Ben Honour’s Post

Check out this teaser for this beautiful short I had the privilege to work for!!

Blurring the lines between fiction and reality, we have created the Etxart Panno garden where each look coexists with the flora. As a creative studio, for most of the projects in which we integrate 3D, we need to do research: how tall is a streetlamp, or how a spoon would fall from a table. We want to share with you the 360º view of our flowers for ETXART PANNO and some questions that we asked ourselves. Additionally, some of the references that characterize us as a studio: to develop this project, we used references from the withered flower in Kimetsu no Yaiba, from Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams, and from Hibana in Fire Force. This combination has given us an incredibly cool result. We hope you like it. XX Brand - ETXART PANNO Brand Creative Director - Carola Etxart Panno Produced by - Misato Kindness Creative Director - ANDREI WARREN PERKOVIC Production Supervisor - Ernest M. Project Manager - Angels Reluz Panés Look Dev. Supervisor - Iván Moreno Compositing - Carlos del Rincón 3D Artist - Victor Pérez Gámez Storyboard & Concept - Anaïs Cerezal Pacho Unreal Artist - Genís Suriol VFX Artist - Santiago Mariño VFX Artist - Daniel Arenas Eguiazabal

I want an entire series in this style.

"Artists are like light bulbs. When they burn, you replace them." Maybe it is only an urban myth, yet this sentence represents our perception of the low importance given to well-being in the animation and VFX industries. Even if technology is getting better, it helps create better-looking images and more impressive visual effects. Are our working conditions any better? Are we treating each other any nicer? Knowledge about management and production is spread by copying the behaviors of people who inspire or lead us. We replicate what seems to work for them in achieving what they want. You see a high-profile producer yelling at everyone on set. Once you become a producer, you copy the behavior. Get what you need by burning people. Simple lesson learned. We've been making films (and TV) while burning renewable resources. You make a film, push and break the team, and deliver the film. You win awards (if you are lucky), make money (luckier), and start another project, so you build another team to burn. This is not sustainable. These behaviors are copied from person to person, leading to the current status quo: "Clients are picky and abusive" and "We must crack the whip to motivate a team." Folks in the industry are getting sick of the abuse, people know better and they know "it is not worth it". So we must learn new and better ways to make production. Ways that are humane and help us increase our productivity while supporting our well-being. So let's skill up, people! The instruction manual on "how to treat each other in the entertainment industry" must be rewritten. Let's write better instructions on how to be a coordinator, a team lead, or a producer. Better instructions that account for the clear need for more well-being in the workplace, for a better work-life balance for everyone. Which will lead to better products, better stories, better images, and a better industry. Training is critical to creating a better, more productive, and safer work environment. At The Happy Producers, are breaking away from the old system that replicates what was done before ("this is the way we always do it"), and we want to start a new school of thought that teaches a better, more humane, and more productive way of doing animation and VFX production. Why do we do animation production? Because we are passionate about storytelling and want to share this gift with the world while prioritizing our well-being to allow us to be more creative and productive. I am writing the instructions for better bidding and scoping animation projects. A way that accounts for the team's well-being without sacrificing the quality of the screen. I am not shy about promoting my project because I want this new way of doing things to spread. I want you to learn it and improve on it. So that we can build a better, more humane industry.

