Podcasts about Visual effects

On this episode of Behind The Geeks, we go behind the scenes of Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 with the filmmakers helping bring Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the gang back to the big screen. We sit down with Director Andrew Stanton, Co-Director Kenna Harris, Producer Lindsey Collins, Production Designer Bob Pauley, and VFX Supervisor Thomas Jordan to discuss the film's themes, visual evolution, technological innovations, and the creative process behind one of animation's most beloved franchises. We also explore the toys that inspired their imaginations growing up, the role technology plays in children's lives today, and the invaluable lessons they've taken away from their time at Pixar. Disney & Pixar's Toy Story 5 opens exclusively in theatres June 19, 2026. Watch the full interview on YouTube Here Check out Geekcentric onYouTube | Instagram | Twitter | TikTokJoin the Geekcentric Discord HEREFollow Eatcentric - Same geeks. New Eats

Ian Failes from befores & afters chats to visual effects supervisor Chad Wanstreet about the visual effects of season 3 of 'The Night Agent'.

Ian Failes from befores & afters chats to 'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' visual effects supervisor Jason Zimmerman about virtual production, digital characters, space scenes and motion graphics.

We're back, and just in time for summer blockbuster season! Join Chad Perman and new co-host Elizabeth Cantwell as they talk their way through one of the biggest/best summer blockbusters of all time, James Cameron's Terminator 2: Judgment Day, on the occasion of its 35th anniversary next month.

Ian Failes from befores & afters chats to 'Ted' s2 visual effects supervisors Hoyt Yeatman and Blair Clark about the creation of the main character, and the deepfake work that went into the appearance of Bill Clinton.

Ian Failes from befores & afters chats to 'Murderbot' production visual effects supervisor Sean Faden.

In this episode, I chat with creature effects artist, puppeteer and digital pioneer Craig Caton-Largent about a career that arguably traces the entire arc of modern visual effects — from foam latex and animatronics to motion control, performance capture and full CG animation. Craig talks about growing up on a sheep and cattle ranch in Washington State, being captivated by the 1960s Batman TV show and then Planet of the Apes, and teaching himself prosthetics from Dick Smith's Monster Makeup Handbook. After tracking down Dick Smith's address in Who's Who in America, he wrote a letter that led to a year of mentorship over cassette tapes and ultimately introductions to Rick Baker, Stan Winston and Tom Burman. We get into his first job on Charles Band's Metal Storm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, working on the Olympic alien for the 1984 closing ceremonies, sculpting barnacles on Cocoon, building Spock's seamless silicone ears on Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, undulating menacingly under shaving cream on Larry Cohen's The Stuff, and puppeteering Slimer's mouth on the original Ghostbusters. A big part of the conversation focuses on Jurassic Park, including the design evolution of the T-Rex, the helicopter convention moment that led to the McFadden motion base, the logistics of moving the full-size animatronic across the San Fernando Valley at night, and Craig's work as the Raptor puppeteer, including the now-legendary "head tilt" at the kitchen window that earned an on-set "It's like Alien, I love it" from Spielberg. We also talk about Craig's twenty-year stint as the caretaker, or "doctor", to the original ET puppet, including the time the LAPD turned up at his garage door thinking he was running a crack lab while he was actually repainting ET. Plus the story of how Stan Winston handing him a couple of SGI machines led, almost overnight, to him becoming one of the eight co-founders of Digital Domain alongside James Cameron and Scott Ross. Later in the conversation we move into Craig's animation career as a final layout artist and character TD at DreamWorks and Disney, with credits on Tangled, Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Turbo, and stories from working with Guillermo del Toro at DreamWorks. We finish on Craig's current role as Creative Director of the 3D Animation and Visual Effects department at the New York Film Academy in Burbank. Topics coveredGrowing up on a Washington State ranch and falling in love with Planet of the ApesFamous Monsters of Filmland and Dick Smith's Monster Makeup HandbookCold-writing to Dick Smith and a year of cassette-tape mentorshipArriving in Hollywood at the start of the "golden age" of effectsFirst feature work on Metal Storm: The Destruction of Jared-SynThe closing ceremonies of the 1984 LA Olympics and Ron Cobb's alienSculpting barnacles and cocoons for Cocoon (1985)Seamless silicone Spock ears on Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeThe Stuff with Larry Cohen and "undulating menacingly"Puppeteering Slimer's mouth on GhostbustersDesigning the T-Rex around helicopter flight simulator technologyWorking with McFadden Simulation on the T-Rex motion baseMoving the full-size T-Rex across the San Fernando ValleyBuilding a 70lb Steadicam-rigged Raptor insert head for Jurassic ParkUsing parrots as reference for bird-like Raptor movementThe kitchen porthole head tilt, and Spielberg's "It's like Alien" reactionUsing Kermit the Frog's voice on set as the Raptor performerTwenty years as ET's "doctor", and the LAPD crack-lab incidentET's arm in a rifle case at JFK a week after 9/11Motion capture experiments and blood-spread effects on Interview with the VampireA flying logo on an Amiga, and becoming a co-founder of Digital DomainWorking with Stan Winston, James Cameron and Scott RossMoving into animation: character rigging at Disney on TangledFinal layout and virtual camera work at DreamWorks on Rise of the Guardians, How to Train Your Dragon 2 and TurboLunches with Guillermo del Toro in the DreamWorks canteenPre-vis on the Total Recall remake with Len WisemanTeaching the next generation at the New York Film Academy, BurbankThe unique "intergalactic award" Spielberg gave Craig for puppeteering ETThis podcast is completely independent and made possible by listener support. If you'd like to help me keep making these episodes, you can join my Patreon community here: https://patreon.com/jamiebenning Watch more on YouTube:Check out the Filmumentaries YouTube channel for behind-the-scenes clips and extra content: https://youtube.com/filmumentariesAll my links

(00:00:00) Commentary Track: The Mummy Returns (00:00:01) Welcome to the Mummy Returns Commentary (00:01:00) Setting the Stage for a Sequel (00:03:09) Support on Patreon for Ad-Free Experience (00:05:13) The Return of Rick O'Connell and Family (00:05:47) Visual Effects and Storyline Concerns (00:07:18) The Rock as the Scorpion King (00:12:24) Character Dynamics and Relationships (00:19:10) The O'Connell Family's New Life (00:21:05) The Opening Scene and Visual Effects (00:38:00) The Plot Unfolds For our latest commentary track we celebrate the 25th anniversary of 2001's The Mummy Returns, digging into a sequel bursting at the seams with early-2000s excess, dodgy CGI, and peak Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz charm. We chat about director Stephen Sommers' go-for-broke approach, the Rock's infamous Scorpion King debut, and whether lightning can strike twice for this adventure-horror follow-up. It's a lively, affectionate commentary on a movie that's equal parts spectacle, nostalgia, and beautiful chaos!Listen ad-free at Patreon: https://patreon.com/MovieFilmPodcast

Ian Failes from befores & afters talks to 'Man on Fire' visual effects supervisor Kevin Lingenfelser about the residential tower destruction, the lear jet sequence and that signature 'man on fire' moment with the main character, John Creasy.

