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VFX house applies CG face replacement technique for US TV series

Carly Barnes
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The Knick is a US medical drama series set in the 1900’s which features surgeons and medical staff who push the limits of medicine in a time of high death rates and no antibiotics. The series, starring Clive Owen and directed by Steven Soderbergh, features a number of effects to show character augmentation, period set extensions, medical enhancements and period anachronisms. Phosphene, an independent New York-based design and visual effects company, served as the lead VFX house on the Cinemax series with creative director John Bair and VFX executive producer Vivian Connolly at the helm.

The Phosphene creative team included Aaron Raff, Kim Lee, Vance Miller, Rebecca Dunn and digital artists Luciano DiGeronimo, Kevin Jones, Christian Lowe, Thomas Panayiotou, Eddie Porter, Greg Radcliff, Tonya Smay, Tommy Smith, Jason Tsang, Tim Van Horn and Scott Winston. 3DS Max was used for modelling and animation, V-Ray for rendering and Nuke X for compositing.

Deluxe’s Martin Zeichner served as colourist and Sam Uber served as conform editor.

One effect which appears in the series is a CG face replacement for one of the central characters played by Jennifer Ferrin (Abigail). The effect substitutes her nose with a CG version to mimic a face deformity caused by Syphilis.

VFX supervisor for The Knick, Lesley Robson-Foster explained, “We solved a tricky series of shots together using a combination of CGI, special effects prosthetic elements and compositing. Phosphene has a very talented group of artists and Abigail’s nose was a real challenge. I was very pleased with the result, as was Steven Soderbergh.’

Lead digital artist Raff described the process, “First, we used PhotoScan to convert photos of the cast to a detailed 3D model.’ Lead CG artist Miller then lit and rendered a physically-accurate version of the character’s nose-less face in V-Ray and CG artist Lee animated the subtle nose cavity twitches which viewers see as she moves her face or speaks.

“Using Nuke X, I integrated these renders of Abigail’s nose cavity onto the footage of the actress, maintaining photoreal lighting across shots that had Abigail moving her head from side to side and passing through light and shadow,’ added Raff. “The effect had to be seamless since Abigail’s altered face stayed at the centre of the frame for an extended dialogue scene.’

At times the show called for interaction of surgical instruments within the nose cavity and in those cases, Phosphene created CG extensions for the practical surgical instruments and then animated the side flaps of the nose to match the interaction of the CG instrument tips.

Visual effects producer/compositing supervisor Dunn said the sequence in which the lead doctor inspects the wounded nose was one of the most demanding visual effects sequence completed for season one. “Phosphene’s VFX team met early with Lesley Robson-Foster and Parker Chehak to determine the best way to approach this effect which had to appear highly realistic, always maintaining a fine balance between showing Abigail’s disfigurement whilst letting the natural beauty of her character shine through.’

Searle Street Post wins visual effects Loerie

Carly Barnes
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At the Loerie Awards, which took place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 20 and 21 September, Cape Town-based post-production company Searle Street Post was presented with the only visual effects craft Gold award for their work on the Prudential South Pole commercial.

Creative agency Lowe Cape Town came up with the concept for the advert, which was directed by Keith Rose of Velocity Films. Searle Street Post researched and developed the necessary techniques involved in finishing the spot over several weeks, with grading and VFX done by Udesh Chetty.

Heino Henning, creative director at Searle Street Post thanked Rose and Lowe Cape Town “for having the vision to let us help them not only bring the South Pole to life in a studio in Cape Town but to also recreate the look and feel of the hand-coloured photographs of the black-and-white era. It’s the kind of brief we dream of.’

Watch how the South Pole commercial was brought to life in the Technical breakdown video.

View the South Pole advert.

GFC appoints a new CEO

Carly Barnes
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Andile Mbeki has been appointed as the CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission (GFC).

Andile Mbeki (45) is an entrepreneur, youth activist and a community leader who has a strong passion for youth development, entrepreneurship and innovation. He has worked for government for 14 years and has been involved in business for ten years. He has also worked extensively in the field of training and development ranging from teaching; lecturing and management of Human Resource Development Processes.

