Sustainability behind the FMX scenes
Less than four weeks before the start of the event, FMX 2023 has initiated many steps to reduce its own carbon footprint as a climate-fair certified event by the KSS Climate Protection Foundation Baden-Württemberg . The concrete changes in the area of resources include, for example, reducing decorations and material displays. Wherever possible, European speakers will travel by train to save resources, and CO2 offsetting will also help to offset the emissions generated when booking international trips. Further specific measures for energy and water supply, accommodation, catering, purchasing, event marketing and public relations can be found here.
New programme highlights!
EVOLVING panel on sustainability and energy consumption
The panel “Evolving Research & Technology for a Minimised Footprint” with Volker Helzle (Animationsinstitut der Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg), Michael McKenna (Final Pixel), Prof. Jan Adamczyk (Hochschule der Medien) and Ben Kent (Foundry) will focus on technological advances that make sustainable media productions possible and necessary – also in view of increased computing power on the one hand and rising energy costs on the other. In this context, more and more production companies have published reports on their environmental protection and sustainability plans. This raises a number of questions: How will sustainability be woven into the training of the next generation of media professionals? What requirements are placed on VFX service providers and animation studios and are these comprehensible? Is sustainability, alongside salary and equality, a criterion that should be considered when choosing an employer? The panel includes short input presentations and dialogue with the audience.
Philipp Nägelsbach on the climate change game ENDLING – EXTINCTION IS FOREVER
The award-winning game ENDLING – EXTINCTION IS FOREVER raises awareness of the social and ecological problems caused by human impact on nature. The players encounter these problems from the perspective of the last mother fox on earth, who has to find food and a safe place for her cubs. Producer Philipp Nägelsbach will talk about the game’s approach of effectively and emotionally addressing real-life problems in the game world.
Espen Nordahl (Storm Studios) on THE LAST OF US including the zombie kiss scene
Storm Studios was the creative service provider that worked the longest on the VFX for the highly acclaimed HBO series THE LAST OF US , covering all steps from early pre-production to final approval of over 150 VFX shots. Storm helped define some of the most challenging creative aspects of the series, including CG close-ups of infected, cordyceps, CG stunt doubles and the infamous zombie kiss scene. VFX supervisor Espen Nordahl will talk about the design process and working with the game’s source material. He will also discuss his passion for plate shots, which he used to work on the VFX, even when it came to scenes that were fully CG.
Carlo van de Roer (Satellite Lab) on the lighting setup for THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER
Satellite Lab’s PlateLight is a system for simultaneously filming separate lighting setups on set that can be combined in post-production to control the live-action lighting. This talk by Carlo van de Roer will discuss how PlateLight was used to control the position and movement of the sun and interactive lighting during the filming of THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER for the “Moon of Shame” and “Endgame” sequences. Satellite Lab will give FMX audiences an insight into the work that went into developing its in-camera techniques and film ideas.
Immersive literary adaptations HÖLDERLIN’S ECHO VR and SHAKESVR
Hannes Rall’s HÖLDERLIN’S ECHO VR explores the life and work of the famous poet through an animated serious game in VR, which was created in collaboration with the University of Tübingen (Prof Susanne Marschall, co-author/director), Stuttgart Media University (Prof Stefan Radicke) and the Hölderlinturm Museum in Tübingen. Rall has been working with renowned partners on animated VR literary adaptations since 2016: His previous projects have also included SHAKESVR and PERICLES with the Shakespeare Institute in Stratford-upon-Avon. Together with Prof Susanne Marschall , Hannes Rall will provide insights into the creative and technological development and production processes of the projects – and also address the specific challenges arising from the transformation of literature into animation and gaming.
Mark Edwards (DreamWorks Animation) on THE STYLED CAT: THE LAST WISH
DreamWorks Animation VFX Supervisor Mark Edwards discusses the iconic scene in THE SEDUCED CAT: THE LAST WISH, in which the Wolf character makes his first appearance. FMX audiences can immerse themselves in the realisation of this modern fairy tale – and learn, for example, what inspired the key moments of the sequence and why so-called Easter eggs and flashbacks are important to the story. From the initial modelling decisions to the compositing filters, Edwards will show exactly how the painterly world of THE SHEEPED CAT: THE LAST WISH was brought to life.
DNEG Animation creative team on the look and style of ENTERGALACTIC
DNEG Animation is the creative team behind the Netflix animated musical ENTERGALACTIC starring Kid Cudi. At FMX, they talk about how it was possible to create the stylised look of the project. Costume designer Natasha Kanolik, for example, will explain what it took to realise fashion designer Virgil Abloh’s designs in CG, while animation director Kapil Sharma will talk about how his team developed an animation style that is representative of the show.
Masterclasses by Ed Hooks and Craig Caldwell
With Ed Hooks’ masterclasses, FMX visitors can learn both the basics and the essentials: Ed Hooks‘ two-part masterclass “Acting for Animators” is aimed at professionals from the 2D and 3D sector who want to tell believable characters, and Craig Caldwell gives participants in “Breaking the Story Formula” the practical know-how to recognise the rules of a “good story” – and to break them successfully.
Forum News
Below you will find the latest commitments from the various forum areas.
Recruiting Hub: Mack Animation , Milk VFX, Wētā FX .
Marketplace: Chaos, HP, Manus, Singarajan VFX, Synk, 3D Connexion.
