/Spoilers/ Star Wars: Force Awakens: Behind the Scenes In Abu Dhabi

Interview with Force Awakens and Indiana Jones Screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan

THR's Full, Uncensored Animation Roundtable 2015

Pete Docter (Inside Out), Steve Martino (The Peanuts Movie), Roger Allers (The Prophet), Peter Sohn (The Good Dinosaur), Charlie Kaufman (Anomalisa), Richard Starzak (Shaun the Sheep Movie) talk filmmaking during The Hollywood Reporter's Animation Oscar Roundtable.

The Dam Keeper (2014)

Sicario: Interview with Cinematographer Roger Deakins

Talks at Google: The Peanuts Movie

Director Steve Martino, screenwriter Craig Schulz, and story artist Karen Disher stop by Google to talk about "The Peanuts Movie"

Creative Spark: Simon Otto

Introduction to VR Filmmaking from Oculus Story Studio

Dragon’s Lair: The Movie!

How amazing is this!!!

The Traditional Animation Show with Don Bluth & Gary Goldman

New Episode of The Traditional Animation Show is online!! In this episode we interview animation legends Don Bluth and Gary Goldman!! Find out about their past, present and future plans. This is Part 1 of 2. Part 2 coming soon with a special animation lesson by Don Bluth and a HUGE announcement!! Stay tooned!

Posted by Traditional Animation on Thursday, October 22, 2015

Don Bluth & Gary Goldman Interview - Part 2

Check out the final half of The Traditional Animation Show with Don Bluth and Gary Goldman!! Find out their AWESOME NEWS and get a professional lesson by Don Bluth himself animating Dirk the Daring from Dragon's Lair!!!

Posted by Traditional Animation on Sunday, October 25, 2015

Also check out

//  30th Anniversary of Dragon’s Lair – Don Bluth Exclusive

Raiders 30th Anniversary Q&A With Spielberg & Ford

Jurassic World: Animation and VFX Q&A Panel (VES)

Panelists include Overall Visual Effects Supervisor Tim Alexander, and Animation Supervisor Glen McIntosh and moderated by VES 2nd Vice Chair Richard Winn Taylor II, VES.








// ‘I Was a Failed Gallimimus’: Jurassic Park Through The Eyes of One of Its Magic Creators

// JURASSIC WORLD VFX Breakdown - Dinosaurs  

// A whole new Jurassic World fxguide






 

La Noria by Carlos Baena

La Noria is an animated short film directed by filmmaker/animator Carlos Baena and produced as an online collaboration with artists from around the world. More info here:

// La Noria Film via Indiegogo

Weta Animators Discuss Demo Reels and the VFX Industry

James Bennett
Simeon Duncombe
Todd Labonte
Eric Reynolds

Interview With Artist Claire Wendling

// Claire Wendling

Creative Spark: Production Designer Rick Carter

Samurai Jack - Genndy's Roundtable

FXGUIDE // Going off-model: Hotel Transylvania 2

// Going off-model: Hotel Transylvania 2 (via fxguide)

Hayao Miyazaki: The Essence of Humanity

The Good Dinosaur: Director Peter Sohn Talks Story

The Martian: Interview with Ridley Scott

How Film Scores Play with Our Brains

From Fantasia to Fantasyland (UK 1978)

Falter | Cinema Spot | 2015

Created by Jung von Matt Vienna

Scorsese on Scorsese (2004)

This documentary has been around for a long time but it's so good!

BBC Documentary: In Search of Steve Ditko (Co-Creator of Spider-Man)

Steve Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist and co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics superhero Spider-Man. Below is the BBC documentary In Search of Steve Ditko. It highlights Ditko's influence and contributions to the comic book industry.

Also for more history and backstory check out DIAL B for BLOG's two part feature on Steve Ditko.