This week on Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with visual effects producer Taylor Rockwell. A lover of the performing arts since childhood, Taylor spent years behind the scenes as a stage manager for multiple theatrical productions, and eventually took the opportunity to transition from theatre to film. Her first film was Evan Almighty, and she would go on to work on such blockbustes as The Fate of the Furious, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Cabin in the Woods, The Avengers, and more. Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists.If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE.Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE.

Our podcast The Movies That Made Me returns from our post-Oscar hiatus with a brand-new guest! Visual effects supervisor and artist Todd Sheridan Perry breaks down the top 10 visual effects shots that made him with hosts Josh Olson and Joe Dante. Show Notes: Movies Referenced In This Episode Infested (2002) Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) Star Wars (1977) Tron (1982) The Abyss (1989) Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) Princess Nicotine; or, The Smoke Fairy (1909) The Bride of Frankenstein (1935) Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) Dead Alive (1992) Foreign Correspondent (1940) Number 17 (1932) Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) Flesh Gordon (1974) The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958) Jack The Giant Killer (1962) Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) 1941 (1979) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) Piranha (1978) Caveman (1981) Battle Beyond The Stars (1980) The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) Independence Day (1996) Seconds (1966) Superman (1978) Innerspace (1987) The Gate (1987) Bad Taste (1987) Meet The Feebles (1989) Forgotten Silver (1995) The One and Only Ivan (2020) The Call of the Wild (2020) F1 (2025) Tron: Ares (2025) Heat (1995) Other Notable Items Our Patreon!  The Hollywood  Food Coalition Robert Wise TFH Guru Roger Corman For All Mankind TV series (2019) Star City TV series (2026- ) I'm A Virgo TV series (2023) Boots Riley John Dykstra J. Stuart Blackton  Georges Melies James Whale F.W. Murnau  Peter Jackson Alfred Hitchcock The Dick Cavett Show TV series (1968-88) Ray Harryhausen  David Allen Jim Danforth TFH Guru Rick Baker Charles Band Gregory Jein John Carpenter Doug Beswick Jim Aupperle Bill Hedge Laine Liska Star Trek franchise Battlestar Galactica TV series (1978-79) Dennis Muren Joe Viskocil Douglas Trumbell Robert Abel Mat Beck Jerry Goldsmith John Frankenheimer Christopher Reeve Margot Kidder Weta Workshop Randall William Cook Halo TV series (2022-24) Mickey Rooney Judy Garland Richard Taylor James Cameron MPC VFX Bryan Cranston Darryl Zanuck Harry Cohn  Jack Warner Los Angeles International Airport Robert De Niro Michael Mann SpectreVision Radio is a bespoke podcast network at the intersection between the arts and the uncanny, featuring a tapestry of shows exploring creativity, the esoteric, and the unknown. We're a community for creators and fans vibrating around common curiosities, shared interests and persistent passions. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠spectrevisionradio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠linktr.ee/spectrevisionsocial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ian Failes from befores & afters chats to Rachel Rose, Director of R&D at ILM, about the development of virtual production and real-time tools, like StageCraft, and her work on the tools Block Party for rigging and Fez for facial animation.

This week on Conflict Managed we welcome Steven Puri. Together we explore: What flow states are and how and why to enter them Work should be measured by effect, not location or time spent Establishing your company culture Leadership is seeing what someone has to offer and creating the conditions for it to emerge How full do others perceive their glass to be (rather than how full it actually is)? Building space for creativity   Conflict Managed is available wherever you get your podcasts and on YouTube @ 3pconflictrestoration   Steven Puri is the Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company with the mission to help millions of people find their focus, achieve more and have a healthy work life. Steven's career started as a newscaster/interviewer for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market (on WTTG-TV) and then as a junior software engineer & Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM. After attending USC in Los Angeles, he began working in film production and produced computer-generated visual effects for 14 movies including Independence Day which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. Steven's first tech company was Centropolis Effects that produced those CGI effects, and he eventually sold it to the German media conglomerate Das Werk when he was 28. Steven then produced some indie films and eventually went studio-side to develop and produce live-action features as a VP of Development & Production at 20th Century Fox (running the Die Hard and Wolverine franchises) and an EVP at DreamWorks Pictures for Kurtzman-Orci Productions (Star Trek 11, Transformers 1&2, Eagle Eye, Transformers: Prime, et al.). After Fox, Steven returned to building tech companies and had two failed start-ups before founding The Sukha Company - ‘sukha' means ‘happiness from self-fulfillment' in Sanskrit. The Sukha is a focus app that bundles all the tools necessary to enter into a Flow State and a have healthy, productive workday. Steven now lives in Austin, TX. Conflict Managed is produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services and hosted by Merry Brown.

"One Battle After Another" had a big night at the 98th Academy Awards, collecting six Oscars, including the big three for Paul Thomas Anderson: Best picture, best director and best adapted screenplay. But there were plenty of other highlights, including Amy Madigan winning her first 40 years after her only other nomination, Michael B. Jordan winning over Timothée Chalamet for best actor and touching tributes to Rob Reiner, Diane Keaton and Robert Redford. In this week's episode of Streamed & Screened, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz break down the winners and losers, discuss Conan O'Brien's hosting duties, the unique fashions of the night and Sean Penn's absence. 2026 ACADEMY AWARDS WINNERS Best picture “One Battle After Another” Best Actor Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” Best Actress Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” Best Supporting Actress Amy Madigan, “Weapons” Best Supporting Actor Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” Director Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” Original Song “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters,” EJAE, Mark Sonnenblick, Joong Gyu Kwak, Yu Han Lee, Hee Dong Nam, Jeong Hoon Seon and Teddy Park Original Score “Sinners,” Ludwig Göransson. Animated Film “KPop Demon Hunters” International Film “Sentimental Value,” Norway Documentary Feature “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” Casting Cassandra Kulukundis, “One Battle After Another” Best Sound Gareth John, Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo and Juan Peralta, “F1” Cinematography Autumn Durald Arkapaw, “Sinners” Original Screenplay “Sinners,” Ryan Coogler Adapted Screenplay “One Battle After Another,” Paul Thomas Anderson Live Action Short Film (tie) “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” Animated Short Film “The Girl Who Cried Pearls” Documentary Short Film “All the Empty Rooms” Visual Effects Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett, “Avatar: Fire and Ash” Production Design Tamara Deverell and Shane Vieau, “Frankenstein” Film Editing Andy Jurgensen, “One Battle After Another” Makeup and Hairstyling Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey, “Frankenstein” Costume Design Kate Hawley, “Frankenstein” About the show Streamed & Screened is a podcast about movies and TV hosted by Bruce Miller, a longtime entertainment reporter who is the retired editor of the Sioux City Journal in Iowa and Terry Lipshetz, a senior producer for Lee Enterprises based in Madison, Wisconsin. The show was named Best Podcast in the 2025 Iowa Better Newspaper Contest. Theme music Thunder City by Lunareh, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: FV694ULMCJQDG0IY

