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  • ABOUT
  • MAGAZINE
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Author: Ian Failes

Retro

Anatomy of a crash: ‘The Matrix’s’ stunning helicopter scene

Posted onMarch 28, 2019April 8, 2021

I knew it. He’s the one.

The Matrix
Retro

Secrets of ‘The Matrix’ code

Posted onMarch 27, 2019May 17, 2020

It comes from Japanese cookbooks, it’s back to front, and it didn’t always flow vertically.

Articles

The Solid Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride

Posted onMarch 27, 2019June 21, 2021

A sticky post with a regular landscape featured image on the corner of a nondescript block in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, is a bank, or what used to be.

The Hudsucker Proxy VFX
Retro

A visual journey inside the miniatures of ‘The Hudsucker Proxy’

Posted onMarch 26, 2019May 17, 2020

Shooting models sideways, making Tim Robbins act in reverse, and the movies where the same miniatures made surprise reappearances.

Skrull transformations
Articles

Skrull transformations: inventing a new type of morph

Posted onMarch 25, 2019May 17, 2020

All about ‘Captain Marvel’s’ shape-shifting Skrulls, and ponytails.

Sphere
Retro

‘We tried a million things’ – the oral history of ‘Sphere’s’ sphere

Posted onMarch 22, 2019February 13, 2023

The sphere in ‘Sphere’, and how it was made.

Shark VS Grodd: Encore VFX
Articles

OK, so a shark man needs to fight a gorilla – what do you do?

Posted onMarch 21, 2019May 17, 2020

“I was surprised no one scratched my car after that conversation.”

Alita: Battle Angel VFX
Articles

‘She eats a lot during this film, you know’ – giving CG characters some bite

Posted onMarch 20, 2019May 17, 2020

How do you make a CG character eat, anyway? Weta Digital reveals all.

Dennis Muren on the art of crafting VFX shots
Articles

Dennis Muren on the art of crafting VFX shots that don’t reveal how they’re done

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020

The ILM veteran breaks down 3 of his classic ‘how did they do that?’ film effects.

VFX oral history of Guinness
Retro

‘I felt like it was a poem’: the VFX oral history of Guinness ‘Surfer’

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020

Original CFC crew members reflect on bluescreen horses, crashing waves and a St. Patrick’s Day debut for the famous Jonathan Glazer spot.

exploring more diversity in VFX
Articles

‘No more talk, we need positive action’: exploring more diversity in VFX

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020

A report from the joint VES and SPARK CG Society Diversity & Inclusion Summit.

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Articles

That Moment When You Have to Reveal Your Work to the World

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020

What it was like for Sony’s ‘Spider-Verse’ artists after the film’s first teaser trailer was released in 2017.

Super Mario Bros.
Retro

‘Super Mario Bros.’: the other huge VFX film from 1993

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020

The first film to use Flame in a big way, as well as several other VFX ‘firsts.’

Ruby’s Saloon
Retro

Remembering ‘Ruby’s Saloon,’ and how it helped make Maya

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020

The untold oral history of the short that helped promote Maya to the world.

Oral history of Iron Man
Retro

Heads up: the oral history of ‘Iron Man’s’ original HUD

Posted onMarch 18, 2019December 12, 2021

It changed HUDs forever – members of the original Iron Man HUD design group look back on the work.

Deep Rising behind the scene
Retro

Tracking nightmares: behind Blur’s half-digested Billy shots in Deep Rising

Posted onMarch 18, 2019January 31, 2023

Tracking was (still) hard 20 years ago.

The Matrix VFX
Retro

Three things you might not have known about Bullet Time

Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 15, 2020

For befores & afters patrons.

Retro

Viewpaint: ILM’s secret weapon on ‘Jurassic Park’

Posted onNovember 16, 2018June 23, 2020

Do you really know how they texture painted the dinosaurs?

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Recent Posts

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