth between Anni and Kalina despite the rising tension between them. “Such subtle emotional shifts needed to be evident, and I worked hard to put them into the finer nuanced details of their facial expressions,” states Laurie Sitzia, Lead Animator and Key Stop Motion Animator. “This was especially important in the cockpit sequence where we watch Anni’s frustrations escalate until she reaches boiling point with an outburst that shocks and hurts her mother. She immediately regrets it but can’t take it back. Kalina contains her hurt to protect her daughter, but we still needed to see a glimpse of it.”
Concept design of the spacetug, which serves both as a home and spacecraft for Anni and Kalina.
“I was keen for a female animator to develop these mother-daughter relationships. Our lead animator, Laurie Sitzia, developed and tested Anni and Kalina. We had in-depth conversations with Laurie about mother-daughter relationships, about Anni and Kalina’s background, motivations and emotions throughout the film. We talked about the closeness and warmth of their relationship, but also that relatable feeling of being embarrassed by your parents, and being able to show these layers of feelings through the puppet’s performance.”
—Magdalena Osinska, Director
Director Magdalena Osinska prepares the spacetug for the complex tunnel shot that occurs during the race.
Reflecting how the relationship evolves between Anni and Kalina are the book-ending hugs. “Hitting the perfect pose in a hug in stop-motion is always a challenge and much harder than it looks. Puppets don’t usually fit together very easily. You’d never know it, but Anni’s head is actually cheated forward and is floating on a rig about 10mm forward of Kalina’s face for the last few frames of their final pose. It was the only way to get their tilted heads to look like they were making contact with each other. The rig had to be cheated in mid-shot, quite a fiddly operation,” Sitzia says.
Lead Animator and Key Stop Motion Animator Laurie Sitzia found it important to display subtle emotional shifts to reflect the evolution of the mother-daughter relationship between Kalina and Anni.
There cannot be any Star Wars story without droids, and the faithful malfunctioning companion Z1 displays the characteristics of an accordion-expanding sausage dog. “[Animation Director] Steve Cox developed and 3D printed the prototype for Z1 himself. As a huge Star Wars fan, he was keen to ensure that the final puppet would feel totally in keeping with the other astromechs, and Z1 really does,” Sitzia notes. “He was fun to animate, too, with elements like the ears and legs folding in/out and the slinky body allowing for playful dips and dog-like movement while still retaining a very droid-like quality. Z1 could also stretch out long which worked so well for his fall from the table in the opening sequence and later on when he is swinging from the spacetug. His head tilt also gave him that inquisitive dog-like expression. I remember multiple pipes and tubes being ordered in a search for the perfect part to create his concertina mid-section, as making this from scratch would have been really tricky. It was quite a process to find the right thing, and Steve tells me it ended up being a motorbike shock absorber cover that with a few tweaks worked out perfectly!”
“Hitting the perfect pose in a hug in stop-motion is always a challenge and much harder than it looks. Puppets don’t usually fit together very easily. You’d never know it, but Anni’s head is actually cheated forward and is floating on a rig about 10mm forward of Kalina’s face for the last few frames of their final pose. It was the only way to get their tilted heads to look like they were making contact with each other. The rig had to be cheated in mid-shot, quite a fiddly operation.”
—Laurie Sitzia, Lead Animator and Key Stop Motion Animator
Color keys used to map out the various sequences.
“We used ZBrush for modeling and Maya for modeling and animation,” Osinska remarks, “Nuke for compositing and face tracking, Houdini for rendering. And I’ve been told by Signe Tveitan, our wonderful 3D modeler, that we used Karma and Solaris to calculate how the light interacts with the surface.” Fun was had with the visual effects. “I was keen for the look of the spaceships thrusters to be quite stylized and a mixture between 2D and 3D visual effect, a little bit comic, like Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” Osinska says. “[Production Designer] Aurélien Predal created very cool 2D shapes for each ship that also reflected the character of their drivers. It was an interesting challenge to then translate it into 3D, and we actually spent quite a bit of time on it to find that perfect look. The other visual effects were screens and holograms. We played with the visibility, color, lines, static, to make it work for our film and also within the Star Wars universe. Besides that, there were fireworks and lots of other atmospheres that made everything sit nicely together.” The set of city and school building were constructed entirely in 3D. “Usually, the foreground is physical, but the rest would be CG. Lighting the 3D parts played a huge role in bringing together these two techniques; this actually goes both for the sets in general but also the mouths, and our Lighting Lead, Tessa Mapp. did an amazing job on it. A big bow to our CG and VFX Supervisors, Ben Toogood and Bram Ttwheam, who married the stop-motion with CG so beautifully,” Osinska says.
The main character lineup as conceptualized by Félicie Haymoz. From left to right: Z1, Kalina Kalfus, Annisoukaline ‘Anni’ Kalfus, Dorota Van Reeple and Julan Van Reeple.
“[Animation Director] Steve Cox developed and 3D printed the prototype for Z1 himself. As a huge Star Wars fan, he was keen to ensure that the final puppet would feel totally in keeping with the other astromechs, and Z1 really does,” Sitzia notes. “He was fun to animate, too, with elements like the ears and legs folding in/out and the slinky body allowing for playful dips and dog-like movement while still retaining a very droid-like quality.”
—Laurie Sitzia, Lead Animator and Key Stop Motion Animator
One of the visual effects that had to be produced was a hologram of Wedge Antilles in the opening shot.
Appearing on screens throughout the city promoting the family pilot race and his own merchandise is Rebel Alliance X-wing pilot Wedge Antilles, actually voiced by the original live-action actor, Denis Lawson. “Anni and her mum come from a planet very very far away, from an unprivileged place, but Anni is an extremely talented pilot, the first one from her planet to be accepted to the prestigious Hanna City Flight Academy,” Osinska states. “Her mum taught her piloting skills, for example, the Ryloth Roll maneuver, which then helps Anni win the race, but Anni doesn’t value it when we meet her at the beginning of the story. Instead, naturally, she is looking up to well-known heroes like Wedge Antilles. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Denis Lawson, and it didn’t take much convincing at all to play a slightly lighthearted and fun version of his character.” There is no shortage of Easter eggs, such as Jawa causing technological havoc in the opening. “I love the Jawa, too! They actually appear one more time in the film, at the Academy Fair by a stall selling things ‘Touched by Luke Skywalker.’ The Jawa tries to steal Luke’s lightsaber just before we see another hand [Maz Kanata] grabbing it first. We wanted to put fans’ worries to bed by solving the big mystery of how Maz Kanata took possession of Luke’s lightsaber in The Force Awakens!”
Figuring out the key poses for the Anni puppet.
“It is really hard to choose one sequence as I loved each one of them, but if I must I’d choose the tunnel scene after Anni and Kalina crash, both the exterior and interior,” Osinska remarks. “The reason being that it was quite challenging, and there was lots of problem-solving, which is what I love about stop-motion. The tunnel we built was only four meters long, but we needed to make it feel as if it’s going for hundred of meters. DP Tristan Oliver, along with Motion Control Operator Adam Cook and Art Director Andy Brown, figured out a way of detaching the panels that are off-camera and moving them forward in front of the spaceship to achieve the feeling that it’s a very long tunnel with forks and turns. The precision of collaboration between the camera and set department was faultless!”
“I love the Jawa, too! They actually appear one more time in the film, at the Academy Fair by a stall selling things ‘Touched by Luke Skywalker.’ The Jawa tries to steal Luke’s lightsaber just before we see another hand [Maz Kanata] grabbing it first. We wanted to put fans’ worries to bed by solving the big mystery of how Maz Kanata took possession of Luke’s lightsaber in The Force Awakens!”
—Magdalena Osinska, Director
There is no shortage of Easter eggs that can be found in each frame. If you look closely enough, you will see Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber.
Capturing the violin sequences proved to be one of the more complicated tasks for VFX Supervisor Simon Devault and his team.
Based on the dramatic true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges (portrayed by Kelvin Harrison Jr.), Chevalier depicts the tormented life of the renowned historical figure. Born to George de Bologne, a plantation owner, and a slave on Bologne’s plantation, Chevalier faces racial prejudice and harassment from his peers at a Parisian boarding school. Chevalier follows his ultimate rise to fame in French society as a celebrated violinist, composer and fencer, to his doomed love affair with Marie-Joséphine de Comarieu de Montalembert and complicated relationship with Marie Antoinette.
Folks VFX had to transpose the environment on the scene happening at the street level when Chevalier’s mother arrives at his apartment.
“The movie was shot in Prague, but Prague is not Paris. Our mission was to make sure it looked like Paris from around 1770. As an example, there are quite a lot of red roofs in Prague, but there aren’t any in Paris. We always had to remove them as soon as we saw any in the footage. … The production designer [Karen Murphy] had a reference book. She was sending us references from the time period that they wanted us to match. We needed to create something real from paintings references.”
—Simon Devault, VFX Supervisor, Folks VFX
Simon Devault served as VFX Supervisor on the film. “A little more than 10 years ago, I worked at another VFX facility where I met Philippe Thibault, who is one of the co-founders of Folks. Philippe left to start Folks and asked me if I wanted to join them. I was one of the few first employees at Folks, and I have been there for a little more than 10 years now. I grew within the company. I was a compositor at first, then Compositing Supervisor, then VFX Supervisor, and I’m now head of the studio. The company grew a lot over the years, and we now have offices in Toronto, Bogota and Saguenay. On top of that, we are a part of a group called Pitch Black that regroups other VFX companies such as RSP, El Ranchito and Fuse.”
Chevalier’s street was completely CGI.
Recalling his initial conversations with Chevalier director, Stephen Williams, Devault explains that Williams was the producing director on the first project Folks worked on. “Since the beginning, we have had a creative collaboration with Stephen,” Devault says. “He developed a good relationship with Sébastien Bergeron, the other co-founder of Folks who is now the CEO of Pitch Black. He often contacts us before the beginning of a project to help with the artistic direction of the show, creating look books, making fake trailers to set the mood, etc. This is the perfect example of what we like to do at Folks – be part of the process as early as possible. Storytelling is our business too. We have a great long-term relationship with Stephen.”
“The rooms were built on set in a studio with greenscreen in all the windows that we had to replace with Paris from around 1770. We also had to transpose that environment on the scene happening at the street level when his mother arrives at his apartment. Again, most of the environment around her was all VFX. CGI looks so clean, but Paris from 1770 was really dirty. A lot of the work went into dirtying up our CG environment to match that period. As an example, all the walls were stained by the smoke they had in the city coming from chimneys and fire pits.”
—Simon Devault, VFX Supervisor, Folks VFX
Folks VFX worked alongside Production Designer Karen Murphy.
Devault and his team worked in close collaboration with Production Designer Karen Murphy (The Great Gatsby, Elvis, A Star is Born) to make sure they were as historically accurate as possible with their depiction of Paris. “The movie was shot in Prague, but Prague is not Paris. Our mission was to make sure it looked like Paris from around 1770,” Devault says. “As an example, there are quite a lot of red roofs in Prague, but there aren’t any in Paris. We always had to remove them as soon as we saw any in the footage.” Creative references for Chevalier proved difficult to find for Devault and his team as they could only rely on paintings from the time period. “The production designer had a reference book. She was sending us references from the time period that they wanted us to match. We needed to create something real from paintings references.”
Everything seen from Chevalier’s apartment in the windows were CGI environments. “The rooms were built on set in a studio with greenscreen in all the windows that we had to replace with Paris from around 1770. We also had to transpose that environment on the scene happening at the street level, when his mother arrives at his apartment. Again, most of the environment around her was all VFX. CGI looks so clean, but Paris from 1770 was really dirty. A lot of the work went into dirtying up our CG environment to match that period. As an example, all the walls were stained by the smoke they had in the city coming from chimneys and fire pits,” Devault says.
A lot of the work went into dirtying up the CG environment to match Paris in the 1770s.
The film consists of numerous long shots which proved challenging to render for Devault and his team at Folks. “The timelapse scene of the Parisian street view from Chevalier’s window was particularly challenging,” Devault explains. ”We are at night in his apartment, we go to the window, we see the timelapse outside going from night to day and then go back into his apartment. The whole street was CGI. We really needed to recreate everything from scratch. All the people on the street were filmed and then added in later. That was a lot of work. There were also a lot of invisible transitions throughout the film, and we had to make them fluid and seamless. It was a lot of frame handling.”
The film consisted of around 250 visual effects shots in total.
Creating full CGI Paris was a major challenge for Devault; however, capturing the violin sequences proved to be one of the more complicated tasks. “The performance of the actor’s fingers when he was playing the violin was something as well. I am pretty sure nobody noticed that on the screen!” Devault says. “That was a good sign that it worked out well. Chevalier was the Jimi Hendrix of his time. We had to make Kelvin Harrison Jr. look like he is playing the violin like it and playing the right notes. Kelvin was able to play some basic violin, but we asked production to shoot an experienced violinist from different angles playing the same song. We then transposed the right fingering into Kelvin’s hands. So, the hand you see in the film is not his real hand in all of the shots. The compositor had to digitally remove his hand and then replace it with the new CGI one. That was the sort of invisible effect work that we had to do for the film.”
