Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1526857
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 4 I 2 1 See video and more photos from Digital Day at www.dga.org. The Chilling Power of Practical Effects on Alien: Romulus In a conversation moderated by Kleiser and illustrated by clips from the film, Director Fede Alvarez, VFX Supervisor Eric Barba, Creature Effects Creator Alec Gillis and Effects Supervisor Shane Mahan gave an inside look at the cutting-edge effects and new technologies utilized in the newest installment of the Alien franchise. Alvarez kicked off the discussion by emphasizing the importance of going back to basics by utilizing practical effects to honor the franchise. They all explained in depth the step-by-step process on how they brought the Xenomorph to life through the use of animatronics, basic tools, and minimal digital intervention. Both Mahan and Gillis — pioneers and practical effects artists from the franchise — agreed that each film allows them to experiment freely and dig into their creativity. On the digital side, Barba shared how practical effects needed to play a central role when creating virtual environments and ensure the film fittingly showcased the best of both worlds. Photo: Digital Day Subcommittee Co-Chair Randal Kleiser (moderator), Director Fede Alvarez, VFX Supervisor Eric Barba, FX Supervisor Shane Mahan & Creature FX Creator Alec Gillis. Hands-On Demos & Exhibits — Digital Day attendees were able to engage in hands-on demonstrations and exhibits from: Adobe, All Ears Inc., Apache Rental Group, ATK, ATK Versacom, CGLA Studios, Chemical Wedding, CuePilot, Disguise, FilmLight, Funicular Goats, Fuzzy Door Tech, Halon Entertainment, Holley Video, Jitacam, Live Show Backtimer, LiveEdit, Movella, NEP Denali, ProdPro, Pronology, Saunders Electric, Scriptation, Shamel, Sony, Soundtronics Wireless, stYpe, Streetwater Live Events, Tata Communications, Teradek and Zullavision. This year's program was created in collaboration with the Western AD/SM/PA Council. Photos: Digital Day attendees get hands-on experience via the demos and exhibits at the DGA. Western AD/SM/PA Council members attend the event. A Close-Up on Filming Concerts & Awards Introduced by Special Projects Committee Co-Chair Michael Goi, Director Sam Wrench and CuePilot Senior Vice President Danny Hodgetts spoke about utilizing CuePilot — a software tool for creating and executing live performances with precision and creativity — in the world of concert filmmaking and multicamera production. Covering it from planning to shooting live shows, Wrench explained his process from prep to shoot on live productions by utilizing the CuePilot technology as seen on productions such as Billie Eilish Live at the O2, Vogue World and the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour concert film. He showed in depth how the technology workflow functions with pre-production allowing one to add features such as lyrics and musical bars to the digital software so that in production, the visual information is already provided for camera operators as they film in real-time. Hodgetts explained this technology consolidates existing software tools to simplify the pre- planning process for Directors and their teams working in live productions. Photo: Director Sam Wrench (right) and CuePilot Senior Vice President Danny Hodgetts. The Craft of Live Television: Directing on the Fly Throughout the day in Theater Two and from the NEP Denali Truck parked outside the DGA building, Digital Day attendees were able to witness the process of live storytelling through a behind-the-scenes demonstration incorporating multiple cameras, graphics, playback and more with theater performances directed by Gregg Gelfand, Lucinda Margolis and Scott Rindenow and tours of the NEP Denali Truck led by Nicole Gauthier Tominberg, Michael Meilan and Peter Margolis. Photos: DGA members reveal the process of live storytelling from the NEP Denali Truck, tour the live production facilities and demonstrate the process of live storytelling in Theater Two.