Big Effects in Low-Budget Films

Polygon Creates VFX in Chaw and Haeundae, Develops CG Water Pipeline

Whenever a movie comes along that attempts to create big visual effects on a relatively meager budget it is interesting to look at the techniques involved in trying to accomplish this goal.

When there are two such films that are both Korean-based productions ‘outsourcing’ their visual effects to the U.S., it becomes an even more intriguing tale.

Over the past year or so Polygon Entertainment found itself in the rather odd position of creating high-end visual effects for two Korean films, Chaw and Haeundae, which are now number one and two in the Korean box office. “I don’t know how I suddenly ended up with two films at the top of the Korean box office at the same time,” quips Hans Uhlig, founder of Polygon Entertainment.

READ MORE by Matt Armstrong - http://www.studiodaily.com/main/technique/casestudies/11149.html

STUDIO DAILY © 2009 Access Intelligence LLC. All Rights Reserved.

As real Actors Consider Striking, Digital Actors Take Over

Massive Digital Actors In the Foreground of Changeling

Clint Eastwood’s newest film "Changeling" tells the story of a mother’s search for her lost son.

At first this doesn’t sound like the type of film that would require a lot of visual effects until the setting is taken into account. eastwood had to recreate the bustling metropolis that was Los Angeles in the 1920s and ’30s.

Shooting on the Universal backlot required the city being rebuilt digitally. Set extensions are standard fare for VFX house CIS Vancouver, but this one had other requirements. CIS Vancouver used High-Rez Models, Tons of Mo-Cap and Massive to Populate 1920s LA. They added crowds of digital people into their CG environments to replicate the bustling city environment.

Adding crowds has been done before and it was always done well. But the digital actors in these crowds are not just wandering around in the background, they are crossing right in front of camera and interweaving among the real actors shot on set. They take center stage!



READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE by Matt Armstrong - http://www.studiodaily.com/main/topstory/10258.html

STUDIO DAILY © 2008 Access Intelligence LLC. All Rights Reserved.

VFX SPEEDS UP THE AGING PROCESS

HAL (www.hal.tv) recently created visual effects for a new music video from indie rock band Low vs. Diamond.

The Heart Attack music video looks like it is one continuous shot in which band member Lucas Field sings to a girl and kisses her.

As the video progresses, both characters are dramatically aged via CGI VFX, from their 20s well into their 90s.

SEE THE VIDEO - http://www.hal.tv/low1.html