The rooms were built on set in a studio with greenscreen in all the windows.
“The timelapse scene of the Parisian street view from Chevalier’s window was particularly challenging, We are at night in his apartment, we go to the window, we see the timelapse outside going from night to day and then go back into his apartment. The whole street was CGI. We really needed to recreate everything from scratch. All the people on the street were filmed and then added in later. That was a lot of work. There were also a lot of invisible transitions throughout the film, and we had to make them fluid and seamless. It was a lot of frame handling.”
—Simon Devault, VFX Supervisor, Folks VFX
The team were used to doing crowd duplication as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussing the revolution scenes, Devault notes that the team were used to doing crowd duplication due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the limitations it presented. “We all knew the drill,” he says. “For the revolution sequences, we had to add people into the background with the proper lighting and fire and everything. We rented some costumes and built some torches and filmed some actors in front of a greenscreen, and then we placed them in the scene. We shot a real group of people that we had to place afterwards, and it’s easier that way. In the theater during that scene, there wasn’t anyone on the balcony, so we had to add people there too.”
Actors were placed in front of a greenscreen in a studio and then planted into the revolution scenes. Devault and his team relied on paintings from the time period for reference.
Devault and his team also worked on the fencing sequence where Chevalier impresses Marie Antoinette with his fighting skills. Despite having few visual effects, the scene was time-consuming, and Devault and his team worked round the clock to deliver. “During the fight you see blood, but on the plate there was nothing, and we had to add the wounds afterwards. All the blood on his shirt was added in.We needed to make it work for the fight. It was subtle, but it took time to get there and track it properly,” Devault says.
The red roofs of Prague needed to be adjusted for the Parisian landscapes.
“The performance of the actor’s fingers when he was playing the violin was something as well. I am pretty sure nobody noticed that on the screen! That was a good sign that it worked out well. Chevalier was the Jimi Hendrix of his time. We had to make Kelvin Harrison Jr. look like he is playing the violin like it and playing the right notes. Kelvin was able to play some basic violin, but we asked production to shoot an experienced violinist from different angles playing the same song. We then transposed the right fingering into Kelvin’s hands. So, the hand you see in the film is not his real hand in all of the shots. The compositor had to digitally remove his hand and then replace it with the new CGI one. That was the sort of invisible effect work that we had to do for the film.”
—Simon Devault, VFX Supervisor, Folks VFX
Creating full CGI Paris was one of the many challenges for Devault.
The film consisted of around 250 visual effects shots in total, with Folks serving as the main vendor on the film. “As we always do, we tried to find the most convincing and effective way to tell the story and produce the best images possible within the constraint of the project. I am very glad to have been a part of the production on that historical film. I love when a movie paints the injustice and mistakes of our society in the past, makes people think about where we are at now, then shape a better future,” Devault concludes.
Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Chevalier standing against greenscreen in the studio apartment set with greenscreen in all the windows.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of 20th Century Studios’ THE CREATOR followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Director Gareth Edwards and Visual Effects Supervisor Jay Cooper. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE NUN II
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, September 18, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, September 18 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES members please register your name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of 20th Century Studios’ A HAUNTING IN VENICE
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Netflix’s HEART OF STONE
Netflix guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Wednesday, September 13 at 2:00PM) The Roma Theater in the Netflix Epic building 5901 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028 (Complimentary parking is available in the structure on Bronson Ave.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Columbia Pictures’ THE EQUALIZER 3
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, September 8, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, September 8 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Many VES members participate in Siggraph at various levels – join us for an online event that gathers a roundtable of Siggraph attendees, to recap for VES members who were unable to attend this year in Los Angeles. It’s a chance to get a glimpse of what the conference had to offer, hear about trending tech topics, and discover how the 50th anniversary was commemorated.
The format will be a 1-hour Zoom session with presenters sharing their observations, in a roundtable setting for conversations and multiple perspectives.
Thursday, August 31st 2023
7PM to 8PM (PDT)
Join us on Zoom here : https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85896938750
If you have topics you would like to see addressed, please send an email in advance to the evening’s moderator:
Jeff A. Johnson, Secretary, Bay Area Board of Managers
pegasusgiraffe@gmail or bayareasecretary@vesglobal.org
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Sony Pictures’ GRAN TURISMO
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, August 25, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, August 25 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of MGM Studios’ LANDSCAPE WITH INVISIBLE HAND
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, August 21, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, August 21 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
SIGGRAPH 2023 takes place from August 6 to 10 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. VES members must login to see the discount code below.
VES members get FREE Exhibits Only passes to SIGGRAPH 2023, and a limited number of VES members receive complimentary Experience level registration or $195 off higher registration levels for SIGGRAPH 2023. Please register only if you plan to attend SIGGRAPH 2023 in-person in Los Angeles. There will be no refunds for prior purchases, quantity is limited, and VES members must login in order to see the discount codes below.
Celebrate 50 years of SIGGRAPH conferences, and make your mark on the next 50 years of innovation by joining us at SIGGRAPH 2023. Explore our various in-person registration options for the five-day conference in Los Angeles, as well as Virtual Access options to select the experience that is best for you.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Paramount Pictures’ TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES – MUTANT MAYHEM
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 11:00AM AMC Century City 10250 Santa Monica Blvd #2000, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Click here for a map
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES members receive FREE passes to attend the two-day, invitation-only Production Summit L.A. with industry thought leaders discussing advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual worlds, virtual production, and cloud-based production showcasing some of the latest innovations, sponsored by Microsoft and AMD.
Speakers will include VES members Rick Champagne, Dan Cox, Phil Galler, Erick Geisler, Addy Ghani, James Knight, Jess Loren, Charlotte Nelson, Eric Reynolds, Kimball Thurston and Beck Veitch as well as many others. There will also be two evening networking receptions with a live band performance on Friday night.
VES members must login to RSVP and see the promo code below.
VES members receive FREE passes to attend the two-day, invitation-only Production Summit L.A. with industry thought leaders discussing advancements in artificial intelligence, virtual worlds, virtual production, and cloud-based production showcasing some of the latest innovations, sponsored by Microsoft and AMD.
Speakers will include VES members Rick Champagne, Dan Cox, Phil Galler, Erick Geisler, Addy Ghani, James Knight, Jess Loren, Charlotte Nelson, Eric Reynolds, Kimball Thurston and Beck Veitch as well as many others. There will also be two evening networking receptions with a live band performance on Friday night.
VES members must login to RSVP and see the promo code below.
VES Members and up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ BARBIE
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, July 31, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, July 31 at 10:00AM) Screening Room 12 on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot (Please enter through Gate 4)
4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA 91502 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ HAUNTED MANSION
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs are closed
Saturday, July 29 at 2:00PM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, July 28) Frank G. Wells Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot
(Please enter through the Alameda Gate East of Buena Vista)
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91451
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ HAUNTED MANSION
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs are closed
Saturday, July 29 at 11:00AM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, July 28) Frank G. Wells Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot
(Please enter through the Alameda Gate East of Buena Vista)
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91451
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ OPPENHEIMER
Masks are encouraged, but not required. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs are closed
Monday, July 24, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, July 24 at 12:00PM) Harmony Gold (complimentary parking will be provided) 7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Paramount Pictures’ MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – DEAD RECKONING PART 1
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs are closed as this event is overbooked
Monday, July 17, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, July 17 at 12:00PM) AMC Theater at The Grove 189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036 (Parking validation in The Grove structure is available at the AMC theater. Parking at the Farmers Market will not be validated.) Click here for a map
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Los Angles section in collaboration with CGPRO are excited to bring this Producing Virtual Production workshop opportunity to our members. Through the thought process of breaking down a small script, considering it’s viability as an ICVFX production, then following through with segment producing, VAD, crewing and execution. Each of the guests will weigh in with their specific focus on the process in an open forum discussion and workshop environment.
Guests include:
Ben Baker – Virtual Production Specialist/Mesh
James Blevins – Senior VP Producer / Co-Founder Mesh
Scott Rosekrans – Virtual Production Supervisor / The Real Time Group at Zoic Studios
Dani Bellar Pilukas – Director of Physical Production Lux Machina
David Ethan Sanders – Producer/Cinematographer at CG Pro / ICVFX consultant
Edward Dawson-Taylor – VAD Supervisor / Head of School CG Pro
This is a Zoom event.
Please RSVP below (Members must login to register)
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
This screening is overbooked and RSVPs are closed
Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE FLASH
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, June 26, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, June 26 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Pixar Animation Studios’ ELEMENTAL followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Director Peter Sohn, Producer Denise Ream, Visual Effects Supervisor Sanjay Bakshi and Production Designer Don Shank, moderated by VES member and ASIFA Hollywood President Frank Gladstone. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Saturday, June 24, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Paramount Pictures’ TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS
Paramount Pictures requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below Sunday, June 11, 2019 at 11:00AM
The Sherry Lansing Theater on the Paramount studio lot
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
(Please enter through the Melrose gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, June 5, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, June 5 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ THE MACHINE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Thursday, June 1 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ THE LITTLE MERMAID
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs for this screening are closed
Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 12:00PM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Advance Screening of Tim Webber’s Experimental Sci-fi Short FLITE made using Framestore’s new VFX and virtual production pipeline. Panelists will include Framestore CCO as well as VES Award-, Oscar-, BAFTA- and Emmy-winning GRAVITY Visual Effects Supervisor Tim Webber and Academy Award nominated Visual Effects Supervisor from CHRISTOPHER ROBINTheo Jones will discuss the cutting edge combination of LED Volume, Motion Capture, and Unreal Engine rendering that brought this stunning project to life.
They will discuss Framestore’s new toolset (FUSE) used to create VFX in Unreal Engine at a previously unachievable scale as well as the hybrid live action/CG approach to storytelling along with techniques that brought nuanced human performances in full CG worlds to the screen. Click here to watch the FLITE trailer.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Thursday, May 25 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Two (2) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night IMAX Screening of Universal Pictures’ FAST X
Masks are encouraged, but not required. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, May 19, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, May 19 at 12:00PM) IMAX West Coast Headquarters in Playa Vista 12582 Millennium Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90094 Click here for a map
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Ketchup Entertainment’s HYPNOTIC
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, May 15, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, May 15 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Sony Pictures’ KNIGHTS OF THE ZODIAC
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, May 12, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, May 12 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Marvel Studios’ and Walt Disney Pictures’ GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY, VOL. 3 followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Visual Effects Supervisor Stephane Ceretti and Sony Pictures Imageworks Visual Effects Supervisor Theo Bialek, moderated by Van Ling, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Sunday, May 7, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ BIG GEORGE FOREMAN: THE MIRACULOUS STORY OF THE ONCE AND FUTURE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, May 5, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, May 5 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Focus Features’ POLITE SOCIETY
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, April 28, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, April 28 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Columbia Pictures’ THE POPE’S EXORCIST
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, April 17, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, April 17 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Universal Pictures’ RENFIELD
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Friday, April 14, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, April 14 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s AIR
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Monday, April 10, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, April 10 at 12:00PM)
The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Universal Pictures’ and Illumination Entertainment’s THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE
RSVPs are closed as this screening is overbooked
Saturday, April 8, 2023 at 1:45PM AMC Century City 10250 Santa Monica Blvd #2000, Los Angeles, CA 90067
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Paramount Pictures’ DUNGEONS & DRAGONS: HONOR AMONG THIEVES
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
RSVPs are closed as this screening is overbooked
Monday, April 3, 2023 at 7:30PM The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Focus Features’ A THOUSAND AND ONE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, March 31, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, March 31 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Lionsgate’s JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
RSVPs are closed as this screening is overbooked
Monday, March 27, 2023 at 7:30PM The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
The VES Los Angeles Section would like to invite our members to our a Recruiting Mixer and Happy Hour. Also, put your knowledge to a test.
Join us and socialize with fellow VES Members to enjoy some good food and fine drinks, and
please bring a VFX professional who is interested in joining VES as your +1.
We can help you find other members to write endorsement letters for your guest.
Please mark in your calendar: Sunday March 12, 2023 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Our social will take place at: The Cat & Fiddle 742 N. Highland Avenue Hollywood, CA
Members please login to your VES account to register.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable for any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
The VES Los Angeles Section would like to invite our members to our a Recruiting Mixer and Happy Hour. Also, put your knowledge to a test.
Join us and socialize with fellow VES Members to enjoy some good food and fine drinks, and
please bring a VFX professional who is interested in joining VES as your +1.
We can help you find other members to write endorsement letters for your guest.