In this Oscars special episode of Kermode & Mayo's Take, Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode break down the biggest moments from the 2026 Academy Awards. Mark shares his reactions to the ceremony, from Avatar: Fire and Ash winning Visual Effects to the triumph of Sentimental Value.   Simon and Mark unpack the night's major wins — including One Battle After Another sweeping six awards and Paul Thomas Anderson's backstage reflections on politics, culture, and “bringing common sense and decency back into fashion.” They also explore the fierce race between One Battle After Another and Sinners, Michael B. Jordan's emotional Best Actor win, and Autumn Durald Arkapaw's groundbreaking Cinematography victory.  Hear extended backstage moments from Paul Thomas Anderson, Michael B. Jordan, and Jessie Buckley as they reflect on the significance of their awards, artistic responsibility, and historymaking achievements. The duo also discuss Amy Madigan's longawaited Supporting Actress win, Norway's triumph with Sentimental Value, and the powerful documentary Mr Nobody Against Putin.  Plus: the rise of KPop Demon Hunters, Guillermo del Toro's three craft wins for Frankenstein, a rare Oscars tie, Conan O'Brien's sharp hosting, emotional tributes to Rob Reiner, Catherine O'Hara, Diane Keaton and Robert Redford — and the films that left emptyhanded.  The video version of this episode is available on our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/kermodeandmayo  You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo  Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey    

Sign Up on Kalshi with Promo Code MMO and you'll receive a free $10 with a $10 trade https://kalshi.com/sign-up?referral=mmo Then check out Kalshi's Oscars Dashboard to dive into all their markets. https://kalshi.com/hub/oscars-2026 And on today's episode, we do just that. We are looking at the Oscar Markets to see where the late movement is happening and where the money is going. This typically tells us about the eventual winners, and we want you to be able to profit from it all with us. CATEGORIES WITH THE MOST MOVEMENT: Cinematography - 3:11 Best Actor - 5:56 Supporting Actress - 10:31 ONE BATTLE IS FAVORED IN THESE OTHER CATEGORIES: Adapted Screenplay, Director & Film Editing - 15:00 Best Picture - 22;07 Supporting Actor - 25:35 Which Film Wins The Most Oscars? - 29:44 SINNERS IS FAVORED IN THESE OTHER CATEGORIES: Original Screenplay & Original Score - 30:47 Casting - 33:22 Plus, you can trade on How many Oscars Sinners will win? - 36:24 MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORIES: Frankenstein is favored in Costumes, Production Design and Makeup & Hair - 38:28 KPop Demon Hunters is favored in Original Song & Animated Feature - 42:59 Best Actress - 47:14 Visual Effects - 48:22 Sound - 49:35 Documentary Feature - 51:28 International Feature - 55:36 The Short Film Categories - 58:10 OUTRO: Please support us by using Promo Code “MMO” on Kalshi. Get a free $10 when you trade $10. Plus, you can also enjoy this episode while you trade. Otherwise, we have several episodes next week. We'll recap the Oscars on Monday March 16th… both on Chaz and AJ in the Morning on WPLR.com at 8:20am Eastern Standard Time … and then back here on our feed with our recap episode. Then make sure you stay tuned to our feed for another very special interview, and our upcoming coverage of the next film years, starting with Project Hail Mary and going into our Oscars Year In Preview series, etc.

Join hosts Matt Diaz and Ernesto Santos as we dive into ALL 24 Oscar nominations and give you our predictions on who we think should and will win the top honors at the 98th Academy Awards. We'll also recap the entire 2026 Awards Season by discussing the winners of the Golden Globes, The Critics Choice Awards, The Actors Awards and other notable awards shows. Time Stamps for every category in episode description. Time Stamps:Awards Season Recap: (00:07:35)Oscar Predictions: (00:26:00)Casting: (00:28:00)Animated Short Film: (00:32:18)Live Action Short Film: (00:35:56)Documentary Short Film: (00:39:14)Visual Effects: (00:44:47)Editing: (00:54:21)Production Design: (00:58:34)Cinematography: (01:01:16)Costume Design: (01:04:50)Makeup and Hairstyling: (01:06:45)Sound: (01:21:53)Original Song: (01:22:58)Original Score: (01:31:21)Documentary: (01:33:12)International Film: (01:34:52)Animated Film: (01:38:40)Adapted Screenplay: (01:40:45)Original Screenplay: (01:42:53)Supporting Actor: (01:44:55)Supporting Actress: (01:48:39)Lead Actor: (01:54:48)Lead Actress: (01:57:32)Directing: (01:59:05)Best Picture: (02:02:38)

Send a textIn this exclusive episode, we interview Oscar-nominated VFX Supervisor Michael Ralla about his groundbreaking work on Sinners.Michael takes us behind the scenes of one of this year's most talked-about films, breaking down the visual effects process, the creative challenges of bringing Sinners to life, and what it means to earn an Academy Award nomination. From early concept development to final render, we explore how the film's most jaw-dropping sequences were crafted.We also discuss:The most technically demanding scenes in SinnersCollaborating with directors and production teamsThe evolving role of VFX in modern cinemaAwards season pressure and Oscar night anticipationAdvice for aspiring visual effects artistsIf you love filmmaking, behind-the-scenes movie insights, or awards season coverage, this is a must-listen episode.Subscribe for more exclusive interviews, movie reviews, and deep dives into the biggest films of the year.Oh Brother Podcast: Support the Show! (Be The First to Listen with Early Access) Listen on all podcast platforms Subscribe on YouTube Follow us on Instagram

Send us a text and let us know what you think of our podcast!This week on Who Corner to Corner it's all about sharing our favourite Doctor Who moments! The standout scenes, speeches and monster horrors that get our spines tingling and connect us to our favourite show for life! From unforgettable cliffhangers to character transformations, this episode celebrates the best of Doctor Who's storytelling magic - with the occasional misquote from Paul, listener comments, and of course, our regular feature: The Time Space Visualiser! Sound  bites"The Angels chose to do that""The daisiest Daisy moment in Doctor Who""Doctor Who can make you laugh and cry"Chapters00:00 Exciting Developments in Doctor Who05:43 Cliffhangers and Reveals09:29 Fan Reactions and Social Media13:20 Memorable Quotes and Speeches17:11 Heroic Moments in Doctor Who24:03 Nostalgia and Visual Effects in Doctor Who26:43 More Doctor Who Moments29:19 Character Development and Emotional Depth30:38 The Master: Iconic Reveals and Transformations33:06 Surprising Returns and Cliffhangers34:35 The Time Space VisualiserSupport the show Subscribe to Who Corner to Corner on your podcast app to make sure you don't miss an episode! Now available to watch on YouTube! Join the Doctor Who chat with us and other fans on Twitter and Facebook! Visit the Who Corner to Corner website and see our back catalogue of episodes! Visit the WHOC2C merch store! Enjoying what we do? Consider joining our Explorers Subscription plan for more content! Who Corner to Corner: Great guests and 100% positive Doctor Who chat!

