The Official Blog | Reel FX

May Employee of the Month

2013-06-17T05:00:00Z

Reel FX has some of the best employees around and we are going to start recognizing them here on the blog! Every month each department [Animation, Commercial, Operations/Development] will cast their votes for who they think should be selected. The votes are in and the individuals below are our May Employees of the Month!

From Left to Right: Chad Eeds [Commercial], Jennifer Frias [Operations/Development], and Eric Drobile [Animation].

Reel FX Reno Update: Week 5

2013-06-13T11:18:00Z

The main work items this week have been foundation work out front, work on the exterior wall of the client lounge and further demolition in the main lobby. Things are starting to look a lot different around here!

Cement Slide

Front entrance is starting to take shape!

ONE Campaign returns to Reel FX for screening of HBO's Mary and Martha in Dallas

2013-06-12T10:12:00Z

Reel FX Marketing Director Katherine Harper, ONE CDL Kyle Talkington, Congresswoman Johnson’s District Director Rod Givens, Reel FX Marketing Manager Tiffany Kieran, ONE Regional FD Mike Hogan, ONE CDL Cjay Chijinco, ONE Field Director Suzanne Granville

Visitors signing in at the ONE table

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s District Director Rod Givens discusses ONE issues with the crowd

ONE Field Director Suzanne Granville and Worldvision staff discuss preventing Malaria with the crowd

Nigerian born ONE Congressional District Leader Cjay Chijinco talking to Kyle and Suzanne

Reel FX was excited to host the ONE Campaign in their studios again Monday night – this time in Dallas for another screening of HBO’s Mary and Martha.

The film stars Academy Award winner Hillary Swank and nominees Brenda Blethyn and James Woods in a story of two mothers who join the fight against Malaria – a disease that is widespread in Africa and can be prevented with inexpensive bed nets. The film is written and directed by Richard Curtis (War Horse, Love Actually, Bridget Jones’s Diary).

Suzanne Granville (ONE National Field Director) and Mike Hogan (Regional Field Director) traveled to town for the event which was attended by ONE Congressional District Leaders and ONE partner organization staff, volunteers and alumni including the Peace Corps, Worldvision, International Rescue Committee and Results. Texas Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson’s District Director Rod Givens and students and staff of the College of Health Care Professionals also joined to discuss ONE’s advocacy mission – ending extreme poverty and preventable disease.

This week ONE has launched a new music campaign of protest songs. Artists include Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, Macklemore, Mumford and Sons, Peter Gabriel, Elvis Costello, Patty Griffin, Green Day, Bloc Party, Sting, Tracy Chapman, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan and many more – check it out here.

Also check out the May screening that was held in our Santa Monica office here.

Let's talk turkey, cupcakes....and Bank of America?

2013-06-07T11:49:00Z

What do turkey, cupcakes and Bank of America have in common? Well nothing really but let us explain….

Yesterday in the studio we had Bank of America shooting spots to showcase Reel FX on their website and social media outlets [more on that soon!]. We had a lot of fun with the BOA crew and they were nice enough to provide cupcakes for THE ENTIRE STUDIO. Also since we are in full FREE BIRDS mode around here, we had a costumed turkey giving out free hugs while everyone was enjoying their delicious treats!

Lighting Artist, Jessica Hogan, Lighting Sup, Liz Hemme, Turkey, and Associate Production Manager, Kasey Smith. And a classic moment with Production Manager Joanna Ferguson in the background.

Free Cupcakes=Long Lines

These cupcakes didn’t last long! [see photo above]

Everyone should experience a turkey hug at some point in their life.

Reel FX CEO Steve O’Brien in between takes on the Bank of America shoot.

First Look Images and New Casting for Free Birds!

2013-06-07T11:46:00Z

We are pleased to share the first look images from the upcoming animated film, FREE BIRDS. Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson star as a pair of feathered friends who travel back in time to change the course of history – in hopes of getting turkey off the holiday menu for good.

The film also stars Amy Poehler, and the just announced Eddie ‘Piolin’ Sotelo (Ice Age: Continental Drift), Danny Carey (drummer for the world-renowned rock band Tool) and Josh Lawson (The Campaign). FREE BIRDS will be released in 2D and 3D formats on November 1st – just in time for Thanksgiving!

Reel FX Production Manager Jasmine Johnson Featured in Newsweek

2013-06-04T12:36:00Z

We are proud to call her an inspiration, leader and friend – Jasmine Johnson

Overjoyed by Jasmine’s return – Reel FX employees put their best Pinterest skills to work – surrounding her desk with personalized welcome back notes

We are so proud again of Reel FX Production Manager Jasmine Johnson. She is currently featured in a “Women in the World” article on Nesweek’s Daily Beast. The article relates the incredible challenges and difficult decisions Jasmine has bravely faced as a young professional woman diagnosed with breast cancer. Check out the article here – which details her family’s struggles with cancer, her entertainment industry experiences, and how she and her husband are planning for the future .

Reel FX is thrilled to have Jasmine back in the studio after chemotherapy and surgery. Her crew has been inspired beyond words by her strength, compassion, dedication, tremendous work ethic and amazing ability to uplift and build her teams, even through all the tough times. She’s a phenomenal lady and we are so proud to have her in the studio. Jasmine is currently working on the Reel FX Animated Feature Film “The Book of Life”, Directed by Jorge Gutierrez.

Reel FX Reno Update: Week 4

2013-06-03T05:54:00Z

We took a small break from the renovation updates because we had Mayor Mike Rawlings in a couple of times last week [it’s tough being popular].
Lots of things are shaping up around here as we continue with the renovation process! There has been continued work on the exterior wall of the client lounge and further demolition in the main lobby. A small piece of the overhead architectural element will be installed in the atrium this week, and interior trim work is underway on the windows upstairs. More digging and drilling still to come…

We asked several times but the construction crew would not allow us to operate the drill.

Dallas Mayor Rawlings joins Reel FX for Ceremonial Groundbreaking

2013-05-31T13:42:00Z

Reel FX CEO Steve O’Brien and COO Kyle Clark breaking ground with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings and C1S

The C1S Construction Team who have been working hard on the studio renovations

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings made another visit to Reel FX today. This time for a ceremonial groundbreaking to celebrate construction at the Dallas Studio.

Check out the Dallas Business Journal’s article on the groundbreaking, the city’s economic development grant, and the estimated $7.5 million over 10 years expected economic impact of the Reel FX Headquarters.

Stay tuned tonight and through the weekend to KDFW Fox 4 and WFAA Channel 8 for coverage of the event. And see more photos of the event with the Mayor, Reel FX crew, the Dallas Film Commission and C1S Group, Inc. on the Reel FX Facebook.

Mayor Mike Rawlings has enjoyed a busy week with friends in the film industry. He received additional shout outs from Patrick Stewart (Star Trek’s Jean-Luc Picard) for their work together at the UN. Check out more at D Magazine and the Dallas Morning News.

Earlier this week the Mayor stopped by for a behind the scenes look at “Free Birds” and “The Book of Life” – upcoming Reel FX Animated Feature Films.

Dallas Mayor Rawlings goes behind the scenes at Reel FX

2013-05-29T13:20:00Z

Mayor Rawlings discusses art and filmmaking with “The Book of Life” Director Jorge Gutierrez and VFX Sup Augusto Schillaci

Reel FX Marketing Director Katherine Harper and CEO Steve O’Brien mingle with guests.

Catering was provided by Cassandra Fine Catering.

Deep Ellum Brewing Company generously donated a selection of their decorative and delicious local beers.

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings visited the Reel FX Studio this Tuesday night for an Industry event that included local Advertising Agencies and the Dallas Film Commission.

Reel FX was proud to show the Mayor and other attendees some behind the scenes looks at upcoming animated feature films – “Free Birds” (Directed by Jimmy Hayward, Produced by Scott Mosier, and starring Amy Poehler, Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson) and “The Book of Life” (Directed by Jorge Gutierrez and Produced by Brad Booker and Guillermo del Torro).

Special thanks to Cassandra Fine Catering for the excellent food and drinks and to Deep Ellum Brewing Company for generously donating a selection of their local beers.

Check back on the Reel FX blog later this week for another Reel FX event with the Mayor.

Reel FX Reno Update: Week 2

2013-05-23T04:23:00Z

More demo [and lots of noise] reminded us that the construction crew was still around regardless of the storms that blew through Dallas this week. As you can see, lots of progress has been made!

Reel FX hosts ONE Campaign for Screening of HBO's Mary and Martha

2013-05-22T05:50:00Z

Reel FX (Gladys Belloso and Katherine Harper) with ONE Campaign.

ONE Congressional District Leader Andrew Garretson seting up the ONE gear.

Reel FX was excited to host a ONE Campaign screening of HBO’s “Mary and Martha” last Monday night in the Santa Monica studio. The film about two mothers working to fight Malaria was written by Richard Curtis (“War Horse”, “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) and stars Academy Award winner Hillary Swank and Academy Award Nominees Brenda Blethyn and James Woods.

The Reel FX night was posted to the ONE blog documenting screenings around the country working to raise awareness in the fight against Malaria.

ONE campaign was co-founded by U2’s Bono and has 3 million grass-roots members around the globe working to end extreme poverty and preventable disease. For more about ONE visit ONE.org. For more about “Mary and Martha” visit the HBO site.

Check back on the Reel FX blog in June for coverage of a ONE Campaign event in the Dallas studio.

Reel FX Receives Two 2013 AICE Nominations

2013-05-17T12:26:00Z

Reel FX (Keith McCabe, Kevin Althans, Jackie James, Quan Tran and Gary Banks) at the 2013 AICE Awards Show.

Volunteers of America – The Richards Group

Patina “One of a Kind” – JRS Advertising

They are winners in our book! Reel FX is proud of our 2013 AICE Awards Show finalist nominee’s Kevin Althans and Quan Tran. Althans was nominated in the Design Category for his work on Patina’s “One of a Kind” Campaign :30. Tran was nominated in the Best of Dallas Category for his work on the Volunteers of America “Stats” Campaign :30.

Tran has previously won two AICE Best of Dallas Awards – in 2007 for his work on Bell Helicopter’s “Yellow Ribbon” Campaign :30 and in 2010 for his work on Williamson Dickie/Dickies “Wear with a Purpose” Campaign :30.

To view Kevin’s spot – visit the Commercial section. To view Quan’s spot – visit the Commercial section and select Editorial then Real People.

Reel FX Reno Update: Week 1

2013-05-15T11:14:00Z

That’s right—Reel FX is getting a facelift [in Dallas, we are PROS at facelifts]! We are excited to announce that construction is well underway! We will be giving you updates on the studio’s progress that include photos of the demolition as well as a giveaway for who can predict the construction’s completion date.
Other than giving the studio more “curb appeal” by brightening up the exterior, the renovation will provide more indoor and outdoor space for clients and employees to enjoy.
To get more reno updates “Like” us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @wearereelfx

Reel FX Wins Dallas Business Journal's Award for Best Real Estate Deal of 2012 in the Urban Office Category

2013-04-29T05:14:00Z

Reel FX Wins Real Estate Gold

With a team of talented individuals from the City of Dallas, including Chris O’Brien, Hammond Perot, and Karl Zavitkovsky as well as Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings; Cushman & Wakefield’s Billy Gannon and Gary Collett; and C1S and Bodron Fruit, not to mention Reel FX’s own CEO Steve O’Brien, COO Kyle Clark and CFO Donna Henry, the studio took home best Urban Office real estate deal for the acquisition of its Deep Ellum headquarters.

Reel FX was also nominated in the Best Headquarter/Campus deal category.

Reel FX CEO Steve O'Brien Covers the May/June Edition of D CEO

2013-04-24T10:33:00Z

Reel FX CEO Steve O’Brien

DCEO’s Kerry Curry writes a great feature on Reel FX and CEO Steve O’Brien – where we’ve been, where it’s going and what’s new with our studio. Check it out on newsstands now, and read the online version here

Free Birds! Turkeys Offcially Changes Its Name to Free Birds - In Theaters November 1, 2013

2013-04-04T04:42:00Z

Reel FX is happy to announce that the name of its first CG feature is now officially FREE BIRDS! The name of the feature, which stars Owen Wilson, Woody Harrelson and Amy Poehler was previously TURKEYS. The new title perfectly captures the fun and adventurous film about two turkeys who travel back in time to change Thanksgiving and take Turkey off the holiday menu. This film will hit theaters nationwide on November 1, 2013. We can’t wait for the world to see it.

REEL FX NAMES ACADEMY AWARD® NOMINEE SHANE ACKER AS DIRECTOR OF UPCOMING UNTITLED ANIMATED FEATURE BASED ON THE COMIC BOOK SERIES, BEASTS OF BURDEN

2013-02-20T04:16:00Z

Film Based on the Acclaimed Dark Horse Comic Series, is Being Adapted by the Screenwriter of Turbo and Shrek Forever After and will be Produced with Dark Horse Entertainment and Strange Weather

Acker Joins List of Filmmakers Working on Reel FX’s Growing Slate Which Already Includes Projects
With Guillermo del Toro, Jorge Gutierrez, and Jimmy Hayward

(Dallas, Texas and Santa Monica, California) February 20, 2013 – Reel FX, a fully integrated movie studio that develops and produces both animated and live action films, announced today that Academy Award® nominee Shane Acker (9) will direct the studio’s upcoming untitled CG-animated feature based on the Dark Horse Comics series Beasts of Burden, written by Evan Dorkin and illustrated by Jill Thompson. The film is being written by Darren Lemke (Turbo, Shrek Forever After). Aron Warner, Reel FX’s President of Animation, is producing the film alongside Mike Richardson from Dark Horse Entertainment and Andrew Adamson from Strange Weather.

Acker is the latest filmmaker Reel FX has attracted to its growing animation slate, which already includes the Day of the Dead-themed project, The Book of Life (Guillermo del Toro producing/Jorge Gutierrez directing), which will be released in theaters by Fox Animation on October 10th, 2014; and Turkeys (Jimmy Hayward directing, starring Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson), which will be released in theaters on November 14th, 2014 by Relativity Media.

Reel FX recently announced that Warner, the Academy Award®-winning producer of the animated blockbusters Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, had joined the growing movie studio as President of Animation.

Warner notes, “Reel FX is continuing to partner with some of the leading filmmakers in animation. Shane is an immense talent and will bring his fresh vision and approach to this adaptation of Beasts of Burden.”

Says Acker, “It’s a pleasure to be working with such accomplished producers and filmmakers on this incredible project. There is a real independent spirit at Reel FX — the studio is full of energy and fresh ideas — which is necessary to bring this unique story to life.”

The project is an animated adventure about the baffling behavior (tail chasing, barking at “nothing” at all) of our favorite four-legged friends. In the charming town of Burden Hill, there might be more to these animal antics than meets the eye. The town is inhabited by the supernatural, and when its paranormal activity becomes even more abnormal than usual, it’s up to a group of fearless canines called the Watch Dogs to protect its citizens – and humanity – from the mysterious things that go “bump” in the night.

Shane Acker is an award-winning director, animator and designer. His first feature length production, 9, was based on his Oscar®-nominated short, was produced by Tim Burton and Timor Bekmambetov and was released by Focus Features in 2009.

Reel FX To Host Recruiting Open House This Friday, Feb 22nd, 12-6pm

2013-02-19T12:02:00Z

Join us in the Santa Monica studio for a Recruiting Open House this Friday, February 22nd. The open house is for specific positions listed in this flyer. We will have recruiters and creative supervisors on hand to review, answer questions and conduct interviews. RSVPS are required, so rsvp to RSVP@reelfx.com to confirm your attendance. We have a lot of open positions, so we hope to see you there.

Reel FX Takes Home the VES Award for Outstanding VFX in a Special Venue Project!

2013-02-05T09:47:00Z

Hot on the heels of an Annie Award win, Reel FX received a VES Award for Outstanding Special Venue Project! This is the first VES Award for the studio. Reel FX has been nominated for the past 4 years in various categories. Cheers and Congratulations to the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem crew!

We won!

Reel FX Presents Special Texas Avery Animation Award for Lifetime Achievement to "Queen of Cartoons" June Foray at the Annie Awards

2013-02-05T09:28:00Z

In addition to WINNING an Annie Award for Best Animated Special Production, Saturday, February 2 was special for Reel FX in a very different way. Reel FX’s Chuck Peil presented the one and only June Foray with a special Texas Avery Animation Award – the only time it’s been presented outside of Texas. Previously Brad Bird, Chris Wedge, Henry Selick, Pete Docter, Dean Deblois and Chris Sanders and Glen Keane have received the honor at the Dallas International Film Festival. June, as sharp as ever delighted the audience with her memories of meeting Tex Avery for the first time. It was an honor to present this award to such an important member of our industry. Stay tune for upcoming news about the next Texas Avery Award recipient!

Read Animation Magazine’s write up here

from the Annies Program as read by Leonard Maltin

Reel FX's Work on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem Garners an Annie Award

2013-02-02T16:36:00Z

Reel FX is honored to have its work on Despicable Me Minion Mayhem for friends and clients Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios receive an ANNIE AWARD! Congrats to the crew and everyone who made it such a spectacular ride.

We won!

MOVIE STUDIO REEL FX CONTINUES ITS GROWTH NAMING ACADEMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER ARON WARNER AS PRESIDENT OF ANIMATION

2013-01-31T11:50:00Z

MOVIE STUDIO REEL FX CONTINUES ITS GROWTH NAMING ACADEMY AWARD WINNING PRODUCER ARON WARNER AS PRESIDENT OF ANIMATION

Warner Will Oversee and Expand Reel FX’s Feature Film Animation Slate which Already Includes Movies with Filmmakers Guillermo del Toro, Jorge Gutierrez, Andrew Adamson and Jimmy Hayward

Reel FX’s own film slate follows almost 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop content creator for companies like Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios

Reel FX, a fully integrated movie studio that develops and produces both animated films and live action movies, announced today that Aron Warner, the Academy Award®-winning producer of the animated blockbusters Shrek, Shrek 2 and Shrek the Third, has joined the growing movie studio as President of Animation.

Warner will oversee and expand Reel FX’s animation slate which already includes the day of the dead-themed project Book of Life (Guillermo del Toro producing/Jorge Gutierrez directing), which will be released in theaters by Fox Animation on October 10th, 2014, Turkeys (Jimmy Hayward directing) which will be released in theaters on November 14th, 2014 by Relativity Media and Beasts of Burden (Warner and Andrew Adamson producing).

Reel FX’s own film slate follows almost 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop studio for animated content including films, special attraction/live venue projects and interactive projects for companies like Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.

Warner said: “Reel FX has the talent, technology and track record to create the highest-quality theatrical animated films for reasonable budgets. Our model allows us to take creative risks and has already attracted world-class filmmakers looking to tell unique and daring stories that appeal to audiences across the world. I am honored to be part of the Reel FX team and look forward to continuing to build upon our slate."

Steve O’ Brien, Chairman and CEO of Reel FX said: “Aron Warner is one of the industry’s most respected and accomplished animation executives and he brings sustained success, years of experience and deep relationships to overseeing our studio’s growing feature film animation division. We are excited to work with him as we continue to build a studio that produces best in class animated movies.”

Warner and Reel FX have been working together on a variety of projects for the past few years.

Warner’s team at Reel FX includes a wide range of producers and executives including Jeff Fierson, Head of Development, Brad Booker, Creative Producer of Reel FX’s Book of Life and Scott Mosier Creative Producer of Reel FX’s Turkeys.

Warner joined PDI/DreamWorks in 1997. During the production of Shrek, Warner also served as the Head of PDI/DreamWorks for two years, overseeing all production and operations for all of the computer animation affiliate’s feature film, commercial and visual effects projects. He first joined PDI as a producer on the computer animated comedy “Antz.” Before PDI, Warner held the post of vice president of production at Twentieth Century Fox, where he supervised production on such films as “True Lies” “Independence Day,” “The Ice Storm,” “The Crucible,” “Alien Resurrection,” “Volcano” and the number one blockbuster of all time, “Titanic.”

Reel FX Adds Senior Editor Greg Sunmark to the Commercial Department

2013-01-21T09:20:00Z

Digital studio Reel FX (Dallas/Santa Monica) has added Senior Editor Greg Sunmark to their creative roster. Sunmark comes to Reel FX from Red Car, where he spent the last 10 years as an editor. Throughout his career he’s worked with top agencies including BBDO, Leo Burnett, DraftFCB and DDB on major national brands such as Chrysler, Midas and McDonalds. Recent work for Sunmark includes the touching spot, “State of Hope,” for State Farm from DDB Chicago and director Joe Pytka, which aired at the Hurricane Sandy relief concert that took place in Madison Square Garden on December 12, 2012.

Reel FX Commercial General Manager Keith McCabe notes, “Greg is the epitome of everything we look for in an artist here at Reel FX. Not only is he is an amazingly talented editor with a unique style and gift for storytelling, he is also incredibly collaborative, great with creatives, and a true pleasure to work with. We could not be more excited to have Greg join our team.”

Executive Producer Gary Banks, also noted, “Finding the right senior editor is a tough challenge. They need to have a strong creative opinion, but know how to communicate it without killing anyone. After talking with many of Greg’s previous agency clients they all told stories that basically said the same things: “he’s a great editor”, “he won’t let you down” and “he’s the nicest guy to work with”. I’m proud he’s joined Reel FX!”

Adds Sunmark, “From their business model to their geographic location, Reel FX is breaking the mold. They’ve got a lot of complimentary disciplines under one roof, and you feel this creative energy just pouring out of the place. I’m fascinated by that, and I’m really excited to join the team.”

About Greg Sunmark:

After studying film and video production at the University of Iowa, Sunmark joined Red Car as a runner in 1996, progressing to a full-time editor in 2002. He has worked on hundreds of commercials and his work has earned him numerous industry accolades including two AICE Award nominations for his work on spots for McDonald’s and State Farm. In addition to his editorial work, Sunmark also balances an established career as a voiceover artist. He’s been in radio and TV ads for McDonald’s, Sears, Aleve, Budweiser, Subway, Toyota, and Kraft Foods, among others. When not editing or exercising his voiceover chops, he enjoys writing music and perfecting old craft cocktail recipes.

ABOUT REEL FX

Reel FX is a fully integrated creative studio that develops and produces both animated films and live-action movies as well as short-form/commercial projects.

Reel FX launched its feature length development and production slate in 2010 with almost 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop studio for the creation of animated content including commercials, films, special attraction/live venue projects, and interactive projects for companies like DreamWorks Animation, Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios. The company’s development slate includes Day of the Dead, Turkeys, and Beasts of Burden.

Since starting the development and production of feature films, Reel FX has aligned itself with some of the most recognized and respected names and brands in the entertainment industry for its projects including Cirque Du Soleil: World’s Away (Cirque Du Soleil, James Cameron, Andrew Adamson, Aron Warner), Day of the Dead (Guillermo Del Toro, Jorge R. Gutierrez), Beasts of Burden (Dark Horse Comics, Andrew Adamson) and Turkeys (Jimmy Hayward, Craig Mazin).

Senior Editor Greg Sunmark's State Farm Cut Is Shoot Mag's Spot of the Week!

2013-01-18T10:18:00Z

Senior Editor Greg Sunmark received well-earned kudos from Shoot Magazine today when his recent cut of State Farm “Coaster” out of DDB Chicago was named Top Spot of the Week. The heart-warming spot features children of Hurricane Sandy,their remembrances of the famous Jersey shore’s roller-coaster, and hopes for its return. Congrats Greg and welcome to the Reel FX team. Look for lots more of Greg’s award-winning work next week in our editorial section.

Oops We Did It Again | Despicable Me Gets a VES Nomination

2013-01-07T04:38:00Z

For the fourth year in a row, Reel FX is pleased to announce another VES nomination. This year we are nominated for Despicable Me Minion Mayhem (Illumination Entertainment/Universal Studios for the Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project category. The CG animated ride based in Universal Studios (Florida) accepts its second nomination of the season.

The Visual Effects Society (VES), announced nominations for its 11th annual VES awards, which recognize outstanding visual effects artistry. The VES Awards will take place on Tuesday, February 5, 2013.

Congrats again to the entire team and clients who have made this industry honor possible!

Oh What Fun... It is to Party... With a Group Like Reel FX!

2012-12-27T11:31:00Z

Good times and good cheer were among us this Holiday Season.

May All Your Christmas Sweaters be UGLY and BRIGHT!

We Wish You a Merry Everything...