Please mark in your calendar: Sunday March 12, 2023 from 3:00 – 7:00 PM
Our social will take place at: The Cat & Fiddle 742 N. Highland Avenue Hollywood, CA
Members please login to your VES account to register.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable for any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Studios’ COCAINE BEAR
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, March 6, 2023 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, March 6 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Marvel Studios’ and Walt Disney Pictures’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA
Masks or face coverings are encouraged, but not mandatory. Please observe social distancing whenever possible.
RSVPs are closed
Saturday, February 18, 2023 at 11:00AM Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members are invited to attend a hands-on workshop at disquise
Saturday, February, 11 1:00PM
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to register)
On February 11, disguise and the L.A. section of VES invite you to a virtual production technical workshop geared for VFX professionals, detailing how to execute the following types of Virtual Production shoots using disguise:
Video based driving plate car processing
Unreal Engine based interior scene
2.5D (artificial parallax with image layers) based exterior scene
Greenscreen with full incidental lighting
Data recording for post production and VFX
This will be on a working LED volume, and attendees may be asked to take roles such as talent, camera operator, director, etc.
Date: Saturday, February 11
Time:
Welcome Drinks/Lunch: 1:00 – 2:00 PM
Technical Workshop: 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Questions & Networking: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
disguise is the premium tech platform consisting of hardware, software and third party plugins to centrally manage and control the entire tech stack of a Virtual Production stage. disguise is the only platform that allows seamless transition from game engines, to video plates to 2.5D. disguise not only equips stages, but supports them and trains the operators who run them.
Due to the hands-on nature of this event, space is limited.
Covid Language:
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable for any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
Visual Effects Society Los Angeles Section Holiday Party
Marina del Rey Marriott Hotel
VES Members and One (1) Guest are Invited to Celebrate the Season with Us!
RSVPs are FULL
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Bayview Terrace and Ballroom Holiday Cocktail Attire
5:30PM-6:30PM Cocktails
6:30PM-10:00PM Dinner party Appetizers, Buffet dinner, open bar (see times below) and prizes Open Bar from 5:30PM to 8:30PM
Cash Bar 8:30PM to 9:30PM
Bar Closed and Coffee Served 9:30PM to 10:00PM
Valet Parking $25.00 per vehicle (this is discounted for our event , parking is $45.00 normally)
VES Members and One (1) Guest are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D HFR Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and 20th Century Studios’ AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
Panelists will include VES Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Director-Writer-Producer-Editor James Cameron, Oscar winning Producer Jon Landau, Executive Producer, VES Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor at Wētā FX Richard Baneham, VES Georges Méliès Award-winning Senior Visual Effects Supervisor at Wētā FX JoeLetteri, VES, Wētā Visual Effects Producer Lena Scanlan, VES Award-winning Head of FX at Wētā FX JohnathanNixon and VES Award-winning Animation Supervisor at Wētā FX Eric Reynolds, moderated by VES Chair Lisa Cooke. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
RSVPs are closed
Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00AM (Please arrive early to allow time for check-in)
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Two (2) Guests are Invited to a Revival Stereo 3D and 4K Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ AVATAR from 2009
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login in order to sign up)
Monday, December 5, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Monday) Frank G. Wells Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot
(Please enter through the Alameda Gate East of Buena Vista)
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91451
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ DEVOTION
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, December 2 at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Searchlight Pictures’ THE MENU
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, November 28, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday, November 28 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ STRANGE WORLD
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Friday, November 25, 2022 at 12:00PM (RSVPs close at 2:00PM on Wednesday, November 23) Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ THE FABELMANS
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, November 18, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Friday, November 18 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
RSVPs are closed
Sunday, November 13, 2022 at 11:00AM (RSVPs closed at 10:00AM on Friday, November 11) Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Visual Effects Society Presents: “Creating Lifelike Digital Humans – Volumetric Video Capture Techniques for VFX Pipelines”
Wild Capture to Demo Volumetric Video Digital Human Characters at
Metastage State-of-the-Art Volumetric Video Capture Studio
Event Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022
2:00PM – 5:00PM Click here to RSVP
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Wild Capture develops smart assets for the next generation of spatial media products that enable creators to produce high-quality digital humans with cutting-edge volumetric technologies and industry-standard practices. Wild Capture’s ‘Digital Human Platform’ offers a complete production pipeline that translates the human essence into volumetric video with the highest quality performance captures available to break the uncanny valley.
Launched in 2020 by filmmaking and VFX visionaries credited with pushing the evolution of new media productions over two decades, Wild Capture provides performance capture expertise at every stage of the creative process. From interactive CG fashion products and services to volumetric crowd kits, Wild Capture content inspires and engages realistic digital humans for use in media production, software development, and web-based applications.
Metastage is a premier XR production studio specializing in 3D capture technology — volumetric capture, or “volcap.” Metastage’s end-to-end system uses an array of 106 machine-vision cameras to capture authentic human performance from all angles and delivers a high-fidelity yet highly compressed 3D asset for streaming on mobile devices and AR/VR headsets, and allows for seamless integration within VFX workflows for framed content.
Since its launch in 2018, Metastage has completed 200+ productions with major brands, earning two Emmy nominations. As producers, technologists, and virtual world development experts, we collaborate with diverse clients to help them build and become leaders in the XR space.
VES LA Members and 1 Guest are invited on a field trip to Wild Capture’s presentation at Meta Stage, a state-of-the-art volumetric video capture stage, located at 12800 Foothill Blvd, Sylmar, CA 91342
Saturday, November 12, 2022
Demonstration is from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Refreshments sponsored by:
Setellite is an industry-standard platform for on-set VFX data organization.Setellite is developed in Amsterdam by the talented teams at Planet X Technologies in partnership with Unwind Creative Technology. Additional information on Setellite products is available here.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Focus Features’ ARMAGEDDON TIME
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, November 7, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ BLACK ADAM
RSVPs are closed (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, November 4, 2022 at 8:00PM (RSVPs close on Friday, November 4 at 10:00AM) Screening Room 12 on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot (Please enter through Gate 4)
4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA 91502 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Infinity Festival Hollywood is the place where Hollywood meets Silicon Valley! The festival, a multi-day annual event held in the heart of Hollywood, celebrates story enabled by technology, bringing together Hollywood’s finest storytelling talent with the innovative creators of Silicon Valley’s cutting-edge technology. The Infinity Festival environment includes panels, exhibitions, screenings, keynotes, a fine art gallery and more, all driven by today’s top innovators, creators and artists. Host to a Student Lab and networking events, the festival helps drive economic opportunities for Hollywood’s thriving media and entertainment business community while supporting the up-and-coming creator economy. This year’s festival also includes exciting nighttime events, including the US premiere of “Le Musk”, a 38 min full-length sensory cinematic experience by creator A.R. Rahman, a VIP showing at LightHouse ArtSpace, and a private screening of “Signs of Life” at the Griffith Observatory.
Infinity Festival Hollywood 2022 is presented by Z by HP, NVIDIA, XLA, and Snapdragon. Sponsors include Intel, Microsoft, Verizon, Paramount, IGN, The Wall Street Journal and OUTFRONT Media.
VES members must login to VES site in order to see promo code below
November 2-5, 2022
Goya Studios
1541 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ TICKET TO PARADISE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, October 24, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 2:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Los Angeles and the Cat & Fiddle invite Members and 1 guest to a
Halloween Pub Get Together
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to register.) Sunday, October 23, at 3:00PM
Cat & the Fiddle
742 Highland Ave, Hollywood, CA 90038
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first-come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable for any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ HALLOWEEN ENDS
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID for admission. Masks are encouraged, but not required.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, October 17, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 2:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ LYLE, LYLE, CROCODILE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, October 10, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 2:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES LA Members and 1 Guest are invited on a field trip to XR Studios Hollywood,
a state-of-the-art, multi-building campus located in Los Angeles. Monday, Oct 3, 2022 at 9:30AM for Check-In Light Snacks and Coffee will be served Please login to RSVP below
XR Studios regularly pushes the boundaries of what is technically possible in the MR/XR/AR world. They are currently utilizing MegaPixelVR’s GhostFrame technology paired with some of their own IP (Intellectual Property) to achieve 2x frustums with accurate parallax, set extension, and AR at the same time. This allows them to use broadcast style transitions live to tape or live to broadcast, as well as allowing them to record 2x accurate perspectives simultaneously.
XR Studios warmly welcomes VES Members for a tour of the campus and a demonstration that includes:
A look at XR Studios’ XR Workflow for live entertainment, including workflow demonstrations, XR Studios-specific software and supporting software, and more!
The application of disguise’s xR platform for tracking, calibration, and sequencing
stYpe Camera Tracking for spatial Camera Tracking
RED Digital Cinema Camera usage and camera control conversations
Application of Megapixel VR’s GhostFrame integration, including XR Studios’ specific software integration for this multi-frustum solution.
The demonstration will be followed by an open Q&A with XR Studios’ leaders and technologists.
Join us for a day of insightful and collaborative conversations about this exciting and growing Extended Reality and Virtual Production space, plus learn more about the techniques, programs, tips, and tricks needed to tackle your innovative projects.
All attendees must show a photo ID and proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for admission. Everyone will be required to wear masks once they enter the XR Stage.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee admission.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19.
VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this “live event” infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from your participation
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ DON’T WORRY DARLING
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, September 30, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, September 30 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of The Avenue Entertainment’s MEDIEVAL
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, September 12, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of 20th Century Studios’ BARBARIAN
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login in order to sign up)
Friday, September 9, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday) Frank G. Wells Theater on the Walt Disney Studios lot
(Please enter through the Alameda Gate East of Buena Vista)
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91451
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of United Artists Releasing’s THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, August 29, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Please join your fellow LA VES members for a Beach BBQ!
August 27th from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM Will Rogers State Beach
RSVPs are now closed
Event Details
Food, Games, and Fun for All Ages!
Restrooms & Free Parking (see map below)
VES Members and a Guest FREE with RSVP
Member children 17 & under are free!
Additional guest tickets can be purchased HERE
$25 in-advance online (through 8/26 at 5 pm)
$30 at-the-door (Credit or Check only)
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable for any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this “live event” infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Universal Pictures’ BEAST
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, August 19, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ BULLET TRAIN
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Re-Scheduled to Friday, August 12, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to two (2) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ BLADE RUNNER: FINAL CUT followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Panelists will include Academy and BAFTA nominated Special Photographic Effects Supervisor David Dryer, Academy and BAFTA Award-winning Action Prop Supervisor Michael L. Fink, VES, Technical Achievement Academy Award-winning Computer Engineer at Entertainment Effects Group (EEG) Richard Hollander, VES and Academy and BAFTA Award-winning Chief Model Maker at Entertainment Effects Group (EEG) Mark Stetson, VES, moderated by VES Fellow and former VES Board member Van Ling, VES.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, August 5, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Netflix’s THE GRAY MAN
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, July 25, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 12:00PM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
A brief history, overview, and practical advice on the Facial Action Coding System.
Click here to sign-up for the webinar and receive the link
Join us for a Zoom Session on July 23, 11: 00 AM – 12:30 M PDT
With
Erika Rosenberg, Ph.D.
Facial expression scientist, author, and educator, Dr. Erika Rosenberg, will offer an overview of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) for visual effects industry professionals. Her presentation will include: a history of FACS’s development, a brief dive into this anatomically-based methodology for facial measurement, and a discussion of crucial considerations for the application of this measurement tool and knowledge of its parts (namely the action units or AUs) to the creation of moving faces in the arts. Finally, Dr. Rosenberg will offer some ready-to-implement, “take-home” advice on how to use knowledge from FACS research on emotion to convey feeling in animated faces.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Universal Pictures’ NOPE
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Friday, July 22, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Imageworks Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.)
Monday, July 18, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and all unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
RSVPs are now closed
Sunday, July 17, 2022 at 11:00AM (RSVPs closed at 10:00AM on Friday, July 15) Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Virtual Production Group (VPG) has just opened its doors to a brand-new virtual production stage standing in the heart of Hollywood at Sunset Las Palmas Studios. VPG is a collective of seasoned industry professionals with leadership and experience across all sectors of film production. Their philosophy is simple; the design and implementation of virtual production for filmmakers by filmmakers.
Operating as the first truly vertically-integrated virtual production studio, VPG’s unique offerings consist of providing services encompassing all facets of virtual production: from script/content breakdown, pre/tech vis, the design and creation of Unreal Engine based virtual environment assets from the VAD, the optimization and operation of the Las Palmas LED volume stage with specialized VPG supervision with representatives from multiple department disciplines, and post production services.
VPG is comprised of Pangaea LED Technology, Drive Studios, VFX Technologies, and Background Images utilizing Epic/Unreal Engine, and Stype Camera Tracking systems giving the Virtual Production industry a true end-to-end suite of all VP services. They will show all tech aspects and systems related to virtual production as well as driving home the importance of having the proper teams and companies in place to drive the highly technical virtual production engine.