No individual has had more of an impact on modern Hollywood visual effects than Sir Richard Taylor. The Co-Founder and Chief Creative force behind Weta Workshop has now received well deserved recognition from his peers, as he has won the Visionary award from the Visual Effects Society in LA. Sir Taylor told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wasn't expecting to win the award. "I was a little overwhelmed when I heard that I was going to collect this. I actually thought maybe they'd made a mistake, but it turned out they hadn't." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Spring Festival Gala leverages AI-generated imagery and stage extension technologies to enhance the visual presentation.

Dive deeper into this year's Oscar nominees as Nick and Sophia break down three more technical categories: Film Editing, Cinematography (23:03), and Visual Effects (41:14). Whether you gush over aspect ratios or have no idea how digital effects like in Avatar: Fire and Ash exist (guilty!), they excitedly share fun facts and BTS tidbits that really make these movies come alive. As always, they also include a write-in vote and share who they think should win. Listen and comment on socials which nominees you would vote for! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok @oscarwildpodFollow Nick @sauerkraut27Follow Sophia @sophia_cimBecome a patron and listen to more content at patreon.com/OscarWild Find updated predictions and merch @ oscarwild.squarespace.comMusic: “The Greatest Adventure” by Jonathan Adamich

John Gajdecki, the man behind some of Stargate's most amazing effects, returns to address the elephant in the room -- AI -- and explore how it will shape the VFX industry in the years to come.

This installment of Rewind pulls back the curtain on the worldbuilding of Foundation, spotlighting the teams who bring Isaac Asimov's universe to life through groundbreaking visual effects and meticulously crafted costumes. Featuring conversations with Emmy‑nominated VFX Producer Addie Manis, VFX Supervisor Mike Enriquez, Overall VFX Supervisor Chris MacLean, and Costume Designer Jane Petrie, the episode examines how the show's visuals and wardrobe evolve across centuries, planets, and empires.

Continuing Below the Line's 2026 Oscar series, the conversation turns to Visual Effects — a category that sits at the intersection of technology, craft, and storytelling. This week on Below the Line, Skid is joined by Kent Seki and Chris Batty for a focused conversation about the Oscar nominees for Achievement in Visual Effects. Together, they look at how the category has evolved — and what separates technical accomplishment from storytelling impact. As with the rest of this year's Oscar series, this episode is available both as an audio podcast and as a full video conversation on YouTube, offering listeners and viewers a closer look at how visual-effects work is discussed, debated, and evaluated from inside the process. Our discussion ranges across: The different creative demands of large-scale spectacle versus realism-driven effects How films like Avatar: Fire and Ash and Jurassic World Rebirth approach scale and world-building, compared to the grounded physical environments of F1 and The Lost Bus The challenge of integrating effects into performances, locations, and production design without overwhelming the story Why elements like fire, debris, and destruction require as much restraint as technical precision How visual effects intersect with cinematography, editorial, and sound to maintain continuity and tone The increasing expectation that effects choices support narrative clarity rather than novelty What this year's nominees suggest about how the Academy continues to define excellence in the field Rather than focusing on predictions, the conversation looks at how visual effects decisions are made — and how those choices shape tone, performance, and story across very different kinds of films.

Follow/rate us here and on X @drewsemler and @maxklotz_DIRKIES:(0:00) - Best Director: best coaching job through 50 games.(16:35) - Best (5-year title) Picture: outside of OKC/SAS/DEN, pick the team you're most confident will win a title in the next 5 years.(23:45) - Best Actor: MVP through 50 games.(26:35) - Supporting Actor: best player with a usage rate under 20% through 50 games.(36:50) - Original Screenplay: team that shouldn't work but does.(42:05) - Editing: best transaction of the year (including last summer).(51:50) - Cinematography: most aesthetically pleasing team right now.(57:40) - Sound: best interviewee.(60:45) - Visual Effects: best flopper/master of dark arts.(65:00) - Costume and Makeup: straightforward.(68:20) - Afterparty: one trade deadline fantasy.

Josh Safdie's Marty Supreme transports audiences to a vibrant 1950s world of professional ping pong, yet many viewers remain unaware that the film contains over 500 visual effects shots. Eran Dinur, the film's VFX Supervisor, reveals how his team meticulously recreated period accurate crowds in Tokyo and Wembley while keeping the digital work entirely "invisible." He views his role as a bridge between the filmmaker's vision and the technical reality on set, ensuring that every digital element supports the story without drawing attention to itself. For Eran, the ultimate compliment is a viewer who walks out of the theater believing every single frame was captured in camera. The transition into high end visual effects was an unlikely one for Eran, who spent fifteen years as a classical music composer before a random software download steered him toward ILM and eventually the Safdie Brothers. This musical background provides a unique perspective on the rhythm and "choreography" of effects, whether he is timing CG ping pong balls to Timothée Chalamet's performance or animating the surreal openings of Uncut Gems. Beyond the technical craft, he addresses the current industry backlash against CGI and the marketing trends that prioritize "practical only" narratives. He also offers a practical look at the future of AI in cinema, arguing that tools are only as good as the control an artist has over them. Eran Dinur on IMDB > Eran Dinur's website >  Marty Supreme Trailer > Marty Supreme Wikipedia > The Filmmaker's Guide to Visual Effects: The Art and Technique of VFX for Directors, Producers, Editors and Cinematographers by Eran Dinur > The Complete Guide to Photorealism for Visual Effects, Visualization and Games: For Visual Effects, Visualization and Games by Eran Dinur >   This episode is sponsored by: Center Grid Virtual Studio Kitbash 3D (Use promocode "cggarage" for 10% off)  

Find the 9 Points Rating system here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find our review of Avatar: The Way of Water here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2022-12-29T20_39_12-08_00 In this episode, hosts Maverick and Avalon delve into the third installment of the Avatar series, Fire and Ash. They discuss their initial impressions, character developments, and the overarching themes of grief, family, and environmentalism. The conversation highlights the film's strengths and weaknesses, particularly in storytelling and character arcs, while also addressing the portrayal of villains and the visual spectacle that James Cameron is known for. They discuss the significance of family loyalty, environmentalism, and the complexities of characters like Spider, who struggles with identity and consistency. The conversation highlights the film's exploration of faith and the overarching themes of human greed versus nature, while also critiquing character arcs and emotional engagement.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Avatar: Fire & Ash' Review10:46 Opening Scene16:21 Jake Sully27:53 Miles Quaritch & Other Villains37:57 Tension & Stakes43:49 Themes & Messages48:30 Miles 'Spider' Socorro55:33 Neytiri59:26 Lo'ak1:04:28 Kiri1:09:18 Lasting Impact#avatar #fireandash #jakesully #milesquaritch #spider #neytiri #loak #kiri #tuk #film #filmreview #pandora #alostplot #avatarfireandash #fantasy

