Our next #DNEGDeepDive is here!
Join us for our free virtual presentation:
Diving in the Deep: The Incredible Water Work for Nyad
5 March 2024
12:30PM PST / 8:30PM GMT / 3:30PM EST
Join us for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of ‘Nyad’, the Netflix movie that brings to life the awe-inspiring journey of Diana Nyad’s historic swim from Cuba to Key West in 2013. This #DNEGDeepDive session will bring together the team who created the breathtaking visual effects that immerse viewers in Nyad’s remarkable story.
Our speakers Mohsen Mousavi (DNEG VFX Supervisor), Jelena Stojanovic (DNEG Compositing Supervisor), Keyao Zhu and Roberto Rodricks (DNEG FX Supervisors) are joined by our very own Lee Berger (Executive VP, Business Development) who will moderate the DeepDive. Diving into the intricacies of their work on the film, they will focus on the creation of a completely photorealistic simulated ocean surface. From envisioning the water as the third character in the narrative to seamlessly replacing water in close-up shots while preserving the actor’s performance, we’ll explore the challenges and innovations that went into bringing this story to life on screen!
Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into the creative process behind ‘Nyad’ and learn how DNEG’s groundbreaking visual effects work helped to elevate the film’s storytelling to new heights. Join us for an unforgettable journey into the world of cinematic magic and inspiration!
The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A with the team.
Register here!
Missed one of our previous #DeepDive webinars? Find past recordings here!
Look For The Light: The VFX of The Last Of Us
May 2023
Our tenth #DNEGDeepDive took audiences deep behind-the-scenes of our visual effects work on HBO’s hit series The Last of Us!
In this session, our creative team behind the series Stephen James (DNEG VFX Supervisor), Nick Marshall (DNEG DFX Supervisor) and Lauren Weidel (DNEG VFX Producer) dove into the photoreal, post-apocalyptic environments our team constructed to bring the iconic locations from the video game to life on our screens, from bombed-out Boston to Salt Lake City and everywhere in between.
Huge thank you to our speakers and to everyone who tuned in!
Into the Astraverse: The VFX of Brahmastra
February 2023
Our first #DNEGDeepDive of 2023 dove into the VFX of ‘Brahmastra – Part One: Shiva‘!
In this session, key creatives from DNEG and ReDefine reflected on their creative and technical journeys behind bringing the wonders of ‘The Astraverse’ to life on-screen. Featuring never-before-seen breakdown material, our DNEG VFX Supervisors Jaykar Arudra, George Murphy, Alexander Seaman and ReDefine VFX Supervisor Viral Thakkar share unique insights into the entire production process, from initial concepts to final delivery. Plus, catch a Q&A following their presentation!
A huge thank you to our speakers and to everyone who tuned in!
An Introduction to DNEG Virtual Production
December 2022
Our final #DNEGDeepDive of 2022 explored the powerhouse processes driving the future of filmmaking by plunging behind-the-scenes of DNEG’s Virtual Production division, offered in collaboration with Dimension Studio.
In this session, DNEG VP leaders Steve Jelley (Managing Director), Steve Griffith (Executive Producer), Zaira Brilhante (Head of Production) and Callum Macmillan (VP Supervisor) showcased our range of real-time content creation and production services, discussed our recent virtual production work — and even brought audiences “behind the curtain” for a walk-through tour of DNEG’s LED Volume studios in West London. Following this, our team hosted a lively Q&A about virtual production technology’s exciting future.
Thanks to our speakers and to everyone who tuned in!
The Art & Animation of Entergalactic
November 2022
Our seventh #DNEGDeepDive went behind-the-scenes of one of the most exciting television events of the year, Netflix’s Entergalactic, from the minds of Grammy-winner Scott ‘Kid Cudi’ Mescudi and Emmy-nominee Kenya Barris.
In this session, DNEG Animation’s Archie Donato (VFX Supervisor), Kapil Sharma (Animation Director) and Chrissy Metge (Digital Producer) share production insights about our team’s creative and technical process. From a bustling and vibrant New York City to the story’s lovable (and very fashionable!) characters, discover how our crew deconstructed the traditional CG pipeline to achieve a stylized aesthetic that reflected Kid Cudi’s vision and music.
Thank you to our talented speakers and to our amazing audience for tuning in. Watch our replay of the session now!
The Gilded Age and Foundation:
From Past to Future with DNEG Episodic
June 2022
This #DNEGDeepDive celebrated a common guilty pleasure and one of our saving graces throughout the pandemic — the highly bingeable and addictive TV series!
Moderated by DNEG’s own Al Lopez (Head of Episodic, Montreal), our VFX teams for AppleTV+’s Foundation and HBO Max’s The Gilded Age went behind-the-scenes of their work in this special extended session. Featuring never-before-seen breakdown material and production stories from Becky Graham (DNEG VFX Supervisor, ‘The Gilded Age’), Mike Kwan (2D Compositing Supervisor, ‘The Gilded Age’), Jess Brown (VFX Producer, ‘Foundation’), Giovanni Casadei (DFX Supervisor, ‘Foundation’) and Farhad Mohasseb (DFX Supervisor, ‘Foundation’), this #DNEGDeepDive offers a compelling look behind the curtain at the work of our award-winning Episodic VFX team. Plus, catch our team in a Q&A following their presentation.