He has served, and continues to serve in various executive and advisory capacities in a number of statutory bodies, NGO’s, public and private sector including two terms as an active member of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board. He has also recently been invited by the Minister of Communications to serve in the National Task Team to assist in content generation and broadcasting matters.

MEC for Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation Molebatsi Bopape said that with Mbeki’s appointment, it will not be business as usual for the GFC – a change of mindset and change of culture is on the cards. He further indicated that the Gauteng Film Commission will now be more effective, more productive and competitive with Mbeki at the helm.

Mbeki comes with a wealth of experience from the creative sector. Some of his former colleagues shared a few words about him:

Marc Nekaitar, Founder of Agoralumiere International, Founder of Creative Africa, FEPACI Regional Office Project Manager says:

“I met Andile Mbeki during the African Film Summit held in Tswhane in April 2006. I observed his passion for the film and television Industries in particular but I could also feel his understanding of the creative sector generally, in those early years before it was officially identified and acknowledged as the ‘Mzanzi Golden Economy’ in South Africa.

“I really believe that Andile Mbeki can contribute to revitalise the GFC and also to provide a stronger enabling environment for the younger stakeholders of the film and TV industry in particular and the creative sector in general in Gauteng as a whole.’

Mbeki is a teacher by profession, hence his handling of his programme at Radio Xhosa, now SABC Umhlobo Wenene, was educative, sensitive and pointed. He was also a stage actor, who worked with Reverend Mzwandile Maqhina. He was concerned about the education, training and development of the city’s young people; hence he and others found it easy to establish the Mankind Projects (Pty) Ltd, and was appointed as its first chief executive officer.

A congratulatory message from Top Crew Home Brew Movies (Pty) Ltd:

“We wish to congratulate Mr Andile Mbeki on his appointment as the new CEO for Gauteng Film Commission. To some of us who had lost confidence in the Commission, his appointment is a breath of fresh air to the future of the film industry as he comes from the very sector and with relevant knowledge. This is the approach we have been yearning for in particular for key appointments in our country. We have confidence in him and his consultative approach towards resolving matters than imposing type of leadership we have witnessed before.”

SA director proposes with the help of Ian McKellen

Carly Barnes
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South African director Brett Best who is responsible for the Miracle Rising: South Africa documentary and The Biggest Loser South Africa series, enlisted the help of UK actor Ian McKellen when he proposed to his boyfriend in a video clip.

Best’s boyfriend Khalid Shawwa is a big fan of the Star Trek series and Best was hoping to get Patrick Stewart, who plays Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation to feature in the home-made video. However, as Stewart was not available, his close friend McKellen was able to fill in.

Watch the proposal video.

Die Windpomp releases on DVD and VOD

Carly Barnes
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On 12 September Afrikaans fantasy love story Die Windpomp releases on DVD as well as on Times Media’s Vidi and DStv’s Box Office Video On Demand (VOD) platforms.

Producer Chris Roland says, “We’re ecstatic that people who missed the film in the cinema now have an opportunity to see the film on DVD and VOD. Since the cinema release we have been inundated by the public asking how they can see the film.’

Producer Lee-Ann Cotton adds, “The public can now rent, own or stream Die Windpomp, and we’re going to insure that no one is left out from seeing this remarkable film.’

Written and directed by Etienne Fourie and produced by ZenHQ Films the film tells the story of a summer romance between two young people living in a retirement village. Stars in the film include: Leandie Du Randt, Armand Greyling, Ian Roberts, Marga Van Rooy and Grethe Fox.

View the trailer

Erotic art-house festival features at Cinema Nouveau

Carly Barnes
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Cinema Nouveau features five films as part of its Erotic Art-House Fest, which runs until 5 September. The festival takes place at cinemas in Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria, Rosebank Mall in Johannesburg; Gateway in Durban; and the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

The five films are Nymphomaniac I, Nymphomaniac II, Venus in Fur, Lovelace and The Canyons. All feature explicit content of a sexual nature and are not suitable for viewers under the age of 18.

Lola Gallant, brand manager of Ster-Kinekor’s Cinema Nouveau and Select brands says, “The launch of this festival builds on the ever-expanding repertoire of exclusive film content that Cinema Nouveau continues to offer to movie-lovers. It also provides an opportunity to expose different cinematic genres from across the world to those cinema audiences with a passion for this evolving art form. As we say, those who know cinema know Nouveau.’

