Welcome to Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, where we focus on the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. Co-hosted by Rob Bredow & T...
S1 Ep 007 - Glicked: Worldbuilding in Wicked and Gladiator II
This week, we delve into the world building techniques behind two of the year's most anticipated films: Gladiator II and Wicked. VFX Producer Ed Randolph (Gladiator II) and VFX Supervisor Anthony Smith (Wicked) give us behind-the-scenes stories of building these worlds and share insights into some of their favorite shots from their impressive careers.
Chapter Markers
[00:00:10] Intro
[00:03:07] Questions from the Mailbag
[00:17:42] One Final and One CBB
[00:28:15] Worldbuilding in WIcked and Gladiator II
[00:49:13] The Martini
[00:58:30] Outro
Episode Links
Wicked (2024) - IMDb
Gladiator II (2024) - IMDb
Edward Randolph - IMDb
Anthony Smith - IMDb
Color Decision List Explained - Lowepost
Ready Player One (2018) - IMDb
Spectre (2015) - IMDb
Gravity (2013) - IMDb
Sherlock Holmes (2009) - IMDb
The Martini
Todd - The Wild Robot (2024) - IMDb
Robot Dreams (2023) - IMDb
Ed - Wicked: Tiny Desk Concert
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024) - IMDb
Anthony - Old Masters Academy
Jenny - A Smoky Mountain Christmas (TV Movie 1986) - IMDb
A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986 TV Movie, 2022 HD Circle TV Broadcast Edit)
Rob - Clarkson's Farm (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb
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Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram
Todd Vaziri
Jenny Ely on Instagram
Email us at [email protected]
Transcript
https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-007-worldbuilding-in-wicked-and-gladiator-ii/
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1:00:01
S1 Ep 006 - Ultraman: Rising with Shannon Tindle and Hayden Jones
Director Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings, Lost Ollie) and VFX supervisor Hayden Jones join us to discuss the role of empathy in animation. We talk about Tindle’s latest film, Ultraman: Rising as well as the importance of collaboration and infusing personal experiences into characters and storytelling.
Chapter Markers
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:03:20] Rejection Letters
[00:11:25] Deleted Dreams
[00:17:46] Empathy in Animation
[00:45:52] The Martini
[00:50:33] Outro
Episode Links
Shannon Tindle - IMDb
Hayden Jones - IMDb
Ultraman: Rising (2024) - IMDb
THE HUMAN TARGET #1 | DC
Lost Ollie (TV Mini Series 2022) - IMDb
The Martini
Shannon - Hollow Kingdom #1 - Kira Jane Buxton
Hayden - Thames & Hudson USA - Book - Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities
Jenny - Luigi's Mansion 2 - HD
Rob - Welcome to Wrexham (TV Series 2022– ) - IMDb
Follow Us
ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn
Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram
Todd Vaziri
Jenny Ely on Instagram
Email us at [email protected]
Transcript
https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-006-ultraman-rising-with-shannon-tindle-and-hayden-jones/
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52:07
S1 Ep 005 - Ghostbusters II with Bill George
For this special Halloween Edition, we flash back to Ghostbusters II with VFX legend Bill George who shares stories from the model shop. We talk with Bill about the evolution of visual effects over his 40-year career.
Chapter Markers
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:03:45] Questions from the mailbag
[00:16:20] Lighter Darker - origin of the name
[00:19:10] Rejection letters
[00:22:28] Ghostbusters II and the evolution of the artist toolbox
[00:44:51] The Martini
[00:52:19] Outro
Episode Links
Bill George - IMDb
Artist Benton Jew Shares ILM Memories and the Story Behind Lighter Darker
Innerspace (1987) - IMDb
Ghostbusters II (1989) - IMDb
METHOCEL™ Water-Soluble Cellulose Ethers, IFF - ChemPoint.