VPG warmly invites colleagues from VES and looks forward to sharing their insight into a new virtual production paradigm.
Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 10:00AM
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Sunset Las Palmas Studios – Stage 2
1040 N. Las Palmas Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038 Click here for a map
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
All attendees must show a photo ID and proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee admission.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this “live event” infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees, and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Universal Pictures’ and Illumination Entertainment’s MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, July 2, 2022 at 4:00PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 4:00PM) AMC Century City 10250 Santa Monica Blvd #2000, Los Angeles, CA 90067 (Complimentary concessions will be provided by the studio)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ELVIS
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
RSVPs are now closed
Monday, June 27, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Celebration of the Centenary of the Late Academy and BAFTA Award-winning Makeup Artist Dick Smith (1922-2014). The evening will begin with a drinks reception plus a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ ALTERED STATES followed by a Q&A with Academy Scientific and Engineering and Technical Achievement Award-winner Bran Ferren who did Special Visual Effects on the picture and Emmy-winning Special Effects Makeup Artists Craig Reardon and Todd Masters as well as Emmy-winning Special Effects Technician Kevin Pike.
This event is presented by MastersFX and the Visual Effects Society.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login for location and to RSVP)
Sunday, June 26, 2022 at 6:00PM Reception at 6:00PM, Screening at 7:15PM
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Advance Screening of Netflix’s THE SEA BEAST followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers. Panelists will include Writer / Producer / Director Chris Williams, Producer Jed Schlanger, Production Designer Matthias Lechner, Animation Director Zach Parrish, Head of Character Animation Joshua Beveridge and VFX Supervisor R. Stirling Duguid.
Click here to RSVP (be sure to choose which screening you wish to attend.) Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 2:00PM Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Guests are Invited to a Special Fathers’ Day 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Pixar Animation Studios’ LIGHTYEAR.
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and any unvaccinated attendees must wear masks at all times indoors.
RSVPs are closed
Sunday, June 19, 2022 at 11:00AM (RSVPs closed at 10:00AM on Friday) Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Friday, June 17, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday, June 17 at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Please join us for an eye-opening presentation of new innovations in 3D display technology. From lasers to light fields, the panelists will decipher the physics of how we see and interpret objects in the third dimension.
Presenters will explain the differences between these next generation displays, plus the evolution of the technology and the future of the industry.
The group will also discuss best practices for crafting a holographic narrative, the benefits of light-field virtual sets, and the timeline for experiencing these new technologies firsthand.
Moderator: Brian Gaffney from Unity Technologies
Panel: Dr. Daniel Smalley, Associate Professor, Brigham Young University
Thaisa Yamamura, Head of Business Development, Sony Electronics
Jon Karafin, CEO of Light Field Lab.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign-up)
When: Saturday, May 21, 2022
When: 11am to 1pm
Where: Harmony Gold Theatre
7655 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Secured underground parking is accessible via driveway from Sunset Boulevard. An adjacent lot for overflow parking is located behind the building and can be accessed from Stanley Ave.
All VES members and guests must show photo ID and proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this “live event” infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and One (1) Guest are Invited On a Field Trip to PRG Virtual Production Studio
PRG rules require that all VES members must show photo ID and proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
The film industry in 2022 has changed drastically. Everything from day-to-day operations to the very way we budget, schedule, and film productions. Virtual Production has been a big part of the continued evolution of the industry. This has been propelled further through new studies coming out of the UK showing the carbon footprint savings of shooting in a “volume” (a large LED stage). “ICVFX” (In-camera visual effects) are among the most exciting and sought-after virtual production techniques today. In light of this, we will be having various Field Trips during the summer months to new Virtual Production Studios in LA.
The first field trip will be at PRG Virtual Production Studio.
PRG has recently redesigned their Virtual Production Stage. Check out their new Mobile Modular Stage as well as their VP Production Truck that can travel to any location to set up LED Walls on an empty warehouse or stage. You’ll see demos of N-Display, xR set extensions and NCam, and tour the Brain Bar and control room inside the truck.
The PRG R&D team have further developed the Ncam offering with a unique on-set solution, seamlessly integrated with Unreal Engine and Mk2 Hardware. Ncam Reality system is integrated in the custom set cart, which all work together to blend live action and CG content in any indoor or outdoor environment.
Members and a guest will have the chance to see what an actual LED Volume looks like and be shown some of the differences between the various virtual production technologies like ICVFX, XR, AR and how they can best be used. In addition, they will be shown the difference between using playback on the LED Walls and using a tracked cinema camera linked directly with a game engine (Unreal Engine) that connects the physical world with images on the LED Wall. There will also be an open discussion on methods outside of the full ICVFX experience that are being adopted.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP) Monday, May 16, 2022 at 11:00AM
PRG Virtual Production Studio
1245 Aviation Place, San Fernando, CA 91340
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Events are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Space is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee admission.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this “live event” infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS.
Walt Disney Studios safety guidelines require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID that matches their names on the RSVP list and wear masks at all times indoors.
RSVPs are Closed
Sunday, May 15, 2022 at 3:00PM (It is now too late to make any changes) Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to four (4) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Focus Features’ THE NORTHMAN.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
RSVPs are closed
Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Thursday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Monday, April 18, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Advance Screening of Universal Pictures’ and DreamWorks Animation’s THE BAD GUYS.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up)
Saturday, April 9, 2022 at 4:00PM The London Hotel screening room 1020 N San Vicente Blvd, West Hollywood, CA 90069 (Complimentary valet parking is provided by Universal.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
No masks will be required. Though unlikely, Los Angeles might still require VES members and guests (depending on age) to show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission. (Final confirmation will be announced 24 hours before the screening.)
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Universal Pictures’ AMBULANCE.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
RSVPs are closed
Friday, April 8, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Three (3) Guests are Invited to a Screening of Columbia Pictures’ MORBIUS.
Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission.
RSVPs are now closed
Monday, April 4, 2022 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 10:00AM) The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to Four (4) Named Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE BATMAN
Warner Bros. rules require that all VES members and guests must show photo ID and upload proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 to their Passcard system for admission.
RSVPs are closed (VES members can make changes until Monday at 12:00PM via e-mail to ben@www.vesglobal.org)
Monday, March 14, 2022 at 7:00PM Steven J. Ross theater on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot (Please enter through Gate 4 off Hollywood Way)
4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA 91502 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
All guests must show proof of full vaccination to attend this event by uploading their vaccination card information into the online Warner Bros. Passcard system.
On the day of the screening, guests will also be required to complete an online self-health screening via the online Warner Bros. Passcard system.
If you have any questions regarding these safety protocols and Warner Bros. Studios’ policies related to COVID-19, please call the Warner Bros. COVID-19 Response Hotline at (818) 954-2019.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members only are Invited to a Screening of Lionsgate Pictures’ MOONFALL.Sony Pictures Imageworks guidelines require that all VES members must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and that masks must be worn over the nose and mouth at all times indoor while on the SPI/SPA lot. Additionally, everyone must maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet while in the Ray Harryhausen Theater. (Seating is extremely limited due to social distancing.)
RSVPs are closed, as this screening is full
Friday, February 25, 2022 at 7:30PM The Ray Harryhausen Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Complimentary parking is available in the underground lot on Washington.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to 4 Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME.Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Thursday, December 23, 2021 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close on Thursday at 10:00AM) The Cary Grant Theater on the Sony Pictures Studio Lot 10202 West Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Please enter through the Culver/Motor gate and park in that structure.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ ENCANTO followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers.
Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
Panelists will include Annie Award-winning Writer-Director Jared Bush, Producer Yvett Merino, VES Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor Scott Kersavage and Annie and VES Award-winning Head of Effects Animation Erin V. Ramos, moderated by VES Board member Camille Eden.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11:00AM Harmony Gold (complimentary parking will be provided)
7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Up to 4 Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Sony Pictures’ VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE.Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
RSVPs are closed
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 at 7:30PM The John Singleton Theater (formerly the Backstage) on Sony Pictures Studio Lot 10202 West Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Parking instructions will be included in the reminder e-mail.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and One (1) Guest are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS. followed by a Q&A with Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Glassand Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor Dane A. Davies, MPSE.
Warner Bros. rules and Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
RSVPs are closed, as this screening is overbooked.
Monday, December 13, 2021 at 7:00PM Steven J. Ross theater on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot (Please enter through Gate 4)
4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA 91502 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
All guests must show proof of full vaccination to attend this event by uploading their vaccination card information into the online Warner Bros Passcard system.
Based on the current Los Angeles County mandate, all guests will be required to wear masks while inside the theater.
On the day of the screening, guests will also be required to complete an online self-health screening via the online Warner Bros Passcard system.
If you have any questions regarding these safety protocols and Warner Bros. Studios’ policies related to COVID-19, please call the Warner Bros. COVID-19 Response Hotline at (818) 954-2019.
* Please help protect the mysteries inside of the Matrix and do not reveal plot points or twists in your social posts. Do not post any teases in advance. Social: Thursday, December 16 @ 6:30PM (PST), 9:30PM (EST) – Review: Tuesday, December 21 @ 8:00AM (PST), 11:00AM (EST)
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Join the VES Los Angeles Section for some holiday cheer!
DATE: Sunday, December 12th
TIME: 3:00 to 7:00 PM
VENUE: The Cat and Fiddle, 742 N. Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
This is our first in person event for the LA Section. Come out and socialize with your fellow VES members, exchange ideas, discuss favorite (or not so favorite) projects.
Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings (except when eating or drinking).
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Please login to RSVP Below. VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ field and your guest in “Attendee 2” field.
VES Members and Up to 3 Guests are Invited to a Screening of Sony Pictures’ GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
This screening is overbooked and RSVPs are closed
Monday, November 22, 2021 at 7:30PM (RSVPs close on Monday at 12:00PM) The John Singleton Theater (formerly the Backstage) on Sony Pictures Studio Lot 10202 West Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 (Parking instructions will be included in this weekend’s reminder e-mail.)
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 25th Anniversary Screening of Paramount Pictures’ STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT Followed by a Discussion with the Filmmakers. This event is presented by MastersFX, the Visual Effects Society with a print from Paramount. Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
Panelists will include award-winning Director-Actor Jonathan Frakes and Emmy-winning Borg Design Supervisor Todd Masters of MastersFX as well as VES, Academy, BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor John Knoll, moderated by VES and Emmy Award-winner Dan Curry, VES.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login for location and to RSVP)
Sunday, November 21, 2021 at 7:00PM
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and up to 3 Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of Marvel Studios’ and Walt Disney Pictures’ ETERNALS. Los Angeles City Ordinance #187219 requires that all VES members and guests must show photo ID & proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for admission and masks must be worn at all times in indoor public settings (except while actively enjoying concessions).Click here for theater specific terms and conditions.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 3:30PM El Capitan Theatre (Parking at the Hollywood & Highland Center is $3 for 4 hours with theatre validation.) 6838 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Infinity Festival Hollywood is back live this November! For 2021, the theme of “Story Enabled by Technology” continues with a new slate of innovative programming, including industry-leading speakers, panels, exhibitions, innovation labs and a fine art gallery, each with an emerging-tech focus. Reserve your tickets now at infinityfestival.com. (VES members must login to see code for Free tickets.)
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of United Artists’ NO TIME TO DIE. Theater rules and L.A. County Public Health guidelines require that masks or face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth at all times in indoor public settings.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 7:00PM Harmony Gold (complimentary parking will be provided)
7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please enter your first and last name in the “Attendee 1″ fields***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Join us for a fun Halloween Movie Night featuring the movie classic Scream!
DATE: Thursday, October 28th
TIME: Gates Open at 7:00 PM / Movie Starts at 7:30 PM
PLACE: Drive Up at Santa Monica Airport
3233 Donald Douglas Loop S * Santa Monica Interim Open Space * Santa Monica, CA 90405
Enjoy the movie from inside your car or enjoy lawn seating.
Concession Stand: Enjoy classic cinema concessions like candy, soda and fresh popcorn, available with contactless order and pick-up. You’re also welcome to bring your own food to enjoy with your movie!
This time we are going truly GLOBAL! The LA section has arranged for an opportunity to virtually meet with VES members in AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and INDIA
You could make 5+ new international VFX industry connections in just one hour. If you have not made it to one of these fast paced sessions before, this is the one you simply can’t miss!
Friday 15th October 2021
7:00 pm PDT
Members can register for FREE at the link below (Members must login to the website).
VES Members and up to 4 Guests are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ DUNE, followed by a discussion with award-winning Director/Producer/Co-Writer Denis Villeneuve and VES, Academy and BAFTA Award-winning Visual Effects Supervisor Paul Lambert, moderated by Award-winning VES member Rob Legato, ASC. Theater rules and L.A. County Public Health guidelines require that face coverings must be worn at all times in indoor public settings (except while actively enjoying food and drinks).
