The Science Channel’s “Science of the Movies” is visiting New Deal Studios tonight. In the recent movie Night at the Museum 2, New Deal Studios helped build the sequence of Amelia Earhart’s escape flight through the museum. Rather than go the obvious route of CGI modeling and blue-screening, they instead opted for physical models.
A crew of more than 50 artists worked tirelessly over eight weeks to re-create a miniature of the Air & Space Museum based on the real blueprints. The 80-foot-long miniature filled the entire New Deal stage and included over 50 miniature airplanes and spaceships from various eras, along with the smallest museum details like hanging banners, lit display signs and mini model cases.
A bit different from what we usually cover here on VizWorld, but it’s helpful to realize that CGI isn’t the answer to everything. Read the full press release and see pictures after the break. The show airs tonight at 10pm, with repeats throughout the week.
New Deal Studios Re-Defines “Geek” and Takes The Science Channel On a Wild Ride Behind the Scenes of Film Visual Effects
Marina Del Rey, CA – (July 9, 2009) — Award-winning New Deal Studios (NDS) put out the secret red carpet to Nar Williams, host of the widely popular “Science of the Movies” television program. Airing on the Science Channel this Thursday, July 9th at 10pm, the creative team at NDS took Nar on a wild ride through the studio highlighting a miniature effects sequence of Amelia Earhart’s escape flight in this summer’s blockbuster movie, “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.”
The façade of film visual effects is turned around to reveal the technology, engineering and science that is used in concert with artistry to create memorable action sequences. The geeks and artists at New Deal Studios employ the latest technologies in design, fabrication, photography and digital effects partnered with the amazing creative talents of our crew and solid production management to form a 21 Century Studio. “Science of the Movies” was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of what New Deal Studios has created over the past 14 years.
“We are often asked to defy physics when designing and implementing a dynamic action scene,” states Ian Hunter, Co-Founder and in-house Visual Effects Supervisor on the “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.” A crew of more than 50 artists worked tirelessly over eight weeks to re-create a miniature of the Air & Space Museum based on the real blueprints. The 80-foot-long miniature filled the entire New Deal stage and included over 50 miniature airplanes and spaceships from various eras, along with the smallest museum details like hanging banners, lit display signs and mini model cases.
Airing tonight, Thursday, July 9th at 10pm on the Science Channel with multiple repeats throughout the week. New Deal Co-Founder Shannon Blake Gans concludes: “At New Deal Studios we re-define ‘geek.’ We love what we do and are thrilled to let the audience take a peek inside.”
About New Deal Studios:
New Deal Studios was founded in 1995 by Matthew Gratzner, Ian Hunter and Shannon Blake Gans. This artist-owned and operated, independent company is housed in two buildings in Marina del Rey, California. NDS has developed over the years into a full-service production and visual effects studio unlike any in the world. NDS contributes to each project by using a diverse palette of artistic tools that range from the art department, workshop, production, to the digital department and DI suite. Creativity and solid management practices are the foundation upon which NDS has grown over the years and why all major studios continue to entrust NDS with high-profile projects such as “Batman: The Dark Knight” and upcoming films “Whiteout,” “2012,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and Martin Scorsese’s “Shutter Island.”