2012-12-21T07:32:00Z

Reel FX is wrapping up 2012, and it’s been quite a year! From rebranding our studio under a new Reel FX look, to completing milestone special attractions projects and commercial projects, to hosting the one and only Glen Keane in our studio for the Dallas International Film Festival’s Texas Avery Award, to purchasing our Dallas building and committing to Deep Ellum, to seeing our name in credits in two feature film releases including the upcoming Cirque du Soliel: Worlds Away and finally – annoucing distribution partners and release dates on our first two animated features, Turkeys and Book of Life – we feel like it’s our biggest and best year yet. Next year is our 20th anniversary and we can’t wait to top 2012 with more great work and partnerships. Happy Holidays from our family to yours and all the best in 2013.

Fox Animation Picks up del Toro's 'Book of Life'

2012-12-20T08:54:00Z

Reel FX and Strange Weather Tap Brad Peyton to Build a "Monument"

2012-12-13T06:45:00Z

As Part of Reel FX and Strange Weather’s Ongoing Partnership, the Companies Will Develop and Produce Emmy Laybourne’s Hit Young Adult Novel, Monument 14, into a Feature Film

Reel FX and Strange Weather have acquired the rights to Emmy Laybourne’s debut young adult novel, Monument 14, a New York Times Book Review’s “Editor’s Choice.” Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) is attached to write and direct and produce the film adaptation. Reel FX, through its partnership with Strange Weather, will produce alongside Strange Weather principals Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Chronicles of Narnia) and Aron Warner (Shrek, Shrek 2, Shrek the Third and Shrek Forever After). Strange Weather EVP Jeff Fierson will executive produce and oversee development of the live action project.

Monument 14, published by Feiwel & Friends – a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, is thepage-turning debut of comedian and actress Emmy Laybourne. Best described as The Breakfast Club set in the apocalypse, it follows a group of teens who are trapped together in a chain superstore and must face life, death, love and hate, while the world as they know it ends around them. The book was first released in June 2012 and promptly named The New York Times Book Review’s “Editor’s Choice.” Reel FX has acquired the film adaptation rights to all three titles in the projected trilogy. The second title, Monument 14: Sky on Fire, is scheduled to be published in June 2013.

“The minute we read the book, we knew Brad would be a perfect fit,” said Aron Warner. “He instinctively knows how to balance the intimate and the epic elements that make this project so unique.”

“As soon as I read the first chapter, I knew I wanted to do this movie,” said Brad Peyton. “It’s such a great concept and the kids felt real to me. The whole experience of living through the end of the world is an exciting one to try to capture on film, especially from such an original perspective.”
This announcement represents a continuing collaboration between Peyton, Strange Weather and the movie studio Reel FX. The trio previously announced their project, Invasion, in early 2012.

ABOUT REEL FX
Reel FX is a fully integrated movie studio that develops and produces both animated films and live action movies. The company’s development slate includes Day of the Dead, Turkeys, and Beasts of Burden.

Reel FX launched its feature length development and production slate in 2010 after almost 20 years of experience as an award-winning one-stop studio for the creation of animated content including films, special attraction/live venue projects, and interactive projects for companies like DreamWorks Animation, Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Studios.

There is a MASTER Among Us

2012-12-11T04:56:00Z

Only a few people can legitimately add “Master” to their title. Such is the case for Josh Carey, who has been named AutoDesk’s® 2012 Maya® Master of the year.

As the Rigging Supervisor, Carey uses AutoDesk® Maya® software for rigging (and scripting/tool writing) on many projects that come through the studio. The animation software provides tools for modeling, simulation, rendering, matchmoving, and compositing on a highly extensible production platform. AutoDesk selects only one “Master” for each of their four software programs each year, so the honor is quite distinguishable.

Some of the most notable projects that Josh has worked on include: the new 3D Looney Tunes shorts, an Ice Age Christmas special, the Kung Fu Panda Secrets of the Furious Five 3D short, Open Season 2 and 3, and several commercial projects for Shrek, Madagascar, McDonalds, Chuck E Cheese, and more. Of the Looney Tunes shorts, Coyote Falls got a VES award nomination as well as an Oscar shortlist nomination. The Tweety and Sylvester “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat” was nominated for an Annie as well as the shortlist for the Oscars in 2012.

Currently, Carey is working on “Turkeys”, an animated feature that will be out in 2014.

Not only is Josh proficient in the Maya® software and can add “Master” to his title, but he now has a leather jacket to prove his newly awarded “Master” status (as seen in picture), thanks to AutoDesk®. Again…Congrats to Reel FX’s own Rigging Supervisor, Josh Carey, for such an outstanding award and honor.

Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem Gets an Annie Nomination

2012-12-06T09:21:00Z

Reel FX is delighted to announce that our work on project, Despicable Me “Minion Mayhem”(Illumination Entertainment) has been nominated for an Annie Award. The CG animated ride based in Universal Studios (Florida) was nominated for the Best Animated Special Production category.

The International Animated Film Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, announced nominations for its 40th annual Annie Awards this past Monday, recognizing the year’s best in the field of animation. The Annie Awards will be held on February 2nd, 2013.

Congratulations to the artists, production staff, and of course, our clients on this industry honor!

Mark your calendars! Turkey's release date set for 2014!

2012-11-27T10:06:00Z

It may be a ways away but be sure to be on the look out for Reel FX and Relativity Media’s animated feature, Turkeys in 2014!! Just in time for the Thanksgiving Holiday, Turkeys will open in theaters on November 14, 2014!

2012 CTN ANIMATION EXPO! Burbank, CA!

2012-11-16T08:32:00Z

Come one, come all! It’s the CTN Animation Expo, y’all!! RFX proudly endorses this fabulous event taking place this weekend in Burbank, CA. Rub elbows with the industry’s finest and make new friends! If you’re not at the Marriott in Burbank this weekend, November 16th-18th for CTN…get there NOW!

Last year’s expo

DreamWorks Animation's Rise of the Guardians Based on The Man in the Moon - a Short Film from Reel FX and William Joyce

2012-10-31T05:22:00Z

Variety Raves About ROTG!

DreamWorks Animation’s Rise of the Guardians is coming out November 21 and the critics are raving! Don’t miss this film, which began years ago at… REEL FX, when we created the short film, The Man in the Moon, with many folks (Chuck Peil, Steve O’Brien, Dale Carman and Kevin Althans) who are still part of our studio. Pretty cool back story to this blockbuster film.

See what the media are saying in:
Variety
The Hollywood Reporter
Rotten Tomatoes

Relativity To Distribute Reel FX's Turkeys Worldwide!

2012-10-24T03:53:00Z

From Variety

Relativity, Reel FX team on ‘Turkeys’ toon

Company will shop Owen Wilson-Woody Harrelson pic at American Film Market

Relativity Media has signed on to finance and produce the animated comedy “Turkeys” with Reel FX.

Relativity will distribute the pic domestically, while output partners in countries including China, England and Australia will unspool the pic internationally. Pic marks the first toon that Relativity will bring to the AFM, where it will unveil the project to its output partners and shop to territories including France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Benelux and Scandinavia.

Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson star as the lead voice talents in the film, which Relativity has slated for a 2014 release. “Horton Hears a Who!” helmer Jimmy Hayward will direct.

“Clerks” producer Scott Mosier will producer with scribes Craig Mazin, John Strauss and David I. Stern.

Stern and Strauss wrote the original script, with Maxin rewriting.

Story centers on two rival turkeys who team up to travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving, where they try to get themselves off the menu for good.

Reel FX, which develops and produces toons and live-action films, has been slowly building its slate with more diverse projects. Its current slate includes the Guillermo del Toro-produced “Day of the Dead” as well as “Beasts of Burden,” with Strange Weather Films’ Aron Warner and Andrew Adamson producing.

Financial terms of the agreement between Relativity and Reel FX were not disclosed. Companies had been working on a deal for the film for several months.

“This agreement is a culmination of years of friendship and a continued desire to collaborate between Relativity and Reel FX,” said Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh in a statement. “We are delighted to broaden our film release slate to include ‘Turkeys,’ which features an exciting roster of voice talent, a powerhouse creative team and an original witty storyline.”

Contact Rachel Abrams at Rachel.Abrams@variety.com

Welcome to our family, Mr. Cunningham!

2012-10-23T10:55:00Z

Dallas and Santa Monica-based digital studio Reel FX has signed Senior VFX Artist Jason Cunningham, who comes to Reel FX from Suspect Inc.Spontaneous, and Pure. Over the years, Cunningham has lent his considerable VFX acumen to such brands as Mercedes-Benz, AT&T, Estée Lauder and L’Oréal, as well as music videos for the likes of Interpol (“Barricade”) and Mos Def (“Ghetto Rock”), and feature films for Warner Bros. and others.
Reel FX Executive Producer Gary Banks notes, “Jason has quickly fit in with the team although he’s barely had time to blink since the day he set foot in the studio. It’s a pleasure to work with a guy who can get the work done beautifully, quickly and also finds the time to work the room with the clients.”
Adds Cunningham, “I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a dynamic studio. I’ve admired Reel FX’s work in spots and features for years.”
Cunningham’s own work is meticulously crafted and tends to include either a “front-and-center”, featured creative element or subtle, undetectable VFX—which he notes are equally, if not more difficult to execute. Says Cunningham of his approach, “I try to make pretty pictures and deliver them on time. In spots, shoring up the brand message with inventive visuals is always my primary goal.”
Cunningham was born in Washington DC, but grew up in Atlanta, GA. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Telecommunications and Journalism, and then moved to NYC to take a job in the machine room at Spontaneous Combustion (now Spontaneous). He quickly worked his way up to VFX assistant under his mentors David Elkins and Tony Robins before moving to Pure followed by Suspect Inc. as Head Flame and Senior VFX Artist. Cunningham has also freelanced at such studios as Click 3X and Smoke & Mirrors.

Reel FX's Cirque du Soleil film, Worlds Away Recieves Great Review from The Hollywood Reporter

2012-10-23T04:27:00Z

From The Hollywood Reporter

James Cameron and Andrew Adamson join forces to present a fantastical love story, featuring the best of the world-famous circus troupe’s elaborate performances.

TOKYO – Clown-phobics may run screaming but, along with an omnipresent wild-haired joker, the world’s most famous acrobatic troupe delivers a feast of surreal beauty and moments of breath-catching wonder in the skilfully staged 3D film Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away.

‘Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away’ to Open Tokyo Film Festival

Basically a greatest-hits extravaganza tenuously linked by a love-story narrative, the Tokyo International Film Festival’s opening-night film relies on Shrek and Narnia director Andrew Adamson’s use of slo-mo, close-ups and inventive camera angles to smooth the transition from big top to big screen.

The undeniably spectacular skills of the Cirque du Soleil performers lose little in translation, although the intimate moments work decidedly better, as cinema-goers catch each slap of the aerialists’ mid-air hand grasps and every droplet of water splashed. A gloriously elastic female gymnast doing solo backflips inside an oversized brandy glass is a highlight.

With more than 100 million tickets sold across six continents for Cirque du Soleil stage shows, the brand certainly has reach. The new medium opens the experience up to an even wider audience, although families may balk at what is essentially an experimental art film. Paramount Pictures is giving the James Cameron executive-produced film a high-profile holiday release stateside on Dec 21 following its theatrical release in Japan Nov 9, before rolling it out to other territories early next year.

The story opens with something that would never happen at a live Cirque du Soleil performance – a fall.

Mia (Erica Linz), a petite outsider visiting a down-at-heel old-timey circus (the kind with sword-swallowers and bearded ladies), is drawn to one of the performers. He’s a trapeze artist simply known as The Aerialist (Igor Zaripov) and when she catches his eye mid-air, he breaks concentration and plunges to the ground.

The sand of the rink gives way and she follows him down the rabbit hole, as it were, into a parallel universe where she meets that madly prancing clown (John Clarke). He escorts her through a series of fantastical realms populated by trampolining superheroes, riderless tricycles and giant double-jointed spiders from the company’s Las Vegas shows, including O, Mystere, Believe and Viva Elvis (blessedly, no Michael Jackson – The Immortal World Tour, as that would be just weird.)

As she wanders through these dreamscapes clutching a poster of The Aerialist to her chest, Linz alternates eye-widening with theatrical brow-furrowing. Let’s just say that as an actress, she’s a good acrobat, which is made clear in the gorgeously romantic finale.

The brow-furrowing is understandable, though, as, like most abstractedly mystical Cirque stage shows, the action follows the logic of a dream.

Bland, synthetic world muzak rotates with peppier tunes from Elvis and The Beatles, adding to the sense of disconnect between the differently themed vignettes, which Adamson shot at various Las Vegas stage shows.

Still, the unifying accomplishment is in the giddy acrobatics, sleek sensuality and heart-stopping derring-do of the performers, as well as the constantly sumptuous, transportingly immersive cinematography.

Venue: Tokyo International Film Festival (opening film)

Cast: Erica Linz, Igor Zaripov, John Clarke

Production companies: Reel FX Creative Studios, Strange Weather Films, Cirque du Soleil Burlesco

Writer-director: Andrew Adamson

A REEL-Y Great Workshop! Friday afternoon at CTN!

2012-10-18T09:32:00Z

Mark your calendar, put a reminder in your smart phone, tie a string around your finger or do whatever you have to do to not miss out on the Demo Reel Review on Friday afternoon at CTN!
This is a chance for folks to show their reels, in a comfortable setting for some constructive critiquing and receive some priceless feed back from Reel FX’s own Robin Linn, Disney Animator, Marlon Nowe and Bobby Beck, the CEO of Animation Mentor . This is a wonderful opportunity to hear some great tips and valuable opinions from some dudes that really know their stuff!

Friday Night at CTN 2012!

2012-10-18T08:52:00Z

Do you like networking and mingling with awesome people? Well then you’re in luck! Join us Friday, November 16th at the Reel FX and Animation Mentor Friday Night Networking event at CTN this year! Come have a drink and rub elbows with other peeps in the “biz”! This is a wonderful opportunity to make some great contacts and meet some very talented and knowledgeable folks!

MORE CTN NEWS! Whoo Whoo!

2012-10-10T12:21:00Z

Come check out the Reel FX booth at The CTN Animation Expo next month!

We will be teaming up with our Animation Mentor buddies to host a Demo Reel Review Workshop on Friday, the 16th, from 1:00-2:15pm, and the fun doesn’t stop there! Come check us out that evening from 8:30pm to 12:30am for a Friday Night Networking Event, also with Animation Mentor. Tune in for more information about all of the upcoming events that week!

Don't miss out on AICP 2012 events this month!

2012-10-01T11:47:00Z

Austin and Dallas are the places to be for the 2012 AICP!
Tickets are still available, don’t miss out!

“The Art & Technique of The American Commercial” will be screening in Austin on October 3rd at The Alamo Draft House. After the screening, enjoy a fun filled reception just across the street at Highball.

Purchase tickets here

The AICP Show and Next Awards will be taking place in Dallas on October 17th at the Dallas Museum of Arts followed by an after party at Glass Lounge in Uptown.

Purchase tickets here

Robin Linn to Moderate VES Production Summit Roundtable

2012-09-27T05:44:00Z

Everything in moderation…

…When it comes to Robin Linn, that is! We kid. Robin is our illustrious Head of Artist Management, Recruiting and Academic Relations. He will be moderating (get it?) a Roundtable discussion at the upcoming VES Production Summit on October 13th. The Remote Artist: The Challenges of Virtual Production. Some of the most interesting and influential folks in the Visual Effects world will be at this summit, so join them! Tickets are available for purchase"here": http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ves-summit-2012/register but prices go up after October 5th, so get your tickets today!

Sneak Peek: Reel FX Is Hard At Work On A New Studio Tour Video!

2012-09-19T11:09:00Z

It seems like at Reel FX, things are changing and growing everyday. With that we are shooting a new “tour” video to show everyone out there the people, projects and vibe that make our studio great. We’re kicking off the shoot with a little rooftop action to capture our Dallas studio against the DFW skyline. The finished piece will be on our website soon!

Work Hard... Play VERY Hard | Reel FX Studio Wrap Party

2012-09-06T10:38:00Z

Long hours spent working from sun up till well past sun down including some weekends… here at Reel FX we take our projects seriously. We know what it means to deliver quality work in a timely manner and we will go to the extreme to do just that!

With that said, what would hard work and effort mean to our studio if we didn’t reward ourselves with a little bit of “playtime?” So in a effort to celebrate the completion of “Humbugged: Rockettes to the Rescue”, ’Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem" and quite a few commercial projects, we hosted our own Studio Wrap Party.

Let’s just say that we had a “funner” time taking part in the bull riding, horse racing, karaoke singing and the oh so good BBQ eating provided by our very own Kyle Clark. Some might even say that we had a “side splitting good time,” or in the case of our own Visual Development artist, Sarah Marino, a “pant splitting good time” enjoying every minute of the party.

Don’t believe us… just check out some of the pictures from our Studio Wrap Party.

This is what happens when we work hard… too much fun!

We Are REEEELY Excited About This Movie. Can You Guess Why??

2012-08-31T05:09:00Z

We love the project! Do you know where it began??

Patina "One of a Kind" Makes Shoot's Top Ten Animation/VFX Chart

2012-08-22T10:03:00Z

We are excited to announce that our Patina spot for JRS Advertising made Shoot’s Top 10 VFX/Animation Chart! See the spot here-. Congrats to all involved!

AICE's CAMP KULESHOV RETURNS TO DALLAS!

2012-08-16T04:40:00Z

Join Dallas AICE Members Fast Cuts, Imagemaker, Red Car, Reel FX and 3008 for the return of Camp Kuleshov, the one-and-only trailer-editing competition for aspiring editors. You don’t want to miss this cool night in Dallas at Ku De Ta. RSVPs are required, so please RSVP by September 1 to rsvp@reelfx.com.

SPECIAL THANKS to our:
Platinum Sponsors – Screen Magazine, Avid, Company 3, Sony and TM Television

Silver Sponsors – Sugar Films and AICP Southwest

Still have a question? Email rsvp@reelfx.com

Reel FX Adds Sherry Wallace as Commercial Producer

2012-08-08T11:35:00Z

Digital studio Reel FX (Dallas/Santa Monica) announces another addition to its commercial team with producer Sherry Wallace. Wallace comes from Reel FX’s entertainment division, where she has worked as a production manager for the past three years. She now brings her 13 years of CG production experience in video games, theme park rides and feature films to the commercial division. In her new role, Wallace is already co-producing both a music video and four-spot CG/live-action hybrid campaign for The Richards Group’s recent re-brand of Chuck E. Cheese’s.

Reel FX Commercial General Manager Keith McCabe adds, “From the moment I met Sherry, I knew she was a producer extraordinaire. Her ability to manage schedules, lead a crew and interact with clients is second-to-none. She has held production spots with some of the top studios in the animation and VFX business, including our own. It’s great to have a producer on our roster with her outside industry experience who also knows our studio inside and out. She is the perfect fit for this position.”

Notes Wallace, “I couldn’t be more excited about my new role at Reel FX and the opportunity to bring my CG experience to the studio’s short-form projects. I look forward to working with Keith, Dale Carman and the rest of the talented commercial crew and continuing to build our pipeline, process and good client pool together.”

About Sherry Wallace:
Wallace studied Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University and Cellular Adoptive Immunotherarapy at UPMC. She worked professionally as a medical technologist in Virginia and Pennsylvania for five years before her husband’s job took the family to Los Angeles. While studying for her California Medical Tech license, she was offered a position with Blur Studio and began her entertainment career. She was quickly promoted to producer. In that role, she oversaw a variety of projects including 3D animation and VFX for feature films, ride films, CG/live-action hybrid commercials and motion graphics. After six years, she moved to Rhythm & Hues as a visual effects production manager, supervising the 2006 animated feature, “Garfield 2, A Tail of Two Kitties.” In 2007, she headed to Austin, Texas, to work as a producer at Midway Studios where she supervised teams across seven global studios as well as extensive internal and external development. In 2009, she joined Reel FX to serve as a production manager in the Dallas studio’s entertainment department.

About Reel FX

Reel FX is a streamlined provider of digital content for film, TV, publishing and digital media. It is a one-stop studio for the development and production of CG-animated and effects-driven live-action “family franchise films”, commercials, and special attractions. Reel FX combines top creative talent (writers, directors, animation and effects artists) with seasoned executives and a proven proprietary animation and effects software (developed by Reel FX), which allows artists to work & collaborate more effectively and control rising costs often associated with CG projects. In addition, Reel FX also develops and secures the rights to franchise-worthy literary material. Reel FX is led by a team of industry veterans including Academy Award®-winning, former Industrial Light and Magic Senior Executive, Ed Jones, and former Walden Media CEO, Cary Granat.

Reel FX Founder Dale Carman to Speak at AAF-Houston's August Lunch

2012-07-24T08:55:00Z

Reel FX Executive Creative Director and Co-Founder Dale Carman has been selected to speak at AAF-Houston’s August 15th lunch. Tickets and more information can be found on the AAF website.

Take Your Medicine Featured on Autodesk's Siggraph Page

2012-07-16T06:38:00Z

Remember Take Your Medicine? It was our killer music video for the uber-talented band, Transfer. Directed by Nader Husseini. The video racked up festival acceptances and awards throughout 2011. Over a year after its debut, it’s still garnering industry attention. Autodesk has featured it as the cover image on its Siggraph 2012 page.

It's Time For Minion Mayhem at Universal Orlando

2012-07-02T04:22:00Z

Reel FX is proud to be part of the team that brought Universal Orlando’s latest special attraction to life in 3-D! Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is NOW OPEN! ( More details coming soon)

Official Website here

See the ride coverage on The Today Show here

About the ride:
Join Gru, his daughters, and the mischievous minions on an all-new 3-D ride, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. Start your adventure in Gru’s home, where you’re recruited for his latest scheme – one where you’ll become an actual minion.

After making it through “minion training” things don’t go as planned! Within moments, you’re launched into an unforgettable trip through his super-villain laboratory. Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes, and the mischievous minions race along with you through every zany twist and turn.

The laughs keep coming after the ride with an interactive, minion-inspired dance party. Take the floor and show off your best moves. It’s heartwarming and hilarious family fun!

UPDATE - Official TRAILER- CIRQUE DU SOLEIL WORLDS AWAY - Reel FX Partners with Andrew Adamson, James Cameron, and Cirque du Soleil on 3D Theatrical Project

2012-06-29T04:49:00Z

UPDATE – The Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away Trailer has just been released! Check out the trailer for this amazing film, coming December 21, 2012.

Watch the video here

UPDATE – The official press release

CREATIVE FORCES CIRQUE DU SOLEIL, JAMES CAMERON, AND ANDREW ADAMSON, IN ASSOCIATION WITH REEL FX ENTERTAINMENT, FORM PARTNERSHIP TO PRODUCE CIRQUE-INSPIRED IMMERSIVE 3D EXPERIENCES

Los Angeles, Dallas, Montreal – December 9, 2010 – Cirque du Soleil, James Cameron (Titanic, Avatar), and Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Chronicles of Narnia), in association with Reel FX Entertainment, announce today a partnership designed to develop and produce immersive theatrical 3D projects inspired by the unique creative universe of Cirque du Soleil.

Initiated by Cirque du Soleil, the new 3D motion picture experiences will combine the creative visions of Cameron and Adamson to capture and expand the live production experience to an art form beyond the imagination. The partnership brings together the best creative minds in 3D technology, creative storytelling and live performance.

The first project to stem from this partnership is currently in production. This first film includes original visuals and a story written by the project’s director, Andrew Adamson. James Cameron will Executive Produce, and bring his unique 3D expertise to the project. Reel FX Entertainment, led by Ed Jones and Cary Granat, is the production partner along with Cirque du Soleil Images. Both Jones and Granat have worked previously with Cameron and Adamson. Aron Warner, Adamson’s partner at Strange Weather Films, will also produce and is playing a key role in the project. Warner has also worked previously with Cameron.

The yet-to-be-named film is based on a very simple creative premise:

There are worlds beyond dreams, illusion and imagination, where human beings are capable of anything. Where love rules, and everything your heart yearns for is beautifully, incredibly real.

“Shooting with the Cirque du Soleil team has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my professional life. For years I’ve been a fan, both of their celebration of human physical performance and for their wild imagination in the designs of characters, costumes, music and unparalleled theatrical staging. They’ve built a global brand, and it’s a unique opportunity for me, and my 3D partner Vince Pace, to bring the Cirque du Soleil experience to a world wide audience through the magic of 3D cinema. The images we’ve been shooting are stunning, and I know Andrew Adamson will weave them into a transporting, dreamlike narrative which will mesmerize audiences of all ages, around the world,” said James Cameron.

