Godly VFX Incoming
Make your way to the theatres because Shazam! Fury of the Gods is officially on the big screen! Led by VFX Supervisor Sean Schur, our team in VAN delivered 108 shots for the highly-anticipated DC sequel. This included the VFX-heavy opening sequence, as well as intricate dust, lighting, and superpower simulations. Shazam! Fury of the Gods is directed by David F. Sandberg and features a star-studded cast, including returning actors Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, and Jack Dylan, alongside newcomers Rachel Zegler, Lucy Liu, and Helen Mirren. If you haven’t seen the trailer yet then make sure to check it out below.
Making a Splash
Hold on to your fins! The long-awaited trailer for the highly anticipated live-action remake of Disney’s The Little Mermaid finally saw its release during Sunday’s Oscar spectacle. The trailer features the breathtaking visual effects by our mermazing teams in LDN, MTL and MUM led by VFX Supervisor Andy Kind. We cannot wait to watch the film on May 26th!
Popular! We’re Gonna be Popular
We’re excited to give you an update on Wicked which our teams in MTL, MUM and LDN are working on. It looks like we’re all getting early admission to Shiz University, as the release date for part one has been moved up to November 27th (YAY!). Star Cynthia Erivo spoke to Elle about shooting the movie, and working with singer Ariana Grande.
Capital One
To ring in the NCAA tournament, Capital One returns with a star studded lineup, including dream team Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Spike Lee, and special cameos from Willie Nelson, Jennifer Garner and, of course, Samuel L Jackson. The campaign called for nearly 60 VFX shots, with our CHI and LDN teams working on everything from angel wings and pixie dust, to volumetric smoke effects, a CG 18-wheeler truck, driving plates, background replacements and set extensions.
Press
Spectrum News 1
Spectrum News 1 teamed up with Executive VP, Film & Episodic James Whitlam to explore how we create environments and specific weather conditions for projects such as Kaleidoscope, 1899 and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Check it out here.
Little Black Book
A recent article by The Little Black Book focuses on the craft of Compositing, and features insights from Compositing Supervisor Michael Baker. Read more here.
British Arrows
The British arrows sat down with Founder & COO Mike McGee to discuss past challenges and upcoming trends within the industry. Read all about it here.
Screen Daily
Group CEO & Chair William Sargent was quoted in Screen International’s piece about changes to the UK’s film and TV tax reliefs. Get all the info here.
FRAMED
Executive VFX Producer – Episodic, NYC & LDN
Meet Julie Long, who seeks inspiration from her daughter, couldn’t live without Google Sheets, and would love to spend a day in the Beauty and the Beast universe to snack on buttery croissants. As Framestore’s Executive VFX Producer – Episodic based in London and New York, Julie is a popular woman whose expertise is appreciated by clients and colleagues across the globe. She fell in love with the world of VFX during her first job, through which she realised how much she loves working with artists and seeing the extraordinary visuals they create.
In other news
Media Lab Conference
VFX Supervisor Christian Kaestner recently participated in a panel discussion at the Media Lab Conference in Stuttgart. The conversation centered around the challenges of virtual production, from planning to final pixel. Christian joined other industry experts on stage to share his insights and experiences.
NY Sales Summit
The NY studio hosted the East Coast Sales summit, Framestore teams gathered in the Big Apple to discuss strategy and network. They also pulled in a talk at Wieden & Kennedy’s showcase. The team enjoyed catching up at the happy hour afterwards.
Lucy Killick in MUM
This week saw Chief Operating Officer, Film & Episodic, Lucy Killick visit MUM to meet the team and experience the studio’s rich creative culture first-hand. Lucy spoke to the team about her career to date, both in-house with Framestore and client-side with directors like Guillermo Del Toro, and the company’s ambitions for its newest studio. Thank you for giving her such a warm welcome, MUM!
VAN Clothing Drive
A huge thank you to everyone who donated to the VAN clothing drive in support of the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre! The team was able to collect over a dozen bags full of new and gently used items in support of women in the community.
You’re all caught up for this week!