RSVPs are closed, as this screening is overbooked (Any changes should go to ben@www.vesglobal.org)
Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11:00AM Universal Cinema AMC at CityWalk Hollywood (Parking is $5 after rebate at the theater box office. General parking price is $28 payable before the rebate.) 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please register your name as “Attendee 1″***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and up to 4 Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE SUICIDE SQUAD. Warner Bros. Studios rules and L.A. County Public Health guidelines require that face coverings must be worn at all times in indoor public settings.
RSVPs are Closed
Saturday, September 18, 2021 at 4:00PM (RSVPs close on Friday at 12:00PM) Screening Room 12 on the Warner Bros. Studio Lot (Please enter through Gate 4)
4000 Warner Blvd, Burbank CA 91502 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please register your name as “Attendee 1″***
Please note that all guests of the WB facilities need to bring a valid photo ID and are required to complete their Self-Health Screening tool called Passcard. The self-health screening process is as follows:
Enter the following when prompted for the Location Code: 220-162-396
When prompted on the Vaccination Status screen, please select: “The WarnerMedia Vaccine Policy does not apply to me…” option
Upon completion of the screening tool, you will receive aGREEN or a RED result.
If GREEN, you need to show the GREENresult to security upon arrival for access.
If RED, do not come to WB facilities, and, if you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you may need to contact your primary health care provider.
Your GREENresult is only valid on the date completed.
Everyone’s safety is important to Warner Bros. Your access to the Studio Lot is conditioned on full compliance with the Safety Protocols. Please especially remember the three W’s:
Wear a face covering or a mask.
Watch your distance. Stay at least six feet from other people.
Wash your hands frequently.
If you have any questions regarding these safety protocols and Warner Bros. Studios’ policies related to COVID-19, please call the Warner Bros. COVID-19 Response Hotline at (818) 954-2019.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and up to 2 Guests are Invited to a Screening of Marvel Studios’ and Walt Disney Pictures’ SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS. Theater rules and L.A. County Public Health guidelines require that face coverings must be worn at all times in indoor public settings (except while actively enjoying concessions).Click herefor theater specific terms and conditions.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, September 4, 2021 at 3:30PM El Capitan Theatre (Parking at the Hollywood & Highland Center is $3 for 4 hours with theatre validation.) 6838 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
***VES Members: Please register your name as “Attendee 1″***
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Screening of DreamWorks Animation’s and Universal Pictures’ THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS. Theater rules require that masks or face coverings must be worn at all times while in the building.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 4:00PM Harmony Gold (complimentary parking will be provided)
7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 Click here for a map.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to a Screening of Marvel Studios’ and Walt Disney Pictures’ BLACK WIDOW. Theater rules require that face coverings must be worn at all times (except while actively enjoying concessions). Click here for theater specific terms and conditions.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP)
Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 12:00PM El Capitan Theatre (Parking at the Hollywood & Highland Center is $3 for 4 hours with theatre validation.) 6838 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we ask that you or your guests do not attend VES events if you are experiencing any symptoms or if you have been exposed to the virus.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
By signing up for this on-site, in-person screening/event sponsored by VES (Visual Effects Society), you willingly accept any potential inherent risks associated with COVID-19. VES cannot be held liable from any consequences that may transpire from said risk. Therefore, signing up for this screening/event infers implied consent of yourself and your party and hereby indemnifies and holds harmless VES, its directors, its employees and any other affiliated persons from any adverse medical or financial impact that may result from our participation.
Join us for an in-depth conversation with Master Production Designer, Oscar and BAFTA nominee and Emmy Award winner, James D. Bissell.
The event will be moderated by Jeffrey A. Okun, VES and will be followed by a Q&A session.
DATE:Saturday, May 29, 2021
TIME: 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
PLACE: Zoom of Course
James’ list of credits include: Good Night, and Good Luck, 300, Mission: Impossible-GhostProtocol,E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and most recently, The Midnight Sky.
Join us for our first LA hosted West Coast VES section members networking event!
DATE: Wednesday 26th
TIME: 7:00 pm
This is an amazing opportunity for ‘Speed Networking’ with West Coast members of the VES hosted by the LA section. This fast paced session uses Meetaway’s digital platform with targeted matching, to ensure you can connect directly with the people you want for a 1-1 conversation. You could make 5 new industry connections in the VES in just one hour!
Please login to register below!
More about the event format:
For anyone new to the Meetaway format, Meetaways are online events that intelligently match attendees for a series of 1-on-1 video calls. After each conversation, attendees automatically rotate to the next one. You just log in to the event and Meetaway will handle the rest.
Additionally, you’ll want to join the event on a laptop or desktop with a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or new Edge. Meetaway does not support mobile devices because the screen movements are often distracting and having everyone on a laptop or desktop results in a better overall experience.
Join us for our first virtual VES LA Spring Membership Mixer!
This is an amazing opportunity for ‘Speed Networking’ with members of the VES LA Section. Meetaway’s digital platform with targeted matching ensures you can connect directly with the people you want for a 1-1 conversation.
VES LA Members who register by 3/9 will receive a $20 Doordash credit.
Members are encouraged to invite their industry colleagues interested in learning more about joining the VES. This is also a great opportunity for our current members, just to check in with your peers and see how everyone is doing.
The spring membership deadline is Monday, March 15th, so be sure to attend this event if you are interested in joining the Visual Effects Society Los Angels Section. The event will provide valuable information about the benefits members enjoy, as well as offering the opportunity to network with 5 or more VFX colleagues for a chance to create meaningful connections.
Join us for our first virtual VES LA Spring Membership Mixer!
This is an amazing opportunity for ‘Speed Networking’ with members of the VES LA Section. Meetaway’s digital platform with targeted matching ensures you can connect directly with the people you want for a 1-1 conversation.
VES LA Members who register by 3/9 will receive a $20 Doordash credit.
Members are encouraged to invite their industry colleagues interested in learning more about joining the VES. This is also a great opportunity for our current members, just to check in with your peers and see how everyone is doing.
The spring membership deadline is Monday, March 15th, so be sure to attend this event if you are interested in joining the Visual Effects Society Los Angels Section. The event will provide valuable information about the benefits members enjoy, as well as offering the opportunity to network with 5 or more VFX colleagues for a chance to create meaningful connections.
Please join us for special screening of the hit comedy AIRPLANE with an after show Q&A with special guest Writer-Director, Jerry Zucker!
Saturday February 13th 2021 at 4:00 PM PST.
The event will showcase a new streaming/test screening platform where all the regular items: chat room, recording faces watching the movie, and a lively discussion post the film with the director can occur.
In all cases, we record the viewer and reactions and sync them to the timeline of the movie. A link will be sent out to those who will participate with a password.
We look forward to having you attend this very special event!
The screening is open to VES LA members and is limited to 50 participants.
The Los Angeles Section of the Visual Effects Society presents:
PROFESSIONAL VIRTUAL PRODUCTION FROM HOME
Saturday, November 7th at 11 AM; PST Hosted by: James Markham Hall, Jr.
Join us as we discuss state-of-the-art virtual production tools and techniques used remotely to create professional level content beyond studio specifications.
National Geographic and Disney+ Invite VES Members and One Guest to Attend the World Premiere Drive-In Screening of THE RIGHT STUFF: THE RACE TO BE FIRST IN SPACE plus Q&A with the cast.
Monday, October 5, 2020 at 7:30PM (Doors open at 6:30PM)
Barker Hangar at Santa Monica Airport
3021 Airport Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Featuring Emmy-nominated talent for Outstanding Sound Editing from What We Do in the Shadows “The Return”.
What does a CG bat fight sound like?
How do you create troll footsteps when you’ve never seen a troll?
Join us for an engaging discussion about how VFX & sound inform each other in on-screen storytelling, and help create a show that’s half supernatural, half documentary, and 100% hilarious.
Panelists include: * Steffan Falesitch, Supervising Sound Editor * Jackie Jones, SVP Broadcast Formosa Group * Diego Gat, Re-Recording Mixer * David Barbee, FX Editor * Sam Ejnes, Re-Recording Mixer * Sara McGrail, VES L.A. Board Co-Chair
Bay Area, Washington, Vancouver and Los Angeles Sections present:
West Coast Happy Hour Wednesday, August 26th
6:00-7:00pm (PST – Of Course!)
It’s time for all of the VES’ West Coast Members to step up and mingle:
* Have a great recipe to share?
* Recommendation on new shows to binge?
* Who has the cutest cat, doggie or turtle?
Prizes too! Have a chance to WIN a copy of the newly released third edition of the VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures!
To join THIS party, use Chrome desktop browser (with the Netflix Party extension installed) and click on the party URL above, which will redirect to Netflix’s website. You must click on the “NP” button next to the address bar to automatically join the party. The Chat will start around 7:00 pm with screening to begin @ 7:10 pm.
FINE PRINT: NETFLIX SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE. DON’T HAVE AN ACCOUNT? SIGN UP AT NETFLIX.COM FOR A FREE 30 DAY SUBSCRIPTION. NETFLIX PARTY CHROME EXTENSION REQUIRED TO BE INSTALLED. THIS IS AN UNMODERATED EVENT. PLEASE BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER.
Join us for your chance to WIN a copy of the newly released third edition of the VES Handbook of Visual Effects: Industry Standard VFX Practices and Procedures!
VES LA Happy Hour Wednesday, July 29th 6:00-7:00pm
Have a great recipe to share?
Best new show to binge watch?
Hookup for comfy corona masks?
It’s time to fraternize, chat & connect!
The LA Section of the Visual Effects Society invites you to its next panel:
LED Stage Production
Sunday, June 28th @ 11 AM (PST)
via ZOOM
The worlds of game development and film production have collided and created a brand new world for filmmakers to explore: LED Stage Production.
This panel is designed to give a general Introduction of LED Stages and their impact on Pre-Production, Production and Post. Additional focus will be on the future of content production in a COVID19 world.
This is a free educational webinar panel, followed by a Q&A.
You are invited to our first-ever, VES Netflix Party where you choose the movie – Click here to vote for the movie!
Then on Wednesday, June 17 at 7:30 PM we will watch the winning movie together and join an online chat with our fellow west coast VES colleagues from the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Washington Sections.
Look for your Netflix Party url email invitation and on this page one hour before showtime where you’ll find out the winning movie when you log in.
Fine Print: Netflix subscription required to participate. Don’t have an account? Sign up at Netflix.com for a FREE 30 day subscription. You will receive an email invite with a private URL one hour prior to the screening. Netflix Party Chrome Extension required to be installed. Instructions will be included with your invitation. This is an unmoderated event. Please be kind to one another.
This online presentation will discuss and demonstrate how new advancements in virtual production and visualization can be used to help all content creators raise the bar with creative ideas and new technical approaches.
THE THIRD FLOOR is one of the world’s leading visualization studios. It is a major contributor to today’s most popular films and TV series — from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and STAR WARS Franchise to HBO’s GAME OF THRONES.
Our speakers from THE THIRD FLOOR are: Eric Carney, Founder, Global CTO/Visual FX Supervisor; Gary Marshall, R&D Innovation Director; Dane Smith, Vice President; and Lara Cawsey, Business Development Manager
Our event will be hosted by Scott Squires, VES a VES Fellow who has worked in the visual effects industry for decades as a VFX supervisor and technical developer. He has multiple VFX Academy Award nominations and worked on such films as THE MASK, DRAGONHEART, and STAR WARS: EPISODE 1- THE PHANTOM MENACE.
The VES Los Angeles Screening of Paramount Pictures’ A QUIET PLACE PART II has been cancelled because the studio has postponed the release due to concerns related to the COVID19 outbreak.
The VES Los Angeles Screening of Sony Pictures’ BLOODSHOThas been cancelled because the studio has postponed the release due to concerns related to the COVID19 outbreak.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE WAY BACK
In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID19, we ask you or your guests who may show any symptoms or who might have been exposed to the virus do not attend VES events.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information) (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Monday, March 9) Monday, March 9, 2020 at 8:00PM
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Pixar Animation Studios’ ONWARD
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, March 6) Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 12:00PM
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ THE INVISIBLE MAN
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information) (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, February 28) Friday, February 28, 2020 at 8:00PM
**See old friends & meet some new ones**
**Learn about VES events & programs**
**Find or be someone to write a new-member endorsement letter**Beer, wine & light bites
Fabulous raffle prizes!
* Bring a potential new member for an extra ticket!Venue graciously provided by: Pixomondo Los Angeles 2055 S Barrington Ave,
Los Angeles, CA 90025
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of 20th Century’s THE CALL OF THE WILD
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, February 21) Saturday, February 22, 2020 at 2:00PM
MastersFX Presents a Celebration of Practical Effects with a Special Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Screening of TALES FROM THE CRYPT: DEMON KNIGHT followed by a discussion with Todd Masters and others to be announced.
