AT THE WWFX STUDIO

So today pretty much marks the end of the first day of full fledged production on the Visual FX by WWFX Studio. It's amazing how much you can learn, and I'm finally able to post pictures. I found blogging to be a way of homework. It's like a revision of what you learn and something that you can refer to at the end of the day. Nothing like finishing a day feeling like you accomplished something too.

There were many different departments working simultaneously today. The first thing I did in the morning was to go through the breakdowns of the Visual FX shots and list. We did it over a Avid System, added markers for fast reference, and also the ability to pull out pictorial reference for quick revision and discussions with the VFX Producer (Scott Coulter) and VFX Supervisor (Simeon Asenov) who are currently the main guys I discuss things with right now. Yes, there are more, but it's my first day, and I'm getting the hang of everybody's names and such.

In between our sessions, during breaks, I would head over to the Conceptual Design Department with my (new favorite) conceptual designer Ven (I'm saving myself face by not attempting to spell his name). He does the main designs for the city which is later broken down into smaller buildings by the rest of the concept team.

Once I approve on the drawing. They are sent to the VFX team where close to a hundred people (including people who come in on Night Shifts) start building the city polygon by polygon. I took a breather to watch them work, and this is better than looking at the view of the Grand Canyon...we are creating one! Why watch a city when you can create it! I wonder if this is how God feels....It's funny to see something go from nothing to a gorgeous landscape. And from what I hear...5 MILLION POLYGONS FOR THE CITY!! Argh...I wouldn't have the patience...I need to be jumping back and forth between many things...sometimes such patience is indeed a virtue. Without these guys, I would be making 1/4 films...

And while the guys at WWFX Studio have all the cool toys. I get my own table, with my wife (I'm gonna divorce her for a new Powerbook though) of 1 year, and our kids (Diet Coke Jr., Diet Coke Sr.) and some porn (World of Warcraft!). That's going to be my family for the next month. And then...there's the server room that makes my mouth dropped...ever heard so many computers humm it's almost like music?

I suck at photography...thank god it's not my profession of choice...not to mention that's the stupid date stamp that I forgot to set as well

AND SO IT BEGINS

Today begins the first day of full fledged VFX work, it's 8am here and I'm waiting to be picked up so I thought I'll blog. I'll try to explain each process for those interested in how the whole thing works in detail. But the VFX breakdown has been done and I found myself listening to a particular playlist on my itunes....yeah...itunes and ipod baby! What ever happened to CDs...hmm...oh well! You're gonna have to click on the picture to see a larger picture. No britney spear and kelly clarkson...sorry...

If you guys have not heard much of these artists. I don't blame you. I just recently chanced upon some of them from Randy, owner of Batpack / Malediction Society. I hope to get some of them for the actual movie The Gene Generation. Although most of them are music to hear on the background. Selecting music for film is a completely different process. That would be next month.

BULGARIA

Right, so here I am in Bulgaria. I need to buy a SD card reader so I can upload some photos. But things are going great here. I have just been approving concept art right now to develop the city. It's an interesting process. We generated a map of the Gene Generation City as shown below.

As you can see, we have divided the city into very little sectors with placements of the actual locations of the movie. What I am approving right now is each sector until it is all complete, then we can build a pre-rendered city to move the camera anywhere.

Step two is deciding the time line, where the sun will be in relative to the movie. Which means that if Michelle is in the alley and it is supposed to be day, our alley has to be facing the appropiate direction so the shadows fall right. Of course, this changes the 'view' of the city, but it's these little things that make the difference of suspension of time and belief than just trying to throw in the coolest things.

More on that process when I have things to post. As said before, I will only post things that we will see on the first 10 mins of the movie. For the most part, many of the concept especially the end shot will be kept in strict confidence right now. Sorry, no spoilers....if you want a spoiler, click here

So! Not much time for a normal life yet. I've barely had time to even walk around to buy my shampoo, toothbrush .etc. BUT...I learned something new about me today. Those who know me, know that I am a Diet Coke FREAK! Yeah, 2 litres of that junk a day (at least I don't drink coffee). In Bulgaria, Diet coke is known as Coca Cola Light.... but there is just something different about it. Can't place my finger on it...