Andrew Adamson commented, “Cirque du Soleil has always inspired me with their window into the balance between beauty and danger; art and technology; gravity and unbelievable physical ability. Bringing that to the screen in 3D is a perfect synergy between an art form and a medium – a chance to offer the audience an entirely new experience – and the opportunity to do that with people at the top of their game, like Jim and Cirque du Soleil, is an incredible privilege.”

“Unique and challenging creative endeavors are what we strive for at Cirque du Soleil. Working with James Cameron, who changed the 3D creative reality with Avatar, is a gift. Creating a new time of 3D offer is exciting and inspiring,” notes Guy Laliberté, Founder, Cirque du Soleil.

“Ed and I have had the privilege to work with both Jim and Andrew in the past, and each time we have pushed the boundaries of storytelling. To be able to work with them along with the creative geniuses of Cirque du Soleil gives us the chance to push those creative boundaries even further,” said Cary Granat, Principal, Reel FX Entertainment.

About Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil is primarily a creative content provider for a wide variety of unique projects. In addition to shows, the company, which has its International Headquarters in Montreal, extends its creative talent to other spheres of activity. While maintaining stringent standards of artistic quality and originality, Cirque du Soleil brings to innovative projects the same energy and spirit that characterize each of its shows. Cirque du Soleil Images has produced award-winning documentary and television specials, All Together Now (Grammy) and Fire Within (Emmy). Cirque du Soleil is a Quebec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. Since its beginnings in 1984, more than 100 million spectators in near 300 cities on five continents have been thrilled by Cirque du Soleil. In 2010, 20 shows will simultaneously be presented around the world.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com
To find out more about the One Drop Foundation, visit www.onedrop.org

About Reel FX Entertainment
Reel FX Entertainment is a streamlined provider of content for film, TV, publishing and digital media. It is a one-stop studio for the development and production of animated films and exciting, effects-driven live-action content. Reel FX Entertainment produces “family franchise films” in the $35 million budget range. Drawing on its deep relationships within the entertainment industry, Reel FX Entertainment has attracted top creative talent (writers, directors, animation and effects artists) and supports them with seasoned executives and a proven proprietary animation and effects software (developed by Reel FX), which allows artists to work & collaborate more effectively and control rising costs often associated with CGI projects. In addition, Reel FX Entertainment secures the rights to and develops franchise-worthy literary material. At present, the studio has secured and is actively developing multiple CG and effects-driven/hybrid live-action features. Reel FX Entertainment is led by a team of industry veterans including Academy Award® winning, former Industrial Light and Magic senior executive Ed Jones and Walden Media CEO Cary Granat.

For more information about Reel FX Entertainment, visit www.radiumreelfx.com

###

Initial details of the partnership were revealed yesterday. Click here for more details, and stay tuned for more news about this exciting new project.

General Manager Keith McCabe Makes the Post

2012-06-13T05:08:00Z

In the June edition of Post Magazine, new-hire Keith McCabe was recently announced as General Manager of the Commercial Division of Reel FX.

Guess that in this case… GOOD news travels fast!

School daze

2012-06-08T09:52:00Z

It is the season of graduations – I came across the commencement speech below and thought it to be one of the most inspirational I have heard(read) in a long time. It may have hit me harder than usual as I have just finished reading a few books on this generation; “Grown Up Digital”, “Recruit or Die” and “The Millennials go to College”. All of these deal with what my dad would refer to as, “Kids these days” and how we in management can either get them to adapt to us or we will need to adapt to them. To quote Dash in Brad Bird’s “The Incedibles”, “If everyone is special than no one is special”.

Read on, MacDuff…

Good afternoon, no commencement is life’s great ceremonial beginning, with its own attendant and highly appropriate symbolism. Fitting, for example, for this auspicious rite of passage, is where we find ourselves this afternoon, the venue. Normally, I avoid clichés like the plague, wouldn’t touch them with a ten-foot pole, but here we are on a literal level playing field. That matters. That says something. And your ceremonial costume… shapeless, uniform, one-size-fits-all. Whether male or female, tall or short, scholar or slacker, spray-tanned prom queen or intergalactic X-Box assassin, each of you is dressed, you’ll notice, exactly the same. And your diploma… but for your name, exactly the same.

All of this is as it should be, because none of you is special.

You are not special. You are not exceptional.

Contrary to what your soccer trophy suggests, your glowing seventh grade report card, despite every assurance of a certain corpulent purple dinosaur, that nice Mister Rogers and your batty Aunt Sylvia, no matter how often your maternal caped crusader has swooped in to save you… you’re nothing special.

Yes, you’ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped. Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again. You’ve been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored. You’ve been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie. Yes, you have. And, certainly, we’ve been to your games, your plays, your recitals, your science fairs. Absolutely, smiles ignite when you walk into a room, and hundreds gasp with delight at your every tweet.

But do not get the idea you’re anything special. Because you’re not.

The empirical evidence is everywhere, numbers even an English teacher can’t ignore. Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That’s 37,000 valedictorians… 37,000 class presidents… 92,000 harmonizing altos… 340,000 swaggering jocks… 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs. But why limit ourselves to high school? After all, you’re leaving it. So think about this: even if you’re one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you. Imagine standing somewhere over there on Washington Street on Marathon Monday and watching sixty-eight hundred yous go running by. And consider for a moment the bigger picture: your planet, I’ll remind you, is not the center of its solar system, your solar system is not the center of its galaxy, your galaxy is not the center of the universe. In fact, astrophysicists assure us the universe has no center; therefore, you cannot be it.

As you commence, then, and before you scatter to the winds, I urge you to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance. Don’t bother with work you don’t believe in any more than you would a spouse you’re not crazy about. Resist the easy comforts of complacency, the specious glitter of materialism, the narcotic paralysis of self-satisfaction. Be worthy of your advantages. And read… read all the time… read as a matter of principle, as a matter of self-respect. Read as a nourishing staple of life. Develop and protect a moral sensibility and demonstrate the character to apply it. Dream big. Work hard. Think for yourself. Love everything you love, everyone you love, with all your might. And do so, please, with a sense of urgency, for every tick of the clock subtracts from fewer and fewer; and as surely as there are commencements there are cessations, and you’ll be in no condition to enjoy the ceremony attendant to that eventuality no matter how delightful the afternoon.

The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life, is an achievement, not something that will fall into your lap because you’re a nice person or mommy ordered it from the caterer. You’ll note the founding fathers took pains to secure your inalienable right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness–quite an active verb, “pursuit”–which leaves, I should think, little time for lying around watching parrots rollerskate on Youtube. The first President Roosevelt, the old rough rider, advocated the strenuous life. Mr. Thoreau wanted to drive life into a corner, to live deep and suck out all the marrow. The poet Mary Oliver tells us to row, row into the swirl and roil. Locally, someone… I forget who… from time to time encourages young scholars to carpe the heck out of the diem. The point is the same: get busy, have at it. Don’t wait for inspiration or passion to find you. Get up, get out, explore, find it yourself, and grab hold with both hands.

Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence, a gratifying byproduct. It’s what happens when you’re thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly. Exercise free will and creative, independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you, but for the good they will do others, the rest of the 6.8 billion–and those who will follow them. And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself.

The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special.

Because everyone is.

Congratulations. Good luck. Make for yourselves, please, for your sake and for ours, extraordinary lives.

REEL FX COMMITS TO DALLAS WITH THE ACQUISITION OF ITS DEEP ELLUM HEADQUARTERS

2012-06-06T06:21:00Z

DALLAS, TX – June 6, 2012 – Deep Ellum-based Reel FX Inc. (Dallas | Santa Monica), an award-winning creative studio specializing in animation and visual effects for feature films, commercials and live-venue projects, has secured its footprint in Dallas with the acquisition of 301 N. Crowdus Street. After seven years in the building, Reel FX acquired the 73,200 square foot property to serve as its corporate headquarters. The studio also currently occupies a 16,000 square foot facility in Santa Monica, California.

Billy Gannon and Gary Collett of Cushman & Wakefield of Texas, Inc. represented Reel FX.

“After an 18-month process assessing several unique opportunities in Frisco, Richardson and Dallas, it became very clear that Reel FX should remain in its current location,” said Gannon in a statement. "Deep Ellum offers the perfect environment for the studio’s culture, provides ample amenities, and is located just steps away from DART’s green line. To continue to attract and recruit the best talent in the industry, the Deep Ellum location makes perfect sense for this fast growing company.”

The City of Dallas has offered a substantial economic incentive package as part of their business retention program, which played a significant role in Reel FX’s decision to remain in Dallas. The incentive package was approved by the City Council’s Economic Development Committee on June 4, 2012 and recommended to the full Council for final approval on June 27, 2012. The City’s Economic Development Office (Hammond Perot, Chris O’Brien and Karl Zavitkovsky) clearly demonstrated the importance of retaining Reel FX as a corporate tenant in Dallas. The pro-business attitude of Mayor Mike Rawlings was also instrumental in Reel FX’s decision-making process: he helped develop and structure the City’s economic incentive package, and leveraged relationships with other Dallas businesses to further support the overall incentives offered. The City of Dallas’ partnership with Reel FX showcases the willingness of Dallas to remain a “pro-business” environment and retain the top businesses in the city.

“Helping with the expansion of Reel FX’s headquarters and operations is a big win for Dallas,” said Michael S. Rawlings, Mayor of Dallas. “As a significant employer, who is an award-winning, animation, visual effects, design and entertainment and commercial studio, Reel FX’s commitment to Dallas cements our location as an innovation and creative business hub. We look forward to supporting their continued success and expansion.”

“We have called Dallas home for almost two decades, and our goal was to remain in Dallas and in Deep Ellum,” said Reel FX Chief Operating Officer Kyle Clark. “We couldn’t be happier to stay in the building we consider an important part of our past, and now, our future.”

Reel FX Makes the Cover of Dallas Morning News' Metro Section

2012-06-06T05:12:00Z

More details about Reel FX’s decision to stay in Dallas and in Deep Ellum make the Dallas Morning News Metro section cover in this piece by Robert Wilonsky.

Dallas Morning News Covers Reel FX's Decision to Stay in Deep Ellum

2012-06-01T04:30:00Z

From the Dallas Morning News full article which lives here

About seven years back Reel FX moved from the White Swan Building to a former warehouse on Crowdus Street once occupied by Mark Cuban and Todd Wagner’s Broadcast.com; the reason, its “major expansion into children’s entertainment programming.” But since then the company has morphed into a mighty player in the film and animation business: It recently partnered with acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo del Toro on the CG-animated Day of the Dead, and is presently at work on the movie Turkeys featuring the voices of Owen Wilson and Woody Harrelson as “two turkeys who discover a time machine in a secret government lab and decide to go back to the first Thanksgiving in order to get turkeys off the menu.”

Its shop in Deep Ellum has become a sort of landmark; it’s even open for tours.

But Reel FX was considering leaving Deep Ellum.

Katherine Harper, director of marketing for Reel FX, says via email that “we wanted to see what other options were available to us in the DFW area,” and that the studio “looked in-depth at multiple properties in Richardson and Frisco and also considered other Dallas properties that met our needs.” Hence, the agenda item for Monday’s meeting of the Economic Development Committee: “Retention & Expansion of Reel FX Headquarters in Deep Ellum.”

Guillermo del Toro, director of such films as Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth, is collaborating with Reel FX on an animated film.(Via.)

Karl Zavitkovsky, director of the city’s Office of Economic Development, declines for now to offer specifics of the deal; they’ll become public tomorrow night, soon as the council gets first crack at the docs.

Suffice it to say, Reel FX is getting a lot from the city — street improvements around its HQ, assistance with expanding its existing parking and money to help Reel FX buy the property, which sits at around $5 million on the tax rolls, outright.

“They were looking at a bunch of options, and for me they are exactly the kind of company we want to keep here in Dallas,” Zavitkovsky says. “So we reached out and talked to them and said, ‘What’s important to you?’ And they said, ‘Parking’s important so us, so is street appeal.’ So we said, ‘Let’s see what we can do to help you out.’ We’re working with them on a combination of incentives to help with streetscape and more parking spaces around their facility. They’re going to buy the building too.”

He says the money will be coming from the Deep Ellum TIF and “out of some old bond money,” which never seems to run out. “There’s some real cash also, which is tied to them acquiring the building and the new employees they’re bringing on,” says Zavitkovsky. “That’s a normal thing — you make the investment, you hire the people. And they are going to bring more people on board in the next couple of years. I think they like their location, and with the younger, high-tech, very creative folks, they like living and working in this area. They’re important to us, and we wanted them to feel like they’re important to us. That’s exactly the kind of company we want to see here.”

Adds Harper, “At the end of the day, The City of Dallas (Mayor Mike Rawlings and the City’s Economic Development Office including Hammond Perot, Chris O’Brien and Karl Zavitkovsky) proposed a substantial economic incentive package as part of their business retention program, which played a significant role in our decision to remain here. We are a rapidly growing company, and the incentives will provide for improvements to support that growth.”

Reel FX Adds Keith McCabe as General Manager - Commercial Division

2012-05-07T07:11:00Z

Keith McCabe

Reel FX, (Santa Monica/Dallas) has signed VFX veteran Keith McCabe as General Manager of Reel FX’s commercial division. In this role, McCabe’s primary focus will be to oversee all aspects of commercial production from motion design to CG and VFX work. McCabe comes to Reel FX from Charlex where he supervised CG work on campaigns for top brands including Verizon Wireless, Cover Girl, Clairol, AIG and Hershey’s. In his sixteen years of experience in the advertising and feature film industries, he has garnered numerous accolades for his work including a 2006 AICP Award for Excellence in Animation for his contributions on M&M’s “Kaleidoscope.”

Notes Reel FX Executive Producer Gary Banks, “It’s fantastic to have someone with Keith’s background and experience join us. Our core commercial team has been working together for many years, and Keith immediately showed us that he has the same passion for creative and client service that Reel FX is known for. He’s a great fit for our studio, and already part of our team.”

“I have followed Dale Carman and Reel FX for many years,” says McCabe. “They have a deep pool of talent and a strong reputation for leading jobs of any type from stereoscopic 3D, to CG animation, to turn-key live-action/visual effects and cutting edge design. I’m glad to be part of their team; we’ve got some great things currently underway that we can hopefully share soon.”

New York native McCabe graduated valedictorian with a degree in Digital Media from Full Sail University in Orlando, Florida. He immediately dove into the industry working as a Technical Director at VIFX in Los Angeles, crafting particle-based dynamics and visual effects animation for films including Titanic, Blade and Volcano. He continued to work as a Technical Director for top companies including Sony Pictures Imageworks, Asylum Visual Effects, Rhythm & Hues Studios and George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic.
In 2004, McCabe returned to New York as a Technical Director at Blue Sky Studios (a division of 20th Century Fox) on their animated feature Robots. He moved on to Charlex when offered a position as Head of Computer Graphics. While there, he managed and mentored up to forty CG artists, editors, programmers and designers. Additionally, he served as the primary creative contact collaborating with such top agencies as BBDO, McCann Erickson, Grey, Y&R and Mullen, to name a few.

The Critic Show with Scott Murray Interviews Glen Keane

2012-05-03T12:08:00Z

Scott Murray of “The Critic Show” had an opportunity to interview Glen Keane during the 2012 Dallas International Film Festival. The video clip below is just Glen Keane’s interview portion from the entire, animation themed audio podcast. The complete podcast can be found at www.thecriticshow.com

2012 Texas Avery Animation Award Winner Glen Keane Visits Reel FX

2012-04-23T03:30:00Z

Glen signs our event poster

Glen and the Reel FX Animation Crew

Reel FX was lucky to have the amazingly talented and kind Glen Keane in town this past Thursday – Sunday for the Dallas International Film Festival’s Texas Avery Animation Award. From his presentation, to lunch with our animation group to the honors dinner and screening of Aladdin, Glen showed us why he is considered “the best” in the animation industry, and beyond that, is just a wonderful guy. Thanks Glen for spending time with us, we can’t wait to have you back to Reel FX!

In Case You Missed It: Reel FX Literally Made the News

2012-04-11T10:47:00Z

Last week, Reel FX’s Dale Carman and Steve O’Brien sat down with FOX 4 News’ Producer/TV anchor, Dan Godwin, on a 4 minute segment that aired Sunday, April 8th. The piece covered various aspects of our business as well as the latest on our development projects. In case you missed the evening news, we’ve posted the segment for your viewing pleasure.

An Evening with Glen Keane

2012-04-05T10:37:00Z

Get ready!!!! Reel FX is hosting “An Evening With Glen Keane” on Thursday, April 19th at 7:30 pm at Reel FX. See invite for details. Glen will present and draw for the DFW animation/art community in person. YOU MUST RSVP and it MUST BE CONFIRMED by Reel FX to attend. RSVP by April 12 to rsvp@reelfx.com.

Just In Case You Missed It... You Can Read All About Us!

2012-03-30T10:05:00Z

There is a lot to be said when it comes to Reel FX and the projects we work on… Literally! In case you missed it, here is a list of just a few of our projects and some of the MANY wonderful mentions/articles attributed to our work. So keep on… reading on… and take a look at some of the projects we’ve been working on lately:

2012 Dallas International Film Festival | Texas Avery Award: Glen Keane
• D Magazine
• Dallas Morning News
• DFW.com
• Indiewire
• KERA “Art & Seek”
• Pegasus News

L.A.A.F
• Collider.com

Day of the Dead
• Broadway World
• ComingSoon.net
• Deadline Hollywood
• Dread Central
• First Showing
• Hollywood Reporter
• IGN
• IMdB
• L.A. Times
• Mexico City
• Movies with Butter
• Paste Magazine
• Screen Daily
• Shock Till You Drop
• Thompson on Hollywood
• Una Fuente
• Upcoming Movies
• Variety
• Wired

Re-brand
• Creativity-Online.com
• Press Kitchen
• Screen Magazine
• The Inspiration Room

Cirque du Soleil
• Artsbeat
• Baltimore Sun
• Celebrity Café
• Coming Soon
• Deadline: New York
• Film Stage
• First Showing
• Fit 4 Talent
• L.A. Times Blog
• Market Watch
• Movie Fix
• NYU News
• PR Newswire
• Reuters
• Slash Film
• The Guardian
• The Reel Bits
• Upcoming Movies
• UPI.com
• Variety Magazine
• WRAP

Invasion
• Chicago Tribune
• Cinema Blend
• Collider.com
• IMdB
• SciFi Mafia

Daffy’s Rhapsody
• AARP.com
• Animation Magazine
• Captain Comics
• Cartoon Brew
• Coming Soon
• Market Watch

Rockettes
• Deadline Hollywood
• Hollywood News
• Hollywood Reporter
• Inside Movies
• Reuters
• Sound and Communication

Glen Keane to Accept 2012 Texas Avery Animation Award

2012-03-26T04:12:00Z

Glen Keane

The Dallas Film Society Names Glen Keane As the Recipient of the 2012 Texas Avery Animation Award

Award Honors Lifetime Achievement in Animation

Keane will accept the 2012 Texas Avery Animation Award during the sixth edition of the festival (April 12 – 22, 2012).

Keane, a legendary animator, director, author and illustrator, who recently announced his departure from Disney after 38 years with the studio, is best known for his work on Disney classics such as ALADDIN, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, TARZAN, THE LITTLE MERMAID and TANGLED. Keane has previously received the prestigious Winsor McCay Award, which is also presented for lifetime achievement in animation.

Glen Keane was one of the shining lights in the current generation of Disney character animators, and has thrilled audiences with his artistry of the leading characters in many of the classic animated features since the 1970’s. He was the lead animator of Ariel in THE LITTLE MERMAID, The Beast in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (1991) and he personally created the characters Aladdin, Tarzan and Pocahontas in their respective Disney films. Most recently, he was the directing animator of Rapunzel and animation supervisor of the breathtaking fantasy, TANGLED (2010).

“Glen Keane’s work is beloved by millions around the world. As an artist and storyteller, he has brought some of our favorite, iconic heroes and heroines to life in some of the most-loved animated classics ever made,” said Ed Jones, CEO of REEL FX. “Although some film-goers might not know his name, you only have to mention Aladdin, Ariel, Tarzan or Pocahontas to see an instantaneous, awed reaction. Glen is also an educator and has dedicated much of his life to teaching others the art of animation. Texas Avery Animation Award has been given to the very best in our industry: Brad Bird, Chris Wedge, Henry Selick, Pete Docter and Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders. We feel there is no more fitting recipient to honor this year than Glen Keane. We look forward to celebrating him and his incredible body of work during DIFF.”

About The Award:
The Texas Avery Animation Award was created by Reel FX and the Dallas Film Society to honor the best and brightest of the animation industry. The award was first given in 2007 at AFI Dallas (now the Dallas International Film Festival). Six years later, the award has been bestowed upon animation legends such as Academy Award® winners Pete Docter (Up, Monsters Inc.) and Brad Bird (The Incredibles, Ratatouille); as well as Academy Award® nominees Henry Selick (Coraline, James and the Giant Peach); Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Robots); Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders (How To Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch).

About the Dallas International Film Festival
Approximately 180 films from all over the world will be screened over 11 days. For the first year since the festival’s inception there will be a Festival Village at the fashionable Mockingbird Station. The Festival Village will serve as the hub of the festival where filmmakers and film fans will have the chance to mingle and network at the Festival Lounge and CBS Radio will present its first ever Music Lounge – showcasing local music to the public every evening for the festival’s eleven-day duration. Only a few steps from Mockingbird Station, Kimpton’s luxurious Hotel Palomar will conveniently offer a stylish retreat for the out-of-town filmmakers and visiting celebrities as the festival’s host hotel.

The festival will culminate with the Dallas Film Society Honors on April 20, an evening of tributes with Dallas Star Award honorees and filmmaker award winners at the Hotel Palomar. Along with the cash prizes from Whole Foods and The Embrey Family Foundation, TXU Energy will award grants to the winning schools and student filmmakers for the Student Light Up the Red Carpet Film Contest. Other Grand Jury Prize awards will be presented to the best narrative feature, documentary feature, Texas Competition, Short Film, Student Short Film and Animated Short Film presented by REEL FX.

Passes are currently for sale and range from $100 for a Festival Lounge Pass to $750 for an all-access Star Pass. Tickets go on sale at the Prekindle Box Office and online to the public on March 22. The Prekindle Box Office will be featured as part of the Festival Village at Mockingbird Station. For further information on pass levels and how to purchase passes visit: www.dallasfilm.org or telephone 214.720.0555.

Reel FX Takes Home Six Telly Awards!

2012-03-22T04:02:00Z

Reel FX announces that it has received 6 Telly Awards this year for two projects: Take Your Medicine (Music Video) & TX DOT “Invisible” in categories including Art Direction and Visual Effects. Congrats to all the Reel FXers who worked on these pieces! Winners are listed below.

2012 Silver Award: “Take Your Medicine” – TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Art Direction
2012 Silver Award: “Take Your Medicine” – Non-Broadcast Productions – Art Direction

2012 Bronze Award: “Take Your Medicine” – Non-Broadcast Productions – Music/Concert
2012 Bronze Award: “Take Your Medicine” – TV Programs, Segments, or Promotional Pieces – Music Video

2012 Bronze Award: – TX DOT “Invisible” – Regional TV & Multi-Market Cable – Public Service
2012 Bronze Award: – TX DOT “Invisible” – Regional TV & Multi-Market Cable – Visual Effects

Reel FX's Work on the Radio City Christmas Spectacular Makes the Cover of Sound & Communications!

2012-03-20T05:43:00Z

The March Cover of Sound & Communications

In late 2011, Reel FX partnered with Madison Square Garden Entertainment to bring the 2011 edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to life in stereoscopic 3DLive.

The studio delivered a total of seven and a half minutes of stereoscopic CG content which was featured on a massive 3D LED wall on-stage during the show. Reel FX Producer Greg Lyons, Digital Supervisor Glo Minaya and Senior VFX Supervisor Augusto Schillaci worked closely with Director and Choreographer of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Linda Haberman, and senior vice president, production, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Larry Sedwick from the pre-production and conceptual stages to the final dress rehearsals. The goal was to achieve a level of seamless integration between the stereoscopic imagery and live-action performers and to give audiences a new experience.

