Cinema, TV, and Everything in Between
In the final episode of season one, Shannon Tindle and John Knoll return to Lighter Darker to discuss the much-debated use of lens flares in film and animation. John talks about rejection and how to know when a project isn’t right for you. Our hosts and guests share some of...
Production designer Jeremy Hindle and visual effects supervisor Eric Leven join us to talk through their work on Severance season two. We discuss merging practical designs with the often invisible digital effects to create the atmosphere and environments of the Lumon world. Chapter Markers [00:00:11] Intro [00:01:55] Rejection Letters [00:06:52]...
ILM creative director Ben Morris and producer Svana Gisla join us to discuss ABBA Voyage. We talk through details about the technology, collaboration with the band, and the legacy of this one-of-a-kind musical experience. ILM
How did John Knoll decide to pitch the story for Rogue One? What does Rob Coleman recall about the audience’s reaction to Yoda’s first lightsaber fight? What was it like for Fon Davis on his first pyrotechnic model shoot on the Star Wars prequels? How did Masa Narita decide to...
On Episode 16 of Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, Bryce Dallas Howard joins us to talk about her experience and process as an actor and a filmmaker. She shares some of her earliest childhood memories of visiting film sets, to revealing a few secrets regarding the famed Darksaber. ILM
For over 30 years, Vicki Dobbs Beck has been at the forefront of innovative storytelling. In her role as VP of Immersive Content at ILM and Lucasfilm, she has championed a variety of groundbreaking experiences like Vader Immortal and CARNE y ARENA. In Episode 15 of the Lighter Darker podcast,...
This week, VFX legend John Knoll joins us to discuss his work on Skeleton Crew, answer listener questions, and share behind-the-scenes stories. Chapter Markers [00:00:00] Intro [00:10:31] Skeleton Crew [00:44:09] Questions From the Mailbag [00:54:16] The Martini [01:02:29] Outro ILM
This week, we’re exploring Virtual Production. Industry experts Shivani Jhaveri and Justin Talley share their insights on when this technology truly shines and, just as importantly, when it might not be the best fit for your project. They also offer tips and advice for working on set and share some...
This week, we discuss the work behind two films nominated for Oscars in Best Visual Effects. From the whimsical world of Wicked and the acidic atmosphere of Alien: Romulus—Pablo Helman, David Shirk, and Nelson Sepulveda-Fauser share their insights and learnings in crafting the visual effects behind these blockbuster hits. Chapter...
Todd and Rob break down the process of how films are selected for nomination in the Oscars’ Best Visual Effects category. We discuss highlights from the five nominated films—Alien Romulus, Better Man, Dune: Part Two, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Wicked—and we revisit the shower door myth....
ILM Art Director Amy Beth Christenson (Transformers One, Star Wars Rebels) discusses the complexities and pure joy of working with established Star Wars and Transformers characters while introducing new elements for today’s audiences. Amy shares stories of adapting her portfolio to catch the attention of recruiters and highlights from her...
Rob, Todd and Jenny share their own rejection letters and answer some lingering questions from the mailbag. Todd corrects another VFX myth in Misinformation Corner. The team shares their favorite things from the year as we say farewell to 2024 in this bonus episode of Lighter Darker! Chapter Markers [00:00:00]...
Join legendary cinematographer Dean Cundey (Apollo 13, The Mandalorian) on our final episode of 2024. From his early days collaborating with John Carpenter on horror classics like Halloween and The Thing to groundbreaking work on Jurassic Park and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Cundey has shaped the visual landscape of cinema....
This week, we delve into the world building techniques behind two of the year’s most anticipated films: Gladiator II and Wicked. VFX Producer Ed Randolph (Gladiator II) and VFX Supervisor Anthony Smith (Wicked) give us behind-the-scenes stories of building these worlds and share insights into some of their favorite shots...
Director Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings, Lost Ollie) and VFX supervisor Hayden Jones join us to discuss the role of empathy in animation. We talk about Tindle’s latest film, Ultraman: Rising as well as the importance of collaboration and infusing personal experiences into characters and storytelling. Chapter Markers...
For this special Halloween Edition, we flash back to Ghostbusters II with VFX legend Bill George who shares stories from the model shop. We talk with Bill about the evolution of visual effects over his 40-year career. Episode Links Bill George – IMDb The Ewok Adventure (TV Movie 1984) –...
Director Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, Twisters) and Executive Producer Ashley Jay Sandberg (Twisters, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) discuss working together to balance science and storytelling with their latest film, Twisters. They share stories from the set, including real-life challenges from Mother Nature. The filmmakers...
Beth D’Amato, ILM digital paint supervisor, joins Todd, Rob, and Jenny to discuss their favorite camera moves, compositions, and notable “oners”. Beth shares how she got her start in VFX, and we learn that sometimes the phrase, “We will keep your resume on file” is a good thing! The ILM...
In Episode 2 of the #LighterDarker podcast, the team welcomes #TransformersOne director Josh Cooley to talk about combining heart and humor in his filmmaking. Josh also shares the story of getting his dream shot at Pixar, working on Toy Story 4, and how he almost had a very different career...
Welcome to Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast hosted by ILM Chief Creative Officer, Rob Bredow, ILM Compositing Supervisor, Todd Vaziri, and Producer Jenny Ely who talk about the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. In our premiere episode Rob and Todd share thoughts on beautiful final...
Welcome to Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast where we focus on the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. Hosted by ILM Chief Creative Officer, Rob Bredow and Todd Vaziri, ILM Compositing Supervisor, who talk about the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling....
Welcome to Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, where we focus on the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. Starting September 3rd. Hosted by ILM Chief Creative Officer Rob Bredow and ILM Compositing Supervisor Todd Vaziri, we share behind-the-scenes stories that illustrate the many crafts that come...
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