A Complete History of the Millennium Falcon (updated)

Michael Heilemann has an amazing piece on his website kitbashed.com on the history of the development and design of the Millennium Falcon. Its more than worth a look. Heilemann goes in depth in examining the evolution of the designs of model maker Colin Cantwell and concept artists Joe Johnston & Ralph McQuarrie. 

Original Star Wars concept designer and director Joe Johnston posted his memories of the development of the ship on his Facebook page. Read it online here. 

Ex Machina: VFX Oscar

Andrew Whitehurst, Sarah Bennett, Paul Norris, Mark Ardington and the team at Double Negative took home the Visual Effects Oscar last night in a surprise upset. Ex Machina was one of my favorite films of 2015 and serves as a textbook example of how visual effects, theme, story, script, acting, directing and all the elements of filmmaking can come together seamlessly to create completing characters and a totally believable world. Congratulations to the whole team involved in this truly original film. 

Be sure to check out FX Guide's interview with Whitehurst here.

Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All

“FILMAGE: The Story of DESCENDENTS/ALL,” directed by Matt Riggle & Deedle LaCour chronicles the legends of punk and treats audiences to interviews with the band and contemporaries Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), Mark Hoppus (Blink-182), Mike Watt (Minutemen) Brett Gurewitz (Bad Religion) and many more revealing the untold story of one of the most influential bands in punk.

website: www.FILMAGEmovie.com

Salad Days: The Birth of Punk in the Nation's Capital

A great trailer for Scott Crawford's documentary, Salad Days. I grew up during the same time in Orange County, California where a very similar scene was taking place against a starkly contrasting backdrop. The OC and DC worlds often collided at shows creating some of the most formative memories of my youth. I can not wait to see this film. It looks great. 


3D Color Mapping Software

Check out the VCU public relations article on the 3D color mapping software we've been developing over the past couple of years.

Click on the image to read the story.


The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead

Official trailer for the film THE DAMNED: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead, the authorized documentary of the punk pioneers. Directed/produced by Wes Orshoski, the film features all four original members of the Damned (Captain Sensible, Dave Vanian, Brian James and Rat Scabies), plus appearances by Chrissie Hynde, Mick Jones, Steve Diggle, actor/comedian Fred Armisen, Nick Mason, Duff McKagan, Lemmy Kilmister , Keith Morris, Dexter Holland and many more. Shot around the world over the past four years, the film makes its debut at SXSW in March 2015. The third prong in the holy trinity of UK punk, with the Sex Pistols and the Clash, The Damned were the first U.K. punks to release a single ("New Rose") and album ("Damned Damned Damned"), and the first to tour the U.S. Having logged hits in the punk, new wave and goth eras, they are one of the only surviving bands from punk’s first wave.

© Matt Wallin. All rights reserved.