A detailed technical review of the show is the cover story in this month’s Sound & Communications magazine. See page 50 for the story.

L.A.A.Fing It Up This Weekend

2012-03-06T03:42:00Z

Animation, Films and the Iron Giant… oh my! Reel FX has an action packed planned weekend at the annual Los Angeles Animation Film Festival, known as L.A.A.F. for short, as participants in the Q&A/panel of cast crew of the Iron Giant. The all-time classic comes to the big screen for one very big, very special celebration on Friday, March 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. All of the ticket sales will be donated to charity. The cast & crew reunion will feature the likes of: director Brad Bird and a panel hosted by well-known Animation Director Tom Sito including, Reel FX’s own, Brad Booker – “Iron Giant” animator and Mark Whiting – “Iron Giant” production designer.

However, Reel FX plans on L.A.A.F “ing” it up all weekend at several other scheduled films, seminars and other fabulous events. So we encourage you to leave your boring couch behind and come have a L.A.A.F “ing” good time with us this weekend at the Los Angeles Animation Film Festival, March 7 – 11, 2012.

Cirque du Soleil World's Away Gets Release Date! December 21, 2012

2012-02-28T03:25:00Z

Reel FX is excited to announce that the 3D feature film, Cirque du Soleil’s World’s Away, directed by Andrew Adamson, executive produced by James Cameron and produced by Reel FX’s Ed Jones and Cary Granat, has been given a release date of December 21, 2012.

See more details in The Hollywood Reporter

GUILLERMO DEL TORO JOINS WITH REEL FX TO PRODUCE EPIC ANIMATED ADVENTURE DAY OF THE DEAD

2012-02-21T06:30:00Z

Jorge R. Gutierrez To Direct Tent-pole Project Set for 2014 Release

Reel FX has teamed with Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Guillermo del Toro (Puss in Boots, Pacific Rim, Pan’s Labyrinth) to produce a groundbreaking, CG-animated film — working title, Day of the Dead. Del Toro will also present the film which is directed by Emmy Award winner Jorge R. Gutierrez (El Tigre, The Adventures of Manny Rivera). The film is being penned by Gutierrez and Emmy Award nominee Doug Langdale. Reel FX will produce alongside Aaron Berger and Carina Schulze of Chatrone, Inc. Day of the Dead is scheduled to be released in fall 2014.

The film is an action-packed, fully CG-animated picture, with a “Romeo and Juliet” style love story set against a Mexican “Day of the Dead” backdrop. It represents the first time in almost twenty years — since 1993’s Cronos — that del Toro has collaborated on a feature project set in Mexico. Music is also integral to the story; the film will feature an international roster of A-list recording artists performing new songs as well as re-imagined iconic songs. Reel FX’s Brad Booker brought Day of the Dead to the studio and is the development executive on the project.

“We’re thrilled to have Guillermo on board for Day of the Dead,” said Booker. “As individuals, Guillermo and Jorge share a cultural background and love for Mexican folklore, which brings a palpable authenticity to our project; however, as artists, each brings to the picture a vastly different aesthetic sensibility. Working together for the first time, we feel that they bring a truly unique balance to the style and story of the film.”

Notes del Toro, “I have admired Jorge’s work for a long time. He has a unique aesthetic and sense of humor. Day of the Dead offers a perfect opportunity for his sensibilities to shine. This is a colorful, vibrant, vital fable that utilizes the animation medium in an incredible way. The object of the tale is not only to talk about life but to dazzle us – jolt us- into living to the fullest. To join Reel FX, Cary Granat and Jorge in this adventure is a privilege and a joy.”

In addition to Day of the Dead, Reel FX has secured and is actively developing multiple CG-animated and effects-driven, live-action projects. Projects underway include an animated feature adaptation of the Dark Horse graphic novel, Beasts of Burden, produced by Andrew Adamson (Shrek) and Aron Warner; and Turkeys, the studio’s CG-animated comedy directed by Jimmy Hayward (Horton Hears a Who!). The studio also recently collaborated on the production of the 3D film Cirque du Soleil’s “Worlds Away,” written and directed by Andrew Adamson, and executive produced by Academy Award®-winning filmmaker James Cameron (Avatar). Cary Granat and Ed Jones served as producers on the project for Reel FX. Cirque du Soleil’s “Worlds Away” is currently in post-production and set to debut in late 2012 from Paramount Pictures.

Behind The Scenes: The Reel FX Re-Brand

2012-02-08T02:45:00Z

Stop-motion frame from the piece

a frame from the motion piece

Jared Brower works on the stop-motion “R”

Stop-motion shoot begins

Stop-motion shoot continues

Digital studio Radium/Reel FX has taken the final step in fully joining its commercial and entertainment brands by officially re-branding under one name: Reel FX. The re-brand includes a complete logo and website makeover for the studio, and is the result of the continuing fusion of Radium and Reel FX that started in spring of 2007, when Reel FX acquired Radium. Reel FX will continue to operate in its current Santa Monica and Dallas spaces, and continue to produce and develop award-winning animation, VFX and design work for commercial, entertainment, live-venue/special attraction and interactive projects.

Much of the motivation behind the re-brand was to solidify and clarify the company’s image as Reel FX continues to grow. In the past seven years alone, the studio has grown from 126 to over 300 employees. Says Executive Producer Gary Banks, “Although Radium and Reel FX began separately, it became increasingly evident over the past five years that one of the keys to our success was the ability to cross-utilize our artists and cross-promote our projects across the studio. Since 2010, we have taken strategic steps toward this rebrand, by transitioning first to Radium/Reel FX and now, Reel FX. We are, after all, one studio, dedicated to creating amazing work for our clients whether it’s a :30 spot or a 120 minute feature. It’s only fitting that we now share one name.”

Overview
The revamped logo is an “R” – a nod to both Radium and Reel FX – encircled by a seemingly simple, hand-drawn line with REEL FX centered below. On the new website and other branding collateral, the line takes the shape of robots, cowboys, rockets, pirates, and hundreds of other images, supporting the idea that Reel FX is where unexpected creative ideas take shape. It is also meant to convey that even the most complex ideas start with a simple line. In support of these concepts, Reel FX commercial and entertainment artists from almost every discipline in the studio crafted a :30 motion piece (Hyperlink) for this launch. The piece captures the logo’s hand-drawn pencil line, which comes alive and inspires the “R” to transform into ideas of all shapes and sizes and styles including a colorful bipedal octo-creature, a retro ray-gun, a growing neighborhood, and an 80’s video-game screen. The team used techniques ranging from hand-drawn animation to traditional 3D CG animation, stop-motion, and motion design to create the various vignettes. The score is an original composition by Creative Director Barrett Lewis. Over 90% of the sound design was also created exclusively for the piece by Audio Engineer TJ Callaway.

Adds Executive Creative Director and Reel FX co-founder Dale Carman, “Although Reel FX is known for its entertainment projects, the studio actually began in commercial work almost 20 years ago, and it remains an integral and vital part of our business. We are excited to take this final step in joining our commercial and entertainment divisions under one name which supports our mission of being a one-stop creative studio for our clients. We are also thrilled to show the world our new face and all of the great pieces of collateral that have been created for this launch. So many people were part of making it happen and we feel that it truly reflects the personality of our studio as a whole.”

The re-brand launch caps off a successful past year for the studio, which celebrated many awards and milestones in 2011 on both the work-for-hire and development sides of the business. Reel FX’s work on Katy Perry “Firework” was named MTV’s Video of the Year in September 2011. The studio also received its 3rd consecutive V.E.S. nomination in January, and delivered two Annie Award-nominated projects for clients Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Sky Studios. Also on the commercial front, Reel FX delivered three Super Bowl spots in 2011, and one in 2012; it took home multiple AICE nominations and 5 Telly wins. Additionally, Reel FX University (RFXU), one of the most competitive and respected animation, VFX and design apprenticeships in the industry, also kicked off its 9th session in January 2012.

Czech It Out! "Take Your Medicine" Continues Its Global Takeover

2012-01-31T08:59:00Z

It’s a fact. Europeans can’t get enough of “Take Your Medicine.” First it started with the British Independent Film Festival. Now TYM heads back to the mainland, in the heart of Europe, to be showcased at the 11^th Annual AniFest in the Czech Republic.

The comprehensive listing of festival selections can be found here.

dobrou práci týmu!

For the Latest Reel FX Happenings... Follow us on Twitter!

2012-01-24T09:29:00Z

Tweet Tweet!

If you want to keep up with the latest happenings and conversation about Reel FX and our apprenticeship program RFXU, be sure and follow us on our official Twitter pages!

Reel FX

Reel FX University

and don’t forget our Facebook page:

"Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas" Sounds Magical

2012-01-20T05:13:00Z

The 59th Golden Reel Awards’ nominations, given out by the Motion Picture Sound Editors, have been announced and “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” has secured a nom for Best Sound Editing (Sound Effects, Foley, Dialogue and ADR) for Animation in Television.

Fellow prestigious nominees include:
“Lego Star Wars: The Padawan Menace”
“The Penguins of Madagascar”
“Kung Fu Panda: The Legends of Awesomeness”
“Kick Buttowski: Suburban Daredevil”
“Futurama”
“Fanboy and Chum Chum”
“Phineas and Ferb”

Congratulations to the Blue Sky audio crew!!

Find out more info in the Reuters article posted this morning.

"Puddy Tat" For Your Consideration

2012-01-16T03:30:00Z

“I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat” Shortlisted for an Academy Award

Get To Know Our Lil' Newbies...the 2012 Class of RFXU

2012-01-13T03:00:00Z

one of these is not like the others…

[from left-to-right and top-to-bottom]

David Lyons, VFX
I was born in bustling Dublin City, on the rain-soaked east coast of Ireland. I briefly attended the Ballyfermott School of Animation before landing my first job with Don Bluth Studios (in Dublin). When I came to LA in the early nineties, I simultaneously experienced the delights of the Northridge earthquake while working on the Pagemaster (for Turner Feature Animation). I then moved on to Disney and DreamWorks for a number of years and even took a few other gigs, everywhere from Arizona to Berlin, Germany – all as a 2D Special Effects Animator. After taking a brief diversion into the busy world of Production Management, I’m thrilled to be making the leap back into the world of special effects as a 3D artist. When I am not at work, I usually watch movies, and I have recently discovered the joys of fossil-hunting in North Texas. My future goal is to instigate an Irish take-over of the U.S. VFX industry.

Adam Meyer Rodriguez, Animation
I’m 27 years old, and I have been married to my 3^rd grade arch-nemesis for 4.5 years. We live in a cave in San Francisco, and light is hard to come by when you are addicted to animation. We have three crazy kids running around at all times that are not ours (long story), and as I am writing this, I am thinking about spaghetti.

Felipe Ruiz, *Lighting/Compositing_
I was born in Esbjerg (Denmark), was raised in Bogota (Colombia), grew up in Houston (TX), went to university in Dallas (TX), and according to Facebook, I’m Asian – which I’m not. I graduated from UT Dallas a year ago under the Arts and Technology Master’s program and have been working as a freelancer in the Los Angeles area as a 3D artist. It would be nice to be a feature filmmaker in the animation industry – yeah, I would really like that. I love the possibilities that can arise from a medium like animation – where everything that can be imagined is possible. I’m the type of person who feels sad for seedless watermelons because what if they wanted babies? Bebo Valdes, Eliane Elias and Michel Camilo are my musical heroes. If there is anything thing you should know about me, it is that I really like roller coasters.

Uncle Rico, Former Quarterback
I’m the greatest quarterback that Preston, Idaho has ever seen. I have some video tapes you can check out sometime. My arm is pretty amazing. I dabble in the internets, time-travel and herbal supplements. Hit me up if you ever want a free trial.

Tony Chau, Animation
I hail from Elk Grove, California and grew up singing tunes, playing games and watching films. I had a secret love of the arts, so secret, in fact, that even I didn’t know about it. During my soul-searching period (some call it my Blue period), I experimented with some stop motion animation and quickly found myself reading the staples of animation education: The Illusion of Life and The Animator’s Survival Kit. I soon found myself racing through Animation Mentor, and my appreciation of art and animation was made very clear to me. It reinvigorated my whole being and continues to inspire me to learn about anything and everything. I also love playing guitar and taking extended naps.

Sky Young, Lighting/Compositing
I grew up in a small community just outside of Gallup, NM called Church Rock. I am full-blooded Native American from the Navajo Tribe and am the oldest of five children, four boys and one sister. I have been married for 4.5 years with a daughter who turns one year old this month. This past April, I graduated from Brigham Young University with a BFA in Animation and a Minor in Spanish.

Scot Andreason, Textures
I am currently a graduate student at Texas A&M’s Vizualization Lab working on my thesis. I got my undergraduate degree in Architecture at A&M prior to that. I’m hopeful to be done with my endless school career by this summer however! Reel FX will be my first work experience at an entertainment studio so I am a true industry noob. For fun, I love playing video games, playing racquetball, researching new technology I can’t afford, and drinking a beer while watching bad 80s horror movies.

Paramount Pictures and Cirque du Soleil To Partner on Cirque Du Soleil Worlds Away

2012-01-10T03:00:00Z

Studio to Release the 3D Event Film Worldwide in 2012
Written and Directed by Andrew Adamson
And Presented by James Cameron

HOLLYWOOD, CA (January 9, 2012) – Paramount Pictures and Cirque du Soleil jointly announced today that the studio has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the Cirque du Soleil 3D feature film entitled Cirque du Soleil Worlds Away. Written and directed by Andrew Adamson (“Shrek,” “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”), and executive produced by Academy Award® winning filmmaker James Cameron, the 3D film event features artistic and acrobatic performances from some of the most elaborate Cirque du Soleil productions. The film was produced by Adamson, Aron Warner, Cirque’s Martin Bolduc, Ed Jones and Cary Granat. Vince Pace oversaw the 3D stereo production aspect of the film.

A number of production companies collaborated to bring the film to life. In addition to Cirque, Warner and Adamson’s Strange Weather Productions, Reel FX and Cameron Pace Group all contributed to this groundbreaking production.

“The coupling of Cirque du Soleil performers, who rank among the most elite in the field of live entertainment, along with the groundbreaking 3D visual accomplishments of filmmaker James Cameron and the direction of Andrew Adamson, is a perfect marriage for a truly amazing moviegoing experience for audiences of all ages, " said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures.

Said Jacques Méthé, Executive Producer and General Manager of Images, Events and Lifestyle for Cirque du Soleil, “This 3D event brings the spectator beyond what they could see on stage, it takes them on the stage. This unique point of view allows the audience to discover the artistic details of our productions and reveal the human spirit that our artists bring to the audience in their performances. Jim and Andrew have masterfully captured what a Cirque du Soleil 3D experience could offer and Paramount will present it to the world.”

About Paramount Pictures Corporation
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. Paramount controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, Insurge Pictures, MTV Films, and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Media Distribution, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group.

About Cirque du Soleil
From the 20 or so performers the company featured when it all began in 1984, Quebec-based Cirque du Soleil has become a leading provider of quality entertainment with 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists who hail from some 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to over 100 million spectators in nearly 300 cities on six continents.

For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Reel FX Kicks It in 2012 with Another VES Nomination

2012-01-09T06:00:00Z

The 10^th Annual VES Awards nomination s were announced this morning, and guess what?!? Reel FX snagged one again! Our work on the stereoscopic 3DLive “video game”-esque sequence, “Humbugged! Rockettes To The Rescue,” – part of the Radio City Music Hall’s Christmas Spectacular stage show starring The Rockettes – managed a nom for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project.

Congrats to the nominees VFX Producer Jasmine Johnson, Digital Supervisor Glo Minaya, CG Supervisor Mike Fortner and Layout/Stereoscopic Supervisor Troy Griffin, as well as the rest of the amazing and talented crew!

This will be the 3^rd VES nomination in three years. The studio was nominated for its work on the AMC Theaters/Coke spot “Magic Chairs” in 2010 as well as for Looney Tunes “Coyote Falls” in 2011.

The VES Awards Ceremony will take place on Tuesday, February 7^th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

RFXU Welcomes New Round of Apprentices

2012-01-03T05:10:00Z

Next Monday, we welcome a brand new set of wide-eyed Apprentices to the crew. In addition to their teachings and lectures from their mentors and other industry professionals, they will join us for the trials and tribulations of CG production over the course of the next 6 months. This semester’s competition was stiff with only a few openings and over 300 applications received. [That’s a 2%(!) acceptance rate for those of you who don’t do math.]

Below is the list of our Winter/Spring 2012 Apprentices. Check out their websites to see just how amazing they all are.

Lighters
Felipe Ruiz
Sky Young

Animators
Tony Chau
Adam Rodriguez

Texture Artist
Scot Andreason

Visual Effects
David Lyons

"Take Your Medicine" Featured on Reservoir T!

2011-12-21T04:34:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” is featured on the home page of the French/English website Reservoir T. Check it out!

Reel FX Gets Real Fancy for Holiday Festivities

2011-12-15T23:51:00Z

the venue: The Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff

Liz Hemme and Kasey Smith kickin’ it at the slots.

Kasey Smith and Kyle Wood acting like normal.

The studio came out to celebrate the end of another successful year: Reel FX-style! Katy Perry’s “Firework” music video won MTV’s highest honor of “Best Video of the Year.” Looney Tunes “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat” and “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” received Annie Award nominations. “Puddy Tat” has made it on the Oscar shortlist for “Best Animated Short.” Rockettes Magical Journey’s “Humbugged! Rockettes to the Rescue” opened to rave reviews at Radio City Music Hall. And our music video “Take Your Medicine” has taken home numerous “Best of” festival awards.

So yeah, it’s been a pretty stellar year. There was plenty of reason to celebrate (not that we ever really need an excuse).

People partied it up at the art deco throwback, the Kessler Theater, located just southwest of downtown Dallas in the retro arts district Oak Cliff. The venue housed a full casino set-up for the night. The tables were packed, but only a few high rollers were left standing and compensated for their mad skills. Meanwhile, lots of people flocked to the stage for a little face time at the flipbook station. Silly hats and props to boot, of course! At the end of the night, Santa [aka Chuck Peil] even made a cameo and gave away some pretty nifty prizes to a few lucky peeps.

Sorry you missed it, but there’s always next year. Until then ya’ll…

Ho-Ho-Humbug!

2011-12-13T06:25:00Z

Hey there, hi there, ho there…

It would appear that the holidays are upon us – when I saw the Christmas decorations go up in mid July that should have been my first clue, no?

The Winter Term for RFXU is about to begin. We are in the last few days of taking applications and then while the world lays down for a long Winter’s nap we’ll begin the process of vetting all of those that have applied to find the selected few whom we’d like to bring on. For those who are not chosen this time around take heart, we’ll run this circus back through town in the summer and you are more than welcome to reapply. As I stated on the Facebook page if you get the call for an interview assume we want to hire you. Our supervisors sort in such a way that the bestest-mostest-greatest applicants are the ones we call first and then if they say “No! How’d you get this number?” we move on down the list to the next bestest-mostest-greatest candidate. I am very proud to say, like the Godfather, we’ve yet to make an offer that has been refused.

Last week when I was down to where the stars at night are big and bright I met with the supervisors whom will be over-seeing (and have over seen) the departments where our apprentices will spend the next 6 months and at the risk of sounding like Rudy the Brown-nosed reindeer I have to tell you all that they are a bunch of frikkin’ rock stars and really support this program. This term is gonna be a hoot.

As this may be my last post of the year (who know’s I may get a wild hair and hop back on here – my literary muse is like a drunken booty call I never know when it’ll strike) I did not want to let it go without saying a few gushy emotional things.

I promise not to get all preachy and tell you to take a look at all that you have and be grateful – that’s what Thanksgiving is for after all. What I will say is this – way back when I was in Kindergarten (back when we referred to fossils as “that thing that just tried to eat you”) I had a great teacher named Mrs. Bramley. Mrs. B. was old when I was young so I am sure she left this world about the same time that Nixon left the White House but I love her now as I loved her then. She was a great teacher – who along with teaching her students that paste was best eaten fresh and that kittens did not, as a rule, bounce when dropped from the top of a book shelve also taught us that the most important lesson of all. That lesson was that it is important to try to be nice. That it was better to lead with a smile than a harsh word. That if you could not say something nice about someone you had a future career in studio management (Okay, I made that last one up). but as this year comes to a close – let me close with that, this next year let’s all just try to be a little bit nicer to each other, okay? Okay.

So, there it is – I hope that this year finds you all well and warm and in the company of those you love and that love you in return. May 2012 offer up opportunities to us all.

Until next time -

Robin

Reel FX Work is Annie Award Nominated

2011-12-05T05:30:00Z

Reel FX was thrilled to hear this morning that two 2011 projects received Annie Award nominations.

Looney Tunes “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat” (Warner Bros. Animation)
Best Animated Short Subject

Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas (Blue Sky Studios)
Best Animated Special Production

Last year, Looney Tunes “Coyote Falls” (Warner Bros. Animation) was also nominated.

The Annie Awards will be held on February 4th, 2012. Congratulations to the artists, production staff, and of course, our clients on this fantastic honor!

"Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas" Heats Up Thanksgiving Day TV Ratings and "I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat" Makes It on the Oscar Shortlist

2011-12-02T03:41:00Z

On Thanksgiving night, “Ice Age: A Mammoth Christmas” was watched by millions, 7.1 million to be exact, making it the 2^nd most watched show in its time slot for the evening, according to Nielsen Broadcast TV Ratings. Go team!

AND more fantastic news…

Sylvester and Tweety have a shot at the Oscars this year. It was just announced that “I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat” made the Academy Awards Shortlist for Best Animated Short. Nominees for the 2011 Oscars are expected Jan. 24; the awards show is slated for Feb. 26. Stay tuned…

Last year, Looney Tunes “Coyote Falls” also made the Oscar shortlist for Best Animated Short.

Radium/Reel FX Scores Style Points with Blake Griffin and Kevin Love

2011-11-30T03:58:00Z

Radium/Reel FX plays a radical game of JENGA infused with NBA finesse in the new :30 called “Style Points” out of Tracylocke/UPROAR! NY. The spot features Clippers forward Blake Griffin and Timberwolves forward Kevin Love facing off with an unconventional game of JENGA on an NBA basketball court. This latest Hasbro spot draws inspiration from an ESPN tongue-in-cheek short, “Behind The Scenes at The EPSYs,” which featured Griffin and Love playing a heated game of JENGA back in July.

To capitalize on the spoof, Tracylocke/UPROAR! NY tasked the Radium/Reel FX team, led by Executive Creative Director Dale Carman and Producer John Briley, and live action production duo, Matt Docter and Jason Docter (The Docter Twins), to recreate the rivalry with an over-the-top twist. “UPROAR! and Radium/Reel FX have a well-established partnership that spans many years on various campaigns, including Hasbro, Play-Doh, Transformers and EA (Electronic Arts). We always look forward to working with them,” says Carman, who also worked as on-set VFX Supervisor on the spot. In contrast, this marked the first creative collaboration between Reel FX and the Docter Twins. “He (Carman) allowed us to work creatively as filmmakers and supported us as directors, always helping us make things work rather than telling us we couldn’t do something,” recall the Docter Twins.

In “Style Points,” VFX and practical elements intermix to showcase each athlete’s talents. Actual blocks, glued and stacked together by hand, formed an incredibly tall JENGA tower for one shot. In the following shot, the blocks cascade down into a pile on the basketball court through effects composited in Autodesk Flame. In another shot, Love spins a JENGA piece on his finger – also thanks to Autodesk Flame. One iconic shot also imitates Griffin’s winning dunk from last February’s NBA Slam Dunk contest where he jumped over a car, but this time he’s flying over an orderly arrangement of JENGA tubes. Radium/Reel FX finished the spot using Autodesk Flame Premium-component Lustre.

Radium/Reel FX Editor Quan Tran cut the spot in-house, “As a big basketball fan it was fun to edit the spot knowing Blake and Kevin’s back story on the ESPYs. It was definitely a unique challenge to cut with over 15 hours of footage to play with from three different camera set ups. Since we turn-keyed this spot, our team got to collaborate on everything from the shoot to the edit to CG and Sound Design. This collaboration was the key to our success and made the process easier since everyone was on the same page from start to finish.”

