February 2023 – Filmumentaries

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69 – Ken Ralston – VFX Legend

28/02/2023 filmumentaries 0

For this episode, number 69 I spoke with ILM and Sony Image Pictureworks legend Ken Ralston. Ken started on VFX in advertising, then in 1976 he was employed to work on a little film called […]

68 – Hal Hickel – ILM VFX Animator

10/02/2023 filmumentaries 0

For this episode, number 68 I spoke with an animator at ILM, namely Hal Hickel. Now, if you’re on twitter you’ll know that Hal is a prolific tweeter. I’ve had a number of conversations with […]

filmumentaries

Your twice monthly dose of genre film history. Conversations between host Jamie Benning and creators in VFX, Sound Design, Directing, Editing and more

Join me, Jamie Benning, as I chat with Sierra Dall

Join me, Jamie Benning, as I chat with Sierra Dall, long-term partner of the late Colin Cantwell—visionary concept artist behind Star Wars’ iconic spacecraft and more! 🌌

In this episode:
✨ Colin’s groundbreaking designs for Star Wars & 2001: A Space Odyssey
🌙 His NASA contributions, including the moon landing broadcast
🎥 Collaborations with legends like Stanley Kubrick & George Lucas
🎮 His creative work on WarGames
🎓 UCLA’s first animation major graduate
🔬 A passion for quantum physics shaping his designs
🌟 Sierra’s efforts to preserve his legacy through a new website & documentary

💡 Exclusive Offer: Visit colincantwell.com and use code FILM15 for 15% off! 🎁

🔗 All my links in bio!

#ColinCantwell #StarWars #Filmumentaries #2001ASpaceOdyssey #NASA #StanleyKubrick #SciFiDesign #STEAMeducation #FilmHistory #BehindTheScenes #Wargames #PodcastInterview

What was the first film you saw in the cinema? In

What was the first film you saw in the cinema?

In this episode of The Filmumentaries Podcast, I sit down with cinema historian and walking tour guide, Nigel Smith. Nigel is the creator of Memory Palaces, a website project dedicated to exploring and preserving the stories of London’s cinemas—both those still standing and those long forgotten.

Join me and Nigel as we discuss:

Nigel’s early love of cinema, sparked by watching Superman II as a child.

The evolution of his passion from movies to the buildings that housed them.

The rich history of London’s cinema culture, including iconic locations like the West End’s movie palaces and quirky cinemas like the Prince Charles.

Fascinating discoveries from Nigel’s research, such as a Camden cinema run by a medium who let spirits dictate the programming.

The enduring importance of community in cinema-going, from bustling matinees of the past to modern film clubs like Tufnell Park Film Club.

Nigel also shares anecdotes from his popular walking tours, where participants bring their own memories to add to the tapestry of London’s cinematic past. Whether it’s the glamour of West End premieres or the humble beginnings of Victorian-era musicals, Nigel’s storytelling brings the history of cinema to life in a truly unique way.

For more on Nigel’s work and how to join one of his walking tours, visit Memory Palaces.

How to storyboard for the fast mind of Steven Spie

How to storyboard for the fast mind of Steven Spielberg on Jurassic Park - As told by Art Director John Bell who worked under Production Designer Rick Carter.

Listen to the whole conversation in episode 115 of The Filmumentaries Podcast.

#design #designer #artdirector #spielberg #rickcarter #jurassicpark #vfx

In this episode of the Filmumentaries podcast, I’m bringing you some updates on my work with ILM and sitting down with director Laurent Bouzereau to chat about his new documentary, Music by John Williams from @lucasfilm. We dive into the emotional punch of Williams’ music, the process behind crafting the documentary, and Williams’ lasting legacy as a composer. Laurent opens up about his experience working closely with Williams and the art of storytelling in documentaries, as well as the challenge of sifting through such a massive collection of iconic work.

‘Music by John Williams’ is available on Disney+ and in cinemas for limited release.

Episode 113 is up. My conversation with production

Episode 113 is up. My conversation with production designer, art director, concept designer and VFX artist Kevin Jenkins.

We swap stories about our childhood movie experiences and the films that got under our skin—like Jaws, Star Wars, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. We talk about how these films not only shaped Kevin's tastes but ignited a passion for storytelling and artistry that's stuck with him.

