Tagged With: Visual

Discreet is now shipping inferno 4.6, flame 7.6 and flint 7.6, the latest version upgrades to its visual effects system software. The new releases of Discreets inferno, flame and flint software comprise more than 100 new features and enhancements, focusing on product design, workflow, performance and extending the range and depth of their toolsets. inferno and flame now have new modes for color correction and other options in the Color Warper tool. The Modular Keyer rendering performance has also been optimized along with other key feature improvements.

Australian visual effects companies Photon VFX and GMD have formed a strategic alliance and will begin their collaboration as joint visual effects contractors for the Disney production of INSPECTOR GADGET 2. The film, which is currently shooting on location in Brisbane, Australia, is a direct-to-video project from Disney. The eight-week shoot is will utilize Photon's motion-control services during production. Post-production is slated for completion by mid-2002.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced the eight films being considered for Achievement in Visual Effects for the 74th Academy Awards. Fifteen-minute clip reels from each of the following films will be screened for the Visual Effects Award nominating committee on February 6. The members will then nominate three for Oscar consideration.

The films are:

A. I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

BLACK HAWK DOWN

CATS AND DOGS

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE

Vanilla Sky Tops Box Office. The psychological drama VANILLA SKY, with visual effects by Digital Domain, was number one at the box office this weekend, bringing in a strong $25M in its debut. Casino heist flick OCEANS ELEVEN, with visual effects by E=mc2 and Cinesite, ran a close second earning $23M for a two-week cume of $73.3M. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, with visual effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks and Rhythm & Hues, fell two spots to fourth, with $9.9M for the weekend and $253.3M to date.

Although its weekend take of $24.1M represents a 58% drop from last weekend, HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE, with visual effects by Sony Pictures Imageworks and Rhythm & Hues, remained number one for the third week in a row, and crossed the $200M mark after 15 days. HARRY has earned $220.1M after three weeks of release. The rescue drama BEHIND ENEMY LINES, with visual effects by Reality Check Studios and OCS/Freeze Frame/Pixel Magic, came in a strong second, earning $19.2M in its debut.

New York-based Click 3x has hired engineer Mike Bittle and veteran visual effects and graphics producer Todd McCammon. Bittle becomes chief engineer and will oversee all technical issues for the visual effects, animation and design studio, as well as assisting in the planning and implementation of future imaging technologies. He comes from a similar position with Post Perfect, New York. While at Post Perfect, Bittle handled engineering for film transfer, color correction, editing, compositing, animation and graphics production, as well as for a shooting stage.

Once again, those CG beasties dominated the box office. MONSTERS, INC. collected a whopping $46.2M in its second weekend bring its cume to $122.8M after 10 days. But expect Sulley and Mike to feel the effects of a young wizard named Harry when HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERERS STONE bows on Friday. The Farelly Brothers latest comedy SHALLOW HAL, with visual effects by Alterian Studios & Artist's Asylum Inc. had a big weekend, collecting $23.3M in its debut.

Sci-fi drama K-PAX, with primary visual effects by Centropolis Effects, LLC, landed in the number one spot this weekend, earning $17.5M in its debut. The film, which stars Kevin Spacey as a man who claims to be an alien from the planet K-Pax, was Universal Pictures sixth film this year to open at number one. Last weeks number one film FROM HELL, with primary visual effects by Digiscope and Illusion Arts, fell to third, bringing in $6.1M, a 45% drop from its debut. The Jack the Ripper saga ended its second week with $20.8M gross.

The Hong Kong action flick IRON MONKEY, with primary visual effects by MetroLight, debuted in sixth place this weekend bringing in just over $6 million. Made in 1993 but picked up for distribution by Miramax in 2001, the film did well, topping teen thriller JOY RIDE, with primary visual effects by Spectrum Effects Inc., which finished its second week in eighth place with $4.9M and $14.7M total. Still in front is TRAINING DAY, with primary visual effects by Cinesite.

Three new releases helped the weekend box office rebound from the poor performance of the past few weeks. Box office receipts were up 52% this weekend with the three debut films taking the top three spots on the chart. The fashion-world parody ZOOLANDER took second place with $15.7M in its debut weekend. ZOOLANDER is the first film to be released that has digitally removed the World Trade Center from the skyline of downtown New York.

With only one new film in wide release, it was another slow weekend at U.S. movie theaters. Box office totals slumped even lower than last week, making this weekend a 52-week low. However, two limited release films made a good showing at the box office this weekend. Anime thriller VAMPIRE HUNTER D: BLOODLUST, debuting in just six theaters, managed to bring in a healthy $4,255 per screen. The Armegeddon-themed MEGIDDO: OMEGA CODE 2, with visual effects by Computercafe and Cinesite, did well in limited release as well, debuting in thirteenth place with $1.6M from 314 theaters.

Due to the terrorist attacks suffered by the United States on September 11, 2001, the 53rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards presentation has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 7, 2001. However, the Emmys for animation and visual effects have already been awarded on September 8, 2001 as previously published here. The winners for individual achievement in animation were Rodney Clouden for FUTURAMA; Curt Enderle and Brad Schiff for GARY & MIKE; and Kyle Menke for INVADER ZIM. The winners in the voiceover performance category were Hank Azaria in THE SIMPSONS and Ja' Net DuBois in THE PJS.