The Martini
Todd -Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - IMDb
Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) - IMDb
Bill - Sasquatch Sunset (2024) - IMDb Paramount + / rent on Amazon Prime
Jenny - Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions | HISTORY
Jenny's Slimer Halloween Costume by Adam J. Ely on IG
Rob - Scriptnotes
Follow Us
ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn
Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram
Todd Vaziri
Jenny Ely on Instagram
Email us at [email protected]
Transcript
https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-005-ghostbusters-2-with-bill-george/
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53:22
S1 Ep 004 - Twisters with Lee Isaac Chung and Ashley Jay Sandberg
Director Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, Twisters) and executive producer Ashley Jay Sandberg (Twisters, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) discuss working together to balance science and storytelling with their latest film, Twisters. They share stories from the set, including real-life challenges from Mother Nature. The filmmakers and the Lighter Darker hosts chat about films that inspired them to choose their career paths and some roadblocks they faced along the way.
Chapter Markers
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:02:12] Questions from the mailbag
[00:10:42] Rejection letters
[00:19:44] Film foundations
[00:28:20] The quiet power of nature
[00:45:30] Final question
[00:48:24] The martini
[00:53:50] Outro
Episode Links
Ashley Jay Sandberg - IMDb
Lee Isaac Chung - IMDb
Twisters
The Abyss (1989) - IMDb
Back to the Future (1985) - IMDb
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - IMDb
Kar-Wai Wong - IMDb
The Wizard of Oz (1939) - IMDb
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - IMDb
Phil Tippett on the set of The Empire Strikes Back
Ben Snow - IMDb
ILM VFX Supervisor Ben Snow on the set of Twisters
Florian Witzel - IMDb
The Martini
Rob - The Greatest Night in Pop (2024) - IMDb
Todd - Schlage Encode Plus™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt | Wifi smart lock
Jenny - Norsepaints (@norsepaints) • Instagram
Isaac - StarTalk Radio
Ashley BEATER BOARDS – Catch Surf USA
Follow Us
ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn
Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram
Todd Vaziri
Jenny Ely on Instagram
Email us at [email protected]
Transcript: https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/s1e004-twisters-with-lee-isaac-chung-and-ashley-jay-sandberg/
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55:04
S1 E 003 - Camera and Composition
Episode Summary
Beth D'Amato, ILM digital paint supervisor, joins Todd and Rob to discuss their favorite camera moves, compositions, and notable oner’s. Beth shares how she got her start in VFX and we learn that sometimes, "We will keep your resume on file" is a good thing! The ILM pros answer questions about basic VFX terminology, and we bust an internet myth.
Chapter Markers
[00:00:00] Intro
[00:01:50] Questions from the mailbag
[00:11:07] Rejection letters
[00:16:20] Misinformation corner
[00:21:20] Camera and composition
[00:43:19] The Martini
[00:49:32] Outro
Episode Links
Beth D'Amato - IMDb
@star_wars_battlegrounds) • Instagram
Maya Houdini
Raiders of the Lost Ark Clip
THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) "Joker Blows Up Hospital" Clip
Booksmart (2019) - IMDb
"Raiders of the Lost Ark" - Floorplan Animatic
Taxi Driver - phone call scene
Client Camera Movement Guide (Reddit)
Camera Movement Terminology
The Martini
Todd recommends his favorite black and white films. The Third Man (1949) and Ripley (TV Mini Series 2024)
Beth is learning all the behind-the-scenes stories from The West Wing with the new book, What's Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing, Its Cast and Crew, and Its Enduring Legacy of Service
Jenny is flexing her internet sleuthing skills with Unsolved Mysteries Volume Four
Rob suggests Derek DelGaudio's In & Of Itself (2020) for a delightful exploration of the illusory nature of identity.
Follow us
ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn
Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram
Todd Vaziri
Jenny Ely on Instagram
Email us at [email protected]
Transcript: https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/s1e3-camera-and-composition/
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Welcome to Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast, where we focus on the creative process of filmmaking and the art of visual storytelling. Co-hosted by Rob Bredow & Todd Vaziri, and produced by Jenny Ely, join us as we chat with top filmmakers, artists and innovators about their craft, careers, and the collaborative process of bringing stories to life.