Part One /  If This Be My Ditko

Part Two / Doorway To The Unknown 













In Search of Steve Ditko (Part 1 of 7)

Visual Effects Advice from Film & TV Experts (BAFTA)

Everything is a Remix Remastered (2015 HD)

Glen Keane: Future of StoryTelling 2015

The Future of StoryTelling (FoST) aims to answer this question by bringing together leaders from the worlds of media, technology, and communications to explore how stories are changing in the digital age.

// Future of StoryTelling Summit 

Also check out the vids on the FoST YouTube Channel

BBC Series: The Secret of Drawing

'This four part series, presented by Andrew Graham-Dixon, explores how drawing has shaped our lives. Join him to discover the history of drawing and its relevance to the modern world.' via BBC

View Episodes 1-4 here

// The Secret of Drawing

1: The Line of Enquiry
2: Storylines
3: All in the Mind
4: Drawing by Design

PBS Special: Walt Disney Life and Legacy (2015)

// American Experience: Walt Disney

'Coming to American Experience September 14 & 15 is the unprecedented look at the complex life and enduring legacy of one of America’s best-known storytellers – Walt Disney. Featuring rarely seen footage from the Disney archive, scenes from some of his greatest films, and interviews with biographers, animators and artists who worked on his early films, as well as the designers who helped turn his dream of Disneyland into reality, this two-night, four-hour film reveals the makings of the man who would leave an indelible mark on our nation’s cultural history.' via PBS




Clip: Working for Walt Disney




Also worth a read:

// Displaced Disney Tech Worker: How They Replaced Me, Other Americans, With Cheap Foreigners On H1B Visas

Mad Max: Fury On Four Wheels

Back in 2011 when I was working on Happy Feet 2 at Dr.D Studios in Sydney I got a chance to see George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road pre-production presentation for Warner Bros. It was set up in a large room in a corner of the studio for a few weeks. On display were some of the concept vehicle models (including the large War Rig model that's in the vid), character model sheets from Weta Workshop and various props. They also had 17mins of test footage on loop showing some of the dramatic stunts and choreography for one of the chase sequences. It was an amazing presentation and quite a juxtaposition with dancing penguins we were currently animating!









Check out concept artist Christian Pearce's Deadly Sleds


// Deadly Sleds

Inspiration of the Day: 'Entreat Me Not to Leave You' by Dan Forrest

We draw inspiration from many things but music for me is at the very top of the list. Today I listened to two amazing works by contemporary composer Dan Forrest. They are super inspiring and will definitely move your heart and spirit. My Dad who sings in the Knoxville (TN) Choral Society actually introduced me to Forrest's music a few years ago. His choir has performed a number pieces by the composer.


"Entreat Me Not to Leave You" by Dan Forrest / Performed by University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire Concert Choir




"Good Night, Dear Heart" by Dan Forrest  / Performed by The Bel Canto Company Choir (Piano played by Dan Forrest)

Story Power: A Conversation with Pete Docter

Career Advice from Bryan Cranston

Here's some solid tough love career advice from Bryan Cranston. These nuggets of wisdom are not only for aspiring actors but apply to all artists especially animators/vfx. His closing comment at the 4:10 mark is gold... what I've been saying for years.

Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes

// Black Arts: The $800 Million Family Selling Art Degrees and False Hopes

Colour In Storytelling

Here's a nice general breakdown of the use of color in filmmaking. 

Model Sheets for 'Wander Over Yonder'

Check out these beautiful model sheets for Wander Over Yonder (via On Animation)

 // Behind The Scenes: "Wander Over Yonder"

Master Class With VFX Pioneer Douglas Trumbull (TIFF 2010)

I thought this article was interesting. Trumbull has a point.

 // Kubrick ‘did not deserve’ Oscar for 2001 says FX master Douglas Trumbull 

New Website Dedicated to the History of Illustration

The Norman Rockwell Museum has just launched a new website History of Illustration. It is a dedicated resource that covers a wide range of artists and genres.



Saturday August 15th the Norman Rockwell Museum will be live streaming the launch party on YouTube here:

// History of Illustration Website Launch Party

Shaun The Sheep: Interview Directors Mark Burton and Richard Starzak