PIONEER 11

Pioneer 11 (also known as Pioneer G) is a 259-kilogram (569 lb) roboticspace probe launched by NASA on April 6, 1973 to study the asteroid belt, the environment around Jupiter and Saturn, solar wind, cosmic rays, and eventually the far reaches of the solar system and heliosphere.It was the first probe to encounter Saturn and the second to fly through the asteroid belt and by Jupiter. Due to power constraints and the vast distance of the probe, communication has been lost since November 30, 1995.

Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 carry a gold-anodized aluminum plaque in the event that either spacecraft is ever found by intelligent life-forms from other planetary systems. The plaques feature the nude figures of a human male and female along with several symbols that are designed to provide information about the origin of the spacecraft.

QUINTEK GROUP RE-IMAGINES CLASSIC STAR TREK OPENING TITLES

This animation is an homage to one of the most groundbreaking sci-fi television shows ever to beam down to Earth. Our goal was to try and capture the essence of what we found most enjoyable from the series for building this faux opening to this classic show.

Narration: William Shatner

Audio: Star Trek (original series opening)

Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy

Created by: Gene Roddenberry

VFX SHOW #149 - PROMETHEUS

Mike Seymour, TyRuben Ellingson and Matt Wallin discuss the new Ridley Scott film Prometheus. Listen online here or subscribe for free in iTunes. 

Behind the scenes clips from Hekla & Shepperton.

Watch Dogs

Skateboarding at 1000 FPS

PT Anderson's "THE MASTER" teaser

Paul Thomas Anderson edited the trailer himself, which follows suit with trailers for his previous releases. The background music appears to be part of Radiohead member Jonny Greenwood’s score. Greenwood also composed the music for There Will Be Blood.

Watch the teaser trailer above for the first look at The Master, which is scheduled for release October 12, 2012.

VFX SHOW #147 - THE AVENGERS

For some hard earned schawarma and an in-depth look at the visual effects in this Summer's massive hit that is "The Avengers" click on the images below to listen to the latest VFX Show podcast with myself, Matt Leonard and Mike Seymour.  

VFX SHOW #146 - ALIEN & ALIENS

In anticipation of the release of PrometheusMike Seymour, TyRuben Ellingson and Matt Wallin dissect the original Alien and Aliens films. Click on the image below to listen online and subscribe for free in iTunes.

NY Times report on Paul Thomas Anderson's new film

Today, the NY Times ran a cover story on Paul Thomas Anderson's forthcoming film  Click on the image below to read further.

David 8 Birthday

Macro Empire

VFX SHOW #145 - THE HUNGER GAMES

Mike Seymour, Mark Christiansen and Jason Diamond review the visual effects in The Hunger Games. Click on the image below to listen to the show and subscribe for free via iTunes.

REAR WINDOW TIMELAPSE

a picture is worth 2001 words

While researching another topic I came across this image from the set of 2001. I've seen the movie dozens of times over the years and read the great book by Piers Bizony, 2001: Filming the Future but I'd never seen this image before. I find it stunning and think it sums up so much about why cineastes just love Kubrick. They look like characters from Mad Men. I wish I could get a super highres poster of this image. I'd frame it and put it over my desk in my office for inspiration.

If I ran a Major Hollywood Studio...

A few years ago my wife recommended that I read Nathaniel Philbrick's non-fiction book, "In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex". Its an amazing read and tells the harrowing true story that inspired Hermen Melville's, "Moby Dick". If I ran a major Hollywood Studio I'd greenlight this movie in a heartbeat and would try to get Ridley Scott, Philip Kaufmann or Peter Weir to take on the project.

The PBS program "American Experience" aired some incredible television this week with their telling of the history of American whaling.  

Click on the image to watch the episode online.

VFX Show episode #144 "John Carter"

Mike Seymour, Jeff Heusser and Matt Wallin take a journey to Mars to review the visual effects of John Carter. Click on the image below to listen to the show and subscribe for free in iTunes!

Official Long form US Prometheus Trailer (Updated: UK Trailer as well)

Project Prometheus

Riding the Shuttle Booster rocket with enhanced sound

From the upcoming Special Edition Ascent: Commemorating Space Shuttle DVD/BluRay a movie from the point of view of the Solid Rocket Booster with sound mixing and enhancement done by Ben Burtt at Skywalker Sound.

Keith Edmier at the Walker Arts Center

My friend and artist Keith Edmier talks about rebuilding his childhood home. I got to shoot video documentation of Keith's retrospective show at Bard College back in 2007 where the entire house sat in the middle of the exhibtion. The kitchen has been recreated for its current incarnation at the Walker in Minneapolis.