Author: James Partridge

‘Monsters University’ Animation Progression: from sketches to screen

Posted by | Jun 7, 2013 |

One of my must-see films of 2013 is the Disney–Pixar sequel Monsters University. We’ve seen plenty of trailers, posters and clips…now it’s time to take a closer look at just how much work goes into making an animated gem. This fascinating little “animation progression” takes us through the six phases required to create a single frame – Story, Art, Modelling, Layout, Animation and Simulation, and Lighting and Final Frame – beginning with the 227,000+ storyboards drawn up by a slew of Pixar artists. Enjoy! Monsters University is less than a month away – July 11. Please let it be as good as the original – my favourite Pixar flick. . Story Department: This storyboard was drawn by Monsters University story artist Dean Kelly and is from the sequence “Pig Chase.” Storyboards are drawn by story artists for the purpose of pre-visualizing the film. They are placed side by side in sequence, so that they convey scenes and deliver a rough sense of how the story unfolds. This storyboard is one of approximately 227,246 that were drawn for the film. Monsters University story artists drew the most storyboards ever drawn for a Pixar Animation Studios film. The storyboarding process, in the form it is known today, was developed at Walt Disney Studios during the early 1930s. . Art Department: Once the storyline for a sequence is completed, concept art is...

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First official image of Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel in ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’

Posted by | Jun 6, 2013 |

Middle Earth has been pretty quiet lately. But there’s movement on the horizon with The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug only 6 months away – 12 December. Expect a trailer soon. In the meantime, we get to feast our eyes on the first official image of Middle Earth newbie Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel. Tauriel means “Daughter of Mirkwood” and she’s a true newbie as she doesn’t feature in the original book. She’s a new character created by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh for the films. Talking to Entertainment Weekly, Lilly described her character: “Tauriel is the head of the Elven Guard. She’s a Sylvan Elf, which means she’s of a much lower order than the elves we all became acquainted with in The Lord of the Rings. She doesn’t hold the same kind of status that Arwen or Galadriel or Elrond or Legolas do — she’s much more lowly. She sort of goes against the social order of the elves a little bit.” As for a possible romance with Legolas (Orlando Bloom): “Tauriel’s relationship with Legolas is significant. They’ve known each other since they were children, and Legolas’ dad, [Elven king] Thrandruil, has a soft spot for Tauriel and sees something very special in her. So if you grow up side by side, and your dad has a very special spot in his heart for this young woman who’s...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 6 June

Posted by | Jun 6, 2013 |

This week: two films about the “American Dream”. The dream is very much alive in one – but in the other, it’s about to come crashing down. Opening today: . BEKAS……FILM OF THE WEEK Sweden, Finland, Iraq | 97 minutes | Drama Director: Karzan Kader (The Last Four) Cast: Zamand Taha, Sarwar Fazil Set in the early 1990s, ‘Bekas’ is a heart-warming story of two homeless Iraqi brothers attempting the impossible dream, to go to America and live with Superman – who will be able to solve all of their problems, protect them and punish everyone who has been mean to them. At the top of this list, is Saddam Hussein. This looks a touching, and hilarious, drama. The two leads light up the screen, much like their hero. Distributor: Rialto Distribution . THE GREAT GATSBY USA, Australia | 142 minutes | Drama, Romance Director: Baz Luhrmann (Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge!) Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Isla Fisher, Joel Edgerton, Carey Mulligan, Tobey Maguire, Adelaide Clemens, Callan McAuliffe, Amitabh Bachchan, Gemma Ward, Elizabeth Debicki Would-be writer Nick Carraway (Maguire) chases his own American Dream by leaving the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, bootleg kings, and sky-rocketing stocks. But Nick lands next door to the mysterious, party-giving millionaire Jay Gatsby (DiCaprio) who draws him into his captivating world...

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Six more NZIFF 2013 films announced

Posted by | Jun 5, 2013 |

Late last week, and early this week, the peeps at New Zealand International Film Festival HQ announced more films for their 2013 line-up – along with a look at this year’s programme/poster artwork. The new additions aretwo very different black and white pics (Blancanieves and Frances Ha), Kiwi rock-doc Sheen of Gold, US snowboarding doco The Crash Reel, upcoming horror maestro Adam Wingard‘s You’re Next, and festival veteran Sally Potter‘s coming-of-age drama Ginger & Rosa  (starring Elle Fanning and Alice Englert). An exciting and eclectic bunch of films if ever there was one. Here are all the details: BLANCANIEVES Spain | 104 minutes | Drama, Fantasy Director: Pablo Berger (Torremolinos 73) Cast: Maribel Verdú, Daniel Giménez Cacho, Ángela Molina, Pere Ponce, Macarena García, Sofía Oria, Josep Maria Pou, Inma Cuesta, Ramón Barea, Emilio Gavira ‘Blancanieves’ is a gothic melodrama inspired by the Brothers’ Grimm tale. Once upon a time there was a little girl who had never met her mother, and she grew up being hated by her evil stepmother. She learned her father’s art, a famous bullfighter, and one day she ran away to become a legend. Set in 1920s south of Spain, ‘Blancanieves’ is a tribute to silent films. . FRANCES HA USA | 86 minutes | Comedy, Drama Director: Noah Baumbach (The Squid and the Whale) Cast: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Charlotte d’Amboise, Adam Driver, Michael Zegen,...

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