Find the 9 Points Rating system here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find our review of Avatar: The Way of Water here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2022-12-29T20_39_12-08_00 In this episode, hosts Maverick and Avalon delve into the third installment of the Avatar series, Fire and Ash. They discuss their initial impressions, character developments, and the overarching themes of grief, family, and environmentalism. The conversation highlights the film's strengths and weaknesses, particularly in storytelling and character arcs, while also addressing the portrayal of villains and the visual spectacle that James Cameron is known for. They discuss the significance of family loyalty, environmentalism, and the complexities of characters like Spider, who struggles with identity and consistency. The conversation highlights the film's exploration of faith and the overarching themes of human greed versus nature, while also critiquing character arcs and emotional engagement.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Avatar: Fire & Ash' Review10:46 Opening Scene16:21 Jake Sully27:53 Miles Quaritch & Other Villains37:57 Tension & Stakes43:49 Themes & Messages48:30 Miles 'Spider' Socorro55:33 Neytiri59:26 Lo'ak1:04:28 Kiri1:09:18 Lasting Impact#avatar #fireandash #jakesully #milesquaritch #spider #neytiri #loak #kiri #tuk #film #filmreview #pandora #alostplot #avatarfireandash #fantasy

In episode three of THR's special edition of ‘Behind the Screen', senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri, visual effects supervisor Richard Baneham, Wētā FX senior visual effects supervisor Eric Saindon and Wētā FX senior animation supervisor Daniel Barrett take listeners behind-the-scenes of how Avatar's groundbreaking performance-capture technology achieves new depths of emotional resonance in ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash'. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Avatar: Fire And Ash" is, like the previous two, an incredible technical accomplishment from the sound, visuals, and score; the amazingly talented men and women behind the scenes have once again transported audiences back to Pandora through James Cameron's epic vision. The Next Best Picture team was lucky enough to spend time with a few key people in charge of bringing that vision to life. First up, we have Brendan Hodges's interview with composer Simon Franglen, then we have my interview with production sound mixer Julian Howarth, and then we circle back to Brendan one more time for his discussion with the visual effects team, including EP/Visual Effects Supervisor Richard Baneham, Visual Effects Supervisor Eric Saindon, and Animation Supervisor Dan Barrett. Please be sure to check out the film, which is now playing in theaters from 20th Century Studios and is up for your consideration at the 98th Academy Awards in all eligible categories. Thank you, and enjoy! Check out more on NextBestPicture.com Please subscribe on... Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/negs-best-film-podcast/id1087678387?mt=2 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/7IMIzpYehTqeUa1d9EC4jT YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWA7KiotcWmHiYYy6wJqwOw And be sure to help support us on Patreon for as little as $1 a month at https://www.patreon.com/NextBestPicture and listen to this podcast ad-free Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We breakdown the snubs & surprises from the 98th Oscar Shortlists in all the feature film categories including Best International Feature, Documentary, Score, Song, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, VFX, Cinematography and Casting. Which films had the best day? Which struggled? Which held serve?? International Feature - 2:19 Documentary Feature - 6:54 Original Score - 12:40 Original Song - 15:40 Makeup and Hairstyling - 18:39 Sound - 23:16 Visual Effects - 24:35 Cinematography - 27:03 Casting & then we close with the Tallies - 28:53 OUTRO: We discuss the Spielberg movie - Disclosure Day trailer a bit during the Outro, and we mention a few potential upcoming episodes. So if you enjoy our work, please support our show by liking, subscribing, rating, reviewing and by telling people about our show. We appreciate it. https://linktr.ee/mikemikeandoscar

This is our spoiler-free review for Avatar: Fire and Ash. We return to Pandora to discuss the film's breathtaking visuals, massive scale, and the performances of key characters like Jake Sully and Neytiri, while also unpacking where it falls short. Despite its undeniable spectacle, the story leans heavily on familiar themes and conflicts, offering little meaningful progression, and the dialogue often feels clunky and on-the-nose. We also touch on how the focus on human characters can detract from the richness of Pandora itself. Ultimately, Avatar: Fire and Ash is stunning to watch, but leaves us wanting more from its storytelling.Avatar: Fire and Ash, the third film in the phenomenally successful “Avatar” franchise, opens exclusively in theatres worldwide December 19, 2025.  Check out Geekcentric onYouTube | Instagram | Twitter | TikTokJoin the Geekcentric Discord HEREFollow Eatcentric - Same geeks. New Eats

Oscar pre-season is in full swing and nothing says that more than the annual Oscar shortlists, which expand to 12 categories this year, adding Casting and Cinematography. On episode 320 of the AwardsWatch podcast, Editor-In-Chief Erik Anderson is joined by Executive Editor Ryan McQuade and Associate Editor Sophia Ciminello break down the morning's shortlist announcement, discussing what surprised, what was snubbed and how it impacts the Oscar races overall. 12 categories for the 98th Academy Awards were announced this morning: Animated Short Film, Casting, Cinematography, Documentary Feature Film, Documentary Short Film, International Feature Film, Live Action Short Film, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Music (Original Song), Sound and Visual Effects. Leading the way with eight mentions apiece were Sinners and Wicked: For Good. Both films made the cut in the exact same categories: Casting, Cinematography, Makeup and Hairstyling, Score, two in Song, Sound and Visual Effects. Frankenstein came in with six: Casting, Cinematography, Makeup, Score, Sound and Visual Effects. Up next, with five mentions apiece were F1 and One Battle After Another but possibly one of the day's biggest surprises was the huge showing for Spain's Oscar entry and Cannes Grand Prize winner Sirāt. Also earning five spots on the shortlist, it showed up in International Feature, Sound and Score as was relatively easy to predict, but also in Casting and Cinematography. The Academy added two new shortlists this year. Well, one new one and one returning after several decades. The much-anticipated new Casting category that debuts this season brought contenders like The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value and Weapons but shockingly didn't have room for Wake Up Dead Man, the third in the Knives Out trilogy packed with a hearty ensemble. Cinematography is back on the menu after a 46-year absence with finalists that included the major players like Sinners, One Battle After Another and Hamnet but also Ballad of a Small Player, Die My Love, Nouvelle Vague and Song Sung Blue to the table. We focus a good deal of time on these new categories but also look to how sound and film editing are often in sync, if this means Wicked: For Good is back, if Hamnet might be in trouble, what the hell is Veni Verdi and much more. You can listen to The AwardsWatch Podcast wherever you stream podcasts, from iTunes, iHeartRadio, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify, Audible, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. This podcast runs 1h1m. We will be back in next week for a review of the last big film of the year, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Till then, let's get into it. Music: "Modern Fashion" from AShamaleuvmusic (intro), "B-3" from BoxCat Games Nameless: The Hackers RPG Soundtrack (outro).