About the Spot:

“Style Points” opens on Blake Griffin feverishly dribbling a basketball on the court when Kevin Love walks on, challenging him to a game of JENGA. The two add their own personal style as they jump into the game. “Style points,” brags Love, spinning the block on his finger. “Just like that?” Griffin asks as he pulls a block out, dribbling it on the court before placing it on top of the tower. As his last move, Griffin steals the show by stacking hundreds of JENGA blocks and successfully leaping over them to place the block on top. “Boom! That’s how you JENGA!” Griffin exclaims triumphantly. However, he quickly realizes that his swift moves were a bit over-the-top, causing the tower to topple over and end the game. The two are seen in the background cleaning up the pieces as the super displays the JENGA box and wooden blocks. The spot closes on Griffin doing a backward dunk before asking, “How do you JENGA?”
“Style Points” is currently airing on kids cable channels and various sports networks.

CTN in the rear view mirror (and other stuff)

2011-11-28T11:18:00Z

Hey there!

So, like the title says, CTN is now in the rear view mirror and we are on our way to another term of RFXU starting up come the new year. It was great meeting many of you at the Creative Talent Network Animation Expo! I am just now getting my voice back – nothing like talking to a gahbahzillion people to warp your vocal cords. Anyway – my family enjoyed a week of silence.

December 16th looms large – if you have been holding off applying for an RFXU apprenticeship to create a lil drama – well, you’ve accomplished you goal. Now, apply so I can exhale.

We had a ton of ppl apply this term – in fact if I use 165 lbs as the median weight of an applicant I can safely say we had over 250 tons of applicants apply this term and we still have a few weeks left to get new ones.

This is my favorite time for the program – I like the sus -—————————pense. Well, that’s not quite true – I enjoy the entire run of the term, making the offers, welcoming them into the studio – I love it all.

One of you at CTN asked me why I loved this program and why I loved meeting with graduates (as opposed to meeting industry vet’s and those with deep IMDB credit crawls) and I told them – they suggested I tell you all. So, what the Hell – here’s why.

A lifetime ago I was a bank employee. Those who know me now just did one helluva spit take. I wore a starched shirt and a tie and did my best to live up to my dad’s expectations. A once-upon-a-time cop my dad then worked at a bank as their VP of Corporate Security. He was the guy that showed up at bank robberies and such to deal with the FBI, etc. He thought that I should go into banking – it was safe and secure and I could build a career. (My how times have changed – banking safe? haha) and being the good son I agreed. Now, please understand that my first love was art – sculpting to be exact but back in those days sculpting was not a career move that anyone’s parents could get behind. So, by day I was a banker – actually reaching the title of Operations Manager and by night I sat in my crappy lil apartment and sculpted. I managed to sell a lot of my work at local galleries – even had a few shows down at a Laguna Beach artsy-fartsy gallery called The Sherwood Gallery (now defunct). It was at one of these gallery/gifte shoppes that a man named David Kirschner saw my work. David was then the president of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons and he needed a sculptor. Swipe cut back to me at the bank with my cheesy tie and the phone rings. “Hi Robin, my name is David Kirschner and I saw some of your sculptures and I’d like to talk with you about them” The next day I drove up to Hancock Park in my lil Suzuki Samurai. Now, I am an Orange County boy – born and raised – I’d never been to Hancock Park. Picture the mansion that the Clampetts lived in on “The Beverly Hillbilly’s” and you’re not too far off point. David lived in a mansion (swimmin’ pools, movie stars…). Long story short – he offered me a job. I went into the bank of the following Monday, gave notice and never looked back. That was back in 1989.

So, how does that shaggy-dog story relate back to RFXU? Simple enough, David gave me a job and changed my life. It’s that simple. He saw something in me that I could not see and gave me the opportunity to chase my dream – to build a career as an artist. I see it as part of my mission in life to offer that same damn opportunity to as many artists as I can. I know that sounds corny as all get-out but it is also true.

Ok, duty calls. Talk to you all soon…

More Media Coverage on the Radio City Rockettes Magical Journey

2011-11-28T04:04:00Z

the evil Humbug King

Newsday
The slow-motion denouement to the toy soldiers and the adorable teddy bear “Nutcracker” contrast markedly with the helter-skelter of “Santa’s Video Game,” in which dance is beside the point. We hardly notice the Rockettes through our 3-D glasses. The object of the game — staged against an animated video-screen backdrop (graphics by Reel FX) — is to liberate toys held hostage by Humbugs who resemble Scrooge-faced mosquitoes.

SCREEN

SHOOT Online on 11.18.2011
Stereoscopic Rockettes – Reel FX, which maintains studios in Santa Monica and Dallas, delivered seven-and-a-half minutes of stereoscopic CG content for “Humbugged: Rockettes to the Rescue,” a unique featured attraction within the “2011 Radio City Christmas Spectacular—The Rockettes’ Magical Journey,” which opened last week (11/11). The Reel FX content is featured on a massive 3D LED wall on stage during the show. Reel FX producer Greg Lyons, digital supervisor Glo Minaya and sr. visual effects supervisor Augusto Schillaci worked closely with “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” show director and choreographer Linda Haberman and MSG Entertaiment’s senior vice president of productions Larry Sedwick from the conceptual and pre-pro stages through to the final dress rehearsals. The goal was to achieve seamless integration between the stereoscopic imagery and live-action performers while providing audiences with a new entertainment experience.

Reel FX Goes Retro for Recruiting at CTN Animation Expo

2011-11-22T09:28:00Z

Reel FX’s Airstream parked curbside at CTN was the talk of the Expo

This past week, Reel FX headed to CTN Animation Expo in Burbank California, to recruit and get the word out about all the exciting things happening at the studio. To host interviews and VIP recruits and friends of studio, Reel FX set up a 30" Airstream curbside as well as hosting a booth on the mail floor. We can’t wait for CTN 2012!

Also part of our CTN Expo was a great panel, called the Modern Day DaVinci with friends Chantal Bumgarner of Digital Domain, Stan Syzmanski of StanleyVision, and Tim McLaughlin of Texas A&M Department of Visualization. Reel FXers David Parrish and Bryan Engram rounded out the panel – more details to come on that!

Reel FX Hosts the Dallas Film Society High School Roundtable

2011-11-22T09:16:00Z

Head of Studio Animation Bryan Engram talks to the DFS Highschoolers. Lead Animator Eric Drobile also spoke at the event

On November 16th, Reel FX hosted a group of students from various parts of the city who are part of the Dallas Film Society’s Highschool Night. The students got to see a selection of Reel FX work, and hear from Head of Studio Animation, Bryan Engram, and Animation Lead, Eric Drobile.

Reel FX Partners with Madison Square Garden Entertainment to Bring its New 2011 Edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular to Life in Stereoscopic 3DLive

2011-11-10T09:50:00Z

Dallas, TX/Santa Monica, CA – November 9, 2011 – Reel FX [www.reelfx.com] reveals details of its stereoscopic CG animation for “Humbugged: Rockettes to the Rescue” – a unique scene within the 2011 Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world-famous Radio City Rockettes –“The Rockettes Magical Journey” which opens Friday, November 11th, 2011. Reel FX delivered a total of seven and a half minutes of stereoscopic CG content which will be featured on a massive 3D LED wall on-stage during the show. Reel FX Producer Greg Lyons, Digital Supervisor Glo Minaya and Senior VFX Supervisor Augusto Schillaci worked closely with Director and Choreographer of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Linda Haberman, and senior vice president, production, Madison Square Garden Entertainment Larry Sedwick from the pre-production and conceptual stages to the final dress rehearsals. The goal was to achieve a level of seamless integration between the stereoscopic imagery and live-action performers and to give audiences a new experience. Tickets are currently on sale for the annual holiday production, which runs through Monday, January 2nd, 2012 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

In the scene “Humbugged: Rockettes to the Rescue,” the Radio City Rockettes free all the Christmas toys held captive in the magical kingdom’s castle by the evil Humbug King, and defeat his fantastical cronies with blasts of goodhearted holiday cheer. The piece simulates a video game in which the Rockettes perform as if they are part of the CG world, interacting with stereoscopic visual effects and larger-than-life animated characters on an expansive, floating 3D LED wall measuring 53 feet wide by 27 feet tall. Practical effects on stage also combine with matching digital effects timed simultaneously – continuing to blur the line between screen and stage. The piece redefines what live-action integration means, by immersing live performance within a stereoscopic space. MSGE has coined the term “3DLive” to describe the new, hyper-integrated approach.

“As a leader in live entertainment, we are focused on delivering our Christmas Spectacular audiences with content that has never been presented before in a theatrical setting and utilizing advanced technology features available in today’s market, while still honoring those traditions that keep our audience returning each year,” said Larry Sedwick, senior vice president production, MSG Entertainment. “In working with Reel FX to develop the 3DLive scene, we were able to use stereoscopic imagery as a tool to blend the live action of the Rockettes with a stereoscopic animated world and make it feel as one.”

The project was more than a year in the marking, starting with a script in pre-production, as MSG Entertainment looked to Reel FX to help develop the look and story for the CG component of “Humbugged.” Reel FX Senior VFX Supervisor and “Humbugged’s” working Art Director, Augusto Schillaci, oversaw the crew who worked closely with Haberman to bring her video game vision to fruition. “We developed a unique overall look I refer to as stylistic realism, where assets maintain a critical-level of detail while still maintaining a whimsical sensibility. We felt it really complemented the spirit of the show and the holiday season,” explains Schillaci.

The stereoscopic component drove much of the story and shot composition. Layout and Stereoscopic Supervisor Troy Griffin and Haberman plotted out the storyline for the high-kicking heroines, developing a working animatic within a single week. “Shots were carefully chosen in previs, based on how effectively they would work in stereo for the audience, for the dancers and choreography, and for the game itself,” explains Griffin.

Using a LIDAR scan of the interior of Radio City Music Hall, Griffin translated the values of the scan into Autodesk Maya to determine the precise position of each dancer onstage as well as to pinpoint key seats in the theater for evaluation of the stereo elements. In doing so, he was able to establish the exact placement of the zero parallax to achieve the desired stereo effect. Based on Griffin’s calculations, Haberman adjusted parts of the Rockettes’ choreography to accommodate the specific parameters determined for certain shots. The process was a fluid progression of give-and-take between the demands of the live show and to take full advantage of the scope of stereo.

Digital Supervisor Glo Minaya describes the stereoscopic progression of the piece: “During every stage of production—from layout to final delivery—we evaluated and refined the stereoscopic properties of each asset and every visual effect, not just the camera. This was key to successfully executing the 3DLive immersive experience.”

The 3DLive approach to “Humbugged” presented unique technical developments to work within. Massive CG environments, including a forest, castle and a gingerbread village, required an incredible amount of detail to achieve the look of “stylized realism” and to build great depth into the scene. To produce the fine detail on the numerous trees, the team developed an entirely new proprietary “fur” system for the project, using it to generate pine tree needles which could interact with onscreen stimuli like snow and other assets. Another scene was completely comprised of ice, including a giant CG Ice Monster character. Since many of the environments were created in Houdini and most characters were established in Maya, inter-software shot lighting required finessing to ensure assets matched their environments seamlessly.

Producer Greg Lyons summarizes the overall experience, “From our studio’s interdepartmental collaborations, to the creative partnership between MSGE, Linda Haberman and Reel FX, ‘Humbugged’ is a testament to teamwork, cooperation and artistic synergy across the board. Reel FX is proud to be a part of such an iconic American tradition.”

Reel FX VP of Business Development Chuck Peil adds, “We can’t wait for audiences to experience this groundbreaking 3DLive event. Our objective was to deliver a seamlessly integrated mix of visual technology and story with the incredible Radio City Rockettes as the centerpiece. We are confident that guests will feel as passionate about the unique immersive visual approach as we do.”

Toolkit: SideFX Houdini and Mantra, Autodesk Maya and Renderman, Adobe Photoshop, Pixologic ZBrush, RoadKill UV, Headus UVLayout, The Foundry Nuke and Avid Symphony Nitris

Reel FX's Stereoscopic Work on the Radio City Christmas Spectactular Featured in The New York Times

2011-11-04T11:02:00Z

Reel FX is excited to announce that initial details about its work on the 2011 Radio City Christmas Spectacular have been revealed in an online feature in The New York Times. Look for more details coming soon about this exciting project!

"Take Your Medicine" Wins FirstGlance Film Festival Honor

2011-10-20T04:20:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” wins Best Special FX & Animation in a Music Video at the 14^th Annual FirstGlance Film Festival in Philadelphia. The festival took place last weekend. Winners were announced on Monday.

Congrats to the team for their stellar work!

Senior VFX Supervisor Scott Gordon Attends VES Production Summit's Breakfast Roundtable

2011-10-06T05:55:00Z

pictured: Randy Starr (moderator/VFX Producer), Scott Gordon (Reel FX/Sr. VFX Sup), John Murrah (Disney/VFX Sup)

Reel FX Senior VFX Supervisor Scott Gordon participated in the 2011 VES Production Summit’s Breakfast Roundtable groups last week in Los Angeles, CA.

Scott’s table discussed “The Challenges of Stereo” – specifically working on motion pictures shot in 3D rather than those that are converted, although they did discuss the idea of selectively using conversion when it would be appropriate (mainly for shots where a stereo rig can’t fit).

We asked Scott about his experience and he told us, “I enjoyed participating in the discussion about shooting in stereo and its many facets. Stereo is clearly one of the most rapidly advancing developments in motion pictures and other visual media. It was great to learn about the experiences of others, and to share my experiences regarding our Cirque du Soleil project.”

WMIFF Honors "Take Your Medicine" with Dual Distinctions

2011-10-05T04:47:00Z

Film festivals can’t get enough of “Take Your Medicine.” It garnered TWO more wins at the World Music & Independent Film Festival for Best Animation in a Music Video and Most Creative Music Video.

You can see all the festival winners here.

Now Accepting Winter Term application!

2011-10-03T11:45:00Z

Hey-howdy-hey,

We are now accepting applications for 2012 Winter term apprentices. If you head over to jobs.reelfx.com you can apply. We are looking for apprentices in:

Visual Effects
Character Rigging/Skinning
Lighting
Character Animation
Technical Directors
Concept Artist
Story-Board (West Coast location only)
Art Department (Marketing/Public Relations)
Texturing
CG Generalist
NUKE Compositor

Not too shabby! These will start off in January on a date to be determined and run up until June.

"Take Your Medicine" Scheduled to Show in SIGGRAPH Asia's Electronic Theater

2011-09-30T11:39:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” shares the stage with some impressive CG work in this year’s Electronic Theater at the 2011 SIGGRAPH Asia Computer Animation Festival. Fellow submissions include Inception and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II as well as “Paths of Hate” [ComiCon Award Winner and fellow VES nominee]. We are 1 of only 3 US submissions accepted into the festival.

Check out the entire listing here.

And if you happen to be in Hong Kong, be sure to swing by this year’s festival and catch the Electronic Theater playing Dec 13^th-15^th in Theater 1.

and a video too!

2011-09-26T13:48:00Z

Hey there!

We are getting ready to open up apprenticeships for our winter term. These apprenticeships would start in January and run until June. The exact dates are still up in the air, we are not being coy, we are just waiting for the word from our production team that all systems are go. The way we decide what areas we open apprenticeships in is pretty cool. We take a look at our hiring needs and, along with the artists with a couple of productions on their IMDB page, we hold back a few of each skill-set for apprentices. So, as a hypothetical, if we are looking to hire a number of lighters, animators or character designers for upcoming work we will also open up apprentices in those areas. The plan is that when the six month apprenticeship is up the apprentice will be offered a job. Now, just a disclaimer – we don’t guarantee a job at the end of the term as there are too many variables that come into play, but we have a good track record of launching more than a few careers.

Many of you have noticed that along with everything else we are requiring you to do to be considered for an apprenticeship we are now asking you to create a video of some sort – just what that video is, is up to you. It can be an interview where someone asks you why you want to be an apprentice. It can be a lip synch creation. Whatever – just something that let’s us know something about you. About what kind of person you are. What it should not be is your reel; trust me we’ll want to see samples of your work but this video is in addition to those samples. Just how to upload that video will be provided as soon as we’ve made it secure for you to do so.

Just a tip before I jump off of this topic. Fair or not, we tend to project a bit when looking at these videos. By that I mean if the vid’ is funny, charming, or whimsical we tend to project that back upon the artist that created it is as well. Along those same lines, if the video is creepy, depressing, and violent or in some other way ummm disturbing we project that back upon the artist who created it as well. I mean I suppose HR Giger, the artist that designed the alien in “Alien” is a light hearted chap who enjoys long walks on the beach and a good book by the fireside – but I kind of suspect otherwise, and while I really like and respect Giger’s work and would enjoy meeting him and maybe even having a tour of his studio I am not so sure I’d want to spend 6 months working alongside of him under the stress of production. But, maybe that’s just me. In any event, what I am alluding to is that you may want to keep your application video on the lighter-side of the spectrum – not saying that it has to be happy clowns of Happy Town, but this may not be the time for you to get your freak on and vent all of your pent up angst at the world. Ya follow?

Okay – talk to you all soon – same bat time, same bat channel

Pretty Petals Everywhere! Radium/Reel FX Spot for Avril Lavigne's New "Wild Rose" Fragrance Now Online

2011-09-23T12:35:00Z

Behind the scenes from the “Wild Rose” shoot.

Radium/Reel FX’s commercial for Avril Lavigne’s new fragrance “Wild Rose” is now featured on Avril’s website. CG Supervisor Kevin Althans teamed up yet again with Director Dave Meyers for another magical encounter with a musical muse surrounded by some amazing visual effects. The goal was to capture Avril’s sweet yet mischievous personality at once, using the CG-animated barbed wire “vines” growing in the background juxtaposed against the fluid, feathery petals floating around her.

Both Althans and Meyers have worked together previously on Rihanna’s “Reb’l Fleur”, Pink’s “F**kin’ Perfect” and Katy Perry’s “Firework.”

If you are in the market for a new perfume, it is described as blending “sun-kissed yellow fruits of mandarin, grapefruit and red plum mixed with a bouquet of dewy floral notes, like blue orchid and orange blossom, and a slight touch of creme brulee.”

It sounds good enough to eat.

Well we're moving on up...

2011-09-12T09:02:00Z

Another apprentice semester has come and gone! These 17 apprentices have been on a wild ride the past 6 months as they have worked with Radium/Reel FX, gaining technical and creative experience. It has been exciting watching them grow and contribute their amazing work to the studio. This group has worked on projects all across the board in our interactive, commercial, and entertainment departments. We look forward to seeing what is in store for their future!

This competitive program is continuing to grow which means we are always looking for new talent. The Fall/Winter 2012 semester is slated to begin in January. Watch the blog for updates on when we will begin accepting applications.

COMMERCIAL

Design & Motion Graphics Artist
Anuja Pothireddy

Generalist
Crystal Leal

FX Artist
Michael Gibson

ENTERTAINMENT

Animators
Derek Kent
Brad Bardwell
Stephen Orsini
Lauren Garofalo

Lighters/Compositors
Ed Whetstone
Joshua Fry

FX Artist
Demian Kurejwowski

Technical Directors
Derek McAtavey
Jarrod Morrison

Layout Artist
Sara Sharp

Texture Artists
Daniel Zinck
Casey Kreft

Rigger/Cloth Artist
Mary Twohig

Gettin’ our graduation on!

A deliciously wonderful cake made by our one and only resident baker, Jessica Hogan.

I hope that text was important Megan.

STASH & Motionographer Give "Take Your Medicine" A Shout-Out

2011-09-12T08:07:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” featured in STASH 84, the online video library of Animation VFX and Motion Design. STASH 84 released on Sept 5^th.

Motionographer also did us the honor and put our little gem on its nifty Quickie list on August 25^th.

Katy Perry's "Firework" Wins MTV's VIDEO OF THE YEAR Award!

2011-08-29T12:04:00Z

Katy Perry “’Firework” wins VIDEO OF THE YEAR

Radium/Reel FX is thrilled to announce that Katy Perry “Firework” beat out Adele, Beastie Boys, and Tyler, the Creator to be named 2011 VIDEO OF THE YEAR at MTV’s Video Music Awards. Perry noted that she feels like she’s “doing something right” each time she performs the song. The music video was also nominated in the Best Video With A Message category. Congrats to the entire crew!

For more on the win check out:
MTV.com
LA Times

FUN FACT FOR THE DAY: “Firework” has had over 227+ MILLION views on YouTube. Yes, million.

TXDOT "Invisible" Makes SHOOT's Summer Top 10 VFX/Animation Chart

2011-08-19T06:07:00Z

Click above to see the work on our commercial page.

Radium/Reel FX is excited that TXDOT “Invisible” has made Shoot Magazine’s Summer Top 10 VFX/Animation Chart.

The original release and full credits are below:
Digital studio Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas (www.radiumreelfx.com) forces drivers to double-check their blind spots for motorcycles in a startling new :30 PSA “Invisible” for TXDOT out of Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing, Austin, TX, directed by Radium/Reel FX’s Kevin Althans. The spot features a man zoning out during his commute, only to be suddenly impacted by an unseen force, which turns out to be a motorcycle that he had failed to notice.

Althans is known both for his comfort behind the camera as well as his work both as an on-set and digital visual effects supervisor. While the spot could have taken a significantly CGI route, Althans decided to execute the sheet metal carnage almost entirely in-camera so the reactions and feelings were genuine. He worked with local car expert Jeff Milburn on this practical concept. Notes Althans, “I came up with an ambitious idea for a rig that internally collapsed sections of the car using steel cables and a tow vehicle.” Althans used a Phantom Flex and RED MX to shoot the hero stunt cars on location, resulting in an in-camera visual that is almost entirely practical. For editorial and post production, Radium/Reel FX Editor Quan Tran worked closely with Althans to hone the message of the spot. Althans remained creative lead through post, entrusting the visual effects to VFX Supervisor Dan Dixon. The clean-up and rig-removal was done in Inferno and Dixon’s team re-created the breaking glass windshield in CGI.

“Invisible” opens on a man inside his car, lackadaisically making his daily trek to work as he partially listens to his radio. As he comes to a stop sign, he makes his sideways glances quickly before advancing, only to incur sudden impact on his front end by an invisible force. We hear the voiceover, “Motorcycles are not invisible,” as the car is smashed to the right, forming dents and cracking the dashboard. As the driver gets out of the vehicle, the voiceover continues, “But they can seem that way to drivers who aren’t paying close attention.” The man surveys the damage to his car before taking a wider gaze at the accident, realizing that he has actually come into contact with a motorcycle. The felled cycle now lies on its side with the rider tossed off screen. The voiceover concludes, “Look twice for motorcycles. Seeing them is saving them.” The spot concludes with the super, “Share the Road. Look Twice for Motorcycles,” along with the super, “Save a Life. Texas Department of Transportation.”

Credits:

Client: TXDOT
Title: “Invisible” :30
Agency: Sherry Matthews Advocacy Marketing, Austin, TX
Broadcast Producer: Peggy Moore
Creative Director: Wally Williams
Exec. Creative Director: Charles Webre
VFX/Live Action: Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas
Director/DP: Kevin Althans
Live-Action Producer: Cindy Fertitta
Post Producer: Kurt Kirchner
VFX Supervisor: Dan Dixon
Editor: Quan Tran
Assistant Editor: John McStravick
Inferno Artists: Mike Roy, Laychin Lee, Jared Brower
CG Artists: Bernhard Rieder, Brandon Stoker, Patrick Gray
Audio Company: Tequila Mockingbird, Austin, TX

Radium/Reel FX Rocks It Again In The Festival World With Its Prized Piece "Take Your Medicine"

2011-08-03T09:20:00Z

Radium/Reel FX’s work on the music video “Take Your Medicine” is being recognized in the City of Brotherly Love at the 14^th Annual FirstGlance Film Fest – Philadelphia. Since 2000, FirstGlance has prided itself on being Hollywood’s “Fastest Growing, Truly Indie Film Fest.” Time Magazine has even rated it as one of the “Top 10 Festivals in the US.”

Rock on!

2011 HollyShorts Film Festival Welcomes "Take Your Medicine" Music Video

2011-07-29T10:54:00Z

FILM FESTIVAL UPDATE: “Take Your Medicine” is on a roll!

The music video has been accepted into yet another film festival, the 2011 HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles.

In case you’re in the area, the film will be screened on Friday, August 12th during the Noon-2pm program held at Laemmle’s Sunset 5. Director Nader Husseini and Producer/Editor Amy Grieshaber will be in attendance so be sure to say hi!

