SAN RAFAEL, Calif., July 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autodesk Inc.
(Nasdaq: ADSK) today announced that its digital content creation solutions
have been used by digital artists to realize their ideas for eye-catching
visual effects in many of this summer's upcoming and released blockbuster
films.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO )
Autodesk's media and entertainment solutions are used to create high-value
content that is consumed through multiple mediums, such as in theatres, on
television and on DVD. This year, Autodesk's systems and software helped
clients shape the following films: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(Cinesite), Bewitched (Sony Pictures Imageworks, Rhythm & Hues), Fantastic
Four (Meteor Studios, Pacific Title & Art Studio), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (Digital
Dimension), Cinderella Man (Digital Domain), Land of the Dead (Spin
Productions), Seven Swords (Digital Pictures Iloura, Digital Pictures
Melbourne), Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl (Hybride Technologies, The
Orphanage, R!OT), Lords of Dogtown (Gray Matter FX), Stealth (Digital Domain),
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Cinesite) and The Amityville Horror
(Asylum).
For Land of the Dead, Spin Productions used Autodesk's solutions to create
the title sequence as well as 120 of its 300 visual effects shots. "We used
Autodesk's Discreet Flame visual effects system to composite the 115-second
title sequence, which consisted of approximately 100 layers every two
seconds," explained Chad Malbon, visual effects producer for the film. "It
was only through the Flame system's impressive speed and power that we were
able to achieve this incredible amount of detail and layer depth."
Jeff Campbell, visual effects supervisor and lead compositor for Land of
the Dead, gave credit to Autodesk Burn background processing solution: "Burn
allowed us non-stop productivity with no rendering downtime. By using Burn we
doubled the amount of work completed in a day, greatly improving our
efficiency and leaving more room for creativity."
To give Bewitched a supernatural flare, Sony Pictures Imageworks used
Autodesk's Discreet Flame system with Burn on approximately 75 of the 113
shots it completed for the film. "A significant amount of green screen work
and compositing were required to create believable yet magical elements of the
film," said Carey Villegas, the visual effects supervisor for Bewitched.
"The Flame system's comprehensive toolset and sophisticated 3D compositing
tools gave us great speed and flexibility in lending a creative touch to a
classic remake, in which the visual effects' sole purpose was to enhance the
story and characters -- not overpower them."
For Seven Swords, Digital Pictures Iloura used Autodesk 3ds Max animation
software, Autodesk Combustion visual effects software, Discreet Inferno and
Discreet Flame visual effects system, and the Discreet Smoke editing system,
while sister company Digital Pictures Melbourne used Autodesk's Discreet
Lustre digital color grading system. The Lustre system enabled digital artists
to maintain realism while creating specific looks for the film. 3ds Max
software was used along with hand animation to create the menacing spider
weapon.
Meteor Studios used Autodesk's Discreet Flame and Discreet Inferno visual
effects systems and Autodesk Combustion visual effects software to complete
some of the 240 shots they produced for Fantastic Four. These shots were part
of the action-packed Brooklyn Bridge sequence in which the Fantastic Four team
uses their superpowers to save the day. Meteor Studios artists and technicians
worked day and night to complete the shots on time, with the help of Autodesk
solutions for rapid compositing and finishing.
Pacific Title & Art Studio worked on approximately 200 shots for Fantastic
Four, using the Inferno system for one-fifth of them. A key scene created with
the Inferno system and its 2D warper involved The Thing punching Mr. Fantastic
in the stomach. Since Mr. Fantastic is stretchy, the punch goes through his
stomach and hits the Human Torch, who is then thrust into a billboard.
Pacific Title Art & Studio also used the Inferno system on the film's trailer
and color graded it with the Lustre system.
Digital Dimension used Autodesk 3ds Max animation software extensively on
Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In one scene, Angelina Jolie is cliff climbing with a
friend. Jolie was filmed on a rock-climbing wall with blue screen. Using 3ds
Max software, Digital Dimension then built a wire frame version of the cliff
and expanded the scene to include a canyon. Jason Crosby, computer graphics
supervisor at Digital Dimension, said, "Autodesk 3ds Max software proved to be
a great tool for cranking out everything we needed on Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
Gray Matter FX used the Inferno system on several of the 50 shots it
created for Lords of Dogtown, a film about the birth of California skateboard
culture. The film's stunt doubles included some of the original skateboarders,
who were called upon to perform certain signature moves. Gray Matter FX then
used the Inferno system to track, warp and composite the actors' faces onto
the stunt doubles.
Most of the digital visual effects in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
were created by Cinesite Europe, including a main sequence with
computer-generated bad guy Humma Kavula. "In the main sequence, Humma Kavula
moves across a table. A lot of complex digital cleanup work and intricately
detailed interaction using multiple motion control passes were required,"
explained Adam McInnes, visual effects supervisor for Cinesite Europe. "Given
its speed and sophistication, Inferno was definitely the best system for the
job."
Autodesk's Discreet Inferno, Flame and Flint visual effects systems,
Discreet Smoke editing system and 3ds Max software shaped Adventures of Shark
Boy and Lava Girl. "3ds Max software continues to be an integral tool in the
creation of visual effects here at The Orphanage," explained visual effects
supervisor Ryan Tudhope. "On Robert Rodriguez's latest film, The Adventures
of Shark Boy and Lava Girl in 3D, 3ds Max software's extensive features and
ease of use helped us complete over 150 stereoscopic shots featuring complex
digital environments, dynamics and characters."
About Autodesk
Autodesk, Inc. is wholly focused on ensuring that great ideas are turned
into reality. With six million users, Autodesk is the world's leading software
and services company for the building, manufacturing, infrastructure, digital
media and wireless data services fields. Autodesk's solutions help customers
create, manage and share their data and digital assets more effectively. As a
result, customers turn ideas into competitive advantage by becoming more
productive, streamlining project efficiency and maximizing profits.
Founded in 1982, Autodesk is headquartered in San Rafael, California. For
additional information about Autodesk, please visit www.autodesk.com.
NOTE: Autodesk, Discreet, Burn, Combustion, Flame, Flint, Inferno,
Lustre, Smoke and 3ds Max are registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk,
Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names
or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
CONTACT: Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, +1-514-954-7296, or
Roohi.saeed@autodesk.com.
SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
07/14/2005
CONTACT: Roohi Saeed of Autodesk, +1-514-954-7296, or
Roohi.saeed@autodesk.com
Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050415/SFF034LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Web site: http://www.autodesk.com
