Look! Effects, a Hollywood, California digital effects and 3D
animation company, has completed a 5-minute 3D computer animation
sequence for Metaphor Films and Gotham Entertainment's independent
feature FIRST WATCH. Featuring detailed models of planets, stars,
their surfaces and movements that were based on some of the latest
astronomical imaging and scientific data available, the sequence
consists of a single, extended pull back where the camera lifts out
of an aerial view of the Earth, travels through the Solar System,
leaves the Milky Way and arrives in another galaxy millions of light
years away. Before beginning the project, visual effects supervisor
Henrik Fett spent several weeks doing research, including visiting
the Rose Center at the American Museum of Natural History in New
York, where he obtained the latest photographic images of the sun,
the planets and their moons, as well as celestial bodies outside the
solar system. He also gathered data on the size, mass and composition
of the planets, their rotation and orbital patterns, and their ring
structures. Working with this information, the Look! animators built
detailed models, placed them in their correct relative positions and
defined a realistic flight plan for the camera. "The camera passes
quite close to some of the planets, within a few hundred miles, so we
had to put a lot of detail in the models, especially as this was
being done at film resolution and will be projected onto a big
screen," explained Fett. "Our texture maps were very big; each frame
of the sun took 12 hours to render." Fett added that before the
sequence was finalized, the filmmakers had it scrutinized by an
astronomer for accuracy. Mark Driscoll served as executive producer
for Look! Effects. Fett was assisted by animators Don Campbell and
Tefft Smith. Look! Effects is managed by four partners, president
Mark Driscoll, visual effects supervisors Henrik Fett and Max Ivins
and art director Danny Kim. The company provides digital effects
solutions for feature film, entertainment television and commercial
projects with its services including digital effects design,
supervision and production; 3D animation, including full 3D character
animation; and compositing services. For more information, call (323)
469-4230.