ILM - Transformers Miniature Magic

Industrial Light & Magic visual effects supervisor, Scott Farrar, on shooting dirty with Michael Bay and miniature work on "Transformers."

• Category

  Film & Animation

[Dominik Belancic]

What do you use for destruction and what OS are you using?

[ILMVisualFX]

Proprietary software running on Linux.

[jorgeroxs47]

Do the CGI artists have to be on the set of filming so they can work with the director on how could they achieve the scene? Or the the artist basically work with what the director has given them?

[ILMVisualFX]

Typically we have a small crew supervising what is being shot on set during principle photography. They serve to ensure the VFX teams get what they need to make the shots successful. Much of the shot design and timing is worked out prior to the shoot in the creation of previsualization (think: rough animatic) for each shot in a given sequence.

[WillehWark]

From the sound of things, much more goes into scenes such as this than visual effects artists and animators can provide. Is there a good opportunity for Computer Science or Engineering professions in this field? Does ILM provide internships for such college majors?

[ILMVisualFX]

Yes and Yes.

Check out the Lucasfilm jobs website for information on the internship program "Jedi Academy" - jobs (dot) lucasfilm (dot) com.

[yan008]

and yet they lost the best visual effect Oscar prize to the talking polar bears. WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THAT?

[ILMVisualFX]

True, shooting stereo poses a whole new set of challenges but it's certainly possible...

[FaceTheVenom]

Hey ILM, I have a question. May sound kind of noob, but, in the shot when Optimus and the other guy land, how did you get your 3D camera to exactly follow the real camera? If you can understand what I'm saying, it'll be great if you replied!

[dasnico13 .]

Dear ILM, could you do a Harlem shake video? that would be awesome.

[Aman Chhonkar]

If he/she wants to be the part of ILM as an animator HOW THEY APPLY FOR IT? WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE? IS THERE ANY KIND OF TEST TO PASS? AND WHAT HE/SHE WOULD DO IF THEY ARE OUTSIDERS (OUT OF THE U.S.A)?

[BadMiN3]

Can anyone list me a good fluid simulation software that's not $3000.  Please anyone

[WatchAndGame]

One question I was always wondering:

How can you destroy this street for example WITHOUT seeing the real street still in the movie? So if you destroy some parts in the computer, how are those parts not visible anymore? Or do you have to go through every frame and "photoshop" those parts out of the street?

[PolskiGracz5526]

ya... Pretty sad... Same thing with Harry Potter... Harry Potter lost to a movie that had nothing amazing really :/

[Mark James]

Great little insight.

[dragonball070]

yeah.... miniature... still bigger than my house! :p