Remaking an old blockbuster film with the aid of AI and the latest technologies can offer a fresh perspective and enhanced visual experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to achieving this: ### Steps to Remake a Blockbuster Film with AI and Latest Technologies 1. **Project Planning and Rights Acquisition:** - **Select the Film:** Choose a blockbuster film that has a strong fan base and cultural significance. - **Acquire Rights:** Obtain legal rights to remake the film from the original creators or production company. 2. **Script Analysis and Adaptation:** - **Analyze Original Script:** Study the original screenplay to identify key themes, characters, and plot points. - **Adaptation:** Update the script to reflect modern sensibilities and technologies while retaining the core story. 3. **Pre-Production:** - **AI Tools for Scriptwriting:** Use AI-powered tools to assist in scriptwriting, ensuring natural dialogue and plot coherence. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Grammarly can help refine the script. - **Budgeting and Scheduling:** Develop a detailed budget and shooting schedule, leveraging AI tools for project management and cost estimation. 4. **Casting and Virtual Actors:** - **Casting:** Use AI-driven casting platforms to find the perfect actors. Consider virtual actors or digital doubles for complex scenes. - **De-Aging and Re-Creation:** Use AI for de-aging actors or re-creating performances of actors who are no longer available, similar to techniques used in films like "Rogue One" and "The Irishman." 5. **Pre-Visualization and Storyboarding:** - **AI-Generated Storyboards:** Utilize AI to create detailed storyboards and pre-visualizations. Tools like Storyboard That or custom AI solutions can help visualize scenes before filming. - **Virtual Production:** Use virtual production techniques (e.g., LED walls, motion capture) to create immersive environments without leaving the studio. 6. **Production:** - **AI in Cinematography:** Employ AI-powered cameras and drones for dynamic shots and improved cinematography. - **Motion Capture and Performance Capture:** Use advanced motion capture technology to record actors’ performances and integrate them seamlessly into CGI environments. 7. **Visual Effects (VFX) and CGI:** - **AI-Enhanced VFX:** Leverage AI for creating realistic visual effects, reducing manual labor and speeding up the process. Tools like NVIDIA’s GAN-based image synthesis can create realistic backgrounds and characters. - **Real-Time Rendering:** Use real-time rendering engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) to visualize and adjust scenes on the fly. 8. **Post-Production:** - **AI-Driven Editing:** Employ AI for video editing, color correction, and sound design. Email zensunindia@gmail.com

Remaking an old blockbuster film with the aid of AI and the latest technologies can offer a fresh perspective and enhanced visual experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide to achieving this: ### Steps to Remake a Blockbuster Film with AI and Latest Technologies 1. **Project Planning and Rights Acquisition:** - **Select the Film:** Choose a blockbuster film that has a strong fan base and cultural significance. - **Acquire Rights:** Obtain legal rights to remake the film from the original creators or production company. 2. **Script Analysis and Adaptation:** - **Analyze Original Script:** Study the original screenplay to identify key themes, characters, and plot points. - **Adaptation:** Update the script to reflect modern sensibilities and technologies while retaining the core story. 3. **Pre-Production:** - **AI Tools for Scriptwriting:** Use AI-powered tools to assist in scriptwriting, ensuring natural dialogue and plot coherence. Tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Grammarly can help refine the script. - **Budgeting and Scheduling:** Develop a detailed budget and shooting schedule, leveraging AI tools for project management and cost estimation. 4. **Casting and Virtual Actors:** - **Casting:** Use AI-driven casting platforms to find the perfect actors. Consider virtual actors or digital doubles for complex scenes. - **De-Aging and Re-Creation:** Use AI for de-aging actors or re-creating performances of actors who are no longer available, similar to techniques used in films like "Rogue One" and "The Irishman." 5. **Pre-Visualization and Storyboarding:** - **AI-Generated Storyboards:** Utilize AI to create detailed storyboards and pre-visualizations. Tools like Storyboard That or custom AI solutions can help visualize scenes before filming. - **Virtual Production:** Use virtual production techniques (e.g., LED walls, motion capture) to create immersive environments without leaving the studio. 6. **Production:** - **AI in Cinematography:** Employ AI-powered cameras and drones for dynamic shots and improved cinematography. - **Motion Capture and Performance Capture:** Use advanced motion capture technology to record actors’ performances and integrate them seamlessly into CGI environments. 7. **Visual Effects (VFX) and CGI:** - **AI-Enhanced VFX:** Leverage AI for creating realistic visual effects, reducing manual labor and speeding up the process. Tools like NVIDIA’s GAN-based image synthesis can create realistic backgrounds and characters. - **Real-Time Rendering:** Use real-time rendering engines (e.g., Unreal Engine) to visualize and adjust scenes on the fly. 8. **Post-Production:** - **AI-Driven Editing:** Employ AI for video editing, color correction, and sound design. Tools like Adobe Sensei can assist with automated editing and enhancing visual consistency. - **Sound Design and Music:** Use AI to generate or enhance the film’s score and sound effects. Email zensunindia@gmail.com

