From the monthly archives:

January 2008

Ron Fedkiw to be awarded an Oscar for his SFX work

by Ambrose Heron on January 31, 2008

Ron FedkiwYou may not have heard of Ron Fedkiw, but on February 9th he and two collaborators at special effects powerhouse Industrial Light and Magic will be awarded an Oscar for their pioneeering SFX work.

Fedikew is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Stanford University and has consulted at ILM since 2000.

The seas in the Pirates of the Caribbean sequels and the dragon’s flaming breath in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire have all come about - in part - to his work on computer-generated fluids.

As he puts it:

My research is focused on the design of new computational algorithms for a variety of applications including computational fluid dynamics and solid mechanics, computer graphics, computer vision and computational biomechanics.

To see that in action check out this simulation of waves against a lighthouse:

and this glass of water:

They eventually help create the ground work for the climax to a big film like Pirates 3:

[Link via Digg]

> Ron’s department page at Stanford
> Finds out more about ILM at Wikipedia

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Friction.tv: Oscar Predictions

by Ambrose Heron on January 30, 2008

Friction.TV recently asked me to do a video of Oscar predictions.

I’m already having second thoughts about Best Actress, but here it is:

If you want to respond by video or text just sign up at their site.

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New Nightmare on Elm Street film in the works

by Ambrose Heron on January 29, 2008

Freddy KrugerFreddy Krueger is back as New Line has decided to revive their favourite horror franchise.

The Hollywood Reporter say:

New Line is in talks with horror production company Platinum Dunes to re-launch the “A Nightmare on Elm Street” movie series, the franchise that helped establish the studio.

Partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form will produce the redo.

The first “Nightmare” movie was made by Wes Craven and released in 1984. The runaway success of the film spawned a slew of films and created one of the most popular villains in screen history, Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund.

The films’ premise centered on Krueger, a serial child killer murdered by angry parents, who returns with a burnt face and a razor glove to terrorize teens in their dreams.

Given the terrible remakes of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Amityville Horror and The Hitcher (not to mention the farce that was Freddy vs Jason) is this such a good idea?

> Variety report on the news
> Find out more about Nightmare on Elm St at Wikipedia

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Julian Schnabel heckled by Sean Young at the DGA Awards

by Ambrose Heron on January 29, 2008

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SAG Awards Winners

by Ambrose Heron on January 28, 2008

SAG Awards

Here are the winners at Screen Actors Guild awards:

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis – “There Will Be Blood” (Paramount Vantage)

Best Actress
Julie Christie – “Away From Her” (Lionsgate)

Best Supporting Actor
Javier Bardem – “No Country For Old Men” (Miramax Films)

Best Supporting Actress
Ruby Dee – “American Gangster” (Universal Pictures)

Best Ensemble
No Country for Old Men (Miramax Films)
Javier Bardem / Anton Chigurh
Josh Brolin / Llewelyn Moss
Garret Dillahunt / Wendell
Tess Harper / Loretta Bell
Woody Harrelson / Carson Wells
Tommy Lee Jones / Ed Tom Bell
Kelly Macdonald / Carla Jean Moss

Best Stunt Ensemble
The Bourne Ultimatum

TELEVISION

Best Actor (Drama)
James Gandolfini, The Sopranos

Best Actress (Drama)
Edie Falco, The Sopranos

Best Actor (Comedy)
Alec Baldwin,30 Rock

Best Actress (Comedy)
Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Best Ensemble (Drama)
The Sopranos

Best Ensemble (Comedy)
The Office

Best Actor (Television Movie or Miniseries)
Kevin Kline, As You Like It

Best Actress (Television Movie or Miniseries)
Queen Latifah, Life Support

Best Stunt Ensemble
24
> Official site for the SAG Awards
> Variety article on the winners

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