Talented Northumbria student designs for Hollywood blockbuster
A talented computer animation student from Northumbria University is looking forward to seeing his name on the big screen, after producing special effects for a Hollywood movie, due to be released later this year.
John Kearvell has entered the final year of his BSc (Hons) Computer Animation and Digital SFX programme this September, having spent much of his summer working on 3D elements for the upcoming Sci-Fi film, Gemini Rising.
Now in post-production, the movie directors have taken an innovative approach, using the rarely used Blender open source 3D modelling and rendering software. They have invited the community of Blender artists from around the world to submit their work for the film, providing briefings on the film’s website.
The directors have provided details of 3D elements that they want to be created, to fit into the live action footage. It is a real collaborative project, as John explains: “We are currently having weekly production meetings over the internet, and are using a web forum to co-ordinate and communicate. It’s a fantastic opportunity to work on a project of this scale.
“Most of my work is on background models; bombs, a plane, tank, helipad, fence, pallet, computer screens and shelving. These will be composited into the shots by other artists. I’ve also been working on some screen replacements. Monitors are shot with no image on them, so videos need to be composited in to make it look like they actually work.”
Gemini Rising is being made by Pathfinder productions, in California. The film promises sci-fi fans a rollercoaster ride, but there’s also enough to keep fans of action, drama and romance happy. The directors are keen to maintain a little mystery, but the plotline is:
‘During a deep space mission, NASA crew discover a derelict alien craft, entombed in the darkness of space. The astronauts make a startling discovery, an extraterrestrial being, comatose but alive, and a strange bioengineered pod. PROJECT GEMINI, a top secret research program, hidden on a remote island in the South Pacific seeks to unravel this remarkable, yet ominous alien technology.’
Nathaniel Nose, VFX Supervisor and Film Editor of Gemini Rising, commented: “Amongst our worldwide team of artists who hail from Germany, France, Spain, England and our own Hollywood, as well as several other countries, John immediately distinguished himself as a talented artist who possesses the most important trait of all: the ability to take direction. His work will appear in at least 15 minutes of overall screen time, which for a single VFX artist is impressive. He has an amicable disposition and I'm sure will have no problems forging a professional career.”
As John embarks on his final year of the course, Alf Watson, Programme Leader, sees his success continuing well into the future, commenting: “John joined us after working for five years as a Sound Engineer. During this time he founded Burnt Films, developing his long-term hobby of making films. It was this which led him to join the Computer Animation and Digital SFX programme. John has really impressed us during his first two years on the course, producing work that we would normally expect to see from final year students. He has done extremely well in his involvement with the Gemini Rising project and we are confident that he will have a very successful and rewarding future career.”
The film stars Lance Henrikson, of Aliens and Terminator fame, and Amy Hathaway who has starred in TV series from Castle to CSI, as well as films including Mr & Mrs Smith. For updates on the film, visit www.geminirisingfilm.com.
To see more images of John’s work, please click here.
Date posted: October 18, 2011
