Jim Thacker interviews Ian Hubert, the brain behind 'Project London'. It gives a good insight into the history and the ambitions of the project, not to mention the insane amount of work.
Jim writes:
By modern standards, 650 visual effect shots isn't an unusual number for a Hollywood movie. Misfiring Vince Vaughan comedy Fred Claus has 650 VFX shots, for example. So does Wolfgang Petersen's lavish remake of The Poseidon Adventure.
But what makes Project London unusual is that it isn't a $160 million Hollywood movie – to the tune of almost $160 million. Despite featuring the same volume of digital effects work as its mainstream counterparts, the upcoming sci-fi thriller was post-produced by a small team of volunteers working remotely via the internet.
Even more surprisingly, the effects were created not in industry-standard tools such as Autodesk Maya or Softimage, but Blender: an open-source 3D animation package.
On a sidenote, I've added Ian's blogposts to BlenderNation Community News. Updates will appear on the homepage automatically.
Link
14 Comments
I just saw some of the (all too brief) clips from Project London the other day. Wow factor extraordinaire!
Woah; I've seen Project London on here before - it impressed me then, and it impresses me even more now. *650* VFX shots? Somehow only *5 minutes* render time per frame, for that sort of quality? Also, producing the film in a little under 4 years for a mid-2010 release (especially when most of the crew have full time jobs)? On a budget of Pttth? Woah. I mean, seriously, woah. I want their secrets. :P
Also hands up who thought the Project London poster reminded them of District 9 [puts both hands up]
Hope it turns out good.
Wow, awesome... a fan. Maybe I can help with their next flick. :D
@rpgsimmaster
650 VFX shots isn't actually any sort of top amount. You get 1200 these days and then editor cuts them to 700, half-sunken in tears :)
@Alexandre: True, perhaps; but for having effectively no-budget, that's still a team dedication worthy of praise.
now this is the kind of news I dig reading about at BlenderNation more of these type of articles please
Wow, awsome. Wish I jumped on the project that time.
Looks very promesing
incredible
all the best wishes for your ambitious project...
Very exciting, (on so many levels.) The short looks great. Getting everyone to work together is great. Even Dolf adapting Blender to a specific need, is great. I can hardly wait to see this finished.
..wishes I was in Washington state last August...
People, this is history, all endi had to say was 'incredible'!
nah, just kidding, P:L is awesome(oh, and incredible)! :)
n1 felix :)
I could imaginge that endi actually participates in that movie, he would have the skills nontheless.