Click here to RSVP (Space is limited, so please sign up soon) Monday, January 13, 2020 at 8:00PM Arclight (Cinerama Dome) Hollywood
6360 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Todd Masters and His Special Guests will reflect on the making of this iconic movie with “tales” of the challenges of the practical effects, and how they integrated with the live action performances. Never before seen slides from behind-the-scenes of the making of DEMON KNIGHT will also be presented!
For more information, please call Dan Harary at Asbury PR Agency at (310) 859-1831
Join us at the VES Bake-Off After-Party!
Immediately after the AMPAS Bake-Off, please join us for the VES Bake-Off Bash After-Party for fun, friends, food and libations at Via Alloro restaurant in Beverly Hills.
Saturday, January 4, 2020 VES Bake-Off After-Party 9:00PM to 11:30PM **The Academy’s VFX Bake-Off is a separate event and handled through AMPAS.
Via Alloro (less than a mile from the Academy’s Goldwyn Theater). 301 N Canon Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Complimentary Valet Parking is available at the restaurant.
Tickets are non-refundable / non-transferable. All tickets are sold individually. Space is limited and this event will sell out, please get your tickets NOW!
Member Ticket Price = $65.00
Non-Member Ticket Price = $125.00
We look forward to celebrating with our members and colleagues from around the globe and making this a festive international gathering!
For Sponsorship opportunities, please click here and contact Nancy Ward at (818) 981-7861 by Friday, December 13.
Now that the 18th Annual VES Awards season is underway, we once again invite VES members to participate in our Nomination Panels. The Nomination Event will be held worldwide on January 4, 2020.
Any active VES member who can travel to one of the cities listed below may participate.
This is your chance to determine who will ultimately walk up to the podium on January 29, 2020, to collect a coveted VES Award. A single vote may make the difference between being nominated… or not… and that vote could be yours!
Past participants know that this is the must-attend event of the awards season. Not only will you view some of the most amazing visual imagery of 2019, you’ll get to see exclusive behind-the-scenes footage while participating in the single best networking opportunity of the year. It’s a chance to see old friends, meet the best and brightest in the visual effects field, and learn new techniques that you can apply to your own craft. All of that, plus the satisfaction of knowing that you have participated in choosing what will ultimately be the Nominations announced to the press for the 18th Annual VES Awards.
Judges who register to participate will receive information about specific times and locations from their local section representatives once their applications are received. If you are ready to make a difference, please submit your Panel Judge Application BELOW. Make sure you check the box indicating which of the Nomination Event locations you are applying for.
The Nomination Event is a full-day event held on Saturday, January 4, 2020 around the globe. Nominees will be announced on Monday, January 6, 2020. We look forward to receiving your Judge Application to make this year’s Nomination Event a success!
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Lucasfilm’s STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Director J.J. Abrams as well as Visual Effects Supervisors Roger Guyett and Patrick Tubach, moderated by VES 1st Vice Chair Jeffrey A. Okun, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, December 20) Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 11:00AM
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of Universal Pictures’ 1917
(VES members must login in order to see venue information and RSVP.)
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night 3D Screening of Sony Pictures’ JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
(VES members must login in order to see venue information and RSVP.)
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Netflix’s THE IRISHMAN followed by a Q&A with Visual Effects Supervisor Pablo Helman, moderated by VES Fellow Paul Debevec, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.) There will also be a reception off of the lobby of the theater immediately after the discussion.
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, December 6) Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 11:00AM
Join us for the most wonderful party of the year!
Exciting raffle prizes, great food & drinks, interactive exhibits, music, and a Sky Slide 70 floors up! (Come early! Free sky slide tickets for the first 100 guests!)
Members +1 free with RSVP (Please log-in to RSVP on this page)
RSVP & Ticket sales close Fri, Nov 29th at 12:00pm
The Visual Effects Society in collaboration with the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) invite a limited number of VES members to attend the hands-on Practical Lighting for CG Artists masterclass at the Sony Digital Media Production Center (DMPC).
Among those scheduled to appear are 6-time Oscar nominee and ASC Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, ASC, and VES Founders Award recipient, Fellow and Lifetime Member Bill Taylor, VES, ASC, who’s won the Academy’s Technical Achievement Award and the Medal of Commendation as well as an Emmy. Join us for the eighth incarnation of the wildly popular and informative one-day seminar geared toward helping digital artists develop the sensibilities and sensitivities of a cinematographer.
Click here to purchase tickets ($25 tickets include Mexican buffet lunch with vegan & gluten free options) Tuesday, December 3, 2019 from 11:00AM to 5:00PM
Registration begins at 10:30AM, Masterclass at 11:00AM
(VES members must login to see venue information below)
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of 20th Century Fox’s and Blue Sky Studios’ SPIES IN DISGUISE followed by a Q&A with Director Nick Bruno, moderated by Pete Hammond
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, November 29) Saturday, November 30, 2019 at 11:00AM
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ FROZEN 2
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, November 22) Sunday, November 24, 2019 at 4:00PM
WET, also known as WET Design, is a water feature design firm based in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1983 by former Disney Imagineers Mark Fuller, Melanie Simon, and Alan Robinson, the company has designed over two hundred fountains and water features using water, fire, ice, fog, and lights.
Please log-in to RSVP.
Strict guest list required – Space is limited to first 30 members!
Please only RSVP if you’re able to attend.
Join us for a VES-exclusive look at the latest Dreamscape VR experiences!
The Vision: Combine the emotional power of Hollywood storytelling, the visceral excitement
of great theme-park rides, and this extraordinary new technology to create stories and worlds
that push the limits of virtual reality.
Tuesday, Nov 19th
1:30pm – 3:00pm
Please plan to arrive between 1:00-1:30pm, and stay for the duration until 3:00pm.
Shows last approximately 30 minutes, so guests may be able to do more than one experience.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Lionsgate’s MIDWAY followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Director Roland Emmerich, Visual Effects Supervisor Peter Travers and Visual Effects Producer Tricia Mulgrew, moderated by VES Board member Jeffrey Kleiser. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information) Monday, November 18, 2019 at 7:30PM
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of 20th Century Fox’s FORD V FERRARI followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Visual Effects Supervisor Olivier Dumont, Visual Effects Producer Kathy Siegel and Special Effects Supervisor Mark R. Byers. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to RSVP and see venue information)
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, November 15) Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 11:00AM
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ DOCTOR SLEEP
(VES members must login in order to see venue information and RSVP.)
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE GOLDFINCH
Please RSVP below
Friday, September 13, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
Kids Run The Bases (kids 14 & under after the game)
Dodgers Foundation Memorabilia Silent Auction (located outside the Vin Scully Press box on Club Level 5)
Tickets: $35 (Please log-in to purchase tickets.)
All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion, Section 306
Limited seats! Purchase today!
Tickets include unlimited Dodger Dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, Coke products and water through the 7th inning. Alcohol is not included, but is available for purchase. Outside food can also be brought into the stadium, as well as sealed bottles of soda and water, up to 1 liter each.
Parking & Game Entry
Parking gates open 2.5 hours prior to the start of the game.
Stadium gates open approximately 2 hours prior to the first pitch.
Parking for automobiles and motorcycles is $17 in advance and $25 at the gate.
Preferred parking is $40 in advance and $50 at the gate. Parking for large vehicles including buses, motor homes, limousines and other oversized vehicles is $40 in advance and $50 at the gate.
For only $5 (in advance or upon arrival), purchase parking for Lots 13 and 14. These first-come, first-serve lots are located offsite on Stadium Way – between Elysian Park Avenue and the 110 – and allow for easy entrance and exit. Note that there is an uphill walk to the stadium from these lots, of approximately 10 to 15 minutes. A free shuttle is available for fans with disabilities, call Fan Services (323) 224-2611. Go online to www.dodgers.com to purchase parking in advance.
Kids Run The Bases (kids 14 & under after the game)
Dodgers Foundation Memorabilia Silent Auction (located outside the Vin Scully Press box on Club Level 5)
Tickets: $35 (Please log-in to purchase tickets.)
All You Can Eat Right Field Pavilion, Section 306
Limited seats! Purchase today!
Tickets include unlimited Dodger Dogs, nachos, popcorn, peanuts, Coke products and water through the 7th inning. Alcohol is not included, but is available for purchase. Outside food can also be brought into the stadium, as well as sealed bottles of soda and water, up to 1 liter each.
Parking & Game Entry
Parking gates open 2.5 hours prior to the start of the game.
Stadium gates open approximately 2 hours prior to the first pitch.
Parking for automobiles and motorcycles is $17 in advance and $25 at the gate.
Preferred parking is $40 in advance and $50 at the gate. Parking for large vehicles including buses, motor homes, limousines and other oversized vehicles is $40 in advance and $50 at the gate.
For only $5 (in advance or upon arrival), purchase parking for Lots 13 and 14. These first-come, first-serve lots are located offsite on Stadium Way – between Elysian Park Avenue and the 110 – and allow for easy entrance and exit. Note that there is an uphill walk to the stadium from these lots, of approximately 10 to 15 minutes. A free shuttle is available for fans with disabilities, call Fan Services (323) 224-2611. Go online to www.dodgers.com to purchase parking in advance.
VES Members and Their Guests in are Invited to aPre-Release Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ IT CHAPTER TWO
Please RSVP below Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 7:00PM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Thursday, September 5)
Warner Bros. Studio screening room #5
4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91522 (Please enter through the Gate #4/Hollywood Way and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Millenium Films’ ANGEL HAS FALLEN
Please RSVP below
Friday, August 30, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ GOOD BOYS
Please RSVP below
Friday, August 23, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
This film is Rated R for strong crude sexual content, drug and alcohol material, and language throughout – all involving tweens.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
Grab a friend or two. All are welcome to join for coffee, tea, and conversation!
Topic: Diversity & Inclusion in Hiring & Career Development
How diverse is your workplace?
What are best practices in recruitment & career dev you’ve seen, or would like to see?
Are you looking for talent, your next gig, or making a career move?
Bring your VFX friends, feedback, ideas, and resumes or job posts!
Priscilla’s Coffee
4150 W Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91505
Grab a friend or two. All are welcome to join for coffee, tea, and conversation!
Topic: Diversity & Inclusion in Hiring & Career Development
How diverse is your workplace?
What are best practices in recruitment & career dev you’ve seen, or would like to see?
Are you looking for talent, your next gig, or making a career move?
Bring your VFX friends, feedback, ideas, and resumes or job posts!
Priscilla’s Coffee
4150 W Riverside Dr., Burbank, CA 91505
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening of 20th Century Fox’s THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN
Please RSVP below Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 7:00PM
(RSVPs will close at 12:00PM on Friday, August 9) Blakeley Theater on the 20th Century Fox Studio lot
10201 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064-2606 Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Universal Pictures’ FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW
Please RSVP below
Friday, August 9, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and their Guests are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985) – A Tribute to Emmy®-Winning Production Designer Stuart Wurtzel
The Aero Theatre, Santa Monica
1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 Click here for a map.
Production Designer Stuart WurtzelADG created a valentine to classic Hollywood and the films of the depression era. The film’s movie-with-in-the-movie is an RKO-style screwball comedy set in a glittering Manhattan penthouse. The outer world of the film is set in New Jersey amid the dreams of a simple housewife, Mia Farrow, whose world is turned upside down when the hero of the film, Jeff Daniels, steps out of her neighborhood movie theater’s screen and into her real-life world. A beloved film by many, the expert blending of the film’s fiction and reality blur the lines between fantasy and romance in memorable ways. It’s “perfect-pitch” Production Design by a master of the New York school and a visual delight for all to behold.
Emmy winning Production Designer Stuart Wurtzel ADG will be interviewed by moderator John Iacovelli ADG, Production Designer.
VES Members and their Guests are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (1985) – A Tribute to Emmy®-Winning Production Designer Stuart Wurtzel
The Aero Theatre, Santa Monica
1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90403 Click here for a map.
Production Designer Stuart WurtzelADG created a valentine to classic Hollywood and the films of the depression era. The film’s movie-with-in-the-movie is an RKO-style screwball comedy set in a glittering Manhattan penthouse. The outer world of the film is set in New Jersey amid the dreams of a simple housewife, Mia Farrow, whose world is turned upside down when the hero of the film, Jeff Daniels, steps out of her neighborhood movie theater’s screen and into her real-life world. A beloved film by many, the expert blending of the film’s fiction and reality blur the lines between fantasy and romance in memorable ways. It’s “perfect-pitch” Production Design by a master of the New York school and a visual delight for all to behold.
