The new episode of SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES features the work of Zoic Studios and Gentle Giant Studios:
Crafting an Action Figure: Episode Airs Thursday, June 18 at 10 PMTony Stark upped the ante for superheroes everywhere, and the digital wizards at Gentle Giant are the ones responsible for bringing him to life. This episode begins with a trip to their studios, where Williams gets scanned and made into an action figure by the same minds that helped bring "Iron Man" to life. Then, it's off to Zoic Studios, who create vampire effects for HBO's hit TV series "True Blood," for a demonstration in how they use actual rattlesnakes as models for their digital fang work on the series. Finally, Nar and a karate sensei use science to examine the veracity of Peter Parker's punch from "Spider-Man."
YouTube promo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FvUmeCSs24
Science Channel invites viewers on a geektastic journey to the cinematic intersection of art and science in the all-new series SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES, will all-new episodes airing Thursdays at 10 PM (ET/PT). Appealing to the movie junkie in us all, the new series explores the remarkable -- yet rarely celebrated -- scientific world that exists behind the screen, spotlighting the visionary artists, entrepreneurial spirit, innovative technology and remarkable techniques responsible for creating unforgettable, edge-of-your-seat moments in blockbuster films.
SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES breaks down famous movie scenes to show viewers the inside science on how each sequence was strung together. In each episode host and self-proclaimed movie geek Nar Williams gets the inside scoop on the tricks of the Hollywood trade. Williams gets some much appreciated hands-on experience, acting as the guinea pig to show the technological creative behind the scenes. Highlighting the equipment used in creating the latest visual effects and computer graphics, coupled with interviews with the award-winning artists, stunt men and technicians responsible for using or sometimes even inventing the equipment, SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES celebrates the world of movie magic like never before. From motion arrest film techniques and the science of perspective in chase scenes to state-of-the-art cameras and creating 3-D worlds, SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES features rare behind-the-scenes footage to help bring viewers to the cutting-edge of filmmaking technology.
"We're excited to introduce viewers to new host Nar Williams, who uncovers the secret world of the engineers, inventors and innovators creating mind-blowing movie effects," said Science Channel general manager Debbie Myers. "Nar's genuine enthusiasm for this series comes through in every episode and our viewers will love riding along with him as he immerses himself in the action."
SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES creates an even greater sense of wonder for movie buffs everywhere. Future episode topics include: a sneak peek into creating the miniatures used in "Night at the Museum 2;" demonstrating the camera crane technology that is used in the "Fast and the Furious" franchise; and even a lesson in crime scene reality simulation from Showtime's popular series, "Dexter."
So who is Nar Williams? Glad you asked. Williams is Geek-in-Chief of the blog AchieveNerdvana.com, where he blogs about sci-fi, sci-tech and geek culture. He also co-hosts the weekly video podcast Nerdbunker, and writes the weekly "Pulp Science" column for the online magazine Geekscape. Williams has hosted hundreds of hours of live, interactive talk shows as a producer at the online broadcaster NowLive, where he created, hosted and produced the shows "Nerdvana," "Goober & The Viking," "Pop Load," "The Surf" and more.
SCIENCE OF THE MOVIES is produced for Science Channel by Authentic Entertainment, Inc. Lauren Lexton and Tom Rogan are executive producers for Authentic Entertainment, Inc., and Jack Smith is executive producer for Science Channel.
