Weta Digital has tapped Ken Kamins, and former Disney COO Tom Staggs, and Google SVP Jeff Huber to its Board of Directors. The appointments come as the Peter Jackson studio has offices planned in Los Angeles and San Francisco. The trio join Weta Digital board members Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Sean Parker, Joe Letteri and CEO Prem Akkaraju.
“Tom, Jeff and Ken are extraordinary additions to the board of Weta Digital,” said Prem Akkaraju, Global CEO of Weta Digital. “They have established best practices at the highest levels of company management, in entertainment and digital technology. Their combined business acumen and collective depth of experience perfectly positions Weta Digital for exponential growth. Opening offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco enables storytellers to tap Weta’s production pipeline and work with concept designers, animation supervisors and other key creatives, in both the US and New Zealand. Weta Digital’s expansion...
“Tom, Jeff and Ken are extraordinary additions to the board of Weta Digital,” said Prem Akkaraju, Global CEO of Weta Digital. “They have established best practices at the highest levels of company management, in entertainment and digital technology. Their combined business acumen and collective depth of experience perfectly positions Weta Digital for exponential growth. Opening offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco enables storytellers to tap Weta’s production pipeline and work with concept designers, animation supervisors and other key creatives, in both the US and New Zealand. Weta Digital’s expansion...
- 12/17/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
While much of Hollywood ground to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic, VFX houses were among those that pivoted to working remotely, and continued to operate. Staffers around the world at Framestore (“Wonder Woman 1984” and “The King’s Man”) and Weta Digital (“Black Widow” and “The Green Knight”) all were set up to work from home.
Now, as Covid-19 protocols have been put in place in the film and TV industry to restart safely, Framestore’s Christian Manz and Weta Digital’s David Conley (VFX Supervisor) explain how VFX houses have been working to provide best-fit solutions to productions shooting during coronavirus.
With shooting restrictions being imposed on crowd scenes, VFX houses are no strangers to using computer-generated technology to create a sense of scale and spectacle, whether it’s filling stadiums with fans or choreographing battle scenes.
Conley explains that Weta’s crowd software, called “Massive,” goes back to...
Now, as Covid-19 protocols have been put in place in the film and TV industry to restart safely, Framestore’s Christian Manz and Weta Digital’s David Conley (VFX Supervisor) explain how VFX houses have been working to provide best-fit solutions to productions shooting during coronavirus.
With shooting restrictions being imposed on crowd scenes, VFX houses are no strangers to using computer-generated technology to create a sense of scale and spectacle, whether it’s filling stadiums with fans or choreographing battle scenes.
Conley explains that Weta’s crowd software, called “Massive,” goes back to...
- 9/2/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
Weta Digital, Streamliner and Avalon Studios have partnered in a new LED-stage virtual production service, to be based in Wellington.
The service is designed capitalise upon the recent growth in real-time visual effects capabilities, along with the current health and safety benefits of working in New Zealand.
The workflow features configurable LED panels that are able to display imagery beyond 8K as a way to augment practical sets and replace green screen shots for backgrounds and exteriors. It also lends itself to combining footage from multiple stages, allowing for smaller crew sizes. The service is flexible, and able to be built to scale for any size project.
“Adding LED stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another compelling reason for productions to consider shooting in New Zealand,” said Weta Digital executive producer David Conley.
“LED stages are the latest technique to take advantage of game engine technology to...
The service is designed capitalise upon the recent growth in real-time visual effects capabilities, along with the current health and safety benefits of working in New Zealand.
The workflow features configurable LED panels that are able to display imagery beyond 8K as a way to augment practical sets and replace green screen shots for backgrounds and exteriors. It also lends itself to combining footage from multiple stages, allowing for smaller crew sizes. The service is flexible, and able to be built to scale for any size project.
“Adding LED stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another compelling reason for productions to consider shooting in New Zealand,” said Weta Digital executive producer David Conley.
“LED stages are the latest technique to take advantage of game engine technology to...
- 7/22/2020
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Monday, July 20
Sony Classics Dates ‘The Climb’ for October
Sony Pictures Classics will release Michael Covino’s comedy “The Climb” in New York and Los Angeles theaters on Oct. 9 — six months after its original date.
Written by Covino and Kyle Marvin, “The Climb” premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Sony Classics bought the film and slated it for a March 20 release before it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covino produced, directed and starred with Marvin. The duo portray best friends who share a close bond until Covino’s character sleeps with Marvin’s fiancée. Covino was the winner of the Un Certain Regard – Jury Coup de Coeur prize at Cannes.
Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital Unveils Virtual Production Service
Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital is collaborating with Streamliner and Avalon Studios for a virtual production service with Led stage capabilities.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington...
Sony Classics Dates ‘The Climb’ for October
Sony Pictures Classics will release Michael Covino’s comedy “The Climb” in New York and Los Angeles theaters on Oct. 9 — six months after its original date.
Written by Covino and Kyle Marvin, “The Climb” premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Sony Classics bought the film and slated it for a March 20 release before it was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covino produced, directed and starred with Marvin. The duo portray best friends who share a close bond until Covino’s character sleeps with Marvin’s fiancée. Covino was the winner of the Un Certain Regard – Jury Coup de Coeur prize at Cannes.
Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital Unveils Virtual Production Service
Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital is collaborating with Streamliner and Avalon Studios for a virtual production service with Led stage capabilities.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington...
- 7/21/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Weta Digital, which recently launched an original animated content division, has partnered with Avalon Studios and Streamliner to create a new Led-stage virtual production service, based in Wellington, New Zealand. This alliance brings together Weta’s VFX prowess with live stage expertise from Streamliner and production facilities from Avalon. Crucially, though, the health and safety benefits of working in New Zealand, which effectively controlled the pandemic, will help attract productions of all sizes for this ready-to-use package.
Similar in concept to Industrial Light & Magic’s Led-screen StageCraft platform, launched for “The Mandalorian” series, Weta’s system also relies on the real-time Unreal engine from Epic Games in accelerating a paradigm shift for the industry, offering social distancing and smaller crews, while reducing the size and scope of location shoots, set builds, and crowd scenes for the foreseeable future.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another...
Similar in concept to Industrial Light & Magic’s Led-screen StageCraft platform, launched for “The Mandalorian” series, Weta’s system also relies on the real-time Unreal engine from Epic Games in accelerating a paradigm shift for the industry, offering social distancing and smaller crews, while reducing the size and scope of location shoots, set builds, and crowd scenes for the foreseeable future.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another...
- 7/20/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Weta Digital, Streamliner and Avalon Studios is changing the game when it comes to production with a new Led-stage virtual production service. So what does this mean, exactly? The three teams have launched a cutting-edge service that combines live performance with real-time visual effects.
The new workflow features large easily configurable Led panels that are able to display imagery well beyond 8K as a way to augment practical sets and often replace greenscreen shots for backgrounds and exteriors. It also lends itself to easily combining footage from multiple stages, making it ideal for keeping crew sizes smaller. That said, the three companies have put together a ready-to-use package for productions of all sizes.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another compelling reason for productions to consider shooting in New Zealand,” said Weta Digital Executive Producer David Conley. “Led stages are the latest technique to take...
The new workflow features large easily configurable Led panels that are able to display imagery well beyond 8K as a way to augment practical sets and often replace greenscreen shots for backgrounds and exteriors. It also lends itself to easily combining footage from multiple stages, making it ideal for keeping crew sizes smaller. That said, the three companies have put together a ready-to-use package for productions of all sizes.
“Adding Led stage capabilities to Wellington’s Avalon Studios adds yet another compelling reason for productions to consider shooting in New Zealand,” said Weta Digital Executive Producer David Conley. “Led stages are the latest technique to take...
- 7/20/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
After 25 years, director Peter Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta Digital will finally finance and produce original content with the launch of Weta Animated. That means building on what Weta has already accomplished with such iconic performance-captured characters as Gollum, Kong, and Caesar, along with its innovative world building prowess, which continues in James Cameron’s upcoming “Avatar” sequels.
Only now the Oscar-winning Jackson and wife Fran Walsh, his producing-screenwriting partner (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), will have total control over their own movies and series, powered by the VFX wizards of Weta Digital, led by four-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri, the visionary senior visual effects supervisor.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms,” Jackson said in the announcement, “but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies. That’s, in part, why we have created this company — to change...
Only now the Oscar-winning Jackson and wife Fran Walsh, his producing-screenwriting partner (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), will have total control over their own movies and series, powered by the VFX wizards of Weta Digital, led by four-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri, the visionary senior visual effects supervisor.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms,” Jackson said in the announcement, “but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies. That’s, in part, why we have created this company — to change...