https://lnkd.in/gpTVXq6t Marvel's VFX Workers Have Moved to Unionize—and It's a Huge Deal for Hollywood One of the many knock-on effects of Marvel making post-credit scenes a feature of the studio’s cinematic universe is that fans get a glimpse of just how many “below-the-line” workers it takes to make all that superhero movie magic. Production designers, hair and makeup folks, camera operators, the lists run on and on. Amongst them, usually toward the end, as theatergoers are eagerly anticipating that tease for the next MCU movie, are lists of the visual effects studios—places with names like Framestore, The Third Floor, Cinesite—that created all of those space scenes and Wakanda visuals. But unlike most of the other names in those credits, the ones attached to VFX artists have never been in a professional union.On Monday, some folks at Marvel made a move to change that, with a supermajority of Marvel Studios’ VFX crew signing cards saying they want to be represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).To be clear, the Marvel team is a small faction of a huge industry and doesn’t represent all those outside VFX houses that also work on MCU films. But their mov...

LET US KNOW MORE Do you know Who was the first filmmaker to creatively use special effects? Do you know when was VFX first used in films? Who created the revolutionary in VFX industry? Nobody else but Oscar Rejlander, a master of photomontage and a pioneering Swedish-born Victorian artist photographer. By fusing various portions of 32 negatives into a single image and producing a montaged combination print, Oscar Rejlander produced the first "special effects" photograph in 1857. In 1895, Alfred Clark, a British-American of music recording and cinema, is the second big-name known to have a direct impact on the VFX industry had created what is commonly accepted as the first-ever motion picture special effect. While filming a reenactment of the beheading of Mary, Queen of Scots, Clark instructed an actor to step up to the block in Mary's costume. As the executioner brought the axe above his head, Clark stopped the camera, had all the actors freeze, and had the person playing Mary step off the set. He placed a Mary dummy in the actor's place, restarted filming, and allowed the executioner to bring the axe down, severing the dummy's head. Techniques like these would dominate the production of special effects for a century. It was not only the first use of trickery in cinema, it was also the first type of photographic trickery that was only possible in a motion picture, and referred to as the "stop trick". Georges Méliès, an early motion picture pioneer, accidentally discovered the same "stop trick." According to Méliès, his camera jammed while filming a street scene in Paris. When he screened the film, he found that the "stop trick" had caused a truck to turn into a hearse, pedestrians to change direction, and men to turn into women. Méliès, the director of the Théâtre Robert-Houdin, was inspired to develop a series of more than 500 short films, between 1896 and 1913, in the process developing or inventing such techniques as multiple exposures, time-lapse photography, dissolves, and hand-painted color. And now we can all agree on one thing since then, VFX has evolved quite a lot. VFX today is heavily used in almost all movies produced. Other than films, television series and web series are also known to utilize VFX.