Industry Vet Jeb Schary Joins Radium/Reel FX As Business Development Executive

2011-07-22T07:25:00Z

Jeb Schary

Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas brings on veteran Executive Producer Jeb Schary to join the studio’s sales and business development team. In this role, Schary will focus his efforts on cultivating new and existing relationships with clients. He is based out of Radium/Reel FX’s Dallas studio. Schary comes to Radium/Reel FX after successful runs as Executive Producer at 3008 Editorial and Willow Street Editorial, both in Dallas. Over the years, he has stewarded award-winning work from boards to post for nearly every top brand and agency in the country.

Says Executive Creative Director Dale Carman, “We couldn’t be happier to have Jeb on board. His breadth of experience spans the agency, live-action production, and post production sides of the business; and his longstanding industry contacts make him the ideal fit for Radium/Reel FX and its commitment to being a full-service creative studio.”

Notes Schary, “I could not be more thrilled that the many paths I’ve taken have led me to Radium/Reel FX. What a wonderfully diverse, creative, talented and friendly place to be. I’m delighted to be a part of it. I look forward to a busy year with more great work to come.”

Schary started his career as a Broadway stage manager in New York before coming on board as an assistant producer at Ogilvy & Mather, NY. In 1969, he moved to Detroit to become a copywriter/producer for Campbell-Ewald, working on Chevrolet among others. Five years later, he served as senior producer at Foote, Cone & Belding, Chicago, where he produced commercials for such top brands as Hallmark, Sears Tires and SC Johnson. In 1977, he headed south to St. Louis, to work for D’Arcy, MacManus and Masius, where he worked on top spots for Budweiser, Michelob and Red Lobster, among others. His love for Austin, TX eventually brought him to GSD&M, producing for Coors Brewing, the Texas Highway Department, Wal-Mart and Southwest Airlines. Heading slightly north to Dallas, Schary also served as a producer for Tracy-Locke, Dallas and spent more than a decade at The Richards Group before taking over as Executive Producer at Dallas-based editorial shops Willow Street Editorial and 3008 Editorial.

"Take Your Medicine" Music Video Accepted at the 2011 SF Shorts Film Festival

2011-07-18T06:14:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” has done it AGAIN! The music video has made it into yet another international film festival: The 2011 San Francisco International Festival of Short Films (SF Shorts…for short).

The video was one of only 53 shorts selected from over 1600 entries this year.

Congratulations team TYM!

Radium/Reel FX Craft Canvases for a Cause

2011-07-18T05:42:00Z

See you at the event!

3rd Annual A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE Charity Art Initiative to Benefit Children’s Medical Center

Radium/Reel FX announces the dates and details of the 3rd annual A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE, its studio-wide charity art initiative that combines exclusive original art from local artists, affordable participation and a worthy cause. The event is in its 3rd year, and to-date has raised more than $17,000 for Children’s Medical Center, The American Red Cross, and Americans for the Arts. This year’s event will take place in the Reel FX’s Deep Ellum digs, and exclusively benefit Children’s Medical Center, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Children’s Child Life Program. Each year, A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE has grown in participation and attendance. This year, more than 200 canvases are expected to be offered for sale, almost doubling the number of canvases sold at the inaugural show.

Where: The Gallery at Radium/Reel FX
301 N. Crowdus St.
Dallas, Texas 75226
214.979.0961

When: Thursday, July 28, 2011
7 – 10 PM CST
Wine, beer and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Admission: $10 door donation encouraged

URL: http://www.radiumreelfx.com

For more information contact: canvas@reelfx.com

All canvases offered for sale are the original works of Radium/Reel FX studio artists/employees, as well as special guest artists including local and national artists. The canvases are just as unique as the talent who creates them. Each participant was given a blank 10” x 10” canvas. Participants were allowed to transform the canvases using any style or media. The studio encouraged everyone to think “outside the canvas” and branch out from traditional mediums. Past canvases have used materials ranging from magnets and wood, to oil and acrylic paint, and charcoal and crayons.

“Radium/Reel FX strives to be as passionate about giving back as we are about creativity. Although not everyone here is an artist, we are all fortunate enough to have art as a part of our day-to-day lives. We are excited to host the 3rd annual A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE and look forward to making our largest donation to-date to Children’s Medical Center,” comments Katherine Harper, Marketing Director of Radium/Reel FX.

Attendees will pay a donation/door fee of $10 for admission to the show. All art will be priced at an affordable $60. If the patron chooses to buy a piece of art, he or she will only have to pay the $50 difference between the entry fee and the price of the piece. All pieces are available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis, so Reel FX encourages attendees to get there early! To add to the fun, all the pieces will be unmarked until they are purchased. To keep the focus on the art, rather than the participants, staff will reveal to the buyer who created his or her piece at the time of purchase.

About Children’s Medical Center
The Children’s Medical Center pediatric healthcare system devotes itself solely to caring for the complex medical needs of children. The hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S.News & World Report, and its nursing services rank in the top 5 percent of the nation’s hospitals for nursing excellence. Children’s was the state’s first pediatric hospital with Level I Trauma status and one of only 16 in the United States able to care for severe traumatic injuries in children. Through its academic affiliation with UT Southwestern Medical Center, Children’s medical staff conducts research that is instrumental in developing treatments, therapies, and a greater understanding of pediatric diseases. Children’s is private, not-for-profit, and is the ninth largest pediatric healthcare provider in the country with 559 licensed beds, two full-service campuses and 10 outpatient sites. Many of the more than 50 specialty programs of the Children’s system have received national and international recognition, confirming an outstanding reputation for Children’s and UT Southwestern Medical Center as one of the finest pediatric healthcare providers in the U.S. For more information or to make a gift, visit www.childrens.com/giving.

Radium/Reel FX In The News

2011-07-06T12:44:00Z

Check out the most recent mentions of Radium/Reel FX “In the News”!

Our PSA for TXDOT is:

here on Shoot

here on Ads of the World

here on Ad Forum

Our Siggraph entries (Katy Perry Firework and Transfer’s “Take Your Medicine” are also mentioned in Shoot

Shoot “Best Spot You May Never See”

Reel FX, Strange Weather & Dark Horse Join Forces & Unleash Beasts of Burden

2011-06-24T04:50:00Z

From the official press release:

Andrew Adamson and Aron Warner Shingle to Develop and Produce Acclaimed Dark Horse Novel by Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson

Strange Weather Films is set to develop the Dark Horse Comics’ graphic novel, Beasts of Burden, into a CG-animated full-length feature for Reel FX. Andrew Adamson (Shrek, Chronicles of Narnia) and Aron Warner’s (Shrek, Shrek Forever After) Strange Weather Films will produce alongside Mike Richardson of Dark Horse Entertainment. Dark Horse Entertainment’s Keith Goldberg will executive produce with Strange Weather’s Jeff Fierson co-producing. Reel FX’s Head of Feature Development, Jared Mass, will oversee the project for the studio. Beasts of Burden represents a return to CG animation for Adamson and Warner, who have worked most recently on hybrid/effects-driven live action projects.

The animated feature will be an adaptation of Evan Dorkin and Jill Thompson’s popular graphic novel, Beasts of Burden. It follows the supernatural occurrences that sweep the community of Burden Hill, and a heroic gang of dogs who bravely keep their residents safe from harm.

“Andrew and I are excited to be working with Dark Horse Entertainment in developing Evan and Jill’s award winning graphic novel into a CG animated film,” said Aron Warner. “We have extraordinary and creative producing partners in Reel FX, who truly understand and have the expertise for the production of animated films.”

“Jill and Evan have created a unique group of heroes working hard to keep their world safe, they just happen to be dogs . . . and a cat,” said Dark Horse President, Mike Richardson. “This has been one of my favorite titles since it first appeared and we’ve found the perfect partners in Strange Weather and Reel FX.”

Reel FX has a multi-year agreement with Andrew Adamson and Aron Warner, which calls for the development and co-production of motion pictures and franchise oriented films through the newly launched Strange Weather Films. Under this new banner, Adamson and Warner will develop projects for Adamson to direct and/or produce, with Warner and Reel FX serving as co-producers. Strange Weather is based out of Reel FX’s Santa Monica studio offices and will serve as a launching pad where emerging directors can flourish while being mentored by Adamson and Warner.

See coverage of the release in:

The Hollywood Reporter

Radium/Reel FX Brings Home the Tellys...FIVE of Them To Be Exact

2011-06-14T05:35:00Z

Radium/Reel FX has garnered FIVE — yes, five — Tellys for the 32^nd Annual 2011 Telly Awards. Spots and videos recognized are:

Silver Telly for Music Video:
P!nk’s “F**kin’ Perfect”

Bronze Telly for Music Video:
Katy Perry’s “Firework”

Silver Telly for Visual Effects:
Rihanna’s “Reb’l Fleur”

Bronze Telly for Regional Campaign: Utilities:
El Paso Electric “Comfort,” “Invest in You,” & “Growth” (Edited by Gina Rivas)

Bronze Telly for Not-For-Profit:
2010 Dallas International Film Festival “Castaway”

CONGRATS to all the artists and production crew that helped create all these beauties! Job well done, ya’ll.

Warner Bros. Animation Announces Next Three Looney Tunes Shorts

2011-06-10T06:43:00Z

On June 8th at Annecy, Warner Bros. Animation revealed details of the next three 3D Looney Tunes shorts for the first time. The first short to be released features Daffy and Elmer and will play theatrically in front of Happy Feet 2 on November 18th, 2011.

After the critical acclaim of the first three shorts which included an Oscar shortlisting, V.E.S. nomination, and Annie nomination, Reel FX is again thrilled to be a part of bringing Warner Bros. Animation’s classic Looney Tunes characters to life.

See the coverage in:

The New York Times

Cartoon Brew

Animation World Network

Learn more about the first shorts in the Entertainment section of our website or at the official WBA site here

The Gallery at Radium/Reel FX

2011-06-02T13:07:00Z

The Gallery at Radium/Reel FX is located in the atrium of the Dallas studio space. The Gallery is an always-changing collection of original artwork created by the talented Radium/Reel FX artists and staff, plus select “guest” artists. The work displayed in the gallery includes photography, oil paintings, acrylic paintings and drawings. All artwork is offered for sale.

If you are interested in displaying your work in our space or purchasing any of the art you see, please contact:
Fran Samaniego at fran.samaniego@radium.com .
Also, if you are interested in seeing a larger image of an art piece please contact:
Laura Gene at lauragene.b@reelfx.com .

Get Ready For Canvas Envy Because 2011 Canvas For A Cause Is Back

2011-05-31T13:09:00Z

SAVE THE DATE for the annual Canvas For A Cause fundraiser art show on July 28^th. Now in its 3^rd year, the show should be bigger and better than ever before. With each employee contributing a canvas, we plan to have over 200+ canvases this year.

For those who are unfamiliar with the yearly tradition, it is Radium/Reel FX’s charity art show, where our artists/accountants/executives/etc. create art in the form of 10 × 10 canvases. We then invite you, our friends, to purchase the pieces at the art show held in July for a set price ($60 each). All proceeds from the art will go directly to the Children’s Medical Center at Dallas. From our past efforts, we have raised almost $20k for charity!

Hope to see you there.

"Take Your Medicine" & Katy Perry's "Firework" Music Videos Go To SIGGRAPH

2011-05-27T10:22:00Z

Radium/Reel FX has made it into the 2011 SIGGRAPH Computer Animation Festival in Vancouver taking place August 7-11.

Our work for both “Take Your Medicine” and Katy Perry’s “Firework” music videos got the nod in the Music Video category.

"Take Your Medicine" Will Make Its Debut in D.C. at WMIFF

2011-05-09T04:56:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” takes it to Capitol Hill with its recent acceptance into the World Music & Independent Film Festival. It was nominated in a whopping THREE categories: Best In Animation, Best Rock Music Video and Best Director for Nader Husseini. The video will be exhibited during The Red Carpet Gala to be held at the Capital Hilton and/or at the U.S. Navy Memorial Museum Burke Theater in Washington, D.C. The festival will be held August 15-20th.

"Take Your Medicine" Music Video Goes Platinum!

2011-05-05T11:43:00Z

“Take Your Medicine” is making its mark in the fest world…again. It recently won the Platinum Remi (aka 1^st place) for Best Rock Music Video at Houston’s 2011 International WorldFest that took place in mid-April.

Congrats goes out to the team for their stellar work!

Sneak Peak of Judy Moody & The NOT Bummer Summer

2011-05-02T06:29:00Z

Angelika Film Center Dallas is hosting an advanced FREE screening of Judy Moody & The NOT Bummer Summer tomorrow Tuesday, May 3rd at NOON. Take a long lunch and indulge in a little mischief and innocent mayhem courtesy of Miss Judy Moody. You will need a special email to get in but you can email us your address, and we will forward it to you. You’ll still need to get in line to exchange the email for a ticket. Seating is first-come, first-serve so you might want to not be late.

Radium/Reel FX took care of the animated scenes conjured up in the little 3rd grader’s head.

Judy Moody is based on Megan McDonald’s popular series of children’s books. Cast includes Jordana Beatty as Judy, Jaleel White as Mr. Todd and Heather Graham as Aunt Opal. Take a look-see at the trailer here.

Texas Avery Animation Award Celebrates Two Animation Giants For Its Fifth Year

2011-05-01T16:36:00Z

Red-Hot Riding Hood presents The Wolf statue

Join us this Thursday, April 7th for a special FREE screening of How To Train Your Dragon at the Magnolia Theater in the West Village. The film starts at 4:30p and will be followed by a Q&A with Co-Writer/Co-Director Dean DeBlois. Dean, on behalf of he and Co-Writer/Co-Director Chris Sanders, will be presented with the coveted Wolf statue this Friday at The Dallas Film Society’s Honors awards ceremony. Reel FX Entertainment’s Animation Director Bryan Engram will present.

To learn more about the history of the Award and this year’s recipients, visit our Texas Avery Animation Award page.

"Coyote Falls" Makes Oscar Shortlist - UPDATE - Also Annie Award Nominated

2011-05-01T13:09:00Z

“Coyote Falls” moves one step closer to Oscar night!

UPDATE-
“Coyote Falls” has also received an Annie Award nomination in the Animated Short Subject category:

See the list of nominees here

Great news this morning from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who announced the shortlist for the 2010 Best Animated Short category. Members of the Short Films and Feature Animation Branch will vote to narrow it down to the five nominees. The final vote, which determines the winner, is open to all Academy members provided that they have watched every nominated short.

For more info, check out the Cartoon Brew article here

Breaking News - Looney Tunes "Coyote Falls" gets a VES Nomination - Oustanding Animated Short

2011-05-01T12:17:00Z

Check out the Visual Effects Society website for the complete list of nominees. This is Radium/Reel FX’s second consecutive year to be nominated – last year, we were nominated in the Outstanding Created Environment in a Broadcast Program or Commercial category for the AMC Theatres/Coke “Magic Chairs” featurette.

Radium/Reel FX Work on Rihanna "Reb'l Fleur" Featured on Creativity Online

2011-05-01T12:06:00Z

Check out Creativity Online for coverage of our Rihanna spot, “Reb’l Fleur.” Dave Meyers of @Radical directed the spot for agency Droga5.

Learn more about it on our site here

Looney Tunes trilogy may be up for Oscar consideration.

2011-05-01T12:01:00Z

It’s Oscar season again and everyone is weighing in with their picks for this year’s nominations. Animation Magazine is no exception. Their latest issue [December 2010] combs through all of the animated pieces worthy of their mention. According to the mag, Looney Tunes “is likely to be a big contender in the Oscar race” with Pixar’s “Day & Night” as likely competition.

Check out the article on Looney Tunes and Matt O’Callaghan below.

will.i.am Visits Radium/Reel FX

2011-05-01T06:24:00Z

will.i.am’s visit to Radium/Reel FX makes the AOL homepage

Last week, will.i.am stopped by Radium/Reel FX to put finishing touches on his two big game spots in collaboration with salesforce.com and Radium/Reel FX. We couldn’t have been happier to have him in-studio! Check out the interview here as he talks about the spots, being a director for the first time, and his passion for animation.

Radium/Reel FX Projects "Perfect" CG for P!nk

2011-04-30T08:32:00Z

Hot on the heels of the success of their “Firework” music video for Katy Perry, digital creative studio Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas (www.radiumreelfx.com), and director Dave Meyers of @Radical Media team up again in the gritty but uplifting “F**kin’ Perfect” music video for P!nk.

“F**kin’ Perfect” depicts a young woman’s pain and her eventual redemption through self-expression. A series of vignettes dramatizes the heroine’s transformation as her life is projected onto bare walls and P!nk performs in the foreground.
Radium/Reel FX began its involvement early on. To properly plan the visual effects and other post production needs, ECD Dale Carman was on set with P!nk and Meyers for the green screen shoot. Once the team captured P!nk’s performance against the green screen, the CG work commenced. Carman, Althans and the rest of the crew created the surrounding room and props in CG using Maya. This room became the “blank canvas” to showcase the footage that was textured to resemble home movies. Through careful compositing, Radium/Reel FX integrated P!nk into the room as the narrative footage was mapped and then “projected” against its walls. Finally, the team finished and color-corrected the entire video.

“We were able to give the space a sense of purpose and character without overwhelming the primary narrative imagery,” explains Althans. “By putting P!nk in the middle of the projected/flashback space, we were able to give her a sense of being a guide and a storyteller. The effect is subtle, but appropriate for the dark analysis that Meyers put forth in his original vision for the video and the style of the principle photography.”

For Meyers, the goal was to set this video apart from his previous collaborations with the singer.

“In the past, P!nk and I have done a lot of funny videos together, but for this track, we wanted to take a more serious approach since the song brings to light the self-esteem issues many women face,” notes Meyers.

For the singer, the video has a personal resonance that is distinct from her other chart-topping hits. “Making this video was a very personal experience,” P!nk blogged. “I support the kids out there that feel so desperate/numb/powerless, that feel unseen and unheard and can’t see another way. I want them to know I’m aware. I have been there.”

View the work here

Credits:

Client: P!nk / LaFace Records
Title: “F**kin’ Perfect”
Airdate: Currently Airing

VFX Company: Radium/Reel FX
Executive Producer: Dan Bryant
Executive Creative Director: Dale Carman
VFX Supervisor: Kevin Althans
Senior Producer: Matt Thunell
Senior VFX Artist: Mike Roy
Senior Compositor: Marguerite Cargill
Production Coordinator: Derek Johnson
Production Coordinator: Nicholas Dziekonski

VFX Artist: Laychin Lee
VFX Artist: Bryan Bayley
VFX Artist: Jared Brower
VFX Artist: Brenda Vaughn
Digital Supervisor: Dan Dixon
CG Artist: Randall Smith
CG Artist: Alison Donato
Compositor: John Rogalski
Designer: Byron Slaybaugh
Designer: Christopher Vela
Designer: James Webber
Editorial Assistant: John McStravick
Editorial Assistant: Jeff Johnston
Production Assistant: Doug Schulz

Production Company: @Radical Media
Director: Dave Meyers
Executive Producer: Jennifer Heath
Producer: Derek Roberto

R.L. Stine Gives Radium/Reel FX Goosebumps!

2011-04-22T06:26:00Z

R.L. Stine, best-selling author of the “Goosebumps” series, recently expressed his excitement about Looney Tunes “Coyote Falls” and tweeted the following!

Feel out of the loop? Click here to check out the most recent Looney Tunes shorts!

Radium/Reel FX Hits The Mark For Showtime's 'Nurse Jackie'

2011-04-20T12:48:00Z

Radium/Reel FX hits the mark in this Matrix-style :50 promo for Season 3 of the Showtime series Nurse Jackie, directed by Norry Niven of Three (One) O. The spot features the title character, played by Edie Falco, contorting herself out of harms way from bullet-like pills that display clips of scenes from the previous season. Radium/Reel FX served as a one-stop shop for on-set VFX supervision, creative editorial, color grading and visual effects.
CG Supervisor Zach Tucker was on set, working closely with Niven for the New York City shoot. Tucker ensured that Niven had all the VFX support he needed, while simultaneously ensuring that Radium/Reel FX had all it needed for post production.
Niven adds, “Working with an actor like Edie Falco was a dream for me as it would be for any director, she is one of the most incredibly talented and versatile professionals in the industry and makes anything she touches all that much better.”
Senior Editor Peter Tarter cut the spot in a few days, allowing the rest of the Radium/Reel FX team to begin work on the CGI. Lead VFX Supervisor Kevin Althans worked with his team to create the CGI pills and visual effects for the promo spot. Says Althans, “We created photoreal CG pills that actually behaved like bullets. We manipulated the high-speed Weisscam footage, ramping in and out of slow motion to accentuate the drama.” In the final scene of the promo, Radium/Reel FX created a 3D matte painting and made the set appear much deeper by projection mapping and tiling existing footage multiple times. Notes Althans, “Since we basically created a new digital set, we were able to traverse the environment with a new camera move, giving everyone the desired closing to the spot.”
About the promo
The spot opens with Nurse Jackie deeply immersed in medical charts as she walks down the hallway. As her attention is pulled upwards, she quickly turns around and returns forward only to dodge a zooming pill just before it strikes her head. She watches as scenes depicting glimpses of her drug-infused life dart past her on the ammo-like pills, threatening to bring her down at any less than nimble moment. She prepares herself as a larger onslaught of pills head her way and expertly avoids them by suspending herself backwards with matrix-like finesse. As one final pill speeds past her with the image of Kevin, Jackie’s husband and father of her two children, stating, “You’re a drug addict,” we see the super, “STOP.” We cut to a shot of Nurse Jackie raising her hand, which signals the darting pill to stop midair. She looks at the pill, grabs it, and we see the super, “POP,” as she swallows the pill with a defiant smile. As she moves out of view, we see that she has been standing in front of a target throughout the entire spot. As the camera pulls backwards, revealing the depth of the hallway, we see the super, “Nurse Jackie,” and with the accompanying voiceover, “Nurse Jackie. Season premiere coming March 28th at 10.”

Director Norry Niven says the following about his recent collaboration with Radium/Reel FX:
“Dallas has always been an incredible place to do post and even though we’ve been working with Radium/Reel FX for more than 15 years, this last year we’ve seen them truly explode creatively and bring their collective talents, hearts and passion into projects we’ve taken to them and that has been noticed by some of our clients like Showtime who can bring post anywhere in the world but have been going with the Dallas-based post house now for many projects.”

Check out Nurse Jackie in Dexigner and Screen!

Dallas International Film Festival Gets A Little Taste of Italy...Sorta

2011-04-13T07:45:00Z

The Dallas International Film Festival has made a name for itself and it is…Vittorio Vere, DIFF’s resident “Italian” filmmaker. You may have caught his breakthrough performance on WFAA in a few commercial spots that Radium/Reel FX produced, in association with Malone Pictures. See those beauties below.

Also be sure to check out the DIFF Sponsor Reel where you get a more intimate glimpse into Vere’s life. The Reel played in front of every film that screened at the festival this year.

Can’t get enough Vittorio you say? Vittorio can be found on Facebook.

Vittorio is played by Jose Suaste. “Actors” are played by poor passersby in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

Dean DeBlois and Larry Hagman Make a Guest Appearance at the Radium/Reel FX Studio

2011-04-11T09:41:00Z

Radium/Reel FX welcomed Co-Director/Co-Writer of How To Train Your Dragon, Dean DeBlois, as well as the star Larry Hagman from Dallas, the 1980’s hit TV series, who were in town for the Dallas International Film Festival.

Dean DeBlois was honored with the Texas Avery Animation Award, sponsored by Radium/Reel FX, on behalf of himself and his collaboration partner Chris Sanders. After his tour of the studio, Dean DeBlois stayed a while longer at the studio and spoke to artists about his myriad of experience in the entertainment and animation industries. The team had a chance to chat with the Academy-Award nominee one-on-one, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most.

Larry Hagman, the star of this year’s Dallas Film Society’s DIFF Honors Awards Ceremony on Friday night, April 8^th served as the night’s comedic Master of Ceremonies.

Animators listening intently and quietly, a rare occurrence in their natural habitat.

"Take Your Medicine" Music Video Makes Official Selection for Film Festivals

2011-03-28T10:20:00Z

The “Doctor” hypnotizes his patient, drawing her closer and closer with each pluck of the string

Good news. Well, really, excellent news. “Take Your Medicine” is making its festival rounds and is doing so with great success. It has been selected to screen at Houston WorldFest, the British Independent Film Festival and the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival. These awards shows begin in April so we hope to have more good news soon.