- 6/18/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
After 25 years, director Peter Jackson’s New Zealand-based Weta Digital will finally finance and produce original content with the launch of Weta Animated. That means building on what Weta has already accomplished with such iconic performance-captured characters as Gollum, Kong, and Caesar, along with its innovative world building prowess, which continues in James Cameron’s upcoming “Avatar” sequels.
Only now the Oscar-winning Jackson and wife Fran Walsh, his producing-screenwriting partner (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), will have total control over their own movies and series, powered by the VFX wizards of Weta Digital, led by four-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri, the visionary senior visual effects supervisor.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms,” Jackson said in the announcement, “but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies. That’s, in part, why we have created this company — to change...
Only now the Oscar-winning Jackson and wife Fran Walsh, his producing-screenwriting partner (“The Lord of the Rings” trilogy), will have total control over their own movies and series, powered by the VFX wizards of Weta Digital, led by four-time Oscar winner Joe Letteri, the visionary senior visual effects supervisor.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms,” Jackson said in the announcement, “but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies. That’s, in part, why we have created this company — to change...
- 6/18/2020
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Peter Jackson is getting into the business of animation. The filmmaker’s special effects company Weta Digital is launching an an animation division.
Industry veteran Prem Akkaraju will serve as its chief executive officer. The New Zealand-based company said Thursday that creating animation has been a long-held dream of majority owners Jackson and Fran Walsh, who will write, produce and direct several animated projects for the company. Details of those projects were not disclosed.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms, but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies,” Jackson said in a statement. “That’s, in part, why we have created this company – to change the model and open the doors to filmmakers and storytellers who might not otherwise be given the chance to show what they can do.”
Weta Animated will work alongside Weta Digital’s visual...
Industry veteran Prem Akkaraju will serve as its chief executive officer. The New Zealand-based company said Thursday that creating animation has been a long-held dream of majority owners Jackson and Fran Walsh, who will write, produce and direct several animated projects for the company. Details of those projects were not disclosed.
“We are huge fans of animated storytelling in all of its forms, but it can be a long, protracted, and often costly way to make movies,” Jackson said in a statement. “That’s, in part, why we have created this company – to change the model and open the doors to filmmakers and storytellers who might not otherwise be given the chance to show what they can do.”
Weta Animated will work alongside Weta Digital’s visual...
- 6/18/2020
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
After a distinguished run as the visual effects house that brought to life Gollum, King Kong and other incredible creatures for Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth films and other film spectacles including James Cameron’s Avatar sequels and Avengers: Endgame, Weta Digital is making a major expansion. Jackson and Fran Walsh’s 25-year old concern is launching the offshoot Weta Animated to generate for the first time original content in animation for cinema and streaming platforms.
Spearheading that effort as CEO will be Prem Akkaraju, who co-founded Sr Labs (formerly known as Screening Room) with Sean Parker. Parker, who became an investor in Weta Digital last year, has joined its board as vice chairman. Akkaraju is on the board as well and remains executive chairman of Sr Labs, the premium home viewing venture which continues its campaign to become part of the theatrical release ecosystem and promising revenue to both studios and exhibitors.
Spearheading that effort as CEO will be Prem Akkaraju, who co-founded Sr Labs (formerly known as Screening Room) with Sean Parker. Parker, who became an investor in Weta Digital last year, has joined its board as vice chairman. Akkaraju is on the board as well and remains executive chairman of Sr Labs, the premium home viewing venture which continues its campaign to become part of the theatrical release ecosystem and promising revenue to both studios and exhibitors.
- 6/18/2020
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline Film + TV
Majority owners Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh to create animated projects for the company.
New Zealand VFX powerhouse Weta Digital has hired the first CEO in its 25-year history and is moving into original content with the launch of Weta Animated.
Prem Akkaraju, a business partner of Napster co-founder Sean Parker with whom he co-founded cinema streaming start-up The Screening Room - renamed Sr Labs in spring – arrives as Weta moves into creating original animation for cinema and streaming platforms.
Weta majority owners Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have long wanted to expand into animation and will write, produce and direct...
New Zealand VFX powerhouse Weta Digital has hired the first CEO in its 25-year history and is moving into original content with the launch of Weta Animated.
Prem Akkaraju, a business partner of Napster co-founder Sean Parker with whom he co-founded cinema streaming start-up The Screening Room - renamed Sr Labs in spring – arrives as Weta moves into creating original animation for cinema and streaming platforms.