Nymphomaniac I

Directed by acclaimed Danish director, Lars von Trier, Nymphomaniac was originally supposed to be only one movie but, because of its four-hour length, the director decided to split the project into two separate films.

Nymphomaniac I is the story of Joe, a self-diagnosed nymphomaniac who is left badly beaten in an alley and found by an older man. At his home, she recounts the erotic story of her adolescence and young-adulthood.

The film stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Stellan Skarsgard, Stacy Martin, Jamie Bell, Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Shia LaBeouf, Christian Slater, Sophie Kennedy Clark and Connie Nielsen.

Watch the trailer

Nymphomaniac II

This film is a continuation into Joe’s adulthood, where her journey of self-discovery leads to dark consequences. The film stars Jamie Bell, Willem Dafoe, Mia Goth, Jean-Marc Barr, Gainsbourg, Skarsgard, Martin, LaBeouf and Udo Kier.

Watch the trailer

Venus in Fur

This play-within-a-play directed by Roman Polanski tells the story of a writer-director of a new play who auditions a brash and vulgar actress he believes is unlikely to get the part. To his surprise she shows great understanding of the character and as they read the script the balance of power shifts and attraction turns into obsession.

The film stars Mathieu Amalric and Emmanuele Seigner.

Watch the trailer

Lovelace

Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, Lovelace tells the true story of pornography actress Linda Lovelace, who married young and was forced into performing in films by her abusive husband, Chuck Traynor. She rose to fame in the seventies following her appearance in Deep Throat, which, to her dismay, became popular with mainstream audiences.

The film stars Amanda Seyfried, Hank Azaria, Adam Brody, James Franco and Sharon Stone.

Watch the trailer

The Canyons

A young movie producer finds out about a secret affair between his girlfriend and the lead actor in his latest film and spirals out of control. He embarks on a violent, sexually-charged journey into the dark side of human nature as his cruel mind games escalate into an act of bloody violence.

The film is directed by Paul Schrader and stars Lindsay Lohan, James Deen, Nolan Gerard Funk and Amanda Brooks.

Watch the trailer

Visit the Cinema Nouveau website for booking information.

Audiences fixed on Malaysian Airlines disaster

Carly Barnes
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International TV networks such as CNN and Fox News have seen massive viewership hikes in the coverage of the Malaysian Airlines crash in Ukraine, during prime-time hours. The plane, which was travelling from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday 17 July, is believed to have been shot down by Russian-backed separatists using a surface-to-air missile.

Ratings indicate that the Fox News Channel received a viewership of over 3m between 20h00 and 23h00, with The Kelly File and Hannity receiving 3.18m and 2.58m viewers respectively.

Viewing stats from Wednesday 16 July to Thursday 17 July on FNC saw a 32% increase, while MSNBC experienced an increase of 21% and CNN saw and increase from 352,000 to 1.2m total viewers.

Videovision Entertainment a loyal sponsor to DFM

Carly Barnes
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Videovision Entertainment, South Africa’s premier film and distribution company, will attend the Durban FilmMart (DFM) from 18 to 21 July at the Elangeni Tsogo Sun Hotel in Durban, to present their esteemed R75, 000 distribution prize to the Best South African Film Project.

Videovision Entertainment, headed by well-known producer Anant Singh, is a Durban based company celebrating 25 successful years in the film industry. Specializing in an array of operations, Videovision Entertainment is renowned for their work in South Africa as a leading film and television production and distribution to media, live entertainment and film studios.

With each passing year, the ties strengthen between Videovision Entertainment and DFM; Africa’s leading co-production and finance markets for filmmakers in Africa. This year not only marks the 5th edition of the DFM, it also commemorates this loyal four year partnership; “Our association with DFM aligns itself to our company’s vision of providing a platform for the South African film industry both locally and abroad,’ says Videovision Entertainment’s Head of Communication and Media Nilesh Singh.

Attending this year’s Durban FilmMart, is CEO Anant Singh, Director of distribution and acquisition Sanjeev Singh, Financial Manager Robert Naidoo, Head of Communications and Media Nilesh Singh and Editor Sigeshan Reddy.

