Visual effects experts gather in Montreal for 'talent showcasing' conference
Visual effects experts gathered at the Montreal Science Centre last week, coming together under one roof to discuss their craft.
It's a field that accounts for 6,000 Quebec jobs -- but like many industries, it's dealing with a post-pandemic drought as it competes with London and Los Angeles.
"It was key to us, as a big player worldwide, to make sure we can showcase the great talent and innovation that the VFX community has," said Christine Maestracci, CEO of the Quebec Film and Television Council (QFTC), which hosted the conference.
The event saw the likes of Brian Connor, the Oscar-winning effects artist for Dune, as well as representatives from effects company Rodeo FX, founded in Montreal.
"You always have great talent working [in Quebec] that have transformed the industry," said Connor.
GETTING CREATIVE
Jordan Soles, Rodeo FX's vice-president of technology and animation, said the company is constantly looking for those with "creative flair."
Creativity that comes in handy when trying to, say, recreate a casino city in China... at a time when shooting in China isn't allowed.
"Shang Chi was great. We did a hugely choreographed sequence on top of a scaffolding that was meant to be shot in Macau. But then COVID hit, and we managed to recreate a fully digital version of that city," said Soles.
Nowadays, most special effects are digital. But some artists, like Rodeo Fx's Olivier Barbes-Morin, make use of old-fashioned techniques.
For instance, to make poison bubbling wine for the Fantastic Beasts, Barbes-Morin simply poured nail polish remover onto a piece of styrofoam.
It's an old-school approach the studio blends with digital wizardry.
"If someone was at his computer trying to make a random bubble generator, it would work, it would like something," said Barbes-Morin. "But would it look like the real thing? Your guess is as good as mine."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton dead following prison attack
Convicted B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton, who preyed on women he lured from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to his rural pig farm, has died.
'We will go with the majority': Liberals slammed by opposition over proposal to delay next election
The federal Liberal government learned Friday it might have to retreat on a proposal within its electoral reform legislation to delay the next vote by one week, after all opposition parties came out to say they can't support it.
DND moving 1,000 employees out of Ottawa office building due to safety concerns
The Department of National Defence is moving approximately 1,000 employees out of an office building in Ottawa's Lowertown neighbourhood, citing safety concerns for its employees.
Baby dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to woman who was in police custody
A newborn is dead after being delivered via emergency C-section to a woman in police custody.
Biden speaks after Donald Trump's conviction in hush money case
A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.
More counterfeit drugs seized, hot water boiler causes fire: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada recalled various items this week, including more unauthorized products, counterfeit drugs and bassinets.
Jennifer Lopez cancels summer tour: 'I am completely heartsick and devastated'
Jennifer Lopez has cancelled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.
How did Ontario's bankrupt 'Crypto King' travel the world on Scene+ points?
Newly released documents suggest Ontario’s so-called ‘Crypto King’ paid for months of world travels with $13,000 worth of Scene+ points while bankrupt – but how?
Mediterranean diet helps women live much longer, a large new study finds
Women who closely followed a Mediterranean diet lived much longer than those who did not, according to a new study that followed more than 25,000 women for 25 years.