Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1011500
24 #SIGGRAPHcaf | #SIGGRAPH2018 Production Sessions Generations of Houdini in Film Wednesday, 15 August, 3:45 pm – 5:15 pm West Building, Ballroom AB In 1996, SideFX released Houdini version 1.0, bringing the power of procedural methods to visual effects artists around the world. This year, more than two decades since Hou- dini's original release, SideFX was awarded a Scientific and Technical Academy Award of Merit to recognize its continual innovation and dedication to visual effects artists. This panel, moderated by Ian Failes, brings together multiple generations of creative leadership, from those who embraced the initial release of Houdini to those who have more recently discovered Houdini's procedural methods. Join this international group to hear unique perspectives as they tell stories from the past to the present, and look ahead to the future of computer graphics. Panelists: "Crow: The Legend" – Bringing a Native American Legend into VR Thursday, 16 August, 10:45 am – 12:15 pm West Building, Ballroom AB Inspired by a Native American myth, Baobab Studio's "Crow: The Legend" tells a story with themes of diversity, inclusion, sacrifice, and self-acceptance. Director Eric Darnell and the team behind the Emmy-winning VR animations "Invasion!" and "Asteroids!" share insights from their most ambitious VR project to date. In this session, the team will showcase their work and answer the following questions and more: What are the differences between creating a VR animated experience versus a 2D animated film? How do you blend original music, interactivity with a VR storybook vi- sual style, to capture the mythical quality from the Native American folktale? How do you balance audience participation against focused narrative? As the audience plays the role of the "Spirit of the Seasons," how does the viewer interact with and affect change on the characters and their world? What creative and technical challenges arise by integrating user agency and interactivity into narrative? How do you direct the viewer's eyes when you no longer have a frame? How do storyboarding, staging, and animation change when the viewer can look anywhere and be part of the story? Ian Failes, VFX Journalist (moderator) VFX Blog Rob Bredow, SVP, Executive Creative Director, Head of Industrial Light & Magic Lucasfilm Matt Estela, VFX Lead UTS Animal Logic Academy Mark Hod gkins, Global Head of FX, DNEG Michael Kaschalk, Head of Effects Walt Disney Animation Studios Andy Hayes, Head of Effects Framestore