Josh and Aaron Sarnecky are here to celebrate The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe for its 20th anniversary.The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a children's fantasy film directed Andrew Adamson. It is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, the first published volume in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series. It opened in theaters on December 9, 2005.In the film, Lucy Pevensie (Georgie Henley) and her siblings Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), and Edmund (Skandar Keynes) happen upon the mythical realm of Narnia. The four children are destined to aid the wise lion Aslan (Liam Neeson) in his fight against the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton). Other characters include Professor Kirke (James Broadbent), Mr. and Mrs. Beaver (Ray Winstone and Dawn French), and Mr. Tumnus (James McAvoy).The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was a critical success and the third highest-grossing film of 2005, making $745 million on an estimated $180 million budget. It won Best Makeup at the Oscars and was also nominated for Sound Mixing and Visual Effects. It was followed by only two sequels, leaving the film series incomplete.Josh and Aaron discuss their histories with the film and franchise before going into the movie's plot, characters, action, and legacy. Josh and Aaron also talk about Greta Gerwig's upcoming Narnia adaptation for Netflix.For another podcast on a beloved book, you can listen to last month's podcast on Pride & Prejudice.The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and Wardrobe is streaming on Disney+

Summary In this episode of the CG Pro podcast, Edward Dawson-Taylor interviews Aladino Deveer, a visual effects supervisor and director. Aladino shares his journey from studying architecture in Argentina to becoming a prominent figure in the visual effects industry. He discusses the importance of a generalist background, the challenges faced in the industry, and the impact of AI on visual effects and art. Aladino emphasizes the need for human creativity in an increasingly automated world and encourages aspiring artists to embrace their passion for art.

What happens when filmmaking becomes a marathon of collaboration — spanning years, thousands of shots, and the world of Oz itself? For Wicked: For Good, that was the daily reality for Film Editor Myron Kerstein and Visual Effects Supervisor Pablo Helman. This week on Below the Line, Skid welcomes back Myron Kerstein and introduces Pablo Helman, who makes his Below the Line debut to discuss their shared journey on Wicked: For Good, the sequel to Jon M. Chu's Wicked. Together, they reflect on what it means to sustain creative momentum through two interconnected films and the largest project of their careers. This episode unpacks: Building a years-long partnership between editorial and visual effects — and learning to “finish each other's sentences” after thousands of hours together Integrating production, post, and VFX pipelines from the earliest days of Wicked through the sequel's final render Designing the epic opening battle on the Yellow Brick Road, where performance, camera, and creature animation all converge Navigating Jon M. Chu's collaborative process — a director who, as Myron puts it, is “a collector of people” and thrives on creative dialogue Crafting the technically complex “Girl in the Bubble” sequence — eight stitched plates, multiple reflections, and a seamless illusion that tested every department's trust Refining the “No Good Deed” sequence — balancing raw emotion, musical rhythm, and visual effects spectacle Intercutting Glinda's wedding with the imprisoned creatures to heighten tension and emotional contrast across parallel storylines How small creative choices — like a cape's weight, a confetti storm, or a single flash of red sky — became storytelling tools in the hands of two artists who speak the same cinematic language What emerges is a portrait of collaboration under pressure — one built on mutual respect, relentless curiosity, and a shared belief that every frame, no matter how fantastical, should feel grounded and human.

Andy Povey is joined by two guests at the forefront of this space: Rob Liddell, Executive Producer at BBC Studios Science Unit, and Simon Clarke, Creative Director and Founder of Moonraker VFX. Fresh from announcing their new creative partnership, they're here to share what happens when world-class storytelling meets cutting-edge visual effects in the world of immersive experiences. Show References: Rob Liddell, Executive Producer at BBC Studios Science Unithttps://productions.bbcstudios.com/our-production-brands/the-science-unit/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-liddell-171639137/ Simon Clarke, Creative Director and Founder of Moonraker VFXhttps://moonrakervfx.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-clarke-07ba9146/ Skip the Queue is brought to you by Crowd Convert. We provide attractions with the tools and expertise to create world-class digital interactions. Very simply, we're here to rehumanise commerce. Your host is Andy Povey.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website SkiptheQueue.fm.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on LinkedIn.   We have launched our brand-new playbook: ‘The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop' — your go-to resource for building a successful e-commerce strategy that connects with your audience and drives sustainable growth. Download your FREE copy here

Summary In this episode of the CG Pro Podcast, host Edd Dawson-Taylor engages with visual effects pioneers Scott Ross and Daniel Lay to discuss the evolution and challenges of the VFX industry. They explore Scott's journey from a sound engineer to the founder of Digital Domain, Daniel's advocacy through the VFX Soldier blog, and the ongoing struggles for fair treatment and representation in the industry. The conversation delves into the potential of AI in visual effects, the debate over unionization versus trade organizations, and the need for a new business model that benefits artists and companies alike. In this conversation, Daniel Lay, Edd Dawson-Taylor, and Scott discuss the evolving landscape of visual effects (VFX) in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI tools, the impact on VFX artists, and the industry's response to these changes. The discussion also touches on employment trends, the viability of studio-owned VFX facilities, and the future of collaboration within VFX teams. The speakers emphasize the need for adaptation and innovation in a rapidly changing environment.

When his filmmaking career stalled during the pandemic, Toby Lockerbie turned to the one place that had never stopped inspiring him: the Universe. With no background in visual effects, he taught himself the tools needed to transform complex space science into cinematic stories using everyday objects and beautifully crafted visuals to make the Cosmos feel human. His channel, Epic Spaceman, now reaches millions and has earned multiple Webby Awards for its innovative approach to visualizing scale, awe, and accessible science. This week on Planetary Radio, Toby joins host Sarah Al-Ahmed to discuss the creation of Epic Spaceman, how visual metaphors can change how we understand the Universe, and why awe remains one of the most powerful tools for science communication. Then we welcome Bruce Betts back for What’s Up, where we reflect on the end of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Akatsuki mission to Venus. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2025-epic-spacemanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered how your favorite movies are made? Today, we're going behind the scenes of the VFX process with Eric Kimelton, a visual effects supervisor who's helped bring countless on-screen worlds to life. In this episode, Eric breaks down: How VFX artists help directors visualize every shot before filming even begins What goes into building digital environments you see on screen How advancements in technology are transforming visual effects Why collaboration between artists, directors, and editors is the key to movie magic ✨ If you love learning how film magic is made—or just want to better appreciate the work behind your favorite Disney, Marvel, or blockbuster movies—this is a fascinating deep dive into the world of VFX. Submit a question/topic for us to discuss on a future episode. Don't forget to check us out on: -Instagram -Facebook  -Youtube Missing the smell of the parks? Check out Magic Candle Company and use code ENCHANTED at checkout to save 15% off your next order. Timestamps Welcome 00:00 Welcome Back Eric 03:08 How Eric Got Started in Visual Effects 05:11 How Movies are Made Completely Digitally First 9:42 Live Action vs. Animated Movies 17:47 The Benefits of Motion Capture Performances 22:31 The Production Process 26:40 Designing Characters 32:27 Creating the Final Scene 36:53 Editing Up To the Last Minute 47:12 The Impact of Reshoots on the Visual Effects Process 48:58 The Impact of Technology and AI 50:56 How to Start in the VFX Industry 53:38 Who Should We Interview Next? 59:49

