Collaboration in the Avengers
Collaboration in The Avengers
Digital Creativity. Mind-Bending Effects.
“The creation of a team is not the happy ending. It is the beginning of something that is complex and difficult…”
– Joss Whedon
We’ve all seen it, and we all know it: The Avengers expertly combines out-of-the-box digital effects with seamless editing techniques, and of course, outstanding live actors. The result? The movie took action to a new level, transcending the ordinary, and sending even seasoned experts into a rare state of “how was that done?” The most notable element of this film is the incredible collaboration it takes to craft something so flawless and vivid.
Director Joss Whedon, Special Effects Supervisor Janek Sirrs, and producer Susan Picket oversaw the creation of no less than 2,200 shots completed by a variety of vendors (including ILM, Weta Digital, Scanline VFX, Hydraulx, Fuel VFX, Evil Eye Pictures, and Cantina Creative to name just a few).
Together, these creative individuals brought to life some of the best known and loved elements of the Marvel Universe, while adding and enhancing unique touches that make this fantastic world so tangible and unforgettable.
The team completed work in both pre‘vis and post’vis in order to seamlessly weave a story, just a further demonstration of how collaborative the process of crafting truly mind-boggling visual effects can be, “Only one or two sequences were 100% previs’d to completion before we actually go around the shooting them,” says digital effects supervisor Janek Sirrs, “…I think it helps to keep things flexible and let things evolve a bit more organically.”
From storyboarding each specific moment, to building virtual body doubles for the characters, and even using actor Mark Ruffalo’s real fingerprints to make the Hulk’s gigantic figure match the actors’, The Avengers creative team used cross collaboration to bring extraordinary characters to life, and to transport audiences into a vivid world where literally anything seems possible.
Just Around the Corner
The Avengers: Age of Ultron is literally around the corner, set for release May 1 2015, and among all the other exciting unknowns on the table, folks are clambering to say their piece about the actors and characters announced for this next installment.
The new work is directed by favorite artist Joss Whedon, and will include a host of popular choices we cheered on in the last installment, including Robert Downey Jr as Iron Man, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Chris Evans as Captain America, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.
In addition to these predictable casting choices, we’ll be treated to a tantalizing selection of performers, including Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Quicksilver), Elizabeth Olson (Scarlet Witch), Paul Bettany (The Vision), Cobie Smulders (Maria Hill), Anthony Mackie (Falcon), Hayley Atwell (Peggy Carter), Idris Elba (Heimdall), Stellan Skarsgard (Erik Selvig), James Spader (voice of Ultron), and Don Cheadle (War Machine).
The Avengers work together in this new installment to defeat Ultron, an enormous technological enemy. So, the question remains, will this sequel transcend the normal sequel let down, will it take The Avengers to new heights?
