Stunning War for the Planet of the Apes VFX Reel Captures Incredible Scope of Work

Planet of the Apes was a groundbreaking cinematic experience in 1968 and continues to be the vehicle for the most advanced filmmaking techniques today. The level of detail in War for the Planet of the Apes is absolutely mesmerizing. The actors’ performances have been fully translated into multiple species of ape characters. VFX Supervisor Joe Letteri once gave us a deep dive into the process of turning and actor into an ape.

By Kelle Long  |  May 18, 2018

Interview

Director

Director Wim Wenders on his Unprecedented Access in Pope Francis: A Man of His Word

At 72, German-born auteur Wim Wenders defies categorization as a filmmaker. He is as much at home with Oscar-nominated documentaries that deal with the arts (1999’s music-filled  Buena Vista Social Club; 2011’s Pina, about German choreographer Pina Bausch; and 2014’s The Salt of the Earth, about Brazilian photographer Sebastiao Salgado) as he is with visually striking features (1984’s road-trip Western Paris, Texas, 1987’s angelic fantasy Wings of Desire).

By Susan Wloszczyna  |  May 18, 2018
It’s a T-Rex Versus a Lion in Ferocious new Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Spot

At the 21-second mark in this new Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom TV spot you’ll see the matchup you didn’t know you’ve been waiting for—a T-Rex versus a lion. While the two don’t actually tangle in the brief glimpse, the very fact they’re in the same place tells you Fallen Kingdom will be venturing off Isla Nublar and plunging the dinosaurs into populated areas, much like Steven Spielberg’s The Lost World: Jurassic Park did in 1997.

By The Credits  |  May 18, 2018

Interview

Actor

Clark Duke Isn’t Always Playing for Laughs on Season 2 of I’m Dying Up Here

Ron Shack was a struggling comedian who was so broke that he was living in a closet—an actual closet—with his best friend Eddie Zeidel during season one of I’m Dying Up Here.

Now, Ron is enjoying the sweet taste of success in season two of the Showtime drama series that follows standups working at a comedy club called Goldie’s in Los Angeles in the 1970s. In the second season opener of I’m Dying Up Here,

By Christine Champagne  |  May 18, 2018
It: Chapter 2 Casts Two More Members of the Losers’ Club

Something enchanted is happening with the It cast. We’re not sure yet if it’s secretly evil or really as incredible as it seems. Pennywise knows how to lure people in and then unleash their deepest terror upon them, but if this is a trick, we’re all in. According to Deadline, It: Chapter 2 has added James Ransone and Variety reported that Andy Bean joined the already eerily perfect cast.

By Kelle Long  |  May 17, 2018
Deadpool Recounts the Long, Eventful Journey of the Two Film Franchise

If there’s anything to be said about Deadpool, it is that nothing is sacred. Not even the masterfully crafted and brilliantly delivered Marvel Universe in which he lives. The MCU has been enjoying a whiz bang ten-year anniversary since Iron Man launched the franchise. Black Panther roared to the top of the box office and Avengers: Infinity War is handily smashing the competition.

By Kelle Long  |  May 17, 2018
Will Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings Series Focus on Young Aragorn?

We’re hearing some exciting rumors from Middle Earth as of late. The One Ring recently tweeted that Amazon’s first season of its Lord of the Rings series will focus on the life of young Aragorn. Though we can’t confirm this report, we can confirm fans’ excitement over the possibility. Aragorn, played by Viggo Mortenson in the films, has a key role in the famous trilogy and his backstory is one for the ages. 

By The Credits  |  May 17, 2018

Interview

Special/Visual Effects

How Avengers: Infinity War‘s “Head of Digital Humans” Created the Purple Face of Doom

Darren Hendler‘s been changing live action humans into digital creatures for nearly two decades. Since moving from South Africa to London and finally to Digital Domain in Los Angeles, the former electrical engineer has helped designed CG effects for such spectacles as I, Robot and Furious 7. With Avengers: Infinity War, he focused on the face. Deploying a new motion capture program called Masquerade, Hendler and his team rendered every pore on Josh Brolin’s skin with unprecedented accuracy.

By Hugh Hart  |  May 17, 2018
How Black Panther‘s Visual Effects Team Infused the Panther Suits With Vibranium Technology

Some of the most revealing interviews you can get is with a film’s visual effects supervisor. Its where you find out, for example, how they created the planet of Vormir in Avengers: Infinity War (hint: by melding sand dunes from Brazil and mountains in Iceland). The VFX teams are expert at blending the real with the digital so that your eyes can’t tell what was actually shot and what was built on a computer.

By The Credits  |  May 17, 2018
Chris Pratt Has Trouble Checking His Luggage While Leaving Jurassic World

We have all had run ins with airport staff telling us our bag is oversized, or over weight, and we cannot possibly board. It’s a frustrating refrain, especially for those traveling with pets. Service animals call for even more proof that you really do need that capuchin monkey in your lap from New York to LA. Jurassic World’s Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) goes straight to the top of the animal kingdom for his travel companion.

