2013年2月26日 星期二

【另類觀點 Alternative View】給李安的公開信 An open letter to Ang Lee

網路上有許多護神的鄉民或媒體因李安正在奧斯卡的高點,正是台灣之光絢麗時,所以容不下任何有損李安的言論,將這篇文章解讀為樹大招風,無妄之災。平心而論,李安的確並沒有在謝詞中提到這個視覺特效的團隊,也沒有聲援他們早先被硬生生趕下舞台麥克風斷訊的窘境,他們的謝詞時間比李安短很多。這種境遇其實血淋淋的說明視效不被合理重視的現況,被誤解為只是技術人員的偏見。相反的,傳統為導演掌鏡的攝影師已經不再如此對待,已在大眾心理建立藝術的地位。其實視效所做的,也是充滿著技術挑戰,其中牽涉美感、牽涉程式運算,並不亞於其他任何的電影技術人員,也應獲得藝術成就的尊重。

李安要求他們降低預算,其中原委細節,無從評論。李安沒聲援他們,的確使他們傷心,他們感覺到被遺忘,更何況正值他們公司破產之時。不過,我相信李安是無心的,也正如他應該對這個產業非常陌生。打個電話慰問他們,在媒體上釋放一些感謝他們藝術成就的努力,這無疑是為過去誤解冰釋的好機會,也提醒眾人對於辛勤努力工作者尊敬。

都加油~~

Dear Mr. Lee,

When asked about the bankruptcy of Rhythm + Hues, the visual effects house largely responsible for making your film “life of Pi” as incredible as it was, you said:

“I would like it to be cheaper and not a tough business [for VFX vendors]. It’s easy for me to say, but it’s very tough. It’s very hard for them to make money. The research and development is so expensive; that is a big burden for every house. They all have good times and hard times, and in the tough times, some may not [survive].”

I just want to point out that while, yes R&D can be expensive and yes it takes a lot of technology and computing power to create films like yours, it is not computer chips and hard drives that are costing you so very much money.  It is the artists that are helping you create your film.

So when you say  “I would like it to be cheaper,” as an artist I take that personally.   It took hundreds of hours from skilled artists and hard-working coordinators and producers to craft the environments and performances in life of Pi.  Not to mention the engineers that wrote all of that proprietary code and build the R+H pipeline.  That is where your money went.  I’d say, judging from the night you just had, you got one hell of a deal.

Incidentally, those were the same gorgeous sunsets and vistas that your DP Claudio Miranda took credit for without so much as a word of thanks to those artists.  And the same animated performances that helped win you the best director statue.  Nice of you to mentionthe pool crew, but maybe you could have thanked the guys and gals who turned that pool in to an ocean and put a tiger in to that boat?

It was world class work, after all.  And after a fabulously insulting and dismissive introduction from the cast of the avengers, at least two of whom spent fully half of their film as a digitally animated character, R+H won for it’s work on your very fine piece of cinema.  And just as the bankruptcy was about to be acknowledged on a nationally-televised platform, the speech was cut short.  By the Jaws theme.

If this was meant as a joke, we artists are not laughing.

Mr. Lee, I do believe that you are a thoughtful and brilliant man. And a gifted filmmaker.  But I also believe that you and everyone in your tier of our business is fabulously ignorant to the pain and turmoil you are putting artists through.  Our employers scramble to chase illegal film subsidies across the globe at the behest of the film studios.  Those same subsidies raise overhead, distort the market, and cause wage stagnation in what are already trying economic times.  Your VFX are already cheaper than they should be.  It is disheartening to see how blissfully unaware of this fact you truly are.

By all accounts, R+H is a fantastic place to work; a truly great group of people who treat their employees with fairness and respect.  Much like Zoic Studios, the fabulous company that I am proud to work for.  But I am beginning to wonder if these examples of decency will be able to survive in such a hostile environment.  Or if the horror stories of unpaid overtime and illegal employment practices will become the norm, all because you and your fellow filmmakers “would like it to be cheaper.”

I for one won’t stand for it.  Please join me.

Warmest regards and congratulations,
 Phillip Broste
 Lead Compositor


article source:
http://vfxsoldier.wordpress.com/2013/02/24/an-open-letter-to-ang-lee/

translation:
http://animapp.cloudapp.net/blog/production/compositing-and-effects/905-an-open-letter-to-ang-lee-by-phillip-broste.html



Life of Pi | Visual Effects Making Of from BUF on Vimeo.


'Jaws' Music Cuts Off 'Life Of Pi' Visual Effects Team Oscar Speech (VIDEO) 
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/jaws-oscars-life-of-pi-_n_2756380.html

Oscars 2013: VFX Artists Blast 'Disgraceful' TV Moments
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-2013-vfx-artists-blast-424304


【轉貼】How 3D Printing Will Change Our World (Part II)






more info:
http://www.archdaily.com/255156/how-3d-printing-will-change-our-world-part-ii/

2013年2月25日 星期一

李安得獎前的訪談

http://appledaily.com.tw/appledaily/article/entertainment/20130225/34850089/李安自剖19年征戰奧斯卡心路誓言拍國片再奪外語片

今日有設計課,在開車路上得知李安得到導演獎,一路上整個廣播充滿歡樂氣息。還沒聽得獎感言,但早上出門前在水果網站上看到頒獎前夕的訪談報導。其中李安談及他自己是處在主流的氛圍裡,指的是他的路術,包含觀點與手法,說他若是美國人的話,應該無異於其他美國電影人。但他謙稱他是外國人必須在美國市場裡打滾,因而造就他必須關注藝術市場並使他得到特別的關注。從這段話裡,除了他儒家式的誠實與謙卑外,他在專業光譜上的自我認識與見地更加顯現他的視野寬度與人外有人的謙虛。得獎是其次,態度與過程都彰顯李安固然是主流的擁護者,但也值得非主流路術打從心底的尊敬。

more info:



http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/oscars-2013-ang-lees-best-director-acceptance-speech-for-life-of-pi-in-full-8509550.html