In the year 2020, few films have caught the public imagination more than Tenet. More than just a film, Christopher Nolan’s mind-bending espionage thriller has come to represent nothing less than a fight for survival by a theatrical feature industry brought to its knees by a global pandemic.
On Friday 23 October, Andrew Jackson, Tenet visual effects supervisor, will discuss his work on the film. Tenet marks the second collaboration between Nolan and Jackson, who was visual effects supervisor on the director’s previous film, Dunkirk, for which he gained a BAFTA Award nomination. Renowned for his skill in seamlessly integrating digital effects with practical action, Jackson received an Academy Award® nomination for his work as visual effects supervisor on George Miller’s post-apocalyptic epic Mad Max: Fury Road.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to have Andrew Jackson headlining the closing session at this year’s VIEW Conference,” says Conference Director Dr. Maria Elena Gutierrez. “Like everyone attending the conference, I can’t wait for him to share his insights and experience of working on Christopher Nolan’s newest theatrical spectacle.”
In addition, VIEW Conference is delighted to announce that the recipient of its 2020 Visionary Award will be Industrial Light & Magic’s Dennis Muren, who will participate in his own keynote Q&A on the conference’s final day. Part of the core visual effects team that worked on the original Star Wars, Muren was at the forefront of the digital effects revolution with his groundbreaking work on The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgment Day and Jurassic Park. Now creative director and senior visual effects supervisor at ILM, Muren continues to steer the evolution of the company while championing new effects techniques and technologies.
“Dennis Muren is a force of nature and a real living legend,” says Dr. Gutierrez. “Throughout his career he has elevated his craft to the highest levels, and inspired young artists to follow him into the stratosphere. He is without question a worthy recipient of this year’s Visionary Award.”
Three 60-minute panels continue the “big picture” theme, beginning on Tuesday 20 October with The Future of Cinema, which will be discussed by Tomm Moore, co-founder of Cartoon Saloon, Jorge R. Gutierrez, director of The Book of Life, and Tony Bancroft, director of Animal Crackers, with Steven Gaydos, executive VP of content at Variety, moderating.
Steven Gaydos returns on Wednesday 21 Otober to moderate a panel on The Future of Storytelling, which brings together Kyle Balda, director of Minions: The Rise of Gru, Kris Pearn, director at Sony Pictures Animation, Eric Darnell, chief creative director at Baobab Studios, and Ron Martin, creative and technical director of media and entertainment at Unity Technologies.
On Thursday 22 October, the subject under discussion is Women in the Animation Industry. Mireille Soria, president of Paramount Animation, joins forces with Marge Dean, head of studio at Crunchy Roll and president of Women in Animation, Osnat Shurer, producer of Moana and Raya and the Last Dragon, and Maureen Fan, CEO and co-founder of Baobab Studios, with Carolyn Giardina moderating.
“The best way to discuss big ideas is to surround yourself with true industry giants,” says Dr. Gutierrez. “I am so grateful that we have been able to do just that with our stellar line-up of directors and studio heads.”
The 21st International VIEW Conference takes place 18-23 October 2020. Visit the VIEW Conference website for more details and to register FREE for all sessions.
Graham Edwards 