London Double Negative Company ( Pt 2 of 4 )

 

 

 

 

Thank you to the company members who took time out and talked to us -  It was a fascinating and enjoyable insight into their work and the work of the company.

 

 

We all arrived at the company and once protocol had been undertaken we were then led to the theatre room. This is where the showreel of their last approx. 13 years of work was shown to us. It  covered all aspects of the company's visual effects. Examples of what work they have participated in on various films were then shown to us and discussed. There were so many interesting and amazing new things I learnt about - what the company does and the work that is involved in the processes they go through. It made me see how what we are exposed to in films is not always what we think it is and are often created as an illusion. An example of this was when the mountains of Wales were placed into the Tomb Raider - Cradle of Life movie and were made to look like China, due to being denied permission to film on the actual Great Wall of China.

 Perhaps an earlier example of similar methods of working were also used in the 1958 film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness where actors from Liverpool's Chinese community were extras working on the film and Wales and Snowdonia  were used to represent China.

The advances in technology for visual effects are so amazing now as to the limitless possibilities, it makes me think how the movies we used to watch 10 years ago now seem primitive and dated. 

Sometimes with more knowledge we are able to distinguish some areas that have used visual effects. I was and am, still amazed to discover what I did think was real is actually made up with effects. I can now appreciate that when the early Star Wars films were made by Ian Lucas, just how far in advance back in the 80s and early 90s he actually was, to be able to achieve the standard of visual effects he achieved. It becomes scary to think just how much machines are a part of our lives and how much we do rely on them in so many different aspects of our lives.

 

Some of the projects that they have been involved in over the years have been:

 

• Paul
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt 1 and 2
• Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
• Captain America: The First Avenger
• Fast & Furious

   

  There was an opportunity for a question and answers session.

  There was a brief history of the Company which was actually started in 1998 with a team of 30 artists. Now in Soho their 3 companies alone have 1000 + employees and in Singapore 150. They are very passionate about film and the people who want to develop a career in their company. Time and money is invested in developing the skills of their employees.

  To finish off with we were shown a 2D and then a 3D student reel that they had been sent and this was to show us the best way to construct our own to send to companies.  Also we were told what the company can offer in terms of employment such as runners etc. and how anyone should be able to work their way up the company ladder.

   

   

  To find out more about the company please click on the link below

   

  http://www.dneg.com/

   

   

  Images are taken from various web sites for illustration only