Kevin and I get into the risks filmmakers took back then. We touch on the balance between practical effects and digital tech, and why having a passionate, collaborative team is crucial to making something memorable. There's a bit on the commercialization of genres and how fandom sometimes gets too caught up in nostalgia, missing out on new, original stories.

We also cover how filmmaking has evolved with technology, especially for artists like Kevin, who transitioned from traditional illustration to digital tools. Kevin shares insights on how tech influences collaboration and creativity on set. He walks me through the role of a concept artist, the problem-solving and idea generation that goes into projects like World War Z and Edge of Tomorrow—highlighting the creative process behind creature designs and visual effects.

Kevin opens up about the challenge of finding the right design and the nuances of working within big franchises. He talks about the essential collaboration between art and costume departments to build a cohesive visual world. Finally, Kevin shares his ambition to work on a historical epic.

In episode 112 of The Filmumentaries Podcast, Jon

In episode 112 of The Filmumentaries Podcast, Jon Spira discusses his latest documentary "The Life and Deaths of Christopher Lee". See it in the UK on Sky on 24th October 2024.

We explore the challenges of public perception and reviews, the emotional depth he aimed to capture, and the innovative storytelling techniques he employed, including the use of puppetry.

Jon reflects on the importance of narrative control and the reactions to his creative choices, emphasizing the significance of collaboration with talented individuals in the filmmaking process.

He also talks about the importance of empathy in storytelling and the challenges faced in navigating film festivals. The discussion also touches on the future of cinema and the complexities of human nature.

Heartbroken to hear that Robert Watts has passed a

Heartbroken to hear that Robert Watts has passed away. The afternoon we spent with him in 2018 was filled with such unforgettable stories.

He spoke about the passion needed to succeed in the industry. His own passion shone brightly, right until the end.

We owe you so much Robert.❤️

Episode 111 is live! I sit down with TyRuben Ellin

Episode 111 is live! I sit down with TyRuben Ellingson, VFX Art Director and educator, to talk early influences, his work at ILM, collaborating with Spielberg, Lucas, and Cameron, and the lessons he's learnt along the way.

Check the linktree in my bio.

Episode 110 of The Filmumentaries Podcast is up. T

Episode 110 of The Filmumentaries Podcast is up. This time I chat with ILM's very own Andrew Whitehurst. @andrewrjw

Andrew’s journey into the visual effects industry is one that really resonates with me, especially when he talks about his childhood fascination with all things movie magic and a certain BBC documentary. Yes, THAT one! Again!

Like many of us, it all started with a spark of curiosity. He pursued that passion at art college and gained experience in various roles, which eventually led him to become a visual effects artist. His early work on projects like Tomb Raider 2 and Troy paved the way for his role as VFX supervisor on Ex Machina, ultimately winning him an academy award.

In our conversation, we got to dive deep into Andrew’s experience working on films like Ex Machina and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. We talked about the challenges of creating realistic CGI characters and the meticulous attention to detail that’s required for modern audiences. Andrew shares that belief in the value of using traditional tools like pencil and paper in the design process, and on the importance of looking beyond the screen to other forms of art for inspiration.

Through our discussion, Andrew provided some great insights into the decision-making process for visual effects and how to strike that delicate balance between realism and audience expectations.

Listen in for the whole conversation. Link in bio.#ilm #vfx #indianajones

This is a short bonus episode in which I interview

This is a short bonus episode in which I interview author Kelly Knox about her co-authoring of "Return of the Jedi - A Visual Archive".

Kelly Knox discusses her love for the Star Wars movies, particularly the original trilogy, and her experience co-writing the visual archive book for Return of the Jedi. The book focuses on the behind-the-scenes details and connections that branched out from the film. Kelly shares her favorite discoveries while researching for the book and the challenge of balancing the desire for detail with limited space. She also hints at future projects and her excitement for attending Star Wars Celebration in Japan.

Enjoy!

Episode 109 is up! This time I chat with the BFI'

Episode 109 is up!
This time I chat with the BFI's Doug Weir and Kieron Webb about a special 35mm screening of the 1933 classic, King Kong!