(Episode recorded November 2, 2024)00:00 Introduction to Shea Cinema and King Kong01:54 Guest Intro: Andrew Corns05:31 The Academy Awards and Cultural Context10:52 Production Insights and Screenplay Details14:29 King Kong Musical18:00 King Kong's Legacy and Influence on Cinema28:17 Connections to Literature and Personal History36:33 Character Development and Themes in King Kong45:06 Censorship and the Evolution of King Kong51:54 History Timeline, Feb/Mar 193352:08 Historical Context and Cultural Impact01:09:25 Box Office Success and Challenges01:10:33 Top Song of the Day01:16:53 "Day Of" Headlines, March 2, 193301:28:50 Plot Summary and Character Analysis01:35:25 Adventures on Skull Island01:36:43 Watching The Lost World01:40:39 The Lost World vs. King Kong01:46:46 Sympathy for the Monster01:52:54 The Evolution of Special Effects01:57:22 Contemporary Review, NYT, March 3, 193302:02:45 Roger Ebert Review, 200202:08:43 Keely Joins the Discussion02:08:54 Thumbs Rating02:14:24 "You're Not Women"02:18:43 Exploring Racial Themes in Classic Cinema02:22:35 Likes and Dislikes02:26:52 Visual Effects and Their Impact02:31:58 The T-Rex/Allosaurus Scene02:35:43 Arrowsmith Questions02:36:05 Cultural Reflections and Allegories02:41:11 Rewatchability and Legacy of King Kong02:44:31 Shea Cinema Stats: Wedding and Death Count02:52:42 Bimbo Award02:56:52 Andrew Loves OverturesPlease leave us a review wherever you are listening!Email us rants as well as raves: sheacinema@gmail.comYou can also find us on Instagram (and now Twitter/X): @sheacinema

Find the 9 Points Rating System here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find our Tron Legacy review here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2025-10-09T04_00_00-07_00 In this episode of A Lost Plot, hosts Maverick and Andrew delve into the third installment of the Tron franchise, Tron Ares. They discuss their initial impressions, ratings, and the film's plot, which diverges significantly from its predecessors. The conversation covers character analyses, particularly focusing on Ares, Eve, and Dillinger, highlighting the film's themes, visual effects, and storytelling flaws. The hosts express their disappointment with the film's lack of depth and connection to the original Tron narrative, ultimately questioning the necessity of its existence within the franchise. The duo critiques the film's structure, likening it to a cash grab by Disney, and reflects on the future of the Tron franchise, emphasizing the need for meaningful storytelling.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Tron Ares' Introduction7:05 Violating the Original Films20:52 Opening Scene26:26 The Protagonist: Ares35:59 Side Characters: Eve44:11 The Villain: Dillinger51:35 The Villains: Athena54:49 The Jeff Bridges Cameo58:19 The Climax1:01:59 Themes and Messages1:08:47 Lasting Impact & Missed Opportunities#tron #tronares #jaredleto #characterarc #characterdevelopment #disney #dillinger #athena #ares #storytelling #alostplot #film #movie #moviereview #themes #scifi #thegrid 

Find the 9 Points Rating System here: https://www.alostplot.com/9-points/ Find our Tron Legacy review here: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/maverick51411/episodes/2025-10-09T04_00_00-07_00 In this episode of A Lost Plot, hosts Maverick and Andrew delve into the third installment of the Tron franchise, Tron Ares. They discuss their initial impressions, ratings, and the film's plot, which diverges significantly from its predecessors. The conversation covers character analyses, particularly focusing on Ares, Eve, and Dillinger, highlighting the film's themes, visual effects, and storytelling flaws. The hosts express their disappointment with the film's lack of depth and connection to the original Tron narrative, ultimately questioning the necessity of its existence within the franchise. The duo critiques the film's structure, likening it to a cash grab by Disney, and reflects on the future of the Tron franchise, emphasizing the need for meaningful storytelling.----------Highlights:0:00 ‘Tron Ares' Introduction7:05 Violating the Original Films20:52 Opening Scene26:26 The Protagonist: Ares35:59 Side Characters: Eve44:11 The Villain: Dillinger51:35 The Villains: Athena54:49 The Jeff Bridges Cameo58:19 The Climax1:01:59 Themes and Messages1:08:47 Lasting Impact & Missed Opportunities#tron #tronares #jaredleto #characterarc #characterdevelopment #disney #dillinger #athena #ares #storytelling #alostplot #film #movie #moviereview #themes #scifi #thegrid 

Like or didn't like what you heard? Share your sip with me! I'm so inspired by the incredible work Steven Puri, Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company, is doing to help millions find their focus, achieve more, and create a healthier work-life blend.But his story didn't start there—Steven grounds his wisdom in years of experience from the entertainment industry, where he shares some behind-the-scenes stories (including tackling the age-old question: Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?).So grab your favorite cup and sip with us—because November is brewing up to be the most exciting month yet for Steven Puri! ☕✨Steven Puri's BioSteven's career started as a newscaster/interviewer for the #1 youth news show in the DC/Baltimore market (on WTTG-TV), and then as a junior software engineer & Thomas J. Watson Scholar at IBM. After attending USC in Los Angeles, he began working in film production and produced computer-generated visual effects for 14 movies, including Independence Day, which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects. Steven's first tech company was Centropolis Effects produced those CGI effects, and he eventually sold it to the German media conglomerate Das Werk when he was 28. Steven then produced some indie films and eventually went studio-side to develop and produce live-action features as a VP of Development & Production at 20th Century Fox (running the Die Hard and Wolverine franchises) and an EVP at DreamWorks Pictures for Kurtzman-Orci Productions, where he worked on Star Trek, Transformers, and more. After Fox, Steven returned to building tech companies and founded The Sukha Company. Connect with Steven on LinkedIn Learn more about this amazing work TheSukhaCompany For more sips and tips, connect with me on social and follow @LeaderSips @Leadspirations and @LifeisGrit on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Learn more about me at karlynnholbrook.com

Our two new books... STORY QUESTIONS: How To Unlock Your Story One Question At A Time - https://payhip.com/b/ZTvq9 and 17 Steps To Writing A Great Main Character - https://payhip.com/b/kCZGd Want to watch the video version of this podcast? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrmKkDlprnI 0:00 - The Truth About Finding Work In The Movie Business 13:29 - How The Dinosaurs In Jurassic Park Were Created 24:29 - How Telling The Truth... Led To A 20 Year Job With Steven Spielberg 35:07 - Day I Realized That CGI Was Taking Over Hollywood 49:32 - How Filmmaking Is Better Today Than It Was 30 Years Ago 1:02:47 - 12 Principles Of Animation (According To Disney) 1:31:59 - Best Movies To Watch To Learn The Craft Of Filmmaking 1:38:00 - Big Reason Why Many People Quit The Movie Business 1:46:28 - Best Way To Teach Students Filmmaking With over 40 years in the film industry, Craig Caton-Largent is a legendary visual effects artist and the current Chair of 3D Animation & VFX at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles. He has worked on over 100 films, creating some of Hollywood's most iconic creatures, including the Slimer ghost in Ghostbusters (1984), the penguins in Batman Returns (1992), and the raptors in Jurassic Park (1993). Craig has collaborated with top directors like Tim Burton, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, earning six Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects. A pioneer in digital effects, Craig co-founded Digital Domain and developed groundbreaking VFX software like Animservo, used by top studios and theme parks. As the Chair of the Visual Effects and Animation Department at NYFA, Craig is dedicated to helping his students develop animation and storytelling skills that will lead to success in the industry. Craig is also a sought-after speaker on motion capture technology at film festivals and universities worldwide. CONNECT WITH CRAIG CATON-LARGENT https://www.nyfa.edu/3d-animation-school https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0146253 Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA's global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts. CONNECT WITH NYFA https://www.nyfa.edu SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A MEMBER https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCs8o1mdWAfefJkdBg632_tg/join SUPPORT FILM COURAGE BY BECOMING A PATRON https://www.patreon.com/filmcourage (Affiliates) ►WE USE THIS CAMERA (B&H) – https://buff.ly/3rWqrra ►WE USE THIS SOUND RECORDER (AMAZON) – http://amzn.to/2tbFlM9 Stuff we use: LENS - Most people ask us what camera we use, no one ever asks about the lens which filmmakers always tell us is more important. This lens was a big investment for us and one we wish we could have made sooner. Started using this lens at the end of 2013 - http://amzn.to/2tbtmOq *Disclaimer: This video and description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we'll receive a small commission. This helps support the channel and allows us to continue to make videos like this. Thank you for your support!