Videovision Entertainment sponsor’s a prize each year for the DFM; Five Fingers for Marseilles produced by Sean Drummond and Michael Matthews, were last year’s recipients of the Videovision Entertainment distribution prize. This award will assist them in ensuring release and distribution throughout South Africa once the film is completed early next year. Matthews will use the prize money to develop top quality marketing material, including behind the scenes, featurettes, artwork and online social marketing.

This year, Videovision Entertainment intends to sponsor the same opportunity to a film project at the 2014 DFM with R75 000 worth of distribution assistance. “We are delighted to continue our sponsorship of the Best South African Film Project. The objective of our sponsorship is to help nurture upcoming filmmakers and support them in having their films distributed in South Africa,’ says Nilesh Singh.

Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty says, “Partnerships are crucial to achieving DFM’s goals and objectives. The Videovision award presents these filmmakers with an incredible opportunity to break into the market place with the backing and support of one of South Africa’s longest running distribution companies. We are truly appreciative of Videovision’s consistent and generous support in promoting African cinema.’

Visit the DFM website or Videovision Entertainment website for more information.

Transmedia Lab workshop set to educate at DFM

Carly Barnes
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The Durban FilmMart (DFM), a development initiative created by the Durban International Film Festival and Durban Film Office, which takes place from 18 to 21 July at the Elangeni Tsogo Sun Hotel in Durban, has set up Transmedia Lab workshops for three film and television projects.

Transmedia is a new approach to storytelling where filmmakers use an array of different media platforms to create and develop certain aspects of their story. Using a combination of traditional and new media forms, transmedia helps create a far richer experience that builds a living network of interactive users consuming and generating content without the limitations of being bound to one media form.

The Transmedia Lab workshop takes place from 18 to 20 July from 09h00 to 12h30 each day, and consists of closed sessions conducted by two experts in this area, Marc Schwinges, Digital Content and Broadcast Regulatory Strategist and Consultant, and Ingrid Kopp, Director of Digital Initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute.

“While I attend festivals and markets around the world, the Durban FilmMart provides a friendly and effective space for our industry to learn from and network with some of the finest minds from around the world, who are normally far less accessible at global markets. I have found the local slant and mix of factual and fiction films fascinating over the years, and the recent interest in transmedia truly exciting. As a transmedia and policy consultant my area of expertise has always been much broader than film and television production alone. I have for two decades been producing transmedia in South Africa, and have a bigger portfolio in this area than many of my international colleagues,’ says Schwinges.

With similar sentiments Ingrid Kopp says, “I attended DFM last year for the first time and was immediately impressed with the fact that I was able to meet with filmmakers from all over the world in such a friendly and supportive environment. I also see so much incredible potential for transmedia in South Africa, with its strong cell network and as smartphone proliferation grows steadily; this feels like a great time to really push forward in this area.’

Under the guidance of Kopp and Schwinges, the Transmedia Lab will set out to help three existing and developing projects – Khumbul’ ekhaya, an SABC television programme; Hhola Hhola and feature length fiction in development; and Welcome to Slovo Park a documentary project in development.

This intense, one-on-one, three-day programme will entail analysing projects and conceptualising possible transmedia components to incorporate into the existing projects.

The Transmedia Labs will aim to create an environment where people have room to experiment and think about new ways of working. Kopp and Schwinges will give them a solid digital and creative toolset they can take with them into their future work. This brave new world of interactive, transmedia storytelling can feel very overwhelming, the Transmedia Lab will help those attending understand how to approach building a solid strategy for their project and the audience they are trying to reach.

Schwinges further explains that they hope to use the workshop to help the attending three projects form a prototype for a transmedia extension, and to workshop with the teams on the best ways to maximise transmedia audiences for their projects. Additionally, Schwinges suggests that the aim of the Lab is to help begin the process of demystifying transmedia and to bridge the gap into the new world of content producers; ultimately looking at the dynamics of developing and growing audiences in Africa and globally, to find new ways to touch and engage those audiences.