Weta majority owners Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh have long wanted to expand into animation and will write, produce and direct...
- 6/18/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Avatar sequels scheduled to resume production in mid-June in New Zealand.
Leading VFX executives are hopeful there will be a safe return to production in many places by late summer in order to keep workflow at capacity, as they tentatively eye a return to office life around the same time following life under lockdown.
Speaking on the latest Screen Talks webinar, Framestore’s Fiona Walkinshaw, Weta Digital’s David Conley and Industrial Light & Magic’s (Ilm) Rob Bredow addressed a broad range of topics as each of their companies continues to work on multiple major projects.
The session confirmed that...
Leading VFX executives are hopeful there will be a safe return to production in many places by late summer in order to keep workflow at capacity, as they tentatively eye a return to office life around the same time following life under lockdown.
Speaking on the latest Screen Talks webinar, Framestore’s Fiona Walkinshaw, Weta Digital’s David Conley and Industrial Light & Magic’s (Ilm) Rob Bredow addressed a broad range of topics as each of their companies continues to work on multiple major projects.
The session confirmed that...
- 5/29/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
David Conley, Fiona Walkinshaw and Rob Bredow will join Screen’s Americas editor Jeremy Kay for discussion on Thursday, May 28, at 20:00 BST.
The next session in our Screen Talks webinar series takes place on Thursday, May 28, at 20:00 BST, and will look at how the VFX community is continuing to innovate and stay productive during the Covid-19 crisis.
Click here to register
David Conley, executive visual effects producer at Weta Digital, Fiona Walkinshaw, global managing director, film at Framestore, and Rob Bredow, Svp, executive creative director and head of Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm), will join Screen’s Americas editor...
The next session in our Screen Talks webinar series takes place on Thursday, May 28, at 20:00 BST, and will look at how the VFX community is continuing to innovate and stay productive during the Covid-19 crisis.
Click here to register
David Conley, executive visual effects producer at Weta Digital, Fiona Walkinshaw, global managing director, film at Framestore, and Rob Bredow, Svp, executive creative director and head of Industrial Light & Magic (Ilm), will join Screen’s Americas editor...
- 5/22/2020
- by 36¦Jeremy Kay¦54¦
- ScreenDaily
Even before the coronavirus crisis wreaked havoc across the entertainment industry, Weta Digital was monitoring the situation closely.
The VFX house, headquartered in New Zealand and responsible for some of the most memorable visual effects in film over the past two decades, had to deal with the spread of the disease early due to Weta’s close proximity to China.
By Jan. 24, the company had formed a Covid-19 task force, holding weekly meetings. By the time it put together a two-part action plan, including what it thought would happen once the pandemic hit New Zealand, the country had announced its first case.
“The speed with which it accelerated caught us off guard,” says David Conley, Weta Digital executive VFX producer. The company had to move 1,500 employees off-site and get them working from home. “We thought we had five to 10 days,” he says. “We had three.”
It’s been almost two...
The VFX house, headquartered in New Zealand and responsible for some of the most memorable visual effects in film over the past two decades, had to deal with the spread of the disease early due to Weta’s close proximity to China.
By Jan. 24, the company had formed a Covid-19 task force, holding weekly meetings. By the time it put together a two-part action plan, including what it thought would happen once the pandemic hit New Zealand, the country had announced its first case.
“The speed with which it accelerated caught us off guard,” says David Conley, Weta Digital executive VFX producer. The company had to move 1,500 employees off-site and get them working from home. “We thought we had five to 10 days,” he says. “We had three.”
It’s been almost two...
- 5/1/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
'Maze Runner 2: The Scorch Trials' with Dylan O'Brien. 'Maze Runner 2' to beat Johnny Depp 'Black Mass' The 20th Century Fox release Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, the sequel to the 2014 hit The Maze Runner, and Warner Bros.' Johnny Depp star vehicle Black Mass will be battling it out at the North American box office this coming weekend, Sept. 18-20, the last (astronomical) summer weekend of 2015. According to Variety, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials will “likely” end up at the top of the U.S. and Canada box office chart. In fact, more than just “likely,” in case tracking is on target. Including Thursday evening shows, Maze Runner 2 is expected to collect somewhere around $35 million from 3,790 sites, while Black Mass should take in $22 million or so from 3,188 theaters. 'Maze Runner 2' vs. 'The Maze Runner' Maze Runner 2 will then open only about 10 percent ahead of the original,...
