Latest news with #VFX
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
THUNDERBOLTS* VFX Video Reveals How The Films Visuals Came to Life — GeekTyrant
If you've been wondering how Marvel pulled off some of the visuals in Thunderbolts* , a new VFX breakdown from Framestore was released, and it's packed with fascinating details. From high-altitude battles to surreal moments inside The Void, this video shows just how much artistry went into the film's biggest scenes. One of the standout elements in Thunderbolts* was Bob, played by Lewis Pullman, who doubles as Sentry and his terrifying alter ego, The Void. Bringing that duality to life took a combination of practical effects and heavy CG work. The breakdown starts by zooming in on Valentina Allegra de Fontaine's secret vault, perched atop a mountain. This location is where our dysfunctional team first collides, only to discover Valentina has set them up to kill each other. The entire mountain-top structure and the army of guards outside was fully digital. The reel also showcases Ghost's signature phasing ability in action, like when she slides through the back of a jeep. Then we see Florence Pugh's Yelena Belova being launched through a wall inside The Void, landing on a table thanks to old-school wire work. The set's practical curtains, are swapped out for CG elements that add a supernatural touch, creating the effect of the room itself attacking her. Then, at the vault, we see Bob ascend high into the sky after taking fire from guards, his rise and dizzying fall back to Earth happen in a fully CG environment. Later, the sequence jumps to a sprawling lab, which was partially practical but digitally expanded and ultimately annihilated during Bob's brutal clash with The Void. Early concept shots reveal how the lab grew in scale and then crumbled in spectacular fashion. Yelena, meanwhile, dodges collapsing debris in a mix of wire-assisted stunts and CG enhancements. This behind-the-scenes look reinforces just how much invisible work goes into making an MCU film of this scale. Thunderbolts* doesn't just rely on CGI spectacle, it blends practical stunts, intricate digital artistry, and meticulous planning to create something that feels chaotic yet grounded.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix slipped something new into your favorite show
For the first time, a hit Netflix show used something unusual to craft a final scene: AI. This new tax deduction in Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' lets people cash in on charitable donations up to $2,000. Here's what to know Housing market 'red flare': Moody's chief economist sees home price declines spreading Ikea is launching new smart home products, and they're designed to be extra easy to use On its quarterly earnings call, the company's co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, highlighted the use of generative AI in the sci-fi series El Eternauta (The Eternaut), which debuted on April 30. The postapocalyptic series adapts an Argentine comic of the same name, following survivors of a toxic snowfall that blankets Buenos Aires. The scene in question shows a dramatic building collapse, a feat that Sarandos argues wouldn't have been in budget without leaning on AI. Sarandos says that Netflix's Eyeline Studios partnered with the show's creative team to incorporate 'virtual production and AI-powered VFX' into a final scene. 'Using AI powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with . . . traditional VFX tools and workflows,' Sarandos said. While El Eternauta might be Netflix's first foray into using AI to generate final footage, the tech-forward company likely already incorporates AI into other workflows. Netflix doesn't share Hollywood's AI worries Even as companies like Netflix embrace AI, many workers in Hollywood have major qualms with the technology. Concerns about AI in film and TV surfaced during the monthslong Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike in 2023, which sought to block AI from impacting writers' pay and training on their work. The actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which joined the WGA, also sought to protect actors from having their likenesses used without compensation. In spite of those misgivings, AI is already popping up in film and television, including at this year's Oscars. Both Emilia Perez and The Brutalist used AI to finesse actors' voices—a boon that boosted Adrian Brody's Hungarian accent and may have contributed to his best actor win. AI's detractors in Hollywood are as concerned as ever, but given its tech-industry mindset and Silicon Valley DNA, Netflix isn't squeamish. 'We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,' Sarandos said. 'They're AI-powered creator tools. So this is real people doing real work with better tools.' This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter: Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Fast Company
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Netflix slipped something new into your favorite show
For the first time, A hit Netflix show used something unusual to craft a final scene: AI. On its quarterly earnings call, the company's co-CEO Ted Sarandos highlighted the use of generative AI in the sci-fi series El Eternauta (The Eternaut), which debuted on April 30. The post-apocalyptic series adapts an Argentinian comic of the same name, following survivors of a toxic snowfall that blankets Buenos Aires. The scene in question shows a building collapsing dramatically, a feat that Sarandos argues wouldn't have been in budget without leaning on AI. Sarandos says that Netflix's Eyeline Studios partnered with the show's creative team to incorporate 'virtual production and AI-powered VFX' into a final scene. 'Using AI powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10x faster than it could have been completed with… traditional VFX tools and workflows,' Sarandos said. While El Eternauta might be Netflix's first foray into using AI to generate final footage, the tech-forward company likely already incorporates AI into other workflows. Netflix doesn't share Hollywood's AI worries Even as companies like Netflix embrace AI, many workers in Hollywood have major qualms with the technology. Concerns about AI in film and TV surfaced during the monthslong Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike in 2023, which sought to block AI from impacting writers' pay and training on their work. The actors' union SAG-AFTRA, which joined the WGA, also sought to protect actors from having their likenesses used without compensation. In spite of those misgivings, AI is already popping up in film and television – including at this year's Oscars. Both Emilia Perez and The Brutalist used AI to finesse actors' voices – a boon that boosted Adrian Brody's Hungarian accent and may have contributed to his best actor win. AI's detractors in Hollywood are as concerned as ever, but given its tech industry mindset and Silicon Valley DNA, Netflix isn't squeamish. 'We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,' Sarandos said. 'They're AI-powered creator tools. So this is real people doing real work with better tools.'
