Tag Archives: CGI

Coldplay films colorful music videos to match new album ‘A Head Full of Dreams’

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Coldplay is back with its seventh and possibly final album for awhile, that is, according to frontman Chris Martin. If this is it for the foreseeable future, they sure are going out with a bang. The record, A Head Full of Dreams, is a solid effort from the alt-rock/pop British band. It has its quiet moments (“Everglow” and “Kaleidoscope”) as well as those anthemic tunes fans have become accustomed to over the years (“A Head Full of Dreams,” “Hymn for the Weekend” and “Adventure of a Lifetime”). All in all, it’s a decidedly uplifting and inspiring take, especially coming off last year’s mildly melancholic Ghost Stories.

Shortly after releasing the album into the wild just last month, Martin and co. started to drop eclectic music videos for the singles. They started with a mesmerizing music video for “Adventure of a Lifetime” which features CGI versions of the band members dancing around as apes. They teamed up with director Mat Whitecross and actor/motion capture expert Andy Serkis (Lord of the Rings, Planet of the Apes) to magically animate themselves using the latest tech in 3D motion capture. It took six months to make!

The second music video to release was the one for “Birds.” The band travelled to Salvation Mountain to record the trippy, kaleidoscopic clip directed by Marcus Haney.

Following lead single “Adventure of a Lifetime” is the official second single off the album, “Hymn for the Weekend.” Coldplay shot the video for it on location in Mumbai, India with director Ben Mor. Beyoncè, whose vocals are featured on the track, plays a beautiful movie star and Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor makes a cameo as the band runs around the streets of Mumbai exploding with color and radiance.

“Hymn for the Weekend” is embedded above. You’ll find music videos for “Birds” and “Adventure of a Lifetime” after the break. There’s also a fun behind-the-scenes look at Coldplay making the CGI video with Whitecross and Serkis.

One more thing. This summer Coldplay’s going on tour! Tickets go on sale Friday, Feb. 5 at 10am local time. Check out the full list of nation-wide stops below the fold. Oh, and don’t forget they’ll be jamming out during Super Bowl 50’s halftime show next Sunday! Continue reading Coldplay films colorful music videos to match new album ‘A Head Full of Dreams’ →

Trailer round-up: Seth MacFarlane’s ‘Ted’, Colin Farrell in ‘Total Recall’ remake & ‘Rock of Ages’

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Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane is making his feature film directing debut with the live action mixed with CGI comedy Ted. This clip is one of the funniest, well put together trailers I have ever seen. Yes, I am hyping this up for you because it is that good. (Note that this is a red-band trailer that includes lots of profanity and sexual references.) I do not want to harp too much on what you’re about to see because any kind of spoilery would ruin the viewing experience for you. So I will leave you with this not-so-revealing official synopsis:

In the live action/CG-animated comedy, [Seth MacFarlane] tells the story of John Bennett (Mark Wahlberg), a grown man who must deal with the cherished teddy bear who came to life as the result of a childhood wish…and has refused to leave his side ever since.

Ted, starring Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, and director/writer/star Seth MacFarlane sounding a lot like Peter Griffin, opens July 13.

Jump after the break to see more trailers. Continue reading Trailer round-up: Seth MacFarlane’s ‘Ted’, Colin Farrell in ‘Total Recall’ remake & ‘Rock of Ages’ →

Live action Pokémon movie trailer induces double rainbow phenomena

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Pokémon Apokélypse is a fan-fiction trailer “responding to the common trend of ‘dark and gritty’ reboots of popular franchises.”  But when it first “leaked” on the Internet fans of the popular trading card game (that also enjoyed a short stint on TheWB), rabid fans were led on to believe that this was actual footage from an upcoming live action Pokémon movie.  It turns out the leak was staged and the production team behind it revealed that this was simply a side project.  From the live incarnations of Ash, Misty, and Brock to the super cool CG Pokémon, the trailer is pure win.  Read the synopsis and mash play!

Celadon City hasn’t been the same since the Gyms closed down. Pokémon fighting has gone underground, and the sport has gotten a taste for blood. Ash, Misty, and Brock have been forced deep into the city’s seedy underbelly to keep training, but the Pokémon aren’t the only ones in danger. Now, Ash must choose to either become a master in the grim world of illegal pokémon fighting, or make a desperate stand to free them all from the criminal grip of Rocket Industries.

Interested in learning more about how this trailer came to be?  Head over to ShogunGamer to read an interview with director Kial Natale and exec producer Lee Majdoub.

Flower Warfare

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From the dude who brought us “Light Warfare” using the awesome technique of light painting comes “Flower Warfare.”  Creator Freddie Wong has put together another masterpiece with weapons at the forefront; only this time they don’t shoot light, they spray their enemies with–you guessed it–flower power!  The nod to the Internet’s latest meme in the final frame is perfect!

Short: Giant robots invade our world

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Panic Attack!

Directed and animated by Fede Alvarez.

Alvarez created this four minute, 48 second short film about a robot invasion through his commercial production house for under $500.  There has been so much positive buzz around this video that Hollywood execs are begging for more.  In fact, legendary director and writer Sam Raimi will be supporting Alvarez bring his creation to the big screen.  That’s right–Alvarez has been given a one million dollar deal with Ghost House Pictures to live his dream, to bring crazy apocalyptic robots into our theaters.  This potential success story reminds me of Neill Blomkamp’s story; he was discovered by Peter Jackson to make District 9 in a very similar way.

[Via KanyeBlog; DreadCentral]

This short film is what District 9 is based on…WATCH IT.

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If you have seen the trailer (or the movie itself) for District 9, you will notice it says “Presentend by Peter Jackson, Directed by Neill Blomkamp.”  This short film “Alive in Joberg” is what Peter Jackson stumbled upon and got him interested in picking up the concept for D9 and putting Blomkamp at the helm.  This six and a half minute short shows off Blomkamp’s raw talent of mixing CGI with live action.  With what was surely a low budget and a light crew, Blomkamp took a great idea and displayed his talents in just the right way that led him to making a higher budget masterpiece that is District 9.  (Fun fact: D9 star Sharlto Copely appears in and a producer of this short.)