“Take Your Medicine,” directed by in-house art director Nader Husseini, explores the effects that an overwhelming dependence on pills has created in the community at large. Symbolizing the current state of our society’s obsession with prescriptions, a girl loses herself to the swarm of medication her doctor has given her. This video has been the studio’s passion project for the last year, with every department and division contributing in some capacity — a team effort that is being recognized internationally.

Radium/Reel FX Celebrates St. Patty's Day

2011-03-21T12:12:00Z

How does Radium/Reel FX Dallas celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? With BBQ of course! The Dallas studio had a great time celebrating the holiday with barbecue smoked by COO Kyle Clark as well as a vast array of side dishes prepared and brought in by fellow employees. To top it all off, lighting artist and cake artist Jessica Hogan prepared an extraordinary Irish-themed cake. Overall the party was a huge success, and a great way to wrap another St. Patrick’s Day at the studio!

Watch out Luby’s…the chefs at Radium/Reel FX will put you out of business!

Veggie Burger, it’s what’s for dinner.

The cake looked crooked…but it didn’t taste crooked!

The barbecue guru in action!

Radium/Reel FX Featured On SourceECreative

2011-03-15T04:32:00Z

Last week, Radium/Reel FX was featured in Source E Creative’s VFX/Motion Graphics Special Feature, “Pixel Perfect.” The article features interviews from several members of the Radium/Reel FX team including Gary Banks, Dan Bryant, Dan Dixon, Limbert Fabian, Zack Tucker, and Kevin Althans.

Click here to check out “Pixel Perfect.”

RFXU Welcomes 2011 Spring Apprentices

2011-03-01T03:45:00Z

On February 28th, Radium/Reel FX welcomed the new class of Spring apprentices! We had a busy day planned for them which included a hot dog cookout and a scavenger hunt that took them all around the studio discovering unusual facts about their new home.

These apprentices will work with Radium/Reel FX for six months and gain experience across the technical and creative areas of the studio. It was a great first day and we are extremely excited to have them here and see them grow at Radium/Reel FX!

Bottom Row (Left to Right): Ross Gibson, Diane Bradley, Derek McAtavey, Lauren Garofalo, Anuja Pothireddy, Crystal Leal, Daniel Zinck, Derek Kent
Back Row: (Left to Right): Demian Kurejwowski, Stephen Orsini, Brad Bardwell, Ken Kanipe, Ed Whetstone, Josh Fry, Jarrod Morrison, Casey Keft

Radium/Reel FX Hosts Dallas Film Society's Academy Award Panel

2011-02-28T13:21:00Z

Social Networking, anyone?

Dallas Film Society held their Academy Award Panel at Radium/Reel FX Studios earlier this month. On the table for discussion were, of course, Oscar-nominated films, actors, directors and the like. Special guests included James Wallace of GordonAndTheWhale.com fame and Dallas Morning News movie critic Chris Vogner. James Faust led the conversation.

OS3 DVD Release

2011-02-24T06:59:00Z

Hoot Hoot! Reel FX Creative Studios, has announced it has completed digital production on Sony Pictures Animation’s Open Season 3, the third installment in the popular animated Open Season franchise. This comical sequel features an all-star line-up with favorite characters including Boog, Elliot, and Mr. Weenie plus some new furry friends including Alistair the llama, and bears Ursa and Doug. OS3 was released on January 25th so fans can now bring the adventure home on DVD, Blue-ray High Def, and PSP from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Reel FXers also enjoyed a private screening of the film on January 27th at Studio Movie Grill.

The Snow-pocalypse Hits the Dallas Studio!

2011-02-04T07:22:00Z

Image courtesy of Christopher Vela, Designer and Motion Graphics Artist at Radium/Reel FX

As if the ice storm that blanketed the Metroplex earlier in the week wasn’t enough, now mother nature has decided to follow it up with a dusting of the pretty white stuff. This is an unusual occurrence for us in North Texas, though last February right around this time, we were covered in almost a foot of snow! We got lucky this time with only 6 inches of snow today.

Of course, that doesn’t stop [some of] us from making the trek in. We have a Super Bowl to get ready for…stay tuned.

Hawaiian Punch Mascot Gets Makeover From Radium/Reel FX

2011-01-27T05:31:00Z

Radium/Reel FX has given Hawaiian Punch’s iconic mascot, Punchy, a thoroughly modern makeover. Punchy will now feature a 3-dimensional look designed to appeal to today’s kids. The project was headed up by Radium/Reel FX concept artist, Ronnie Bates, who gives us the inside scoop on his approach.

“I’ve been watching Punchy in Hawaiian Punch commercials since the late 1960’s, and was thrilled at the opportunity to work with the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and the team at UPROAR! on such an iconic character. Punchy’s original character design was extremely sparse, leaving many details to the viewer’s imagination. Re-imagining Punchy as a fully-rendered CG character forced us to define those details while maintaining the overall feel and personality of the original. Radium/Reel FX designers Dustin D’Arnault and Erin McGuire created dozens of clothing options before arriving at the final approved combo: the signature striped shirt, a red straw hat, and cutoff jeans.”

See what The Wall Street Journal, Wallet Pop, and Star Advertiser have to say about the revamped mascot

Radium/Reel FX Artists Featured on VH1 Palladium's Making of Katy Perry "Firework"

2011-01-19T09:33:00Z

Radium/Reel FX artists were recently featured in a “behind the scenes” documentary on the making of Katy Perry’s hit music video, “Firework.” Check out the Radium/Reel FXers at 16:15 on this YouTube video!

Radium/Reel FX Hosts YPO's Monthly Event

2011-01-14T11:04:00Z

Steve O’Brien welcomes the group to Radium/Reel FX.

Shawn Achor presents his research on happiness.

The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor

On January 12th, Radium/Reel FX’s Dallas studio hosted the YPO monthly event. YPO (Young Presidents Organization) is a prestigious group of men and women who are business leaders in their communities. Shawn Achor, a Harvard graduate and author of The Happiness Advantage, spoke on his research studies in positive psychology.

RFXU Apprentices Graduate to the Next Level

2011-01-11T09:30:00Z

A little video starring our Apprentice Grads, both new and old

Our Fall/Winter 2010 Apprenticeship Grads

RFXU Dean/Artist Manager Robin Linn hands out a diploma to our art department apprentice, John Rogalski.

Another masterpiece by our resident cake guru Jessica Hogan

Another year, well, half year, has flown by. Our darling apprentices are all grown up. In the past 6 months, our apprentices have had many amazing opportunities, which include working on our trio of Looney Tunes shorts and the soon-to-be-released Open Season 3 feature film.

For the Fall/Winter 2010 semester, we had a total of 15 graduates, and we will have even more next semester. The competitive program keeps growing by leaps and bounds. Apprentices for the Spring/Summer 2011 semester will be selected soon and will report to duty on February 21st.

Let the hazing begin.

Fall/Winter 2010 RFX University Apprentices:

COMMERCIAL

Design & Motion Graphics Artist: Kyle Craig

Nuke Artist: John Rogalski

Texture/CG Generalist: Alison Donato

ENTERTAINMENT

Pre-Viz & Development: Elise Hatheway; Scott Adam; Sam Daniels; Andrew Scheppmann

Layout Artist: Jimm Pegan

Animator: Drew Winey

Modelers: James Yavorsky; Scot Chase

Riggers: James Direen; Matthew Tucker

Texture Artist: Pen Yen

Digital Effects Artist: Matthew Bennett

Radium / Reel FX-mas Holiday Party

2010-12-30T11:40:00Z

The photo booth. Ross-ta Claus (aka President Dave Ross) made an appearance and posed with fellow big wigs Steve O’Brien, Donna Henry and Kyle Clark [from left to right].

Unfortunately, Mr. Potter could not make it.

Jessica’s monster g-bread cake. It was approx. 14"h x 12"w x 16"d. Amazing.

This year’s party was the feast among feasts, the meal of all meals, the luncheon of all luncheons and the breakfast of champions! Our holiday shindig was a shared festivity between the Santa Monica and Dallas studios, using our nifty LifeSize to connect the studios face-to-face in real-time.

We laughed. We cried. We stuffed our faces. In Dallas, the atrium was transformed into a grand banquet hall complete with long Hogwarts-esque dining hall tables and plenty of shiny silver decorations. A gingerbread house decorating contest, a prize raffle and our favorite party ritual – the photo booth – entertained us while the chicken cordon bleu and pork tenderloin made our bellies fully.

Of course, there was also the behemoth gingerbread house cake made by our own Jessica Hogan; it quite possibly could have crushed someone if it fell off the table. It was huge!…and super delicious. (And no, you cannot have the recipe.)

Enjoy the pics and our time lapse video [coming soon!]. Most importantly, have a safe and happy new decade. Until next year…

Don't miss the new Looney Tunes short, "Rabid Rider," now playing in theaters along with Yogi Bear!

2010-12-20T10:36:00Z

The third Looney Tunes short featuring the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote made its theatrical debut last Friday, December 17th, in front of Yogi Bear. The first two shorts, “Coyote Falls” and “Fur of Flying,” were released in July and September, respectively. “Coyote Falls” has since been nominated for an Annie Award, as well as short listed for an Academy Award.

RED Receives Golden Globe Nomination

2010-12-16T06:36:00Z

This week, the comic book film Red, was nominated for a Golden Globe in the Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy category. Radium/Reel FX partnered up with Summit Entertainment to execute numerous VFX and design shots in the feature film. Red is in good company with other nominees such as, Alice in Wonderland , Burlesque , The Kids Are All Right and The Tourist.

Webosaurs 99 ¢ Membership Special

2010-12-07T11:34:00Z

Just in time for the holiday season, our virtual world, Webosaurs.com, is excited to launch its $0.99 membership special. For a limited time, the first month of your membership will cost just $0.99! Members will still be able to take advantage of all that Webosaurs.com has to offer. Membership benefits include: full access to the Webosaurs Island, more opportunities to customize your dino and their environment, plus, all of the free-to-play features and “Webosodes” from international wildlife expert, Nigel Marven.

Webosaurs.com memberships also make great gifts!

Click here to join in on the wonderful Webo fun!

The Texas Film Commission Makes a Special Visit to Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica

2010-12-02T23:30:00Z

Chuck Peil, VP of Entertainment Business Development, chats it up with Texas Governor Rick Perry.

Our Santa Monica studio recently hosted an industry Meet-n-Greet for the Texas Film Commission. The event was part of a statewide initiative to bring more animation, gaming and visual effects work to Texas. TFC is heavily pushing recently improved incentives. Texas Governor Rick Perry made an appearance along with representatives from industry businesses all over Los Angeles and Texas. More pictures of the event can be found here.

Also, our work is currently being featured on the Texas Film Commission’s website as part of the The Texas Animation, Games and Visual Effects Showcase.

Here is what was featured:
0:24 – Open Season 2, Enchanted, AMC Theatres/Coke “Magic Chairs”
1:57 – Fidelity “Around the World”
2:33 – Audi “Beauty in Engineering”, “Sharp Teeth”, “Neiman Marcus’ 100th Anniversary” and Humble Pie opening title sequence

Katy Perry's "Firework" in Music News

2010-11-18T09:37:00Z

This video has been blowing up on the internet! On The Inspiration Room and Video Static, read more about “Katy’s Project: Pop Video” contest where her biggest fans competed for one of 250 opportunities to appear as extras in the “Firework” music video. The video is getting so much attention that it has even spawned some frenemies. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery, right?

Katy Perry’s inspirational music video “Firework” is the latest single released from her “Teenage Dream” album, and it is exploding with rave reviews. The video was a joint effort between Radium/Reel FX and Radical Media. Post-production took place at Radium/Reel FX where VFX supervisor Kevin Althans and producer Leigh Mergehenn headed up the three week finishing process.

Katy Perry "Firework" Featured in Post Magazine

2010-11-17T04:23:00Z

Press on Katy Perry “Firework” continues with:

Post Magazine

Radium/Reel FX Hosting Ringling College Alumni/Recruiting Event

2010-11-11T08:45:00Z

Tonight, Radium/Reel FX will host a recruiting and alumni event for Ringling College of Art and Design in our Dallas studio. Radium/Reel FX has lots of Ringling alums currently on its roster and is looking forward to visiting with potential Ringling students, as well as Ringling alumni from across the DFW area. Lance Burchett, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at Ringling College, will be joining us from Sarasota to head up the event and encourage prospective students. Fred Gardner, a visual development artist at Radium/Reel FX, will be speaking to the students and alumni in a small reception about his time at the studio and the important steps he took in his career to get where he is today. Should be a fun event!

Find out about opportunities at Ringling College of Art and Design by clicking here

RFXU 2011 Winter Term Is OPEN For Applications!

2010-11-05T05:22:00Z

This could be you!

RFXU (the apprenticeship program of Radium/Reel FX) is opening up apprenticeships for the Winter Term beginning in February 2011. We will have openings in both our Santa Monica and Dallas locations. These apprenticeships are across the creative and technical areas of our studio – ranging from Character Designers, Animators, Technical Directors, Modelers, Character Riggers, Motion Graphics Artists, Designers and Visual Effects Artists.

RFXU offers selected participants the chance of a lifetime: the opportunity to gain insight and real-world experience in your chosen career path by working hands-on for a respected, award-winning studio group. RFXU’s Apprenticeship Programs are paid apprenticeships that are available twice a year (summer/winter) and are six months in length.

Interested?

Find out more by joining the RFXU Facebook community here

Apply here

Radium/Reel FX Habitat Build #3

2010-11-02T06:31:00Z

Last Saturday, Radium/Reel FX Marketing and a group of the 2010 RFXU Apprentices headed to the 3rd Annual Habitat project that the studio has joined. With Highland Park United Methodist Church as the sponsor, the team contributed to the final dedication day of the build. Lots of fun and a great cause. Wait – what’s Jenny doing with that shovel?

Halloween Happenings

2010-10-29T12:42:00Z

Halloween has always been a favorite way to dress like we really want to at Radium/Reel FX. Both Dallas and Santa Monica dressed to impress. Voting for best costumes took place early this week- check out some of the group shots! More pictures coming soon.

Open Season 3 debuts theatrically at #1 in Russia

2010-10-25T10:26:00Z

Sony Pictures Animation’s Open Season 3 hit #1 on the box office charts after debuting in theaters in Russia October 21st. Congrats to the OS3 teams!

Radium/Reel FX Postcards Render Moving Transitions for RED

2010-10-25T05:59:00Z

Radium/Reel FX announces the completion of its work on Summit Entertainment’s new film RED, in theaters October 15th. Based on the popular graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner, RED is directed by Robert Schwentke (The Time Traveler’s Wife) and stars Bruce Willis, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren, Mary-Louise Parker and Morgan Freeman. RED’s Visual Effects Supervisor James Madigan tasked Radium/Reel FX’s team, led by Visual Effects Supervisor Dariush Derakhshani and Design Supervisor Limbert Fabian, with creating transitional moments for some of the film’s key scenes. These seven transitions, composed of cleverly animated postcards, were used to communicate a location change within the story and serve as a non-traditional, graphical cut between scenes.

The team at Radium/Reel FX began with various postcard designs provided by Summit and explored various techniques for the transitions.

Radium/Reel FX Producer Matt Thunell explained, “What interested us about RED was the design component. James Madigan came to us with a few concepts for the postcard transitions and we let our art department have fun and explore the possibilities. We’re drawn to projects that invite creative perspective.”

The postcards that Radium/Reel FX created were built in CG to imitate authentic postcards and depict fun graphics of the next scene’s location. They were then animated and rendered to act as transitions for the shots within the film’s edit. The CG postcards were created with a range of weathered looks complete with bend creases, frayed edges, and faded or worn areas, giving the cards a sense of photographic veracity. Radium/Reel FX CG Artists, David Damant, Nick Poznick, Brian Lee as well as Derakhshani, used various modeling methods and several texture passes to create postcards that looked as if they were photographed and not computer-generated. Once created, the postcards were thoughtfully placed between each plate and animated to effortlessly transition between scenes.

Radium/Reel FX compositors, Dag Ivarsoy and Joe Censoplano, worked with each shot plate to prepare and integrate the postcards. Of utmost importance to Schwentke and Madigan was the sense of fluidity into and out of each transition; each move from scene-to-scene needed to become a single cohesive movement so that it did not disturb the continuity of the action. A simple camera push into the postcard incorporated the camera move of the next shot. The fluid composite of multiple plates and integrated CG animation linked one camera movement to another seamlessly. For example, with the “Chinatown” postcard, Radium/Reel FX designers, Fabian and Arpine Aleksanyan, created a colorful, painterly postcard image that comes to life within the physical world of the scene, creating a smooth and interesting switch into the next sequence.

Further blurring the lines between the film space and the postcard graphics, Willis briefly glances up to see the animated “Florida” postcard as he and Mary-Louise Parker walk into frame. Along with the performances and story, these subtle nuances and visuals throughout the film create a chic, hip style and tone.

Several digital effects were also needed to fit certain plates into the story. In one instance, a CG replica of an underground parking garage entrance was built and tracked into a background plate in order to replicate the CIA building in Langley, Virginia. This allowed the character’s car to drive into the building and established the location of a later scene in the film that takes place inside the underground garage.

The whimsical and graphical approach to the film’s numerous location-hopping shots adds a charm to the film that does not go unnoticed. Utilizing Autodesk’s Maya and Inferno; The Foundry’s Nuke; Adobe’s Photoshop, After Effects and Illustrator; and Chaos’ VRay, a careful execution of the postcards ensured they never looked out-of-place, or gimmicky, and instead fitted into each scene naturally. In turn, the audience is presented with quick, authentic and entertaining transitions that facilitate the action-packed, fast-paced adventure of the blockbuster movie.

About Radium/Reel FX
Radium/Reel FX is an evolving artist-driven studio that includes filmmakers, artists and designers focused on creativity and innovative solutions. We embrace a shared creative role with our clients from script to screen. Our VFX background and CG expertise provide us with a strong technological foundation on which we build groundbreaking work, including stereoscopic 3D projects, for the expanding world of advertising and film.

Credits
Executive Creative Director: Dale Carman
Executive Producer: Dan Bryant
VFX Producer: Matt Thunell
VFX Coordinator: Adam Reeb & Jody Wilson
VFX Supervisor: Dariush Derakhshani
Senior CG Artist: Richard Wardlow
CG Artist: Dave Damant, Brian James Lee, Nicholas Poznick & Sean Cox
Senior Compositor: Dag Ivarsoy
Compositor: Kyle McCauley, Joe Censoplano & Brady Doyle
Design Supervisor: Limbert Fabian
Designer: Arpine Aleksanyan

Radium/Reel FX and 1080, Inc. Team Up To Bring Radium Editorial To 1080’s Austin and San Antonio Studios

2010-10-25T04:14:00Z

Full-service animation, VFX and motion design studio Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas and 1080, Austin/San Antonio www.1080.com today announced that they have partnered to allow Radium/Reel FX’s award-winning editors, Peter Tarter, Quan Tran and Gina Rivas, to cut out of 1080’s top-of-the-line facilities in Austin and San Antonio. Tarter, Tran, and Rivas will continue to be based out of Radium/Reel FX’s Dallas and Santa Monica studios and cut “on location” with clients all over the country. The partnership gives clients in Austin and San Antonio access to more diverse editorial offerings and fortifies 1080’s current roster of editors. 1080 will continue to offer clients its online, color-grading, and finishing capabilities on Radium/Reel FX editorial jobs in those cities.

1080 Austin General Manager Tobin Holden recalls, “About a month ago, leadership from both studios sat around a conference table and said, ‘Why not? Seems like a great fit.’ It’s no secret the folks at Radium/Reel FX are a really talented group. We’re very excited about beefing up the editorial roster at 1080. But the real winners are our clients. Same great shop … more firepower.”

Radium/Reel FX Executive Producer Gary Banks adds, “Expanding Radium Edit to Austin and San Antonio solidifies a strong creative editorial presence for both studios. This new partnership gives agencies the flexibility and options demanded by their clients in today’s production world.”

2010 has already proven to be a very successful year for Radium/Reel FX editorial. Editor Quan Tran won AICE’s Best of Dallas category for his work on the :30, Dickies “Wear With Purpose – George” for Williamson-Dickie Manufacturing, and was nominated in the National Campaign category. Senior Editor Peter Tarter was also a 2010 AICE nominee.

For both Radium/Reel FX and 1080, making these new offerings easy for clients was paramount. Clients can go through their contacts at either Radium/Reel FX or 1080 to take advantage of the expanded editorial services.

About Radium/Reel FX
Radium/Reel FX is an evolving artist-driven studio that includes filmmakers, artists and designers focused on creativity and innovative solutions. We embrace a shared creative role with our clients from script to screen. Our background in design and visual effects as well as our CG expertise provide us with a strong technological foundation on which we build groundbreaking work, including stereoscopic 3D projects, for the expanding world of advertising and film.

About 1080
1080 brings talent and technology together to consistently produce strong editorial, motion design and visual effects. We see creativity as a team sport, and it’s our artists’ attention to detail and ability to guide clients through the rapid changes in the industry that are our greatest strengths. Bring us your ideas. Our people do the rest.

Check the Radium/Reel FX Art Department Blog

2010-10-08T05:46:00Z

The amazing art department at Radium/Reel FX have a really cool blog where they get inspired, share work and other cool things.
Be sure to check it out!

Click here to visit the Art Department blog

Iris Makes Top Ten in Ridley Scott and Philips Cinema's Parallel Lines Competition

2010-10-07T11:37:00Z

Some of the fabulous commercial team at Radium /Reel FX just finished work on a 3-minute short film called Iris with director Rob Groenwold of Boxer Films. The short film was an entry in Philips Cinema and Ridley Scott’s Parallel Lines competition. Radium/Reel FX created a CG drone, completed several VFX shots, and did the online and color correction for the piece. Recently, it was announced that Iris made the Top 10 in the Parallel Lines competition. With hundreds of entries in the running, both Radium/Reel FX and Boxer Films were excited and honored to see Iris recognized.

To view Iris, click here.

To view all of the Top 10 and winning entries,
visit: http://www.youtube.com/philipscinematv
and select “Gallery” and then “Finalists/Semi-Finalists.”

Radium/Reel FX Sizzle with Farmer John's Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog Campaign

2010-09-17T12:48:00Z

Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas spins mock-political propaganda in this series of six :30 spots for Farmer John’s 2010 campaign to make the Farmer John Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles. The spots, out of Mendelsohn Zien Advertising, L.A., include “Important," “Hot Dog Party," “Commies," “Apocalypse," “Other Cities," and “Mission Accomplished” – all designed to parody the political ad campaigns of today.

Working in After Effects, as well as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, the process began with an offline edit from Cosmo Street’s Asako Ushio. The Radium/Reel FX team, led by Creative Director Limbert Fabian, was asked to embrace the dramatic timing and graphic look of real political advertising television campaigns, and take them to a new level with animated, dynamic transitions and motivational motion graphics. The team drew inspiration from real political ads as well as programs like “The Colbert Report,” which played in the background while designers Arpine Aleksanyan and Kyle McCauley worked. The final spots are a hilarious, hyper-serious, tongue-in-cheek take on the campaign ads we know and (sometimes) love. To cast your vote for the Farmer John Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog, visit: http://votelahotdog.org/vote/ by November 2. For every vote received, Farmer John will donate a pound of food to a Los Angeles-area food bank.

Credits:
Client: Farmer John
Title: “Important” :30, “Hot Dog Party” :30, “Commies” :30, “Apocalypse” :30, “Other Cities” :30, “Mission Accomplished” :30
Airdate: Currently airing
Design & VFX Company: Radium, Santa Monica/Dallas
Executive Producer: Dan Bryant
Producer: Linda Jackson
Creative Director: Limbert Fabian
Designer/Animator: Arpine Aleksanyan
Animator: Kyle McCauley
Editorial Company: Cosmo Street, L.A.
Editor: Asako Ushio
DP: Lew Robertson
Agency: Mendelsohn Zien Advertising, L.A.
Producer: Kara Fromhart
Associate Producer: Alison McMahon
Senior Copywriter: Shelley Chidley
Senior Art Director: Laura Lebel
Copywriter: Brian Jones
Art Director: Aaron Sanchez
Business Manager: Bridget Merrill

Reel FX/Radium celebrate a LOONEY SEASON!

