May 28, 2017

How Stephen Cox, Farpoint’s composer, turned an old trumpet into a sci-fi drone

Making a virtual reality soundscape takes a different approach than traditional games. Composer Stephen Cox talks us through what it was like sound designing for Farpoint on the PSVR.

The post How Stephen Cox, Farpoint’s composer, turned an old trumpet into a sci-fi drone appeared first on Digital Trends.

Source: Digital Trends VR

May 28, 2017

Watch: David Fincher is a Secret Mastermind of Visual Effects

A new video essay looks at some of the incredible (and usually invisible) VFX work in David Fincher’s films.

David Fincher may not be widely regarded as a visual effects director, but the fact is, he got his start at ILM in the early ’80s working on Return of the Jedi. Also, The Social Network has more VFX shots than Godzilla (the one from the ’90s, with P. Diddy and Jimmy Page).

In a new video essay, Kristian Williams shows how David Fincher puts his visual effects to work in the service of his narratives, and how this artistry makes him a “master of deception.”

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Source: NoFilmSchool

May 28, 2017

‘Loveless’: Andrey Zvyagintsev Reveals How the Anguish of Russia is in All of Us

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s ‘Loveless’ is a bleak window into a vapid society devoid of empathy and meaning.

In 2014, Andrey Zvyagintsev made the definitive contemporary Russian film. At once, the ambitious and harrowing Leviathan is a Biblical tragedy, a classic Russian novel (in the vein of Dostoevsky), and a searing indictment of Russia’s current political situation. In the film, a poor man from a remote fishing village engages in an uphill battle against eminent domain; in the end, he loses much more than his property to the state.

Needless to say, the Russian parliament, which had contributed state funds to the production of Leviathan, publicly denounced the film. That’s why, at the film’s press conference and in a private interview with No Film School, Zvyagintsev and producer Alexander Rodnyansky revealed that they ventured outside the system to fund their next film, Loveless, which just premiered at Cannes.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

May 27, 2017

Here’s How to Make Your Gun Blast Effects Look More Realistic

Find out how to make a gunshot blast effect that looks so real it hurts.

If you’ve got a project you’re working on that includes some gunfire, one of your biggest obstacles is making sure that those gunshots look believable. If using squibs and blanks isn’t really an option for you, you can always try to sell the effect in post, but you’ll want to know a few techniques before you start dropping a bunch of smoke, spark, and blood spatter elements into your timeline.

Axel from HitFilm provides a bunch of great advice on all the things you’ll need to create a realistic gun battle, including gunshot impacts, blasts, and muzzle smoke. Check out the tutorials below!

Getting the VFX right is important for selling the illusion that a real gun battle is going on, but there are also other vital elements to consider. Make sure the lighting and color grade matches throughout all of your elements; ensure that you have good sound effects (gunshots, pops, falls, ricochets, impacts, etc.) that help sell the effect; and, finally, make your touch subtle enough so as to not draw attention to the VFX elements.

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Source: NoFilmSchool

May 26, 2017

Watch: 4 Alternative Uses for Mic Stands That Will Come in Handy on Set

Mic stands can do a whole lot more than hold microphones.

Typically if you’re trying to mount lights or fly modifiers, a C-stand is the piece of equipment you look for. However, these things are expensive, heavy, and difficult to transport, so having another more affordable, less labor intensive option would make any filmmaker’s life a little easier. Enter the mic stand. They’re cheap, portable, and easy to set up on the fly, and in this video, Caleb Pike of DSLR Video Shooter shows you four alternative on-set uses for them, from holding diffusion to flying flags.

There’s a reason that C-stands are the go-to piece of gear for lighting equipment. They’re rugged, sturdy, and yes, heavy enough to handle big, bulky lights. However, if you’re working with lighting equipment that doesn’t weight very much, like LEDs and modifiers, mic stands are more than capable of handling the job.

Here are the four alternative uses for mic stands Pike mentions in the video:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

May 26, 2017

Get a Major Discount on WriterDuet Screenwriting Software Ahead of App Launch

Next month, all WriterDuet Pro customers will get access to the new iOS/Android app.

WriterDuet is often likened to the Google Docs of screenwriting. The software enables live collaboration and provides an extensive toolset for professional screenwriters.

But it’s expensive: currently, it costs $159 for a lifetime premium license, and on June 1st, the price will increase to $199. However, as a way to promote the upcoming app launch, WriterDuet is now offering the software for $127 for a limited time with promo code WDPRO20 when you buy it here.

Here’s a brief rundown of the WriterDuet Pro features:

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Source: NoFilmSchool

May 26, 2017

Zane Lowe Music Keynote at the 2017 SXSW Conference [Video]

“The job is to be the conduit between the artist and the fan.” – Zane Lowe

Zane Lowe – New Zealand-born radio DJ, live DJ, record producer, and television presenter – takes us on a sonic journey during his Music Keynote at the 2017 SXSW Conference from the roots of his musical influences and driving passion to share music with others to becoming the Creative Director and LA Anchor for Beats 1, Apple’s first free global radio station.

During the Keynote, synced to a curated playlist fitting for a DJ, Lowe explores where the music industry is going, the role technology now plays, how to keep up, and the evolution of the artist’s creative control.

“Technology has freed us all and now music moves fast, and we have to move fast too.”

From streaming services to music distribution, Lowe discusses how the music industry is adapting to technology and bringing the artist, fan, and business together. In this new music world where attention is currency, fans are followers, and followers are data, music discovery through the human experience is a driving force that’s changing the game of music distribution. Lowe examines a new kind of community that has emerged, bridging the gap between artist and fan through a direct, global connection on social media platforms. Lowe also expresses his lasting belief in radio and its place in the modern age.

“Listening in a collective environment is where the moments live.”

Watch the video above for the full 2017 SXSW Conference Keynote with Zane Lowe. Get inspired by a multitude of diverse visionaries at SXSW – browse more 2017 Keynotes, Featured Sessions, Red Carpets, and Q&A’s on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and SXSW News for the latest SXSW coverage, recaps, announcements, and SXSW 2018 updates.

2017 SXSW Conference Keynote, Zane Lowe – Photo by James Goulden Photography/Getty Images

Related News:

• PanelPicker Opens on June 26 for the 2018 SXSW Conference
• Watch 2017 Keynotes, Red Carpets, and Showcases on the SXSW YouTube Channel
• Sign Up for SXSW Event Updates

The post Zane Lowe Music Keynote at the 2017 SXSW Conference [Video] appeared first on SXSW.

Source: SxSW Music