- 9/17/2015
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
On the menu you'll find an exclusive new clip from Gravitas Ventures' release of director Greg Olliver's Devoured that has really bad bathroom habits. Look for the film on VOD September 2, 2014.
Devoured stars Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Luis Harris, Sal Rendino, and David Conley.
Synopsis
An immigrant mother (Milans) works as a cleaning woman at an old New York City restaurant in order to make enough money to pay for her sick son’s operation. With no friends or family, she lives a lonely, desperate existence, saving every penny and sending it home for her son. As his condition worsens, malevolent forces living within the walls of the restaurant begin to torment her. She struggles to escape and return to her son before the evil within the dark walls drives her completely mad.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Devoured stars Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Luis Harris, Sal Rendino, and David Conley.
Synopsis
An immigrant mother (Milans) works as a cleaning woman at an old New York City restaurant in order to make enough money to pay for her sick son’s operation. With no friends or family, she lives a lonely, desperate existence, saving every penny and sending it home for her son. As his condition worsens, malevolent forces living within the walls of the restaurant begin to torment her. She struggles to escape and return to her son before the evil within the dark walls drives her completely mad.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
- 8/21/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Get ‘Devoured’ by malevolent spirits with the horror film’s official trailer and key set stills. The thriller, which is set to be released on VOD by Gravitas Ventures on September 2, was directed by Greg Olliver in his feature film directorial debut. The movie, which was written by Marc Landau, stars Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Luis Harris, Sal Rendino and David Conley. Gravitas Ventures has released the following synopsis for ‘Devoured’: Immigrant mother Lourdes (Marta Milans, ‘Killer Women,’ ‘Mala Hierba’) works as a cleaning woman at an old New York City restaurant in order to make enough money to pay for her sick son’s operation. With [ Read More ]
The post Get Devoured by Horror Thriller’s Official Trailer and Key Set Stills appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Get Devoured by Horror Thriller’s Official Trailer and Key Set Stills appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 8/16/2014
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
We told you a couple of days ago that Gravitas Ventures would be releasing director Greg Olliver's Devoured on VOD on September 2, 2014. Now we have the official word along with an image gallery and a new one-sheet. We're good like that!
Devoured stars Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Luis Harris, Sal Rendino, and David Conley.
Synopsis
An immigrant mother (Milans) works as a cleaning woman at an old New York City restaurant in order to make enough money to pay for her sick son’s operation. With no friends or family, she lives a lonely, desperate existence, saving every penny and sending it home for her son. As his condition worsens, malevolent forces living within the walls of the restaurant begin to torment her. She struggles to escape and return to her son before the evil within the dark walls drives her completely mad.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Devoured stars Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Luis Harris, Sal Rendino, and David Conley.
Synopsis
An immigrant mother (Milans) works as a cleaning woman at an old New York City restaurant in order to make enough money to pay for her sick son’s operation. With no friends or family, she lives a lonely, desperate existence, saving every penny and sending it home for her son. As his condition worsens, malevolent forces living within the walls of the restaurant begin to torment her. She struggles to escape and return to her son before the evil within the dark walls drives her completely mad.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
- 8/15/2014
- by Steve Barton
- DreadCentral.com
Stars: Marta Milans, Kara Jackson, Bruno Gunn, Tyler Hollinger, Sal Rendino, David Conley, Luis Harris | Written by Marc Landau | Directed by Greg Olliver
I’d heard of Greg Olliver, the director of Devoured through his work on the documentary Lemmy back in 2010, so was interested in what this, a horror film, would be like.
First off, the film has an immediate atmosphere to it, which put me in a good mood immediately. A feeling of ominous uncertainty from the get-go is always a welcome thing to run into when beginning to watch something you know little about prior to seeing it. Some might say that this is a slow moving film, but a slow build of tension is what is needed and I feel like it works really well here. It spends time with characters and allows us to see into their lives and their psyche.
It also has a...
I’d heard of Greg Olliver, the director of Devoured through his work on the documentary Lemmy back in 2010, so was interested in what this, a horror film, would be like.
First off, the film has an immediate atmosphere to it, which put me in a good mood immediately. A feeling of ominous uncertainty from the get-go is always a welcome thing to run into when beginning to watch something you know little about prior to seeing it. Some might say that this is a slow moving film, but a slow build of tension is what is needed and I feel like it works really well here. It spends time with characters and allows us to see into their lives and their psyche.
It also has a...
- 10/18/2013
- by Chris Cummings
- Nerdly
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