Thank you to our panelists, moderator and to everyone who tuned in to the event live!
Beyond Sand & Spice: The VFX of Dune
March 2022
Nominated for 10 Academy Awards — including ‘Best Visual Effects’ — Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Frank Herbert’s iconic 1965 novel has received international acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Dune also marks a continuation of DNEG’s creative collaboration with Villeneuve, having previously delivered Oscar and BAFTA-winning VFX as lead VFX partner on his 2017 film, Blade Runner 2049.
In this DNEG DeepDive, the Dune dream team shared never-before-shared insights about how visual effects helped create Villeneuve’s immersive cinematic experience. Moderated by well-known VFX and animation journalist Ian Failes, our panel featured Overall VFX Supervisor Paul Lambert, DNEG VFX Executive Producer Janet Yale, DNEG VFX Supervisors Tristan Myles and Brian Connor, and DNEG Animation Director Robyn Luckham.
The VFX of Venom 2: Uncover The Carnage
FEBRUARY 2022
Venom: Let There Be Carnage brought everyone’s favourite chaotic cohabitors back to the big screen, with journalist Eddie Brock and his friendly alien symbiote facing down a new and formidable opponent in killer Cletus Kasady’s ‘Carnage’. As lead VFX partner on this highly anticipated sequel, our team had to raise the bar even higher following our work on 2018’s Venom.
In our fourth #DNEGDeepDive session, our very own Chris McLaughlin (VFX Supervisor), Russell Bowen (DFX Supervisor), Eve Levasseur-Marineau (CG Supervisor) and Spencer Cook (Animation Director) offer first-hand insights into the creative challenges and technical achievements that went into realising director Andy Serkis’ vision. From designing Carnage to the show’s most staggering environment work, go behind the VES-nominated visual effects that helped Venom: Let There Be Carnage become one of the highest-grossing films of 2021.
From VFX to Feature Animation:
How DNEG Got It Right With ‘Ron’s Gone Wrong’
DECEMBER 2021
For our third DNEG #DeepDive webinar, we let audiences in on what it was really like to craft our first ever-animated feature, Ron’s Gone Wrong. Hear first-hand how a team of talented artists, producers and technicians connected with their inner storytellers and found their animation hearts, while crafting a touching and hilarious movie and reinventing DNEG’s production pipeline for feature animation in the process.
Thank you to DNEG Animation’s Crosby Clyse, Head of Production, Philippe Denis, VFX Supervisor, Kapil Sharma, Animation Supervisor, and Toba Siebzener, Lead Character Technical Director for sharing their key insights and behind-the-scenes knowledge. We’d also like to thank our wonderful moderator Kara Oropallo (DNEG’s VP, Training, Outreach and Artistic Development).
Life Lessons to Thrive in VFX and Animation
SEPTEMBER 2021
Our second #DNEGDeepDive webinar assembled DNEG talent from around our global studios to share their insights on how to not just find your space in the visual effects and animation field, but thrive in it. Reflecting on their diverse, first-hand experiences across a variety of roles, our panel exchanged lessons learned throughout the course of their own career paths: from greatest challenges and biggest surprises to the invaluable advice they wish they knew.
A huge thank you to Alejandra Lopez, Lead Creature TD (Montreal), Grace (Stevie) Stephens, Lead Surfacing TD (Vancouver), Matthew Smith, Head of Lighting (London) and Akhila Namboodiri, Resource Schedule Manager, DNEG Animation (Global) for sharing their authentic experiences in this inspiring discussion. We’d also like to thank our incredible moderator, Lorie Corcuera, Head of HR for DNEG Vancouver and LA.
The Revolution: The New Era Of Facial Performance
AUGUST 2021
In August 2021, we were delighted to kick off our DNEG #DeepDive webinar series with ‘The Revolution: The New Era Of Facial Performance’.
Speaking about facial animation and performance, Animation Director David Andrews and Global Workflow Architect (Creatures & Characters), Mike Corcoran took audiences deep into the intricacies of ZivaRT and the Unreal Engine MetaHuman environment to discuss how these new tools are revolutionizing the processes of facial rigging and animation.
Focusing specifically on machine learning and 4D photogrammetry, the two consider how such technology generates a capacity to extract hi-fidelity facial performance directly from the actor, with no blocking pass required. Based on monocular video input, these tools allow 3D mesh reconstruction that can be real-time based — a paradigm shift from the otherwise ‘assembly-line’ processes of traditional rigging or modelling.
Referencing how such tools empower independent artists and filmmakers with unprecedented access to hi-end character assets and performance toolsets, the two posit that, in the new era of facial performance, artists can become generalists that enjoy an increased level of hands-on control over their work and artistic vision.