The many lives of a writer – 8

Most people are like cats – they live not just one life, but many. Writers are no exception. Here's me as I spiral through the eddies of my eighth writing life. Life 8 - Circles It's hard to identify when my seventh writing life segued into my eighth. I wrote my last entry in this rolling mini-autobiography way … Continue reading The many lives of a writer – 8

Out Now — The Illusion Almanac: Creating The Matrix Resurrections

Published today, the latest issue of my digital filmcraft magazine The Illusion Almanac goes behind the scenes on the visual effects of The Matrix Resurrections. Inside you'll find 90 pages* of in-depth interviews and stunning images, illuminating the amazing craft of the visual effects artists who brought to life the extraordinary future worlds of the … Continue reading Out Now — The Illusion Almanac: Creating The Matrix Resurrections

Out Now — The Illusion Almanac: Creating Godzilla vs Kong

I'm proud to unveil the inaugural issue of The Illusion Almanac. Published today, this first edition of my new digital magazine goes behind the scenes on the biggest monster movie of the year, Godzilla vs Kong. Inside, you'll find 80 pages* of in-depth interviews and stunning images, illuminating the amazing craft of the design, cinematography … Continue reading Out Now — The Illusion Almanac: Creating Godzilla vs Kong

Godzilla vs Kong — Coming soon from The Illusion Almanac

Click below for a preview of The Illusion Almanac: Creating Godzilla vs Kong, my brand new publication delving into the making of the hit Warner Brothers film directed by Adam Wingard. https://illusion-almanac.com/2021/04/16/coming-soon-the-illusion-almanac-covers-godzilla-vs-kong/

The Illusion Almanac

I'm a firm believer that less is more. However, today I'm going to stick my neck out and assert that more is more. "More what?" I hear you cry. "More website," I reply. My brand new website, to be precise: The Illusion Almanac. Why build a new site? Well, for a long time, the website … Continue reading The Illusion Almanac

Cinefex 1980-2021

There was this kid who grew up on the south coast of England in the 1970s, devouring television shows like Thunderbirds and Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and Doctor Who and cutting his cinematic teeth on Jaws and Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while at the same time building … Continue reading Cinefex 1980-2021

VIEW Conference 2021

If you're interested in animation, visual effects, computer graphics, digital cinema, VR or gaming, then VIEW Conference is the place for you. Beginning with a rolling programme of free online PreVIEW events, VIEW 2021 culminates in October in a week-long conference featuring inspirational keynote speeches, illuminating panels and presentations, in-depth masterclasses, lectures, screenings, and much … Continue reading VIEW Conference 2021

VIEW 2021 – Baobab Studios, “Bombay Rose” and the 93rd Academy Awards

VIEW Conference just unveiled its latest round of PreVIEW events for 2021. Each online session is free to attend, and features conversation with a team of animation professionals as they debate the hottest topics and share insights about their latest projects. “In the middle of January, we held our first PreVIEW session of 2021. We … Continue reading VIEW 2021 – Baobab Studios, “Bombay Rose” and the 93rd Academy Awards

Roots of Cinema – Handschiegl Twin Camera Matte Process

If you're interested in the history of visual effects, you're probably familiar with the Williams process. By combining two separate filmed scenes, this early compositing technique enabled a filmmaker to perform such tricks as placing an actor inside a miniature environment. The Williams process relied on what became known as a traveling matte, and I've … Continue reading Roots of Cinema – Handschiegl Twin Camera Matte Process

VIEW Conference 2020 – Free Access to all Sessions Online

VIEW Conference 2020 takes place from October 18 to 23. Italy’s premiere digital media conference unites 160 world-class filmmakers, producers, studio executives, animators, artists, game developers, musicians, journalists and educators for a lively week of 125 talks, workshops, masterclasses and panels. Traditionally held in Torino, Italy, this year’s conference will be an entirely virtual event, with … Continue reading VIEW Conference 2020 – Free Access to all Sessions Online