Emmy winning Production Designer Stuart Wurtzel ADG will be interviewed by moderator John Iacovelli ADG, Production Designer.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ THE LION KING followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Director Jon Favreau, Visual Effects Supervisor Rob Legato, and Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel, ASC, moderated by Michael Fink, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, July 26) Saturday, July 27, 2019 at 11:00AM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of 20th Century Fox’s STUBER
Please RSVP below Friday, July 12, 2018 at 8:00PM
(RSVPs will close at 12:00PM on Friday, July 12) Little Theater on the 20th Century Fox Studio lot
10201 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064-2606 Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Columbia Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME followed by a Q&A with the Visual Effects Team
Panelists will include Visual Effects Producer Cyndi Ochs, Luma Pictures Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin Souls, Imageworks Visual Effects Supervisor Theo Bialek, Imageworks CG Supervisor Joe Pepper and Scanline’s Sequence Supervisor Curtis Carlson, moderated by VES Board member Andrew Bly. (Panelists’ participation is based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
Monday, July 8, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
The Visual Effects Society has Secured a Very Limited Number of Tickets for VES Members and a Guest to Attend a Double Feature of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) and a 70mm film print of the Original STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE (1977).
It has been twenty-two years since the Special Editions of the original STAR WARS trilogy were released, effectively preventing anyone from being able to watch the 1977 theatrical version of that seminal film as it was originally shown. Join us for chronological screenings of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, relating how the Rebel Alliance took possession of the plans for the dreaded Death Star, followed by the original STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE, in which you’ll be among the first in more than two decades to watch Han Solo shoot first!
This is a 5 hour event with no food available.
Please RSVP below (Sign up ASAP, as tickets are already SOLD OUT.) Saturday, June 29 at 10:00AM to 3:00PM
(Be in your seat by 9:45AM or it may be forfeited, and be sure to eat a hearty breakfast!) There will be a 30 minute break between films and the Academy does not allow any food or drinks in the theater. (Security will search all bags.)
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Click here for FREE parking information and the Academy’s food & beverage policy. Click here for a map.
*You must attend the first screening in order to attend the second, and nobody will be re-admitted once they leave.
The Visual Effects Society has Secured a Very Limited Number of Tickets for VES Members and a Guest to Attend a Double Feature of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY (2016) and a 70mm film print of the Original STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE (1977).
It has been twenty-two years since the Special Editions of the original STAR WARS trilogy were released, effectively preventing anyone from being able to watch the 1977 theatrical version of that seminal film as it was originally shown. Join us for chronological screenings of ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY, relating how the Rebel Alliance took possession of the plans for the dreaded Death Star, followed by the original STAR WARS: EPISODE IV – A NEW HOPE, in which you’ll be among the first in more than two decades to watch Han Solo shoot first!
This is a 5 hour event with no food available.
Please RSVP below (Sign up ASAP, as tickets are already SOLD OUT.) Saturday, June 29 at 10:00AM to 3:00PM
(Be in your seat by 9:45AM or it may be forfeited, and be sure to eat a hearty breakfast!) There will be a 30 minute break between films and the Academy does not allow any food or drinks in the theater. (Security will search all bags.)
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Click here for FREE parking information and the Academy’s food & beverage policy. Click here for a map.
*You must attend the first screening in order to attend the second, and nobody will be re-admitted once they leave.
(You will be able to stream this event for up to 48 hours afterward.)
Over the last 40 years, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. But the impetus to create and inspire remains the same. This event will contrast the analog technologies developed for the first STAR WARS released in 1977 with the all-digital toolsets used to create ROGUE ONE released in 2016.
Key contributors from both STAR WARS and ROGUE ONE will share the journey of creating the impossible with their breakthrough visual effects. Our list of stellar participants includes John Dykstra, Dennis Muren, VES, John Knoll, Ben Burtt, Marcia Lucas, Bill George, Harrison Ellenshaw, Bruce Nicholson, Richard Edlund, VES and Rachel Rose. Hosted by Kiri Hart, co-producer of ROGUE ONE, this event promises to be both inspiring and insightful.
Please RSVP below
Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 7:30PM
(There are very few seats allotted for VES members, and tickets for the public are already sold out.)
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Click here for FREE parking information.
*Due to limited ticket availability, please be sure to RSVP as soon as possible.
(You will be able to stream this event for up to 48 hours afterward.)
Over the last 40 years, technology has advanced by leaps and bounds. But the impetus to create and inspire remains the same. This event will contrast the analog technologies developed for the first STAR WARS released in 1977 with the all-digital toolsets used to create ROGUE ONE released in 2016.
Key contributors from both STAR WARS and ROGUE ONE will share the journey of creating the impossible with their breakthrough visual effects. Our list of stellar participants includes John Dykstra, Dennis Muren, VES, John Knoll, Ben Burtt, Marcia Lucas, Bill George, Harrison Ellenshaw, Bruce Nicholson, Richard Edlund, VES and Rachel Rose. Hosted by Kiri Hart, co-producer of ROGUE ONE, this event promises to be both inspiring and insightful.
Please RSVP below
Thursday, June 27, 2019 at 7:30PM
(There are very few seats allotted for VES members, and tickets for the public are already sold out.)
Samuel Goldwyn Theater
8949 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Click here for FREE parking information.
*Due to limited ticket availability, please be sure to RSVP as soon as possible.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), a Tribute to Production Designer Joe Alves
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood
6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
Ray Bradbury declared CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND as the greatest science fiction film ever made. Joe Alves, ADG the film’s Production Designer, began his career as an animator on the 1956 MGM classic, FORBIDDEN PLANET. A master Close Encounters, Mr. Alves will be in attendance to share highlights from his long career as a motion picture Designer and Illustrator. Close Encounters was written and directed by Steven Spielberg, and stars Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It tells the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO). Director Jean Renoir compared Spielberg’s storytelling to that of Jules Verne and Georges Méliès. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Spielberg’s landmark film, a special Digitally Remastered 4K version of the Director’s Cut will be shown.
Production DesignerJoe Alves ADG, will be interviewed by moderator Thomas A. Walsh ADG, Production Designer and Film Series Co-chair.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), a Tribute to Production Designer Joe Alves
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood
6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
Ray Bradbury declared CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND as the greatest science fiction film ever made. Joe Alves, ADG the film’s Production Designer, began his career as an animator on the 1956 MGM classic, FORBIDDEN PLANET. A master Close Encounters, Mr. Alves will be in attendance to share highlights from his long career as a motion picture Designer and Illustrator. Close Encounters was written and directed by Steven Spielberg, and stars Richard Dreyfuss, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, Cary Guffey, and François Truffaut. It tells the story of Roy Neary, an everyday blue-collar worker in Indiana, whose life changes after an encounter with an unidentified flying object (UFO). Director Jean Renoir compared Spielberg’s storytelling to that of Jules Verne and Georges Méliès. Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Spielberg’s landmark film, a special Digitally Remastered 4K version of the Director’s Cut will be shown.
Production DesignerJoe Alves ADG, will be interviewed by moderator Thomas A. Walsh ADG, Production Designer and Film Series Co-chair.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Columbia Pictures’ MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL
Please RSVP below
Friday, June 21, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
Mark your calendars and join us on June 18-20 for the DelliVR Conference, a hands-on 360/VR/AR training event. The conference will feature technical training, business management classes, and social activities. VES members receive 20% off passes. (VES member must login to see the discount code below.)
Mark your calendars and join us on June 18-20 for the DelliVR Conference, a hands-on 360/VR/AR training event. The conference will feature technical training, business management classes, and social activities. VES members receive 20% off passes. (VES member must login to see the discount code below.)
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Pre-Release 3D Screening of Disney•Pixar’s TOY STORY 4
Please RSVP below Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 5:00PM (RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, June 14)
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Focus Features’ THE DEAD DON’T DIE
Please RSVP below
Friday, June 14, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
June 12th – doors open 7:00PM (CEST) and there will be beer and pizza!
ZOOM stream starts at 7:30PM (CEST)
Masterclass starts at 8:00PM (CEST)
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The VES invites you to our 3rd MEGABRAIN Masterclass where you can learn and share your knowledge with colleagues in the VFX industry. The idea is not to simply present show reels – but to teach actual techniques that help every artist to improve their skillset. This event will take place on June 12th 7:00PM at multiple locations and will also be streamed via ZOOM.
RSVP for your specific location on the appropriate event pages please:
Efficient facial rigging tools for emotionally believable digital humans
presented by Volker Helzle – Head of Research & Development at Filmakademie
Live from Munich Using Machine-learning to classify a VFXElements Library
presented by Jonas Kluger – Pipeline TD at ARRI
Live from Berlin Camera Technology: Sensors, Noise Properties, and Raw Processing
presented by Charles Poynton, PhD
We are overbooking to compensate for no-shows.
Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.
An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES-Members and their registered guests only (except for Ludwigsburg and Cologne). No admission without registration – also at the streaming locations!
The event will also be recorded for everyone who can’t make it.
The event will be streamed live from (and to) Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart and Ludwigsburg. For the first time we also provide direct access to the ZOOM stream for ALL VES MEMBERS around the world!
VES Germany is a proud Partner of the FMX Conference in Stuttgart.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of 20th Century Fox’s and Marvel Studios’ DARK PHOENIX
Please RSVP below Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 7:00PM
(RSVPs will close at 12:00PM on Friday, June 7) Zanuck Theater on the 20th Century Fox Studio lot
10201 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064-2606 Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Universal Pictures’ and Illumination Entertainment’s THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2
Please RSVP below (VES members must login to sign up.) Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 2:00PM (Enter from Gate 1 on Lankershim Blvd.)
(RSVPs will close at 12:00PM on Friday, June 7)
Universal Studios Theater #2
4050 Lankershim Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend Screening ofWarner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s GODZILLA: KING OF THE MONSTERS followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Visual Effects Supervisor Guillaume Rocheron, MPC Senior Animation Supervisor Spencer Cook, Method Studios Visual Effects SupervisorDaryl Sawchuk and Double Negative Visual Effects Supervisor Brian Connor, moderated by VES Board member Richard Winn Taylor II, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11:00AM Harmony Gold (complimentary parking will be provided)
7655 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night Screening of Paramount Pictures’ ROCKETMAN
Please RSVP below
Friday, May 31, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Screen Gems’ and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s BRIGHTBURN
Please RSVP below
Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members Receive FREE Exhibit Passes to Cine Gear Expo L.A. 2019 Through May 25!
Cine Gear Expo 2019 is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the film and entertainment technology industry. Taking place May 30th – June 2nd at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, Cine Gear features 300 exhibits, new product and service introductions, 30+ complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, master classes, film competition, awards ceremony, special screenings in state of the art theaters, and ample opportunity to network with peers within a studio environment.
May 30 – Film Series Competition Screenings
May 30 & June 1 – Exhibits, Premier Seminars, Exclusive Screenings, Awards Presentations, Special Events
June 3 – Master Classes
Badge registration is now open for Cine Gear 2019. All attendees must complete this FREE registration process to obtain their credentials. Registration is free until 11:59PM (PDT), May 25, 2019.
VES Members Receive FREE Exhibit Passes to Cine Gear Expo L.A. 2019 Through May 25!
Cine Gear Expo 2019 is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the film and entertainment technology industry. Taking place May 30th – June 2nd at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California, Cine Gear features 300 exhibits, new product and service introductions, 30+ complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, master classes, film competition, awards ceremony, special screenings in state of the art theaters, and ample opportunity to network with peers within a studio environment.
May 30 – Film Series Competition Screenings
May 30 & June 1 – Exhibits, Premier Seminars, Exclusive Screenings, Awards Presentations, Special Events
June 3 – Master Classes
Badge registration is now open for Cine Gear 2019. All attendees must complete this FREE registration process to obtain their credentials. Registration is free until 11:59PM (PDT), May 25, 2019.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ ALADDIN
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, May 24) Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 4:00PM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Summit Entertainment’s JOHN WICK 3: PARABELLUM
Please RSVP below
Friday, May 24, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of THE 10TH VICTIM (1965) Exploring a Futuristic Op-Art Classic followed by a conversation with KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture host Frances Anderton, USC’s Annenberg School Professor and Author of PROJECTING TOMORROWNicholas J. Cull and two time Oscar nominated Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas ADG, (PASSENGERS and INCEPTION), moderated by Production Designer John Muto ADG.
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood
6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
THE 10th VICTIM is a futuristic Italian socio-political sex-and-murder action comedy starring the impossibly glamorous Ursula Andress and Italian megastar, Marcello Mastroianni. Anticipating the rise of out-of-control reality TV by 50 years, the film matches the pair by computer as hunter and victim in The Big Hunt, a deadly game designed to stifle human aggression by offering individuals the opportunity to kill or be killed, earning status, fame, and money on live TV. Directed by Elio Petri (INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION), the film is written by Tonino Guerra (BLOW UP) and designed by Piero Poletto (RED DESERT). THE 10th VICTIM takes place in a future Rome, mixing classical architecture with ultramodern Op Art design, retro-glamorous haute-couture, and pulsating electro pop jazz by Piero Piccioni.