2010-09-08T20:00:00Z

What do you get when you combine an inflatable bungee run, a helmet with ears, a tricycle, pin the tail on the llama, two amazing cakes, a photobooth and lots of fun? The Looney Season wrap party. Celebrating the studio’s work on the Looney Tunes Shorts (Warner Bros. Animation) and Open Season 3 (Sony Pictures Animation), Looney Season was a night to blow off some steam and reward ourselves for a lot of hard work. And when you have competitive bungee-ing, there are sure to be lots of great pictures and video.
Pictured are:
Bryan Engram (on the bungee run)
Kyle Clark, Augusto Schillaci, Al Cubillas
Jasmine Johnson
The Looney Season Save the Date done by Yashar Kassai

Check them out here:
Looney Season Facebook Pics

Awards Wrap Up 2010 - AICP and Tellys!

2010-08-31T19:00:00Z

Radium/Reel FX is thrilled that its:30 all-CG Spec Spot, Audi “Beauty in Engineering,” was shortlisted in the Spec Spot Category at this year’s 2010 AICP Show. Radium/Reel FX took on this internal spec piece to challenge themselves and create something that was completely different from any spec piece the studio had done before. They didn’t set out to make a “CG car spot”, but instead to create a beautiful :30 film. Exquisite attention was paid to all aspects of the spot, from the design of the environments and machinery and the particular idiosyncrasies of car paint, to the amount of ambient smoke, dust and light. The result – a breathtaking spec spot that keeps people asking, “Is that really all-CG?”

Radium/Reel FX is also excited to announce that the studio’s work has earned a total of eight 2010 Telly Awards! From the turn-key, all-studio efforts for AMC Theaters/Coke “Magic Chairs,” to the CG paper world of Fidelity “Around the World,” to the trans-formative PODS “Whatever Fits,” to the timely cuts on Interstate Batteries “Tight Fit” and “Pinball,” these unique pieces reflect the variety of great work Radium/Reel FX has taken on over the past year. Category details are below:

AMC Theaters/Coke “Magic Chairs”

* Silver Telly (Entertainment/Film and Video)
* Bronze Telly (Visual Effects/Film and Video)
Fidelity “Around the World”
* Silver Telly (Financial/Commercial)
PODS “Whatever Fits”
* Bronze Telly (Transportation/Commercial)
Interstate Batteries “Tight Fit”
* Silver Telly (Use of Humor/Commercial)
* Silver Telly (Automotive/Commercial)
Interstate Batteries “Pinball”
* Bronze Telly (Use of Humor/Commercial)
* Bronze Telly (Automotive/Commercial)

Radium/Reel FX most recently received a 2009 Bronze Telly for its work on Pepsi “Throwback”.

Radium/Reel FX Hosts What The Truck? Party

2010-08-05T07:00:00Z

Radium/Reel FX hosted an awesome party for about 350 of our closest friends to announce the arrival of new West Coast EP, Dan Bryant. The party was held in the Santa Monica Studio and featured the amazing food of the Kogi BBQ Truck!

Find us on Facebook!

2010-07-14T19:00:00Z

Can’t get enough Radium and Reel FX people, pics and news to satisfy you? Be sure to join us on Facebook as well!

Reel FX page:
Reel FX Facebook

Radium page:
Radium Facebook

Reel FX University page:
Reel FX University Facebook

Webosaurs Breaks Out of Beta with Line-up of New Features

2010-06-08T19:00:00Z

Reel FX Interactive, the digital media division of Reel FX Creative Studios, today announces a line-up of cool new features for Webosaurs.com, the virtual world where KIDS rule the earth™. Webosaurs.com entered public BETA in July 2009; updates to the Webosaurs’ world coincide with the site’s transition out of BETA as it officially goes “live.” Webosaurs’ fan base includes kids from over 100 countries around the globe who play in the virtual world. The additions to Webosaurs.com range from new content to new technical support features and have been strategically implemented to provide Webosaurs.com users with the optimum in-world experience. The line-up of new features, launched May 2010, includes:

New Content:

• Virtual Pets – Webosaurs.com members can now own their very own virtual pets! Players can visit the new Pet Shop in the Understory Layer and choose from a Crocodile, a Porcupine or a Sabre Tooth Kitten to accompany them on their Island adventures. Pets can do lots of tricks and members can feed them, bathe them, play with them, and more! Pets will also indicate how they are doing with a happiness meter that changes as members interact with their Pets.
• New Arcade Room – Kids love all the games Webosaurs.com has to offer, and now they can find them all in one place at the Game Zeppelin arcade room. Players can find their way to Game Zeppelin directly through the Gushing Geyser or check it out in the Sonoran Sands
• More Nigel Marven “Webosodes” – Brand Ambassador Nigel Marven traveled to South Africa in fall 2009 to film more adventures exclusively for Webosaurs.com. Two of these Webosodes will go live this week, with more to come over the next few weeks!
• New Landscapes – Webosaurs.com is constantly growing and evolving; the newest landscape on the Island – the Understory Layer – is a multi-level tree house perfect for hanging out with friends.
• New Games – Webosaurs.com is always adding new games. The very latest is Trouble in the Treetops, located in the new Understory Layer. Players must climb up the trees while dodging falling bugs and coconuts as they try to race to the top of the jungle.
• Virtual Catalog – Players can now access a virtual catalog of cool Webosaurs gear through the catalog icon on the right side of their screens. There are exclusive items to purchase plus links to all the shops on the Island.

New Functionality:

• New Home Page – The new home page design makes signing in, becoming a member, and playing Webosaurs.com easier than ever.
• Change Your Avatar – Webosaurs.com members can now use coins to purchase new avatars for their accounts and switch between Stretch, Pterry, Horns and Rexxy.
• Virtual Recycling – Recycling is always good, even online! Players can now earn coins back by recycling unwanted cave items with the Recycle icon in their caves.
• New Support Desk – Webosaurs.com is proud to use the Zendesk Customer Service Platform which allows parents to enter support tickets for any issues, questions or concerns.
• New Parents Page – The new parents page has an updated FAQ section for any and all questions, plus improved ways to research and purchase memberships.

While in BETA for the past year, Webosaurs.com has grown exponentially to create the most immersive kid-friendly environment on the web. More features are already scheduled for future release over the coming months. Webosaurs.com strives to integrate new elements on an ongoing basis to keep its audience engaged and its content fresh. Plans are also currently in the works for expansion into other media platforms.

Quan Tran Wins Best of Dallas at 2010 AICE Awards for Dickies "George Cabrera"

2010-05-20T07:00:00Z

Radium/Reel FX is proud to announce that editor Quan Tran is a winner in this year’s AICE Awards Show Tran received two finalist nominations: one in the National Campaign Category for his work on the Williamson Dickie/Dickies “Wear with Purpose” campaign and the other in the Best of Dallas Category for a single spot in the same campaign “Wear With Purpose-George” :30. Tran brought home the award in the Best of Dallas Category. Radium editor Peter Tarter was also nominated in the Best of Dallas Category.

Tran previously won an AICE Award for Best of Dallas in 2007 for his work on Bell Helicopter’s “Yellow Ribbon” :30.

To view Peter and Quan’s spots – visit the Commercial section and select Editorial

Reel FXers Live it Up On The DIFF Red Carpet!

2010-04-20T19:00:00Z

Reel FX Creative Studios (Radium/Reel FX) was home to the Dallas International Film Festival Centerpiece Gala on April 10th! DIFF VIPs as well as other festival goers enjoyed a night of music from Kashmere High School Marching Band, subject of the documentary, Thundersoul. Also pictured are Simon Varela, Dale Carman, Katherine Harper, and Brad Booker from the Dallas Film Society Honors event on April 17th.

Radium/Reel FX Dream Up A DIFF-erent Kind of Fun For The 2010 Dallas International Film Festival

2010-04-17T19:00:00Z

Radium and Reel FX were challenged with creating six spots for the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival. This year, the festival chose “When you love film, you live film” as their branding and mantra. With that, the team created a series of :15s centered on “The DIFF Guy” who loves and lives film every day! Stills from the production of “Avatar” and “Castaway” are below. Reel FX and Basik Films also created the DIFF “sponsor opening” called “A Day in the Life.”

Like the song? Creative Director Barrett Lewis wrote and performed it! Buy it on ITunes – just search “Gotta Keep Movin’ On”

Reel FX Entertainment Honors Pete Docter with the DIFF - Tex Avery Animation Award

2010-04-15T19:00:00Z

Reel FX Entertainment proudly presented the Texas Avery Animation award to Pete Docter (Up, Toy Story 2, Monster’s Inc, A Bug’s Life) at the Dallas Film Society Honors. The night celebrated the best and brightest of the 2010 Dallas International Film Festival. Docter was honored with a tribute reel and then given the award by Reel FX Animation Director, Bryan Engram.

Reel FX Entertainment is the proud annual sponsor of the Texas Avery Animation Award. Past recipients include Academy Award-winner Brad Bird (Ratatouillie, The Incredibles, The Iron Giant) and Academy Award-winner Chris Wedge (Ice Age, Ice Age 2: The Meltdown, Robots, Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears A Who), and Henry Selick (Coraline, James and the Giant Peach).

Each year, the award is given the name of Tex Avery, known earlier in his career as Fred Avery, is a legendary figure in the world of animation. As an animator, writer, voice talent and cartoon director, his credits include the Merrie Melodies and Looney Tunes series, the majority of the cartoons at MGM during the 1940s and early 1950s, and the creation of characters such as Daffy Duck, Porky the Pig, Elmer Fudd as well as the concept of Bugs Bunny and his popular catch phrase “What’s up Doc?”. The Avery family proudly supports this annual animation award honoring their father’s legacy.

Audi Spec Spot - Beauty in Engineering - Makes STASH 67 DVD

2010-04-04T19:00:00Z

Radium/Reel FX Spec Spot, Audi “Beauty in Engineering,” graces the pages and DVD of STASH Mag’s 67th edition. From the www.stashmedia.tv:

“Stash 67 drops 108 monstrous minutes of visual inspiration and Behind the Scenes goodies directly into your head and then adds 11 MP3s from Just Friends Records – just for fun.

Your adventure begins in Germany as we open this issue with three stunning automotive clips: Elastique and Deine Freunde reveal the sleek and sensual side of Mercedes; Radium and Reel FX conjure ringed romance with their spectacular Audi spec; while Asylum bust out a spectrum of VFX techniques to fuel 60 years of Porsche classics."

The full PDF can be viewed here:

Stash 67

Reel FX Creative Studios Craft Canvases for a Cause

2010-03-31T19:00:00Z

Reel FX Creative Studios (Reel FX/Radium) today announced the dates and details of the 2nd annual A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE, its dual-studio charity art initiative that combines exclusive art from local artists, affordable participation and two worthy causes. This year’s Dallas event will take place in the studio’s Deep Ellum digs, and again benefit Children’s Medical Center, with 100% of the proceeds going directly to Children’s Child Life Program. A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE will also take place in Reel FX’s Santa Monica studio on the same night, with proceeds to benefit the American Red Cross. Last year’s events exceeded expectations, selling 98% of the art offered, and this year’s events will feature more art and more artists. New this year, A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE will also add a silent auction of select paintings and photography. Both events will be held Thursday, April 1, from 7pm – 10 pm.

When: Thursday, April 1, 2010
7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (CST and PST)
Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The canvases offered for sale are the work of Reel FX studio artists/employees, as well as special guest artists consisting of local and national artists. Guest artists will be revealed two weeks prior to the show. Each participant was given a blank 10” x 10” canvas purchased at Aaron Brothers through a generous donation from Michaels Stores, Inc., North America’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer. Participants were allowed to transform the canvases in any style or medium. The studio encouraged everyone to think “outside the canvas” and branch out from traditional mediums.

“Reel FX Creative Studios continuously strives to merge our cause-related endeavors with the art that is a part of our daily lives. We are excited to host the 2nd annual A CANVAS FOR A CAUSE and look forward to making significant donations to Children’s Medical Center and the American Red Cross. We thank everyone, especially Michaels, for making this event possible,” comments Katherine Harper, Marketing Director of Reel FX Creative Studios.

Attendees will pay a donation/door fee of $10 for admission to the show. All art will be priced at an affordable $60. Reel FX thanks its staff and guest artists for agreeing to sell their work exclusively for the event at such an amazing price. If the patron chooses to buy a piece of art, he or she will only have to pay the $50 difference between the entry fee and the price of the piece. All pieces are available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis, so Reel FX encourages attendees to get there early! To add to the fun, all the pieces will be unmarked until they are purchased. To keep the focus on the art, rather than the participants, staff will reveal to the buyer who created his or her piece at the time of purchase.

Radium/Reel FX and Director Steven Lippman Craft a World of Black and White for Paul Mitchell Systems

2010-02-28T06:00:00Z

Digital studio Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas along with Maneater Productions (www.maneaterproductions.com) and Director Steven Lippman (www.stevenlippman.com) mix high-fashion and high-flying for Paul Mitchell Systems in a new integrated campaign that includes the :30 “What Inspires You,” and three 15-second virals: “Takashi,” “Junior” and “Corey,” produced direct-to-client. The campaign, currently airing nationally, features inspirational icons from the skateboarding, hair styling, and breakdancing worlds performing against a sleekly designed, paper-white environment.

“What Inspires You” opens on superstar Japanese stylist Takashi approaching a beautiful, raven-haired woman in slow-motion. The scene then smash-cuts to legendary pro-skater Corey Duffel flying through a white cityscape and famed breakdancer Bboy Junior defying gravity on his hands. Artfully composed shots of Takashi cutting hair, Corey rail-sliding hundreds of feet off of the ground and Junior breakdancing follow. Takashi then covers the woman’s newly cut hair in Paul Mitchell hairspray and throws a hairdryer toward the tag, “What inspires you?” The Paul Mitchell logo closes out the spot.

CREATING A PAUL MITCHELL WORLD
Paul Mitchell Systems’ Nanette Bercu approached Director Steven Lippman to help develop their brand and define a visual language and sensibility for the company. Lippman, who had worked previously with Paul Mitchell Systems, had a vision of a world where he could showcase the beauty of action through inspirational individuals with extraordinary talent. As a former professional skateboarder and internationally renowned photographer, the chance to direct a national commercial was a planned next step. To achieve this vision, Lippman reached out to the Radium/Reel FX team, led by Executive Creative Director Dale Carman and Creative Director Christianne Brooks, whose strong background in fashion and beauty made her a perfect choice for the job. Together, they concepted the Paul Mitchell world: a black and white environment that was surreal yet believable to the subconscious. The black and white palette was chosen to evoke Paul Mitchell’s iconic branding. The group, along with Lippman, also wanted to break new ground by shooting action/urban sports in precise/visceral way, creating a stylized portrayal that could showcase the beauty of excellence and athleticism. When it came to selecting the talent for the shoot, Lippman looked to who inspired him, and hand-selected Takashi, Junior and Corey Duffel not only for their skills, but also for their authenticity.

Lippman recalls, “Being able to work with such an amazing team that could bring my vision to life was a treat. I think we were all inspired and awestruck by the guys we were able to shoot for this piece. We are already working on several additional spots, and look forward to showing the world the ongoing results of a killer collaboration.”

‘INSPIRED’ TECH TALK

To achieve their vision, the crew had to capture highly skilled athletic performances on video and place them in the surreal environment they had crafted. Radium/Reel FX Design Director Limbert Fabian and the project’s VFX Supervisor, Rob Nederhorst, worked to accomplish this goal by designing an ambient and clean white-on-white minimalist “other worldly” environment as a backdrop for the action.

For the live action, the team chose the Phantom HD digital cinema camera as it enabled them to alter frames per second (fps) up to 1000fps and provided high quality playback on set – a must when coordinating and mixing live-action stunts with VFX. The spot’s stylized and highly contrasted black and white look were possible thanks to an extensive Briese lighting setup. Executive Producer Jed James of Maneater Productions credits Abel Cinetech & B2Pro for their expert tandem application of the Phantom HD/Briese setup called for by cinematographer Rod Lamborn. “Briese Lights are highly advanced and reserved for ‘big budget’ productions.” says James. “This was the first time all three of B2Pro’s largest Briese lights were used on one shoot. The rigging created to light the piece was also a first and we pulled power from multiple stages to make it happen.”

The sophisticated shoot created an array of challenges in post. Explains Nederhorst, “Since the Phantom records in its own proprietary format, the trick was to convert that for post use. To do that, we needed a fast way to debayer and transcode the Cine files to Avid compatible files as well as image sequences for VFX. Initially, we used Iridas Metarender on our Render Farm to convert all the raw footage into Avid Quicktimes. Once editorial gave us the cuts and EDLs, we extracted the data and pushed it through some custom scripts and software. The Fender Farm would only process the frames that were necessary, and we put the frames through 3D, Nuke, and Inferno. It was a bit of a setup, but once it was working it saved us from hours and hours of manual labor when edits changed.”

After solving the technical challenges, Radium/Reel FX used their extensively pre-vized environment for scale, and built out all the digital sets to exacting director specifications. Scale and composition were of utmost importance so they used some rough geometric data for the city and a few backgrounds, with most pieces custom built. Lighting and rendering were all done through VRay; compositing was done with Nuke and finishing in Inferno. Radium/Reel FX Senior Editor Peter Tarter tackled editorial and was responsible for the cutting the spots for the entire campaign.

Credits:
Client: Paul Mitchell Systems
Titles: “What Inspires You” :30; “Takashi,” “Corey” and “Junior” :15 virals
Airdate: Currently airing
Editorial, Design & VFX Company: Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas
Director: Steven Lippman
Radium Executive Producer: Amy Hassler
Radium Executive Producer: Jeff Blodgett
Radium Executive Creative Director: Dale Carman
Radium Creative Director: Christianne Brooks
Radium Producer: Matt Thunell
Radium VFX Supervisor: Rob Nederhorst
Maneater Executive Producer: Jed James
Maneater Executive Producer: Christina Perri
Maneater Line Producer: Sean Newhouse
Director of Photography: Rod Lamborn
Radium Design Director: Limbert Fabian
Radium Senior Editor: Peter Tarter

Fidelity "Around The World" Makes Shoot Magazine's Top 10 VFX/Animation Spot List

2010-02-11T18:00:00Z

Check out Fidelity “Around the World” in the February 12th Edition of Shoot Magazine making an appearance on the Top 10 VFX/Animation Spot list. Congratulations to the Fidelity team!

Aero Film and Radium/Reel FX Turn the World To Paper For Fidelity

2010-01-20T18:00:00Z

UPDATE – “Around The World” wins a 2010 Silver Telly Award

Radium/Reel FX recently collaborated with Aero Film, Santa Monica (www.aerofilm.tv), to imagine a world made of paper in a precisely rendered new :30, “Around the World,” for Fidelity out of Arnold Worldwide, Boston. The :30 follows the Fidelity green line as it crosses continents, traveling through the white paper streets of Manhattan, London, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney. Director Michael Hartog (Aero Film) and Co-Director Limbert Fabian (Radium) headed up the geographically minded creative team.

The creative team at Arnold Worldwide came to Michael Hartog at Aero Film with the idea of an around the world trip using paper constructed icons that represented the different cities as a creative option to a live action shoot. “I was very excited about the potential of this concept and after flushing out the creative with the agency, I knew that this would require a collaboration with the team at Radium/Reel FX because of their prior experience dealing with paper worlds and the depth of their design, CG and modeling groups,” says Hartog. “The project’s success is due in great part to the collaboration.”

“Around The World” opens on a clean, white paper version of our planet, hovering in white paper space. We zoom in just miles above Manhattan to inches above Wall Street, following a crisp, green line as it blazes through downtown, past the Statue of Liberty and across the Atlantic to London. A voiceover begins, “With Fidelity, you can take your trading around the world. Because now you can trade US and foreign stocks online, 12 markets, 24 hours a day, all from the same account.” We soar through London, and before we know it, we’re parallel to the River Seine in Paris. The voiceover continues, “And settle in US dollars or the local currency. Plus, we’ll guide you to International research and real-time quotes. So you can diversify your portfolio wherever, whenever.” The sunny white landscape shifts to night and we’re suddenly in Tokyo. We fly through an enchanted world humming with crickets and the sounds of a Japanese market. “We’ll be on-call around the clock,” says the voiceover as we fly over Sydney and past airplanes towing banners that read, “12 Markets,” “8 Currencies” and “1 Account.” We close on the Fidelity Investments logo and tag, “Turn here.”

BEHIND THE GLOBETROT

Radium/Reel FX collaborated with Aero Film to create the ‘paper world’ for Fidelity’s global trading program. “Around the World” showcases the world markets Fidelity Trading reaches in a whimsical and visually striking fashion using iconic, international landmarks.

The team at Arnold Worldwide tasked Aero Film and Radium/Reel FX to create a sense of global travel in a paper world, and to highlight Fidelity’s branded green line. The key for the creative team at Radium/Reel FX and Aero Film’s Hartog was to maintain a clean aesthetic in a meticulously detailed environment. Their thinking was that an emphasis on the smaller details would give the stark, white color palette a warm, human touch. With this in mind, Hartog and Fabian—alongside the designers—produced several unique interpretations of the target city landmarks.

It was also clear from the beginning that the spot needed to look as if it were shot as a real miniature set, but had to be done entirely in CG. Says Radium VFX Supervisor Dariush Derakhshani, “I challenged our artists to create and light the scenes as if they were made of real paper. I actually asked a few of our CG modelers to build their models in paper first before modeling and texturing in Maya.” The Maya models were then created with true offset-cut paper edges to prevent them from looking too ‘CG perfect.’
Employing many different paper textures and construction techniques, the Radium/Reel FX team leveraged the power of Maya to create a photo-real, 30-second globetrot. “Camera moves had to look real, we didn’t want anything to look like a CG camera,” echoes Hartog and Fabian. Adds Derakhshani, "We created several dozen paper assets in CG and quite a few layout designs for each location until everything just clicked together.”

The miniature paper world look was achieved with rendering through the new VRay for Maya, using several ‘in-camera’ techniques to accomplish accurate depth of field and proper lensing. The elements were meticulously composited in Nuke with an Inferno finish, all occurring in full 1080p HD. Aero Film’s Hartog assembled and further finessed his edit for the final vision based on the original boards.

In the end, with the combination of built-in imperfections, cleverly designed models, a careful eye for movement and lensing, and photo-real rendering through VRay for Maya, the creative team accomplished a visually striking look for Fidelity.

Credits:
Client: Fidelity
Title: “Around the World” :30
Airdate: Currently airing
Agency: Arnold Worldwide
Group Creative Directors: Wendy Beckett, John Simpson
Executive Producer: Sarah Spitz
Art Director: Sara Rodriguez
Copywriter: Katie Pace
Production Company: Aero Film, Santa Monica, CA
Director: Michael Hartog
EP: Lance O’Connor
Design & VFX Company: Radium/Reel FX, Santa Monica/Dallas
EP: Jeff Blodgett
Producer: Paul Winze
Co-Director: Limbert Fabian
VFX Supervisor: Dariush Derakhshani
Designers: Hatem Ben Abdallah, Nader Husseini, Dustin D’Arnault, Erin McGuire
CG Artists: Steve Cummings, Dave Damant, Dan Gutman, Victor Garza, Brian Lee, Takahiro Yamaguchi, Scott Tessier
Editorial Company: Aero Post
Editor: Michael Hartog

Tools Used: Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut Pro, Maya, VRay, Nuke, Inferno, Paper, Tape, and Scissors.

AMC Theaters/Coke "Magic Chairs" receives V.E.S. Nomination!

2010-01-17T18:00:00Z

The Visual Effects Society’s V.E.S. Award Nominees were announced last night, and AMC Theaters/Coke "Magic Chairs is a nominee in the category of “Outstanding Created Environment in a Broadcast Program or Commercial.” Congratulations to all of the Radium and Reel FX teams that worked so hard on “Magic Chairs.” Congratulation are also in order to Animation Supervisor Steve Nichols, who was nominated for his previous work on District 9.

Radium Weighs in on VFX for Spots in Post Magazine's January Issue

2010-01-04T18:00:00Z

Radium/Reel Fx, along with Mill, MassMarket and BUF weigh in on navigating VFX for spots in changing economic times. Featured are images from V.E.S. nominee AMC Theaters/Coke “Magic Chairs” and remarks from CG Supervisor, Dariush Derakhshani among others.