Hence, I've come to 2 conclusions:

1. I like the name Diet Coke because it makes me feel insane...I'm skinny but I'm drinking Diet Coke. Hence, when it becomes Coca-Coca Light, the novelty is gone...*groan*....

2. I like the taste of artificial sugar. Splenda rocks, I could dunk a whole packet into my mouth! It's like eating a bouillon cube while watching a movie...yummy. Maybe they used another kind of artificial sweetener...it better not be healthy otherwise I'll get sick

So that's it for now. More to come, Square Toilet Bowls and Abandoned Children's Playground

LEAVING WITHIN THE HOURS

So I'm still at the office. Keith Collea, our producer, is running out for the prints of our Gene Generation posters. Thanks to all who e-mailed me about which one they liked, we finally decided on which one. I'm sitting down on the last reel of the film, finalizing the VFX shots I will take with me to Bulgaria. Here's one more concept art taken from an actual still of the film and just painted over it to give me an idea.

Then, I promised my God-Sister / Sound Designer (on all my films) that I'll watch Underworld: Evolution with her. Perfect, cause it would take about 2 hours to render out the footage anyways. Then, I'll head home and actually PACK, before I head off there. It's kinda scary, because I've never packed before for 1 month! How the hell do you pack for 1 month! There's way too much stuff to carry with you!

I think I'll just wear plastic bags when I'm there. I mean, I look at these clothes for snow, how I'm going to have to bundle up...and I think...how the hell am I going to take a dump. By the time I take off my clothes, the whole cubicle will be filled with my clothes. Urgh...since we are all bundled up, you think anyone would notice if I taped a coke bottle so I can piss and number 2 anytime I want without undressing a whole fashion parade?

So, I heard that I have internet connection, but it sucks there. Groan! How the heck am I going to play World of Warcraft!

And to all Asian Americans...I just watched Old Boy...so quit telling me I really need to see it...it was a great movie...I only cried once when the octopus was eaten alive...I have one in a jar on my fireplace....other than that, the movie was kinda sensual...in an incestual way anyway

VFX WORK

So the tickets are booked, and I'll be flying to Europe on the 24th of this month to work on the VFX for The Gene Generation. Here's a look at two of the many of concepts we've designed. I cannot show you much because most of it is confidential till the movie released, but trust me, it'll be an 'reel' acid trip.

So we'll be doing it at World Wide FXwhere they have a nice set up, only second to the talent I've had the pleasure of working with. Efficient and artistic, it's going to be very exciting to be with them for a month and doing nothing but work...oh...and I get to play Warcraft in the hotel. I checked with Blizzard and I can log into the US servers there...whew! What would I do with my free time man! .... or maybe actually get out more? AHHH! REALITY!!! NOO!!

So with that said, off to the VFX work. Slowly, the film is coming together. It's been a grueling but satisfying production and as the date closes in, I hope to find time to blog. To everybody, I'm not ignoring you, but this is just at the phase where I need to be completely enveloped into the world of The Gene Generation. No space for reality... only lucid nightmares....

NEW POSTERS, AND MORE TO COME

These are some more concept posters we came up with. The colors have not been fully tweaked yet and the credits are pretty much wrong. So pay no attention to it. At this point, me and the producers just want to hash out the final design first, then work on the credits later.

But, if anyone wanna put in their two cents worth right now, go for it. It would be interesting to hear it from the audience. so far, everybody has very different viewpoints, and it's equal which one they like. But there will be more out soon, I just want to see the direction. Personally, I like the first one. The second one is nice and simple, but I hate white. The third one is very Star Trek Nemesis to me

(Note: These Posters are not to be circulated without permission from Middle Link production. For Internal Use only)