Panel discussion will include host of KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture Frances Anderton, USC’s Annenberg School Professor and Author of PROJECTING TOMORROWNicholas J. Cull and two time Oscar nominated Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas ADG, (PASSENGERS and INCEPTION), moderated by Production Designer John Muto ADG, Film Society Founder and Co-chair.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of THE 10TH VICTIM (1965) Exploring a Futuristic Op-Art Classic followed by a conversation with KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture host Frances Anderton, USC’s Annenberg School Professor and Author of PROJECTING TOMORROWNicholas J. Cull and two time Oscar nominated Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas ADG, (PASSENGERS and INCEPTION), moderated by Production Designer John Muto ADG.
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood
6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
THE 10th VICTIM is a futuristic Italian socio-political sex-and-murder action comedy starring the impossibly glamorous Ursula Andress and Italian megastar, Marcello Mastroianni. Anticipating the rise of out-of-control reality TV by 50 years, the film matches the pair by computer as hunter and victim in The Big Hunt, a deadly game designed to stifle human aggression by offering individuals the opportunity to kill or be killed, earning status, fame, and money on live TV. Directed by Elio Petri (INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION), the film is written by Tonino Guerra (BLOW UP) and designed by Piero Poletto (RED DESERT). THE 10th VICTIM takes place in a future Rome, mixing classical architecture with ultramodern Op Art design, retro-glamorous haute-couture, and pulsating electro pop jazz by Piero Piccioni.
Panel discussion will include host of KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture Frances Anderton, USC’s Annenberg School Professor and Author of PROJECTING TOMORROWNicholas J. Cull and two time Oscar nominated Production Designer Guy Hendrix Dyas ADG, (PASSENGERS and INCEPTION), moderated by Production Designer John Muto ADG, Film Society Founder and Co-chair.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Entertainment’s POKEMON: DETECTIVE PIKACHU
Please RSVP below
Friday, May 17, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ AVENGERS: ENDGAME followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers
Panelists will include Visual Effects Producer Jen Underdahl, ILM Visual Effects Supervisor Russell Earl, Digital Domain Visual Effects Supervisor Kelly Port, and Associate Visual Effects Supervisor Mårten Larsson, moderated by VES Board member Jeff Kleiser. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, May 3) Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 3:00PM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of STX Entertainment’s UGLYDOLLS
Please RSVP below
Monday, April 29, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and a Guest are Invited to Attend the Art Directors Guild Screening of MARY POPPINS (1964) Practically Perfect in Every Way: Celebrating the Artists Behind a Classic! followed by a conversation with Production & Costume Designer Tony Walton, VES Founders Award recipient Harrison Ellenshaw and writer-director-producer Theodore Thomas moderated by Jeff Kurtti and Thomas A. Walsh ADG.
The Egyptian Theatre, Hollywood
6712 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, CA 90028 Click here for a map.
Besides being an enduring motion picture classic, Mary Poppins was a masterfully creative and technical milestone for the Walt Disney Studio. We will be celebrating the visual magicians behind the scenes by sharing untold stories and a unique perspective of the film, its artisans, and their creative legacy. Joining our panel will be Tony Walton the film’s Costume and Design Consultant, Harrison Ellenshaw, son of Peter Ellenshaw, the film’s special effects and master matte artist, and Theodore Thomas, son of Frank Thomas, one of Disney’s revered nine-old men, and the animator behind the dancing penguins. For this special event we will be screening the 50th Anniversary Remastered Edition of the film.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Annapurna Pictures’ MISSING LINK
Please RSVP below
Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 11:00AM
Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Picture Study
1313 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA 90028,
(Free parking off Homewood Avenue, one block North of Fountain) Enter parking lot from Homewood Avenue, which is a one-way street heading east. Recommended to approach from south, via Cahuenga Avenue. Parking lot opens one hour prior to event, and will be closed and locked 30 minutes after the conclusion of the event. Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
An enlightening presentation and panel discussion on the value of live, on-set prosthetics and animatronics work in the digital age, and how digital artists can work in collaboration with these cinematic artforms for even more effective creative storytelling; set in the midst of a fascinatingmuseum exhibit showcasing the work of the artists of Amalgamated Dynamics.
Panelists:Tom Woodruff, Jr., and key members of his creative team at ADI
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Lionsgate’s HELLBOY
Please RSVP below
Monday, April 15, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of Paramount Pictures’ PET SEMATARY
Please RSVP below Friday, April 12, 2019 at 8:00PM
The Sherry Lansing Theater on the Paramount studio lot
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
(Please enter through the Melrose gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ DUMBO
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, April 5) Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 6:00PM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES LA is offering discounted group tickets for members & their guests.
MUST PURCHASE AHEAD OF TIME – Please log in for member link.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
4:00pm Self-guided Group Tour
Meet at 3:45p at the Main Box Office
3D: Double Vision is the first American exhibition to survey a full range of artworks, dating from 1838 to the present, that produce the illusion of three dimensions. These artworks function by activating binocular vision—the process by which our brains synthesize the information received by our two eyes into a single, volumetric image.
Drawn from the realms of art, science, mass culture, and entertainment, the artworks in 3D: Double Vision will dazzle the eyes and provoke the imagination. Ultimately, to experience 3D is to engage with questions about the nature of perception, the allure of illusionism, and our relationship with the technologies that create such images.
* Guests who qualify for free admission can simply check-in ahead of time & meet by the Box Office at 3:45pm (i.e., LACMA members, Children 17 & under, and registered NextGen families — child member & adult must be present).
After touring the exhibit, members may choose to go diner together at one of the many nearby restaurants, or there is a free concert that evening at LACMA:
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Paramount Pictures’ WONDER PARK
Please RSVP below Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 3:00PM
The Sherry Lansing Theater on the Paramount studio lot
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
(Please enter through the Melrose gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of Walt Disney Pictures’ and Marvel Studios’ CAPTAIN MARVEL followed by a Q&A with the Filmmakers. Panelists will include Directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck as well as Additional Visual Effects Supervisor Janelle Croshaw Ralla, moderated by Bill Taylor, VES, ASC. (Panelists will be announced as they are confirmed.)
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 12:00PM on Friday, March 8) Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 11:00AM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Weekend 3D Screening of DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures’ HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD followed by a Q&A with Director Dean DeBlois, Producer Brad Lewis, Visual Effects Supervisor Dave Walvood, Head of Character Animation Simon Otto and Head of Effects Li-Ming ‘Lawrence’ Lee moderated by Director Bill Kroyer. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
Saturday, February 23, 2019 at 11:00AM
DreamWorks Animation Studios’ Campanile theater 1000 Flower St, Glendale, CA 91201 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Screening of 20th Century Fox’s ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL
Please RSVP below Sunday, February 17, 2018 at 7:00PM
(RSVPs will close at 12:00PM on Friday, February 15) Zanuck Theater on the 20th Century Fox Studio lot
10201 West Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90064-2606 Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Warner Bros. Pictures’ THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART
Please RSVP below
Monday, February 11, 2019 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
Paul will present Google’s latest breakthroughs with light field technology and discuss the making of Google VR’s award-winning VR experience, Welcome to Light Fields.
Ivan Neulander, Lead Rendering Engineer at Google
Rendering Google’s Playground
Ivan will present an overview of lighting and rendering techniques deployed inPlayground, Google’s creative AR app for Android phones.
Moderator:
Scott Squires, Technical Academy Award-winning VFX Supervisor, CTO/Creative Director ofPixvana, a company dedicated to bringing VR experiences to life.
The event includes refreshments and VR demos after the presentations.
LA ACM SIGGRAPH & VES Los Angeles Section Present:
STEVE WRIGHT: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF COMPOSITING VISUAL EFFECTS
Steve Wright gives an in-person overview of VFX compositing techniques to those artists who RSVP to deepen their understanding of its critical role in visual effects.
Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
6:30 – 7:30 PM Social Hour
7:30 – 9:15 PM Program Presentation
Description
Join the members of the VES Los Angeles Section & LA ACM SIGGRAPH as we engage in a tour of the tools, techniques, and artistic requirements for compositing visual effects.
Demonstrations of how compositing is used for camera tracking, set extension, camera projection, blue/green screen keying, color correcting, tracking, clean plate construction, and multi-pass CGI compositing. Advance your knowledge of what compositors do and how they do it.
A rare look into the math and science behind the incredible technology used in Nuke, the de facto industry standard visual effects compositing software by the Foundry, coupled with demonstrations of its applications to movie magic in today’s blockbuster films. We peer behind the black curtain at how hi-tech visual effects shots are executed and what it takes to set one up with advanced concepts like Deep Compositing, Alembic Geometry, Camera Projection and CGI AOV’s.
Compositing now holds a high position in the artistic expression of visual effects as compositors are now required to not only make shots compiled from multiple disparate sources merge together photo realistically, but to also make them look “cool”. Compositors are now providing the final “look” to the shot with their blending of multiple cgi lighting passes and artistically driven color correction.
LA ACM SIGGRAPH & VES Los Angeles Section Present:
STEVE WRIGHT: THE ART AND SCIENCE OF COMPOSITING VISUAL EFFECTS
Steve Wright gives an in-person overview of VFX compositing techniques to those artists who RSVP to deepen their understanding of its critical role in visual effects.
Tuesday, January 8th, 2019
6:30 – 7:30 PM Social Hour
7:30 – 9:15 PM Program Presentation
Description
Join the members of the VES Los Angeles Section & LA ACM SIGGRAPH as we engage in a tour of the tools, techniques, and artistic requirements for compositing visual effects.
Demonstrations of how compositing is used for camera tracking, set extension, camera projection, blue/green screen keying, color correcting, tracking, clean plate construction, and multi-pass CGI compositing. Advance your knowledge of what compositors do and how they do it.
A rare look into the math and science behind the incredible technology used in Nuke, the de facto industry standard visual effects compositing software by the Foundry, coupled with demonstrations of its applications to movie magic in today’s blockbuster films. We peer behind the black curtain at how hi-tech visual effects shots are executed and what it takes to set one up with advanced concepts like Deep Compositing, Alembic Geometry, Camera Projection and CGI AOV’s.
Compositing now holds a high position in the artistic expression of visual effects as compositors are now required to not only make shots compiled from multiple disparate sources merge together photo realistically, but to also make them look “cool”. Compositors are now providing the final “look” to the shot with their blending of multiple cgi lighting passes and artistically driven color correction.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night 3D Screening of Paramount Pictures’ BUMBLEBEE
Please RSVP below Thursday, December 20, 2018 at 8:00PM
The Sherry Lansing Theater on the Paramount studio lot
5555 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
(Please enter through the Melrose gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to an Opening Night 3D Screening of Sony Pictures Animation’s SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE
Please RSVP below
Monday, December 17, 2018 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening Of Universal Pictures’ WELCOME TO MARWEN followed by a Q&A with Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin Baillie, Miniature Effects Supervisor Dave Asling and Production Designer Stefan Dechant moderated by VES Founders Award recipient Gene Kozicki. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
Sunday, December 16, 2018 at 6:00PM
RealD Screening Room
100 N. Crescent Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of Walt Disney Studios’ MARY POPPINS RETURNS
Please RSVP below
(RSVPs close at 4:00PM on Friday, December 14) Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 4:00PM
Walt Disney Studios Main Theater
500 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521
(Please enter through the Alameda gate and park as directed.) Click here for a map
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Guests are Invited to a 3D Screening of Columbia Pictures’ ALPHA followed by a Q&A with Director Albert Hughes and Visual Effects Supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun, VES moderated by VES Chair Mike Chambers. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below
Monday, December 10, 2018 at 8:00PM
Sony Pictures Imageworks – Ray Harryhausen Theater
9050 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, CA 90232 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a Pre-Release Screening of Universal Pictures’ MORTAL ENGINES followed by a Q&A with Visual Effects Supervisor Ken McGaugh, Animation Supervisor Dennis Yoo, Visual Effects Supervisor Luke Millar and Visual Effects Supervisor Kevin Smith moderated by VES Board member Jeff Kleiser. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below Sunday, December 2, 2018 at 11:00AM (RSVPs close at 5:00PM on Friday, November 30)
AMC Century City 10250 Santa Monica Blvd #2000, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
VES Members and Their Families are Invited to a 3D Screening of Netflix’s MOWGLI followed by a Q&A with Director Andy Serkis, Animation Supervisor Max Solomon and Members of the Visual Effects Team T.B.A. moderated by VES Board member Richard Winn Taylor II, VES. (All panelists’ participation based on availability.)
Please RSVP below Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11:00AM (RSVPs close at 5:00PM on Friday, November 30)
Pacific Design Center’s Silver Screen Theater
(Complimentary parking in the PDC structure. Enter on Melrose.)
8687 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA 90069 Click here for a map.
Screenings are overbooked to compensate for no-shows. Seating is limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis. An RSVP does not guarantee seating.
Additional Parking Information will be emailed to guests who RSVP’d before the event.
WHAT MOVIE WON? JOIN US TONIGHT TO FIND OUT!
Now that the 18th Annual VES Awards season is underway, we once again invite VES members to participate in our Nomination Panels. The Nomination Event will be held worldwide on January 4, 2020.
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