“The Durban FilmMart aims to develop African filmmakers through skill development workshops, networking platforms and forums conducted by industry experts.’ says Tiny Mungwe, head of Industry Programmes at the Durban International Film Festival, “Using the Transmedia Lab workshop, the DFM hopes to help content producers find new perspective for their projects, and give them the necessary introductory tools and experience to conduct transmedia storytelling.’

“It is vital to always have an open mind when it comes to the production of a project, there are so many avenues one can take to tell a story. Through the Transmedia Lab workshops we hope to expose producers to this new age, cross platform way of telling their story,’ says Durban Film Office’s Toni Monty.

At an Africa in Focus panel, which is an open session taking place on 21 July from 15h00 to 16h00, Kopp and Schwinges will share the outcomes of the four day workshop and inform public how they can get involved in the Transmedia Lab.

Visit the DFM website for more information.

The Films That Made Me at DIFF

Carly Barnes
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Returning to the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF), which takes place from 17 to 27 July, The Films That Made Me section presents a programme of five films selected by a prominent South African director to bear testament to the films that have shaped his or her directorial voice. This year, DIFF is delighted to announce that it has invited acclaimed South African filmmaker, Khalo Matabane (State of Violence, Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me), to curate a selection of films he considers influential in his cinematic career to festival audiences. The films will screen at 09h30 every day from 18 to 22 July.

Matabane explains his selection:

“Do the Right Thing directed by Spike Lee (1989) is a film that made a huge impact on me – the reason I became a filmmaker. It is personal for me – the race questions it raises are timeless, the humour and its stylistic approach; A Short Film About Killing directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski (1988) is a film that has haunted me for years – Mirosław Baka’s strong face, its strong anti-death penalty message and its artistic beauty. Kieslowski has made some other great films, such as Three Colours: Blue, but this film in particular has stayed with me; I am a big Scorsese fan. He is one of the few filmmakers whose early films I truly love with my head and heart. Raging Bull directed by Martin Scorsese (1980) is a film about broken men, about violence and, I would argue, is the director’s finest film; Hitchcock is one of the greatest filmmakers in the world – period. I love many of his films, like Psycho, but Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) is, for lack of better phrase, really a mind ****!; The title of the Decline of the American Empire (Denys Arcand 1986) I love because it captures the state of the world in which we live. Denys Arcand is truly an under-appreciated filmmaker.’

Matabane was born June 18, 1974 in Ga Mphahlele, a village in Limpopo, South Africa. He has directed numerous documentaries, drama series, campaigns, commercials, taught about cinema and politics at schools. Along with his work as a filmmaker, Matabane also occasionally writes about cinema and politics. His first feature film State of Violence (2010) screened to critical acclaim at Toronto and the Berlinale. Set in Johannesburg, it is the story of a man who wife gets killed in what seems like a random act of violence. He goes on a journey searching for the killers only to find out that he is the son of a man he killed in the 1980’s during the struggle in the township.

Matabane’s newest film, Nelson Mandela: The Myth and Me will open the documentary section of DIFF on Friday, 18 July at 19h00 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre. The film seeks to find out if Mandela’s philosophies of forgiveness, reconciliation and freedom resonate currently in a world that is plagued with injustice and social inequalities.

Screening Details:

• Fri 18 July, Suncoast 7, 09h30: Raging Bull d. Martin Scorsese (United States, 1980, 129 min)
• Sat 19 July, Elangeni, 09h30: Rear Window d. Alfred Hitchcock (United States, 1954, 115 min)
• Sun 20 July, Suncoast 7, 09h30: Do the Right Thing d. Spike Lee (United States, 1989, 120 min)
• Mon 21 July, Elangeni, 09h30: A Short Film About Killing d. Krzysztof Kieślowski (Poland, United States, 1988, 85 min)
• Tues 22 July, Elangeni, 09h30: The Decline Of The American Empire d. Denys Arcand (Canada, 1986, 101 min)

DIFF includes more than 200 theatrical screenings and a full seminar and workshop programme, as well as the Wavescape Film Festival, the Wild Talk Africa Film Festival, and various industry initiatives, including the 7th Talents Durban (in cooperation with Talents Berlinale ) and the 5th Durban FilmMart co-production market (in partnership with the Durban Film Office).

Visit the DIFF website for more information.

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