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befores & afters

The matrix Bullet Time
Posted onApril 1, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

Bullet Time before Bullet Time

The tests that led to the landmark visual effect of the ’90s.

Making the magic mirror
Posted onMarch 29, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

Making the magic mirror moment in ‘The Matrix’

“Neo looks at his hand; fingers distended into mirrored icicles that begin to melt rapidly, dripping, running like wax down his fingers, spreading across his palm where he sees his face reflected.”

Posted onMarch 28, 2019October 28, 2020inRetro

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

I knew it. He’s the one.

The Matrix
Posted onMarch 27, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

Secrets of ‘The Matrix’ code

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

The Hudsucker Proxy VFX
Posted onMarch 26, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

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

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

Skrull transformations
Posted onMarch 25, 2019May 17, 2020inArticle

Skrull transformations: inventing a new type of morph

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

Sphere
Posted onMarch 22, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

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

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

Shark VS Grodd: Encore VFX
Posted onMarch 21, 2019May 17, 2020inArticle

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

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

Alita: Battle Angel VFX
Posted onMarch 20, 2019May 17, 2020inArticle

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

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

Dennis Muren on the art of crafting VFX shots
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020inArticle

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

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

VFX oral history of Guinness
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020inRetro

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

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
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 17, 2020inArticle

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

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

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020inArticle

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

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

Super Mario Bros.
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020inRetro

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

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

Ruby’s Saloon
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 16, 2020inRetro

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

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

Oral history of Iron Man
Posted onMarch 18, 2019September 7, 2020inRetro

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

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

Deep Rising behind the scene
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 15, 2020inRetro

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

Tracking was (still) hard 20 years ago.

The Matrix VFX
Posted onMarch 18, 2019May 15, 2020inRetro

Three things you might not have known about Bullet Time

For befores & afters patrons.

Posted onNovember 16, 2018June 23, 2020inRetro

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

Do you really know how they texture painted the dinosaurs?

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© 2021 befores & afters
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