The Verge
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Netflix admits it used generative AI in a big sci-fi hit to cut costs
Netflix used generative AI to create a scene in the Argentinian sci-fi series The Eternaut — a first for one of the streamer's original shows or films. During an earnings call on Thursday, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said the use of AI was faster than using traditional visual effects tools and helped cut costs. 'That VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows,' Sarandos said during the call. 'Also, the cost of it just wouldn't have been feasible for a show in that budget.' Sarandos said the creative team behind The Eternaut used AI to generate a scene of a building collapsing in Buenos Aires. 'We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,' Sarandos added. In May, the streaming service revealed a new AI-powered search feature on mobile that lets users find shows or movies using conversational phrases, like 'something funny and upbeat,' or 'stories about dancers.' Netflix also said it will use AI to blend ad breaks with the platform's shows and movies — for example, allowing advertisers to display their product in front of a Stranger Things-inspired background.
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Netflix uses generative AI in one of its shows for first time
Netflix has used artificial intelligence in one of its TV shows for the first time, in a move the streaming company's boss said would make films and programmes cheaper and of better quality. Ted Sarandos, a co-chief executive of Netflix, said the Argentinian science fiction series El Eternauta (The Eternaut) was the first it had made that involved using generative AI footage. 'We remain convinced that AI represents an incredible opportunity to help creators make films and series better, not just cheaper,' he told analysts on Thursday after Netflix reported its second-quarter results. He said the series, which follows survivors of a rapid and devastating toxic snowfall, involved Netflix and visual effects (VFX) artists using AI to show a building collapsing in Buenos Aires. 'Using AI-powered tools, they were able to achieve an amazing result with remarkable speed and, in fact, that VFX sequence was completed 10 times faster than it could have been completed with traditional VFX tools and workflows,' he said. He said the use of AI tools allowed Netflix to fund the show at a much lower cost than is typical for a big-budget production. 'The cost of [the special effects without AI] just wouldn't have been feasible for a show in that budget,' Sarandos said. The use of generative AI in the entertainment industry has sparked fears of job cuts, particularly in areas such as the production and special effects industry. In 2023, AI was a key sticking point in dual strikes by Hollywood actors and writers, which secured agreements to ensure the new technology stayed in the control of workers rather than being used to replace them. Sarandos said: 'This is real people doing real work with better tools. Our creators are already seeing the benefits in production through pre-visualisation and shot planning work, and certainly visual effects. I think these tools are helping creators expand the possibilities of storytelling on screen, and that is endlessly exciting.' His comments came after Netflix reported $11bn revenue for the quarter to the end of June, a 16% year-on-year increase. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion The company said its better-than-expected performance was boosted by the success of the third and final series of the Korean thriller Squid Game. Netflix expects its small but fast-growing advertising business to 'roughly double' in size this year. 'Netflix's better-than-expected quarter is a result of great content, increased pricing, and advertising momentum hitting all at once,' said Mike Proulx, the vice-president of research at Forrester, a market research company. 'While there's still work to be done to bolster its ad capabilities, the hardest part is in Netflix's rear-view mirror with the full rollout of its proprietary ad tech platform.'