By Kelle Long  |  May 16, 2018
The Baryonyx, Indoraptor & Mosasaurus Star in new Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Spot

Yesterday we shared this new Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom featurette which revealed that director J.A. Bayona’s film has more dinosaurs than every other film in the franchise—combined. Now Universal has released a new TV spot that features three of the film’s marquee prehistoric stars—the genetically modified indoraptor, the baryonyx, and returning champion, the colossal, aquatic mosasaurus. While the Jurassic franchise has two undisputed kings—the T-Rex and the velociraptor—you may recall that in Jurassic World, 

By The Credits  |  May 16, 2018
Letitia Wright Breaks Down All of Shuri’s Best Black Panther Inventions

No one knows Wakandan technology like top inventor, Shuri. Her brilliant usage of vibranium to protect her country, and her brother, is truly inspiring. There are so many cool gadgets in Black Panther that it’s impossible to absorb them all in one sitting. Thankfully, we’ve got Letitia Wright here to help us out and showcase the coolest creations in Shuri’s arsenal in this awesome video from Vanity Fair.

When we are first introduced to Shuri’s lab,

By Kelle Long  |  May 16, 2018
Review Roundup: Solo: A Star Wars Story Delivers the Goods

The reviews for Ron Howard’s Solo: A Star Wars Story are out, and the critics are mostly in agreement that this is the most fun, breeziest stand-alone Star Wars film yet released. The reviews pretty much jibe with the first reactions we published last Friday—great performances, some terrific action set pieces, and the scruffy charm you’d want, and expect, in a film about the young Han Solo. For those folks who were worried about Alden Ehrenreich,

By Bryan Abrams  |  May 16, 2018
Solo Features the Most Costumes of Any Star Wars Film

With the release of Solo: A Star Wars Story just two days away, Disney has posted a behind the scenes look at the incredible work that went into the film. In many ways, this is the most swashbuckling Star Wars movie yet. Han Solo is one of the greatest characters in the franchise, and certainly its most beloved scoundrel, so it’s comforting to know the filmmakers went above and beyond. In this great new featurette,

By Kelle Long  |  May 16, 2018
The New Mission: Impossible – Fallout Trailer is Pure Adrenalin

You will likely not see a more kinetic, viscerally intense trailer this year. Topping the action from the previous installment in the Mission: Impossible franchise is both as sure and seemingly impossible a thing as death itself. After Ghost Protocol, when Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise, of course) went Spider-Man outside of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the world’s tallest building, and ran across the glass face of the building a mile and a half above ground,

By The Credits  |  May 16, 2018

Interview

Costume Designer

Costume Designer Phoebe de Gaye Brings Killer Style to Killing Eve

In the role of the international assassin known as Villanelle on Killing Eve, Jodie Comer is literally dressed to kill in a high-end wardrobe full of labels such as Burberry, Miu Miu, Dries Van Noten and Phillip Lim.

The chic attire, which prompted Vogue to hail Killing Eve as the most fashionable show on television, was sourced by a small team led by costume designer Phoebe de Gaye,

By Christine Champagne  |  May 16, 2018
More Transmissions from the Westworld Hosts Appear on Delos Website

Today I am back to my full-time job of clicking on everything that is possibly clickable on the ever-evolving Westworld website. It has become an obsession that is interfering with my daily life, but this maze was meant for me and I will reach the end. Over the summer, the Delos Destinations site seemed to be glitching out, but we still got insight into the total number of parks.

By Kelle Long  |  May 15, 2018
A Close-Up Photo of You Know What From Avengers: Infinity War‘s Post-Credit Scene

Even though Avengers: Infinity War premiered way back on April 27, we’re still going to make sure you’ve seen the film before we suggest you keep reading…

Still here? Fantastic. Let’s all rejoice at a close-up photo of the one glimmer of hope from Infinity War, the most somber film in Marvel history. Truly, the only moment in the last, oh, 40-minutes of the film that gave us any hope at all occurred during the otherwise hideously depressing post-credits scene.

By Bryan Abrams  |  May 15, 2018
Nightflyers Promo Sets the Tone for George R.R. Martin’s Spaceship Thriller

Game of Thrones, inspired by George R.R. Martin’s epic series A Song of Ice and Fire, is nearing its final winter. Season 8, airing in the summer of 2019, will be the end of the series. If you can’t imagine your life without Martin’s stories in it, fear not. If you can stomach sci-fi horror, Nightflyers is on the way. SyFy released a behind the scenes feature of the show in March,

By Kelle Long  |  May 15, 2018

Interview

Director, Producer, Screenwriter

Book Club‘s Creators on How Fifty Shades of Grey Inspired Their Dream Project

Whatever you did to celebrate Mother’s Day probably wasn’t as great as Bill Holderman’s gift to his mom in 2012. The final book in the 50 Shades of Grey trilogy had just been published, and the Book Club director, co-producer, and co-screenwriter sent the entire set to his mother.

“As sons do, right?” Holderman joked.

Book Club co-producer and co-screenwriter Erin Simms worked with Holderman at a production company at the time and heard about the plan.

By Kelle Long  |  May 15, 2018