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    Oscar winners Brevig, Butler join DNEG as VFX supervisors

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments597 Views
    LONDON --

    Visual effects and animation studio DNEG has hired Eric Brevig and Greg Butler as VFX supervisors.  

    Brevig’s notable credits as VFX supervisor include Total Recall (1990), for which he received the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Hook (1991), for which he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Men In Black (1997), which earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Visual Effects, and Pearl Harbor (2001), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. 

    Butler’s portfolio of credits as VFX supervisor includes Sam Mendes’ “single shot” war drama 1917 (2019), which earned him an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Visual Effects, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011), which earned him his first BAFTA. Earlier in his career, Butler received a Visual Effects Society Award for Outstanding Character Animation for his work on Gollum in The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003).

    “Eric and Greg will certainly help us continue to push the creative boundaries of what is possible during this period of technological advancement in our industry and unprecedented demand for our services," said Namid Malhotra, chairman and CEO of DNEG which maintains offices and studios across North America (Los Angeles, Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver), Europe (London) and Asia (Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai and Mumbai).   

    Brevig said, “I have had the pleasure of working with DNEG and Namit on several projects in the past and I am delighted to become part of this world-class creative team.” He added, “My approach to the craft of VFX has always been to find the right techniques to create the most believable, engaging and immersive experience for the audience. Using both virtual and physical tools, we can now realize anything the filmmaker can envision.” 

    Butler joins DNEG from Method Studios, where he worked as a VFX supervisor on various feature, episodic and advertising projects, including most recently on a large scale, yet to be announced project for Amazon.

    “I have been following DNEG for many years–even before my London Soho days–as a competitor, a collaborator and as the home to many of my favorite people in visual effects,” said Butler. “I am very excited to join DNEG’s Montréal office and I know we are going to make some great work together.”

    “Visual effects is a magic trick. Its purpose, to keep the audience engaged in the story and the world of the film,” Butler continued. “Whether it is used to create fantastic wand duels in Harry Potter, or invisible cuts in 1917, visual effects is a series of illusions created in service of the story. While it’s the end result that matters, I have always been enthralled by the filmmaking process; the dynamic behind the scenes collaboration of VFX artists and the live action crews whose work is their foundation.”

    Tags:DNEGEric BrevigGreg ButlerNamid Malhotra



    “Red One” Tops Weekend Box Office With $34.1 Million

    Sunday, November 17, 2024

    Moviegoers were not exactly feeling the Christmas spirit this weekend, or at least what "Red One" was offering. The big budget, star-driven action comedy with Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans sold $34.1 million in tickets in its first weekend in theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It easily topped a box office populated mostly by holdovers.

    For traditional studios, a $34.1 million debut against a $200 million+ production budget would be a clear indication of a flop. Some even peg the budget closer to $250 million. But "Red One" is an Amazon MGM Studios release and they have the luxury of playing the long game, accounting not only for global box office where Johnson tentpoles often overperform, but its life on Prime Video for years to come.

    "Red One," in which Johnson plays Santa's bodyguard, was also originally built to go straight-to-streaming. There's a narrative that the theatrical earnings are not only just a bonus, but that it's an additive gesture towards struggling theaters looking for a consistent stream of new films. The first major studio holiday release since 2018, "Red One" opened on 4,032 screens, including IMAX and other large formats, on an otherwise quiet weekend for major releases.

    Warner Bros. is handling the overseas release, where it has made an estimated $50 million in two weekends from 75 territories and 14,783 screens.

    Still, it's certainly not a theatrical hit in North America. Even "Joker: Folie à Deux" made slightly more in its first weekend. "Red One," directed by Jake Kasdan and produced by Johnson's Seven Bucks, was roundly rejected by critics, with a dismal 33% Rotten Tomatoes score. Jake Coyle, in his review for The Associated Press, wrote that it "feels like an unwanted high-priced Christmas... Read More

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