This next guest has done so much in his career & covered many departments in his professional career: Special Effects, Acting, Makeup Department, Visual Effects, Directing Producing you name it. He is known for things like Terror Toons, The Summer of Massacre, Blood Feast 2: All U Can Eat, Exorcism at 60,000 Feet. Let's welcome Joe CastroJoe CastroIG: instagram.com/joe_castro_director/Website: https://www.terrortoons.tv/Crazy Train RadioFacebook:  facebook.com/realctradioInstagram:  @crazytrainradioX/Twitter:  @realctradioBlueSky:  @crazytrainradio.bsky.socialWebsite:  crazytrainradio.usYouTube:  youtube.com/crazytrainradio

How will AI and new technology change art? Visual effects artist Rob Bredow, known for his work on Star Wars, and curator Nora Atkinson, who brought Burning Man to the Smithsonian, dive deep into the future of creativity, trading behind-the-scenes stories that show how to blend stop‑motion, LED walls and algorithms in art — while still keeping the soul in the work. (This conversation is part of “TED Intersections,” a series featuring thought-provoking conversations between experts navigating the ideas shaping our world.)For a chance to give your own TED Talk, fill out the Idea Search Application: ted.com/ideasearch.Interested in learning more about upcoming TED events? Follow these links:TEDNext: ted.com/futureyouTEDSports: ted.com/sportsTEDAI Vienna: ted.com/ai-viennaTEDAI San Francisco: ted.com/ai-sf Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Productivity Smarts, host Gerald J. Leonard chats with Steven Puri, a former Hollywood studio executive turned entrepreneur. Steven has worked on blockbuster films like Independence Day and Transformers, but today he's focused on helping remote workers stay productive, happy, and focused through his company, Sukha.   Steven shares his personal journey and what led him to rethink productivity. Instead of chasing long hours and constant hustle, he now believes in working with intention and finding flow. He talks about how our environment, like having a creative workspace, can really boost performance. Drawing from his Hollywood background, he explains how the same creative principles can apply to remote work.   The conversation also dives into Sukha, an AI-powered tool he created to help people manage overwhelm. It helps users stay focused by organizing tasks, using music to encourage deep work, and creating simple, structured workflows.   Throughout the episode, you'll hear plenty of practical tips, like how to mentally “commute” to your home office, how to work in sync with your body's natural energy patterns (your chronotype), and how to use AI as a support tool rather than a replacement for creativity.   What We Discuss [02:01] Introduction to Steven Puri [05:49] Evolution of productivity: Then vs. now [09:22] Steven's film industry background [11:24] Legacy and meaningful work [12:47] Flow state: Hollywood lessons for remote work [16:48] Environmental triggers and productivity barriers [19:44] Morning routines and focus [21:54] Leadership lessons from film for remote teams [28:30] Chronotypes and personal productivity rhythms [30:20] Maintaining boundaries in remote work [33:35] AI and the future of remote productivity [36:44] How to connect with Steven   Notable Quotes   [07:40] "Now, I really measure my productivity by the effect, not by how many hours I work." – Steven Puri   [08:39] "I was just burning the candle at both ends and being really productive, but after I recovered, I realized I was more productive by being mindful and intentional." – Gerald J. Leonard   [21:47] "You talk a lot about purpose and intention. These are powerful. When you apply them, powerful things happen." – Steven Puri   [24:28] "It's always about the other thing. The part of your mind that does the cool, 'ooh, peanut butter and chocolate' — that can only function when you have something else to focus on." – Steven Puri   [35:33] "It's not AI that's replacing you. It's people who know how to use AI. Because someone who really understands how to use it can do the work of 10 to 20 people." – Steven Puri Our Guest Steven Puri is the Founder and CEO of The Sukha Company with the mission to help millions of‬ people find their focus, achieve more and have a healthy work life.‬ Steven's career started as a newscaster/interviewer for the #1 youth news show in the‬ ‭DC/Baltimore market (on WTTG-TV) and then as a junior software engineer & Thomas J.‬ Watson Scholar at IBM. After attending USC in Los Angeles, he began working in film‬ ‭production and produced computer-generated visual effects for 14 movies including‬ Independence Day which won the Academy Award for Visual Effects.‬ Steven's first tech company was Centropolis Effects that produced those CGI effects, and he‬ eventually sold it to the German media conglomerate Das Werk when he was 28.‬ Steven then produced some indie films and eventually went studio-side to develop and produce‬ live-action features as a VP of Development & Production at 20th Century Fox (running the Die‬ Hard and Wolverine franchises) and an EVP at DreamWorks Pictures for Kurtzman-Orci‬ Productions where he worked on Star Trek, Transformers and more.‬   Resources Steven Puri LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-puri Email: steven@sukha.co The Sukha Company: https://www.thesukha.co/ APP: https://app.thesukha.co/landing (Try free for 7 days)   Productivity Smarts Podcast Website - productivitysmartspodcast.com   Gerald J. Leonard Website - geraldjleonard.com Turnberry Premiere website - turnberrypremiere.com Scheduler - vcita.com/v/geraldjleonard   Mentioned  Book: Deep Work by Cal Newport Book: The Net and the Butterfly Film: Independence Day Film: Transformers Kiva is a loan, not a donation, allowing you to cycle your money and create a personal impact worldwide. https://www.kiva.org/lender/topmindshelpingtopminds  

Jedi master of visual effects Rob Bredow, known for his work at Industrial Light & Magic and Lucasfilm, takes us on a cinematic journey through the evolution of visual effects, with behind-the-scenes stories from the making of fan favorites like “Jurassic Park,” “Star Wars,” “Indiana Jones” and more. He shares how artist-driven innovation continues to blend old and new technology, offering hope that AI won't replace creatives but instead will empower artists to create new, mind-blowing wonders for the big screen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.