Hard and Soft Lighting in AI: The Key Players in Digital Cinematography's Emotional Palette 🎬💡     The dance of light and shadow is timeless, and yet in the age of AI filmmaking, it takes on new dimensions. Let's shine a spotlight on hard and soft lighting—the twin pillars that sculpt stories from the ether and fix them firmly in our imaginations. At FilmArt.ai, we're harnessing AI to elevate this craft, blurring the lines between the virtual and the visceral. Here’s how:   Hard Lighting: The Sculptor of Drama 🔍 In the AI realm, hard lighting cuts through the scene with precision—its sharp shadows and stark contrasts create a visual drama that commands attention. By programming AI to emulate a concentrated light source, filmmakers can replicate the intensity of a midday sun or the focus of a spotlight. 🌞   It’s perfect for those edge-of-your-seat moments, whether it's the furrowed brow of a protagonist in a pivotal scene or the eerie corridors of a spaceship adrift. AI allows us to cast these shadows with a digital hand, offering a spectrum of emotion from suspense to stark terror.   Soft Lighting: The Weaver of Atmosphere 🌈 Soft lighting, on the other hand, is the whisper where hard lighting is the shout. It wraps the scene in a warm embrace, smoothing edges and bringing a gentleness that can calm the soul or kindle romance. Through AI, we can simulate the soft caress of an overcast sky or the tender ambiance of a candle-lit dinner. 💖   This lighting is the unsung hero of heartfelt moments and serene landscapes, an essential tool for when the story calls for introspection or a tender touch.   The AI Edge: Infinite Flexibility 🚀 What AI brings to the table is nothing short of revolutionary—fluidity and experimentation without the constraints of physical setups. With a few keystrokes, we can oscillate between the stark delineation of hard light and the soothing gradients of soft light, finding the perfect mood for every tale we wish to weave.   Embracing the Digital Dawn ✨ In the world of AI filmmaking, lighting is not just about visibility—it's about vision. As we move forward at FilmArt.ai, we're not just creating content; we're pioneering a new lexicon of light, where every shade and hue is a word, every beam and shadow a sentence.   Join us as we explore the potential of AI to transform the landscape of visual storytelling. Stay tuned for more insights into the tools that are redefining filmmaking and get ready to enroll to the AI Filmmaking course by FilmArt.ai - coming soon to the laptop near you :) And remember, in the art of cinema, light is not just seen—it is felt.   #AIFilmmaking #GenAI #FilmArtAI #Cinematography #VisualStorytelling #DigitalMarketing #GenerativeAI #AIcommercials 

The Invisible Artists: A Closer Look at Visual Effects (VFX) Artists 🎇 Introduction In the world of filmmaking and entertainment, there exists a group of talented heroes whose work is pivotal to creating the magic we see on screen. These individuals are the Visual Effects (VFX) artists, the magicians responsible for bringing imagination to life and turning mere concepts into awe-inspiring visual spectacles. Defining Visual Effects (VFX) Visual Effects, commonly referred to as VFX, encompass the process of manipulating or creating imagery to achieve various effects in film, television, video games, and other forms of media. These effects can range from the subtle, such as removing unwanted objects or imperfections, to the spectacular, like conjuring mythical creatures or crafting epic battles on the big screen. VFX artists are the creative minds and technical wizards who make all of this possible. Roles of VFX Artists VFX artists play a multitude of essential roles in the filmmaking process: Pre-visualization: Before a single frame is shot, VFX artists work closely with directors and producers to visualize and plan complex scenes. They create storyboards and concept art to ensure that the director's vision can be translated into reality. CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery): VFX artists use sophisticated software to generate realistic computer-generated images. This includes everything from creating otherworldly environments to crafting creatures and characters that don't exist in the physical world. Compositing: In post-production, VFX artists integrate computer-generated elements with live-action footage seamlessly. This involves adjusting lighting, color, and camera movement to make the effects appear as if they were captured during the original shoot. Digital Matte Painting: VFX artists can create breathtaking landscapes or cityscapes digitally, saving the cost and logistics of shooting on location. Simulation: They are responsible for simulating various elements like fire, water, smoke, and destruction, making dangerous scenes safe for the actors and crew. Contributions to the Industry Visual Effects artists have made profound contributions to the entertainment industry. They have pushed the boundaries of what is possible in filmmaking and have brought iconic characters, creatures, and worlds to life, captivating audiences worldwide. Their work has been recognized through prestigious awards, such as the Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects, and their influence extends far beyond the silver screen. Their creativity, technical prowess, and dedication to their craft continue to push the boundaries of what can be achieved on screen, making them an essential part of the magic of cinema. The next time you watch a blockbuster film or marvel at a fantastical creature, take a moment to appreciate the invisible artists who made it all possible – the Visual Effects artists.