Jett Green shares her career journey as a matte pa

Jett Green shares her career journey as a matte painter on Labyrinth, The Temple of Doom, Howard the Duck, and many more incredible movies. She reflects on ILM's collaborative culture and her transition to digital art and fine art.

I had a great time chatting with Jett!

Listen in for the whole conversation.
#mattepainting #vfx #practicaleffect

@ranchoobiwan's very own Steve Sansweet on the siz

@ranchoobiwan's very own Steve Sansweet on the size problem of collecting for almost 50 years.

Hear the entire interview in episode 107 of The Filmumentaries Podcast.

Help support the podcast at patreon.com/jamiebenni

Help support the podcast at patreon.com/jamiebenning

Here's editing and sound design legend, Walter Mur

Here's editing and sound design legend, Walter Murch schooling us on how Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation" and Roman Polanski's "Chinatown" are linked.

Find out more stories like this on The Filmumentaries Podcast. Link in bio.

#Chinatown #polanski #coppola #walter #murch #filmmaking

In this episode of the Filmumentaries Podcast, I i

In this episode of the Filmumentaries Podcast, I interview Nilo Rodis-Jamero, a designer and production designer known for his work on films like *The Empire Strikes Back*, *Return of the Jedi*, and *Johnny Mnemonic*.

We discuss Nilo's experiences working with George Lucas, Phil Tippett, and Joe Johnston (for @ilmvfx), as well as his stories about other renowned designers like Eiko Ishioka and Hayao Miyazaki. Nilo shares insights into his design process and the importance of simplicity and iconicity in his work. Our conversation also touches on Nilo's involvement in the design of the character Buzz Lightyear in *Toy Story* and his experiences as a production designer on *Johnny Mnemonic*.

In this part of the conversation, Nilo discusses the challenges of working on movies with hard deadlines and limited budgets. He shares his experiences working with George Lucas and John Hughes and how their approaches to filmmaking differed from the Hollywood norm. Nilo also compares working on *Johnny Mnemonic* and *Explorers*, both of which faced production difficulties. He highlights the importance of creative freedom and the impact of budget constraints on the filmmaking process. Nilo also shares insights into the differences between the film and video game industries, particularly in terms of discipline and the lack of a hard deadline in game development.

This is only part 1 of a long conversation. Part 2 is coming up soon!

### Takeaways

- Nilo Rodis-Jamero has had a diverse and influential career as a designer and production designer in the film industry.
- He has worked on iconic films like *The Empire Strikes Back*, *Return of the Jedi*, and *Johnny Mnemonic*.
- Nilo has rubbed shoulders with renowned designers and filmmakers, including George Lucas, Phil Tippett, Joe Johnston, Eiko Ishioka, and Hayao Miyazaki.
- His design process focuses on simplicity and creating designs that are easily recognizable and memorable.

Listen in for all the stories!

Legendary ILM model maker Lorne Peterson explains

Legendary ILM model maker Lorne Peterson explains how quickly he came up with the idea for the imploding house for Poltergeist.

Imagine being sat next to Steven Spielberg and thinking on your feet like that!

Find out more stories from Lorne in episodes 49 and 40 of The Filmumentaries Podcast.

Poltergeist was released in June 1982.

Now available only on Amazon. Link in bio or visit

Now available only on Amazon. Link in bio or visit filmumentaries.com

John Carpenter's "The THING" is 42 years old today

John Carpenter's "The THING" is 42 years old today!

Here's VFX expert Peter Kuran talking about that iconic opening sequence back in episode 75 of The Filmumentaries Podcast.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard Bluff a

I had the pleasure of interviewing Richard Bluff and Matthew Wood, the visual effects supervisor and supervising sound editor of Lucasfilm's 'Ahsoka' on Disney+. We delved into their experiences creating sound and visual effects for the show, exploring the unique challenges they tackled and the seamless collaboration between their departments.

We discussed the creative use of both digital and practical effects for Ahsoka's ship and dove into the design and sound intricacies of iconic ships like the Eye of Sion and the Vesper. Both Richard and Matthew highlighted the crucial role of early sound involvement in production and the delicate balance between leveraging technology and traditional tools to bring these worlds to life.

Don't miss out on another behind-the-scenes insight with the Filmumentaries Podcast! #Emmys #FYC #ForYourConsideration

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