Lighter Darker: The ILM Podcast

This week, we delve into the world building techniques behind two of the year's most anticipated films: Gladiator II and Wicked. VFX Producer Ed Randolph (Gladiator II) and VFX Supervisor Anthony Smith (Wicked) give us behind-the-scenes stories of building these worlds and share insights into some of their favorite shots from their impressive careers. Chapter Markers [00:00:10] Intro [00:03:07] Questions from the Mailbag [00:17:42] One Final and One CBB [00:28:15] Worldbuilding in WIcked and Gladiator II [00:49:13] The Martini [00:58:30] Outro Episode Links  Wicked (2024) - IMDb Gladiator II (2024) - IMDb Edward Randolph - IMDb Anthony Smith - IMDb Color Decision List Explained - Lowepost Ready Player One (2018) - IMDb Spectre (2015) - IMDb Gravity (2013) - IMDb Sherlock Holmes (2009) - IMDb The Martini  Todd - The Wild Robot (2024) - IMDb Robot Dreams (2023) - IMDb Ed - Wicked: Tiny Desk Concert The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024) - IMDb Anthony - Old Masters Academy Jenny - A Smoky Mountain Christmas (TV Movie 1986) - IMDb  A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986 TV Movie, 2022 HD Circle TV Broadcast Edit) Rob - Clarkson's Farm (TV Series 2021– ) - IMDb Follow Us ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn  Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram Todd Vaziri Jenny Ely on Instagram Email us at [email protected] Transcript  https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-007-worldbuilding-in-wicked-and-gladiator-ii/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Director Shannon Tindle (Kubo and the Two Strings, Lost Ollie) and VFX supervisor Hayden Jones join us to discuss the role of empathy in animation. We talk about Tindle’s latest film, Ultraman: Rising as well as the importance of collaboration and infusing personal experiences into characters and storytelling. Chapter Markers [00:00:00] Intro [00:03:20] Rejection Letters [00:11:25] Deleted Dreams [00:17:46] Empathy in Animation [00:45:52] The Martini [00:50:33] Outro Episode Links  Shannon Tindle - IMDb Hayden Jones - IMDb Ultraman: Rising (2024) - IMDb THE HUMAN TARGET #1 | DC Lost Ollie (TV Mini Series 2022) - IMDb The Martini Shannon - Hollow Kingdom #1 - Kira Jane Buxton Hayden - Thames & Hudson USA - Book - Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities Jenny - Luigi's Mansion 2 - HD Rob -  Welcome to Wrexham (TV Series 2022– ) - IMDb Follow Us ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn  Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram Todd Vaziri Jenny Ely on Instagram Email us at [email protected] Transcript  https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-006-ultraman-rising-with-shannon-tindle-and-hayden-jones/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For this special Halloween Edition, we flash back to Ghostbusters II with VFX legend Bill George who shares stories from the model shop. We talk with Bill about the evolution of visual effects over his 40-year career. Chapter Markers [00:00:00] Intro [00:03:45] Questions from the mailbag [00:16:20] Lighter Darker - origin of the name [00:19:10] Rejection letters [00:22:28] Ghostbusters II and the evolution of the artist toolbox [00:44:51] The Martini [00:52:19] Outro Episode Links  Bill George - IMDb Artist Benton Jew Shares ILM Memories and the Story Behind Lighter Darker Innerspace (1987) - IMDb Ghostbusters II (1989) - IMDb METHOCEL™ Water-Soluble Cellulose Ethers, IFF - ChemPoint. The Martini Todd -Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - IMDb Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) - IMDb  Bill - Sasquatch Sunset (2024) - IMDb Paramount + / rent on Amazon Prime Jenny - Halloween: Origins, Meaning & Traditions | HISTORY Jenny's Slimer Halloween Costume by Adam J. Ely on IG Rob -  Scriptnotes Follow Us ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn  Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram Todd Vaziri Jenny Ely on Instagram Email us at [email protected] Transcript  https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/ep-005-ghostbusters-2-with-bill-george/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Director Lee Isaac Chung (Minari, Twisters) and executive producer Ashley Jay Sandberg (Twisters, The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart) discuss working together to balance science and storytelling with their latest film, Twisters. They share stories from the set, including real-life challenges from Mother Nature. The filmmakers and the Lighter Darker hosts chat about films that inspired them to choose their career paths and some roadblocks they faced along the way. Chapter Markers [00:00:00] Intro [00:02:12] Questions from the mailbag [00:10:42] Rejection letters [00:19:44] Film foundations [00:28:20] The quiet power of nature [00:45:30] Final question [00:48:24] The martini [00:53:50] Outro Episode Links  Ashley Jay Sandberg - IMDb Lee Isaac Chung - IMDb Twisters The Abyss (1989) - IMDb Back to the Future (1985) - IMDb E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - IMDb Kar-Wai Wong - IMDb The Wizard of Oz (1939) - IMDb Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - IMDb Phil Tippett on the set of The Empire Strikes Back Ben Snow - IMDb ILM VFX Supervisor Ben Snow on the set of Twisters Florian Witzel - IMDb The Martini Rob - The Greatest Night in Pop (2024) - IMDb Todd - Schlage Encode Plus™ Smart WiFi Deadbolt | Wifi smart lock Jenny - Norsepaints (@norsepaints) • Instagram  Isaac - StarTalk Radio Ashley BEATER BOARDS – Catch Surf USA Follow Us ilm.com | YouTube | Instagram | Threads | X | Facebook | LinkedIn  Rob Bredow.com or on Instagram Todd Vaziri Jenny Ely on Instagram Email us at [email protected] Transcript: https://www.ilm.com/transcripts/s1e004-twisters-with-lee-isaac-chung-and-ashley-jay-sandberg/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices