The news started spreading yesterday about an exciting addition to our Film Production program – Sony HD.
Back in October, the program deployed Sony PDW-335 XDCAMs and HDCAM equipment into daily use. Next up, the integration of the new PMW-EX1 XDCAM EX cameras – VFS is the first school in Canada to use these – and soon enough, HD tech will be filtering into other VFS programs.
The value of partnering with Sony to teach students on HD equipment isn’t just about a crisp picture or ease-of-use. It’s vital, for example, that Makeup Design students learn to work with HD, since details which would ordinarily be all but invisible suddenly pop out. Using HD also allows easier sharing of footage between campuses.
Sometimes a project calls for the Super-16 palette, and VFS filmmakers will still have that option. But is it safe to say this is ushering in a new era? You bet. Take a look at the press release for all the details.
Grads worked on two of the three films nominated for Best Animated Feature: Classical Animation graduate Marianne Lebel, worked as an animator on Persepolis, and Jeremy Bowker, Sound Design grad, was on the sound team for Ratatouille, which is also up for the awards for Sound Editing and Sound Mixing. If that weren’t enough, Jeremy was also Sound FX Recordist on Enchanted, the mostly-live-action Disney musical with 3 numbers up for Best Original Song. 3D Animation & Visual Effects grads — too many to list in this small blog! — worked on all three of the films up for Best Visual Effects: Golden Compass, Transformers, and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End.
Ryan entertained and challenged the crowd, presenting his work with the alternative reality campaign Nine Inch Nails Year Zero — a project fusing viral marketing, interactive design, alternate reality gaming, and narrative, resulting in a groundbreaking promotional campaign in support of NIN’s concept album of the same name. Ryan also gave attendees a sneak preview of never-before-seen content from his newest project. Students –and staff!– from Digital Design, Game Design, Sound Design, and Writing were wowed by this glimpse behind the scenes of ARGs.
The results, from award-winning portfolios to the great design jobs students have landed, are everywhere. And at our Digital Design Open House on Thursday, March 13, you’ll be able to see firsthand what it took to achieve those results. You’ll also have the chance to: - Meet Head of Department Sebastien de Castell and key faculty members, and hear about the philosophy and curriculum of Digital Design at VFS - Experience the interactive revolution with our multi-touch display – imagine the technology of a 27-inch iPhone – built in the school’s own labs - Talk with students and graduates about life during and after the program - See examples of student work that will both challenge and inspire you Digital Design Open House Register for this Open House at openhouse@vfs.com or 604.631.3590.
Tuesday Feb 26th Writers Send your short scripts or excerpts to vfscoldread@gmail.com Beverly Wu, an Acting grad who attended the show last time around, said: “I went to the VFS Cold Read Series night on Monday, and I have to say that it was a BLAST! So much fun and such good practice for cold reading scripts.” Hope to see you, writers, actors, and those just looking for good old-fashioned entertainment, on the 26th!
The event was once again a black-tie gala organized by the Canadian Awards for the Electronic and Animated Arts (CAEAA) – this year hosted by comedian and Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane. VFS students were not only nominated in every student category – they were the big winners of the night, taking home 4 of the 7 honours for students! Our grad Elan winners were: Student Game of the Year: Bloom (Adrian Audet, Brennan Massicotte, Guilherme Ramos, Brian Vidovic, Miko Wilson – Game Design) Best Original Sound Design: Doug Woods, for Le Building (Sound Design) Best Student Art Direction – Game Production: Seas of Europa (Todd Agnello, David Bowring, Diego Rodriguez, Ryan Stancl – Game Design) Best Student Writing for an Animation or Game Production: Lawrence Chung, for Documentary (Classical Animation) Click on a thumbnail below for photos from the event. Photos by Danny Chan, a Digital Design graduate and current T.A. On his game design team winning Best Student Art Direction, Todd Agnello says: “The cool thing about this is, we’re actually in the game industry because of the (student) game we’re celebrating. So that’s really awesome.” Sound winner Doug Woods says: “I think it’s really nice that the CAEAA is recognizing students. A lot of them are sharing the stage with professionals, which says a lot about the quality coming out of VFS.” Joking about his win for writing, Classical Animation artist Lawrence Chung says: “I really didn’t think I would win. When I looked at the list of the other nominees in my category, all of their title names were at least 3 words longer than mine. So I have no idea how I won.” Getting serious for a second, he adds: “I’m really thankful that I did, though. It was such an awesome experience.” Adrian Audet, representing the Bloom team, offered: “The members of Bloom are excited and honoured to win this award. It represents a team effort that industry has taken note of. Currently the award is touring the office spaces of each member, so that they can share in this great moment.” Congratulations to all the nominees and winners, as well as the countless VFS graduates and instructors who won in professional-level categories.
