Imagine – you’re washed ashore in Stuttgart and all of your movie favorites surround you. At FMX, you encounter your much-loved Oscar-winning 3D space odyssey Gravity, action stunner The Amazing Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro and animation successes such as Oscar-winning Frozen as well as The LEGO movie and Rio 2. Moreover, once you’re here, you are also able to experience the latest trends in animated movement, VFX in commercials, Games for Change Europe, “Interaction in the Real World” or the “Focus on Ibero-America.”
Gravity is coming down to Stuttgart
Become lost in space with Alfonso Cuarón’s seven-time Oscar winner Gravity and an earth-shattering number of four presentations at FMX. Framestore, which took home the VFX trophy on Oscar night, reclaim the stage once again in Stuttgart. In addition, Matthew Bristowe and Richard Baker (both Prime Focus World) talk about why the filmmakers chose to convert, PFW’s collaboration with Framestore, and their thoughts on the legacy of a boundary-pushing stereo 3D film. A word from the robots! Tobias Kinnebrew (Bot & Dolly) explains the use of their programmable robots in Gravity from previz to live action. Last but not least, there’s Paul Debevec (graphics laboratory at the University of Southern California’s Institute for Creative Technologies), who explains tackling the virtual production challenge of matching the lighting of real faces to that of virtual environments. The capsule has landed – you’d better check it out.
Spider-Man 2 face to face with VFX heavy commercials
Spider-Man’s greatest battle begins at FMX two weeks before the film’s official U.S. release. David Smith (Sony Pictures Imageworks) presents the challenges of creating new villains and extensive digital environments for Spider-Man 2: Rise of Electro. VFX heavy ad tidbits coming right up! Ruediger Kaltenhaeuser and Markus Lauterbach (both Glassworks) take you through the process of producing high end VFX for critically acclaimed commercials; Vince Baertsoen (The Mill) sheds light on PETA’s spot about animal actors, 98% Human; Neil Riley demonstrates the latest Passion Pictures commercials; and Stefano Salvini (MPC) showcases recent productions including viral ad campaign #DancePonyDance, featuring the most agile Shetland pony you’ve ever seen.
The Art of Animation: Frozen, The LEGO Movie and Rio 2
It’s fragile, it’s beautiful, it’s: The Art of Animation. Here’s an homage series of talks to a medium that’s sure to get you, one way or another. Mike Giaimo (Walt Disney Animation Studios) sets out on a behind-the-scenes journey of the artistic choices and visual challenges of bringing the award-winning Frozen to life. Animal Logic provides illustrious company with a detailed presentation on highly successful The LEGO Movie. In addition, Chip Loterzo (Blue Sky Studios) reveals how you can find your rhythm in animation. They got you good, didn’t they?
Body to image: What’s moving in animation
There’s more than meets the eye in animation: The track “Body, Face and Emotions,” curated by Prof. Dr. Susanne Marschall and Dr. des. Meike Uhrig (both University of Tuebingen), links together professors, filmmakers and technicians presenting various aspects of animated movement. While Media Studies Professors Dr. Susanne Marschall and Dr. Fabienne Liptay concentrate on the movement of the body and the moving film image from a rather humanities-based perspective, Communication Studies Professor Dr. Ed Tan presents the newest study findings on immersive effects of animation. Moreover, award-winning Animator Chris Landreth (cf. newsletter #7) talks about the relation between animated facial expressions and emotional storytelling, and Filmmaker and Film Studies Professor Hannes Rall reflects on the latest technological possibilities of capturing characters’ movements in animation. Move in closer.
Games for Change Europe with industry vet Noah Falstein and more
This year’s FMX track “Games for Change Europe” focuses on transformational game design, introducing leading industry professionals like Noah Falstein (Chief Game Designer at Google) and Ken Perlin (Games for Learning Institute NYC). In several sessions hosted by Katharina Tillmanns (Games for Change Europe) and Bjoern Bartholdy (Cologne Game Lab), presenters and audience discuss the pairing of emotional design with new technologies and social media to create compelling games for humanitarian, ecological and social impact. Also on-board: The Games for Change Challenge presentation in collaboration with Autodesk that provides a glimpse of the innovative projects from the students’ competition. Get behind your joystick.
Focus on Ibero-America
Oh the jet lag! Curated by Diana Arellano (Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg), the “Focus on Ibero-America” brings together Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Hernando Bahamon (Bogota ACM SIGGRAPH) expounds on the digital boom in Latin America and reveals how even European projects can benefit. In comparison, Cristóbal León introduces the vision and creative output of Chile-based stop-motion animation company Diluvio. Charlie Iturriaga, whose contributions were featured in this year’s Oscar-winning film Her (Best Original Screenplay), illustrates current projects of Mexico-based company Ollin VFX. And independent Argentine Animator Juan Pablo Zaramella explains how it became possible to win more than 250 awards with his animated short Luminaris. Off we go!
Get real – Interaction in the Real World
Leave that fictitious bubble! Gesture, touch, and voice are changing the way we interact with computers and technology. Doug Cooper (DreamWorks Animation) curates the track “Interaction in the Real World” that seeks to balance the viewer’s perspective with the interactive experience at hand. Matt Arnold introduces Second Story Interactive Studios’ approach to creating responsive environments at the crossroads of physical space and digital media. Furthermore, Creative Director Marcus Ivarsson reveals how Swedish digital creative agency North Kingdom helps companies create emotional connections between people and brands. And Brent Strong (Walt Disney Imagineering) brings you the ultimate immersive experience with his presentation “Live your dreams – interactivity in Disney parks.” Jump on in, it’s the real thing.
Bigger, better and way more international: The Forum
The state of the art in hard- and software, career opportunities etc: The Forum has them all. Here’s just a taste of whom you’re able to meet at the Marketplace: various companies including 3DPOWERSTORE, Chaos Group, Kolor, RebusFarm, SolidAnim, Vicon, different R&D projects and interactive installations. In partnership with HP and Intel, CHARACTERIZED hosts the “Alter Ego” Design Contest, challenging attendees to create a 2D or 3D original alternative personality to an existing character. All FMX attendees may participate for a chance to win an Intuos Pro graphics tablet courtesy of Wacom. They’re at the Recruiting Hub scouting for you! Industry heavyweights such as Framestore, ScanlineVFX and Industrial Light & Magic as well as first-timers Chimney Group, Illumination Mac Guff, Image Engine and InnoGames are just a few of the names you should look out for.