This first episode is a charming and heartfelt story told from the point-of-view of Priyanka, the super-adorable and youngest member of the Singh family as they say their last farewells to Mumbai, the city that has been their home for generations. Ashfaq told us that to film the series he was in India for just 11 days. “And you can imagine that within those 11 days, I shot three episodes in Delhi and Mumbai – two locations which are a thousand miles apart. I had hardly any time even for sleeping during the course of my shoot in India. However, it was amazing and I never felt tired. There has been an overwhelming response to this Web Series as people have watched it from the US to Singapore to India.” There’s also an amazing bit of bonus footage that Ashfaq captured of a snake charmer, once a common sight, now a fading form of street entertainment in a quickly changing country.
VFS Film Production students got a rare opportunity last night to meet with the filmmaker Yung Chang here at the school where they watched clips and shared in a lively discussion about the techniques and subject matter of the film. After the fold, check out a few candid pictures taken last night by Head of Department David Hauka.
The Portfolio Shorts screening are Integrity of the Amish, written by grad Aaron Brooks and directed by Nicholas Humphries, Stupid Cupid, written by grad Josh Hatfield and directed by Kaleena Kiff, and Human Resources written by grad Brendan Speers and directed by Kryshan Randel. Catch them, and other fabulous locally-made shorts this Sunday! FILM 1181: SHORT FILM NIGHT If you have a film you’d like to consider for upcoming screenings, email the organizers at info@goingwestpictures.com.
Well, no one wins ‘em all – as much as we’d always like to be the exception! The VFS finalists for the 2nd Annual AniBoom Awards narrowly missed picking up yet more accolades this week, but we still wanted to draw your attention to to the cool video “Finalist Testimonials” the AniBoom people are hosting. Wander over and check out the one by our own DCA grad Peter Harakaly!
2008 Oscar Nominations
We’re so happy the Academy Awards are going to happen after all… especially since a number of VFS graduates worked on nominated films!Year Zero: Here
Last night in the VFS Café, students from across the school were treated to a unique talk with Ryan FitzGerald, Producer for New Media & Game Development for Nihilonaut Productions.Digital Design Open House, March 13
Digital Design at VFS is a world-class one-year program grounded in innovation. It’s a chance to refine your design work, providing your industry clients with the most elegant solutions for their needs.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
6pm – 8pm
VFS Café
390 West Hastings St.
(Corner of Homer & Hastings)Cold Reading Night – Round 2
Experience scripts before they’re on screen! Join the Writing for Film & Television program as they host the second monthly evening of script readings performed live by VFS Acting students and grads.
The VFS Café
390 West Hastings
Doors 5:30pm, Casting 6:00pm
Show Starts 6:30pm
Actors Be in the Café by 6:00pm to be castGrads Dominate Elan Awards
The 2nd annual Elan Awards took place at the Centre in Vancouver for the Performing Arts this past Friday night.
Documentary: Mumbai to Canada
After graduating from Film Production here at VFS last year, Ashfaq Khan started his own production company Cinetel Communications and immediately got to work on a 20-episode documentary series that was picked up by Radio Canada International. Ashfaq’s Web TV series is an up-close and personal look at the immigrant experience — his camera takes us inside the homes of families in India to learn the reasons why they have decided to pack up and move to Canada.
We’ll have an interview with Ashfaq ready to post here soon, but until then make sure to check in at the RCI website every week for new episodes — Ashfaq has been working around the clock to ensure this project matches his ambitious vision.VFS Goes Up The Yangtze
While we’re on the subject of documentaries, perhaps the most important one to come around in a long while, Up The Yangtze opens tonight at the Ridge Theatre here in Vancouver. Be sure to check it out. Not only is it a devastating, provocative, and beautifully filmed story about the controversial Three Gorges Dam project in China, it is also a major Canadian production that has received international festival acclaim.Writers Screening at Film 1181
Three shorts from the Writing program will screen this weekend at FILM 1181, Vancouver’s short film showcase hosted by filmmaker Michael Mew.
Sunday, Feb 17, 8:30pm – 10:30pm
Lounge 1181, at 1181 Davie St.AniBoom: A Grad Speaks
